Birmingham Botanical Gardens has more than two dozen unique gardens. Photo/China Daily

Railroad Park

Once a trash-strewn empty lot beside train tracks, Railroad Park opened in 2010 and quickly became a favorite gathering spot. With features including ponds, a wetlands area, a walking track and a natural amphitheater, the 8-hectare park is a perfect spot to spend a few hours watching people or reading a book.

Eternal Word Television Network

Located minutes from downtown in tree-covered Irondale, Eternal Word Television Network offers weekday tours of what it calls the world's largest religious media operation. Founded by an enterprising nun, the operation is geared toward Catholics, but anyone can see the studios and control rooms that are used to beam shows to more than 150million TV households worldwide. The opulent Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Monastery is located on 162 hectares about a one-hour drive away.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

With 27 hectares of land and more than two dozen unique gardens, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is one of the most-visited free attractions in Alabama. There are roses for flower fans, a Japanese garden for Asian enthusiasts and a vegetable garden lush enough to make any home gardener green with envy.