Hoover Metropolitan Stadium – Free Activities

Hoover, Alabama, is a suburb just outside of Birmingham. While it may not be a top tourist spot the way Birmingham is, Hoover is in an ideal location to visit in Alabama. It offers the relaxed feel of a small town while still being a short drive from a big city. In fact, there are a lot of wonderful attractions within driving distance of the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, which brings in many visitors to the area.

Not all of the attractions in this city have to cost you money either. Below are free activities you can add to your schedule while you’re in Hoover.

Riverchase Galleria

When you visit the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, you are a nine-minute drive from the Riverchase Galleria. You might hear this referred to simply as The Galleria by locals. This is the largest shopping center in the state of Alabama, spanning over 1,400,000 square feet. If you have time to kill, head over to The Galleria for some shopping.

The Galleria first opened in 1986. Throughout the years, there have been multiple expansions and stores added. This upscale shopping center is anchored by five department stores: JCPenny, Belk, Macy’s, Sears, and Von Maur. Aside from these five anchors, there are over 150 stores and restaurants. Some of these stores include American Eagle, Express, J.Jill, Lane Bryant, Michael Kors, Vans, and Zumiez.

In addition to shopping, The Galleria hosts events throughout the year. It could be an in-store demo, class, or show in the food court area. The best way to know if an event is taking place is to check their website before you visit. Even if there isn’t an event taking place, there is a carousel by the food court for those of you traveling with younger children.

Moss Rock Preserve

Like The Galleria, the Moss Rock Preserve is also a nine-minute drive from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Those who love to hike, rock climb, or take pictures will surely enjoy this nature preserve.

The Moss Rock Preserve encompasses 349 acres of forest systems, streams, waterfalls, and wildlife. If you like to hike, there are roughly 12 miles of hiking trails. These trails lead visitors through the beautiful landscapes that Moss Rock offers. Rock climbers will want to check out Boulder Field. This area has natural rock formations that are suitable for climbers of all skill levels.

Regardless of what you plan on doing at the Moss Rock Preserve, be mindful that this nature preserve relies on the community for maintenance and upkeep to ensure its long-term health, so do your part in maintaining this green space while you’re there.

Aldridge Gardens

Another place to visit to escape the city is Aldridge Gardens. This 30-acre woodland garden is known for its hydrangeas, particularly the snowflake hydrangeas The snowflake hydrangea is the flower of the City of Hoover. The garden is just over five miles from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, so stop by while you’re in town to learn how nature and artwork benefit from one another.

Before you walk through the gardens, download the self-guided tour from the Aldridge Gardens’s website. This will allow you to identify the specific plants and flowers throughout the property. As you walk around, take a break and relax near the five-acre lake or frog pond. After that, walk to the birdwatching platform and see how many feathered friends you can spot amongst the trees.

At the end of the self-guided tour, guests can pop in the gallery to see paintings by Miriam McClung. She is a native of Birmingham and her work has been exhibited throughout the southeastern United States as well as Japan. Afterward, view the Ken Jackson Collection, which is the largest collection of Frank Fleming bronze sculptures. Larger statues can be found throughout the gardens.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

If you’re looking to explore an even bigger garden, you should head to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden spans an impressive 67 acres and is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. It’s a 25-minute drive from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to Alabama’s largest living museum.

Within this massive garden there are 12,000 different plants, over 25 unique gardens, and roughly 30 outdoor sculptures along the paths. Thematic gardens are split into three major collections.

The Garden of Collections focuses on specific plant genus, family, and region. A few gardens in this collection include the Ireland Iris Garden, Jemison Lily Garden, and Asian Glade.

The Barber Alabama Woodlands and Kaul Wildflower Gardens can be found in the Gardens of Nature collection, which deals with plants native to the southeastern United States.

Lastly, the Gardens of Culture centers around aspects of human nature. In the Gardens of Culture collection you will find gardens like the Herb Terrace, Japanese Garden, and Southern Living Garden.

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens also hosts events throughout the year. Check their website to see if an event is being offered during your stay in Hoover. While admission to the gardens is always free, you do have to pay to attend an event.

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Music lovers and jazz enthusiasts should definitely take the 25-minute drive from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. It makes sense for the Jazz Hall of Fame to be located there since Alabama is home to some of the most notable jazz artists of all time, such as Nat King Cole and Dinah Washington.

The collection showcases the hope and joy that jazz brings but also the resilience of jazz artists during the civil rights movement. There are over 2,700 square feet of permanent museum exhibits for guests to discover.

Begin your journey with learning about the birth of jazz music and end with discovering some of the contemporary artists that continue to keep the genre alive. Along with information about the musicians, guests can view some of their personal items. There are also jazz instruments and memorabilia from over the decades on display.

Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of Art aims to spark creativity and imagination in the community through its global artwork, which is why admission, all galleries, and most exhibitions are free to the public. Guests have access to all three stories of the museum along with the 30,000-square-foot outdoor sculpture garden. Like the previous two attractions in Birmingham, this museum is about a 25-minute drive from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Artwork from around the world can be found in this museum. There are over 27,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and more from Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. The artwork ranges from ancient artifacts to modern pieces.

Exhibits change throughout the year, so check their website to see what will be on display while you’re in town. Some of the past exhibits that have been on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art include Beyond Tradition: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, For Freedoms: Civil Rights and Human Rights, and Opulence in Disguise: The Netherlands’ Golden Age.