Not only do they have a wide range of scuba certification classes, but they rent paddle boards as…read morewell! The water is bright blue and absolutely beautiful, it's such a great place to learn how to paddle board (no waves, no current). The rentals are fairly reasonably priced (~$15/hr) but you can also bring your own and just pay the usage fee (~$6). The dock is well maintained and so are the paddle boards, the owner/staff are incredibly nice and welcoming. Note that they're only open on Saturday's and Sunday's. Can't wait to come back and one day get scuba certified here!

Came here with my friend on Saturday (mid-morning) to paddle boat. It was our first time attempting…read moreto do so and also at this site (never would have expected to find this quarry in the middle of an industrial area). We rented our paddleboards for $15/hr and went right for it. They also have life vests available to borrow if you need. Kayaks were also available for rental as well as diving gear etc. This is a well run, organized and very pretty diving area, would definitely recommend for an outdoor adventure!

Ok so I haven't been to this park since my son was small. I remembered that it used to b beautiful…read more. I went to check it out . The park itself is very small . Heck you have to walk it 2x just to make a mile. The playgrounds are so small, the parking was all full from the baseball teams, and the thing that disappointed me the most the water was so trashy. The one thing I remembered and loved was the water. The water was shockingly trashy!!! There really isn't anything positive about this park and I was hugely disappointed ...I thought that the park might have been revamped/ added too but unfortunately not. It's a shame ..Helena you really need to do better!!!

Spring has sprung!! My husband and son love fishing here. There's a trail round the fishing pond…read morethat I walk while they fish. 2 laps is one mile. They have ducks and 2 playground areas, that are nice enough. There's also a nice covered picnic area.. it's not very big but a family could enjoy it.

I visited Oak Mountain State Park as part of the Mammoth March Hike, fully aware it was going to be…read morea major undertaking--but it still managed to shock me. The steep climbs up and down the mountain were incredibly challenging. At one point, I even slipped and slid down part of the trail but thankfully managed to do so gracefully without hurting myself. Being from Florida, I was definitely not accustomed to the elevation gain I was about to face. There were plenty of moments throughout the hike where I questioned why I signed up for this challenge, but pushing through and ultimately finishing made it all worth it. Having the bragging rights to say I conquered this terrain feels incredibly rewarding. That day, I didn't notice much floral life, and most of the critters seemed to be hiding--likely due to the large number of people participating in the hike. That said, I was still lucky enough to spot a rattlesnake and a black racer, which made the experience even more memorable. There were a few noteworthy areas worth stopping for, including an open area near a dam‑like structure and several peaceful river and creek spots along the route. While the park is absolutely massive and I know there was so much left unexplored, the 23 miles I trekked over 9 hours was more than enough for one day. If I find myself back in the area, I might just dare to return and explore some of the parts of the park I didn't get to see. Truly a beautiful park and an incredible asset for those who live nearby and get to enjoy it regularly.

I absolutely love going out to Oak Mountain. I have been several times with my sister and on my…read moreown. There's plenty to keep you busy no matter your interest or the season. I personally love going for a hike and bringing my pup along. Plus, there's so many great spots to stop and enjoy a picnic My husband and I plan to come and visit the golf course soon. As well as pack our bows to practice at the archery course.

I LOVE THIS PARK!!! When you think of a nice park, please think of this park. What makes up a nice…read morepark, you ask? Luscious grass, plenty of space, a place to run, walk, race, lay, sit, fish, play pickle ball, sand volleyball and/or have a picnic. This has to be the nicest outdoor space in the metro Birmingham area. Veterans Park offers the space to host family reunions, jazz in the park, little league soccer games. There is plenty of seating and areas to just get away amongst a crowd. There is also a fitness area that shows you how to use your own body weight to get in shape, no need for a gym membership. I can't say enough great things about this park. Just go there and see for yourself!!!

This park is amazing. The walking trail is a great mix of nature and walking trail. I also love the…read moreplayground for the kids. I appreciate that they have a smaller playground separate from the big kids playground. My one year old had a blast!

My children and I visited Star Lake on a Sunday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the space!…read moreWatching the wildlife and having snacks while sitting by the water was wonderful!

A friend and I went here one Spring afternoon just to sit and chat. It's a beautiful park in a…read moreresidential neighborhood. There were plenty of water fowl to gaze at or feed a healthy snack to. The water was lovely to look at and the star in the middle of the lake is how the park got its name. There were cars busily going around the area, so it's not the quietest park I've been to. While I guess it's a public park, It's still in a neighborhood so I question if it was built for the people that live around it. Anyway, I would visit again if I'm near the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

Veteran's Park in Alabaster is such a great outdoors venue!…read more I use the walking track around the park as often as I can. The park is a large, multi-use area with trails, playgrounds, and a dog park, with amenities like pavilions, restrooms, and concessions. It hosts baseball/softball tournaments, has a skatepark, disc golf, pickleball courts, and a memorial area with inscribed bricks for veterans. The park is ADA accessible and offers activities for all ages, including fishing in its ponds. There's so much here, I haven't yet explored all of it! One drawback is goose droppings around the walking trails so walk/run carefully! Altogether I can bear with all that as long as I get to share the park with the Canadian Geese!

Beautiful recently paved walking path makes it so much easier to not stumble. Love all the…read moreamenities as well as the views during my walks. Simply gorgeous.

one of my favorite parks great for runs and very well maintained and beautiful park. mon thru…read morethurs, you can bring your pup so i take mac those days. its really cool to visit this place during different seasons too. been going here for some time even before i had mac. it's a gem!

Great place for a walk. The trails are well maintained, and the atmosphere is always so relaxing…read more I'm lucky when I can get over to take a walk and clear my mind.

Beautiful park! Park has had updates. Has a playground, bridges, lake pavilion and plenty of ducksread more

This quaint little park is nestled in one of Hoover's neighborhoods and is the perfect spot for a…read moreshort stroll or jog. The lake is about three acres and has a paved trailed around about 3/4 of the lake, and a wooden walkway/bridge around the remaining 1/4. It's not a long track by any means, but it has nice views of the water and trees. There's a playground and gazebo at the far end of the park. I often see families grilling out there on the weekends (grills are provided) while their kids run around and play. I like going to this park because it's not too busy and usually very quiet. I think the Birmingham-area ducks like that it's quiet as well, because there are always a ton here! It's also well-lit at night, which is great when I want to exercise but avoid the summer heat.

Very helpful and nice bunch of folks. Will drive that half hour to get my bait again and again.read more

This is a great little place. The two gentlemen that run the store have known me to stop by for…read moreyears now. I love to buy crickets and worms from them for my reptiles amd turtles. It's SO MUCH cheaper than buying them from a local pet store, or ordering online, for any pets who can handle full-grown crickets! Crickets, worms, wax worms, meal worms, oh yeah and they sell fishing tackle and stuff like that, too. ;)

I was happy to see that this new Dicks Warehouse opened in the old Field and Stream. Obviously,…read moreit's huge since the previous store was huge. There was a lot to look through. They have clothes for all ages, shoes, sporting goods, outdoor games, etc. There really is a lot. I came here on two different occasions. Once with my son where he picked up a nice pair of sneakers. On my second trip I came with my sister and daughter. I was looking forward to checking out the shoes for myself and was disappointed with how few shoes there were in my size. However, I did get a swim suit for my grandson for only 12 bucks. I also got him a 3 piece set with shorts and a shirt for a good price. I got some slipper socks for my granddaughter. My sister got a nice two piece workout set for her daughter and some other things for her grandsons. My daughter got some shorts for herself. Service was fine. Only one person working but they weren't busy. Great place to shop if you are looking for some bargains!

Excellent selection and price. Nothing is worth retail (i worked i. Retail), so go for less.read more