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!

Well maintained park with ducks, a kids playground, walking trail, catch and release fishing, etc…read more Parking can be annoying and there is no restroom so be mindful of that.

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

I love this little lake. Lots of ducks here which means poop, so wear old shoes. It is located in a…read moreneighborhood and there is a walking trail easy one great for families and older relatives. Tons of picnic benches. Near a bunch fast food places too so you can grab food and make a picnic. You can see people fishing, walking and kids feeding ducks. They have a sign telling you not to feed the ducks bread. Oops didn't see that when I first went. Anyways this place is my favorite place to drive up to and relax. It's right off deo Dora on hwy 31 behind the Krispy Kreme.

A duck kept following me and pecking my legs. There's poop all around the ground. I know that kind…read moreof stuff happens in parks but it's just disgusting when it's a very large amount. Went fishing with my fam, and caught garbage bags and sticks. I DO NOT RECOMMEND!

Parking Warning! I…read moreabsolutely love Jemison Park and wanted to share a quick parking tip so others can avoid the mistake I made! There is ample parking along Mountain Brook Parkway, and I highly recommend parking there rather than taking a chance on Park Brook Road. I had read that Park Brook Road was a quiet place to park, and when the available spaces filled up, I parked in an area marked "No Parking" thinking it probably wouldn't be an issue. Well... I was wrong! I received a parking ticket, and two other cars were ticketed as well. In hindsight, the parking along Mountain Brook Parkway is plentiful enough that it's simply not worth the risk. I've also discovered another great option: if you continue along Overbrook Road toward Beechwood, there is additional off-street parking. I've parked there several times since and have never had an issue. Bonus: this end of the trail is much less crowded and offers extra shaded walking! There's also an open field, picnic area, and water fountain at this end of the trail, which seems to be a hidden gem that many people don't know about. I've also heard there is additional off-street parking near the field by Mountain Brook Village and the school, which may be another good option. Overall, Jemison Park is such a beautiful place to walk, but save yourself the ticket and stick with the designated parking areas! Hopefully this helps someone else avoid the mistake I made!

I love the Jemison Trail! There is parking at the elementary school, along Mountain Brook Parkway…read more(parallel), and Park Brook Road (parallel). Some parts of the trail are paved, and others parts a gravel. It runs along Shades Creek, and there are some benches along the path to sit and look at the water. The only bathrooms are next to the Mountain Brook Elementary School sports field / Jemison Dog Park. There are 2 single person bathrooms, which have always been pretty clean.

Friends and I were looking for a super-simple, laid-back way to kayak/canoe down the Cahaba one…read moreSaturday afternoon (minimal fuss with coordinating boats/rides, etc but maximal river time) . Canoe the Cahaba was the closest option to downtown Birmingham and offered two routes- 5.0 and 9.9 miles. We elected to do the longer 9.9 mile trip and were not disappointed. Their business model is pretty simple: they offer parking and a shuttle -boats in tow- to the appropriate put-in for your trip. Life vests, paddles and boats are all included and are in good working order. The paddle is easy, rapid-free so even novice outdoors-people will feel comfortable. Our 9.9 mile trip took about 6.5 hours with copious down time picnicking, swimming and rock skipping. We had a really brilliant time and look forward to using this outfitter again. The only caveat keeping this place from 5-stars is the too-casual way in which appointments are made. The number provided is someone's cell phone number and the communication is super casual. We ended up waiting over an hour past our reservation time on the day-of because the guy (possibly the only employee) was held up with a larger group... it would have been nice to sleep in or snag some breakfast if we had known he was going to be behind but 15 minutes turned into 60 without any fanfare. Nonetheless, a great opportunity for canoeing/kayaking in relatively close proximity to downtown.

Practically walking distance from my house, we can usually be found at Joe Tucker a couple times a…read moreweek. The park I'm told originated to service special needs children with soft turf v/s grass or dirt in the main playground area. Joe Tucker houses 3 playground areas, a large lake which allows fishing, a walking track, a couple small baseball fields one of which we've used for years for my son's park league football team practices. Additionally, there are tennis courts, three pavilions and some moderately wooded areas and open fields for exploring or tossing a football. My son's 1st birthday party was in the pavilion next to the main park and we've frequented the park ever since. I've met people from various surrounding areas outside of Helena that also frequent this park in lieu of various other parks closer to them. The park has equipment for all ages, You'll see young children crawling around on the turf and equipment up to teens and even some adults running around climbing on various equipment as well. One of my sons favorite things to do when he was younger was to feed the ducks bread while watching a bobber hoping to pull in a brim or 2. Recently I've seen pictures of some large bass in the stocked lake. Overall a wonderful place to spend the day with your kiddos outside.

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!!!

Aldridge Gardens is an absolutely amazing park that I can't believe I hadn't stumbled across…read morebefore. It was such a relaxing vibe to walk through this park and just soak in the tranquility. The park had a nice amount of parking and it was obviously a popular park with the people within this community. I will definitely be back and I would definitely recommend here.

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!

A great place to go for some nature time. The falls only had a small flow when I was there but in…read morethe spring there would be a heavier stream.

Sunday, March 9th, Tony and I drove the 20 miles north to Oak Mountain State Park to see the…read morePeavine Falls. We had to hike out and even do a little rock mountain climbing to lower ourselves down to the top of the falls. I even had to lean out on some rocks to take pictures.. This was a very hard climb and my heart was really pumping on this hike but it felt good. The falls were lovely.

Moss Rock Preserve is one of my favorite places to hike! Several different trails, climbing rocks,…read moreand a picturesque waterfall make this a favorite with my kids. Conveniently located in Hoover, this spot is breathtaking and next to several dining options so you can have a meal before or after your hike. The trails are clear and easy for the most part. Lots of people bring their dogs. Go check it out!

I did a thing, I did a thing! Are you looking for some local beauty while getting some steps?…read morePlease go visit the Moss Rock Preserve. First, getting to the Preserve is relatively easy. It's located within a community, which eases the mind when you solo trek. The trails are laid out nicely with clear paths. The natural stepping paths are quite easy to maneuver for beginners like me. The beauty of the rocks and boulders are amazing. Bring your kids to see all the natural beauty of the caverns and waterfalls. I love this place! Alabama is such a beautiful place. Take the time to experience this natural beauty in your own backyard. Yes, it is a true workout. Skip the gym and come outside. We outside, we outside!

This is a great place to walk. The address always plenty of people here, joggers, bikers, and…read morewalkers. On our last visit there were a group of girl scouts doing a nature hike. The path is paved with some shady areas. We brought our dog here both times we were here. Lots of other dogs on leashes. I haven't been on the whole trail but we were able to walk a couple of miles before we turned around. A very nice trail. Highly recommend!

I'm always looking for places to walk my dog & this trail is one of my favs!! Love the new trail…read moreadded that was added last year. You see joggers, walkers, bike riders and all dogs are leashed and I've never encountered a dog that wasn't friendly. It's the perfect place to visit when the weather is nice!! Fyi- if it rains, just know the newer trail doesn't get as muddy as the older trail.