Local Field Trips
Field trip registration is first-come, first-served. Fees must be paid with registration. Members are welcome to sign up for offerings from any of the three chapters.
Cancellations may only be made by contacting Registration Services at (205) 348-3000.
Refunds will not be issued after the trip cancellation deadline. Substitutions are not allowed.
If a field trip is full, you may request to be placed on a waitlist. If you have questions about the trip, contact the trip leader or call OLLI at (205) 348-6482.
Our field trips come in different shapes and sizes. We want you to be comfortable with the level of activity expected to take place. Decide your preferred activity level to help select the field trips that fit your preference: Level 1- Easy/Light Walking, Level 2- Moderate, Level 3- Active, Level 4- Very Active.
Introducing the New Activity Level Guide!
OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
These trips and tours involve light physical activity at a leisurely pace. Participants should be able to board a van/motorcoach/charter bus, walk at a relaxed pace for up to 60 minutes, navigate a flight of stairs and stand for an extended time.
OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Moderate trips/tours require average physical activity. Participants should be able to navigate one or two flights of stairs, walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven ground and cobblestoned streets.
OLLI Level 3 – Active
Active trips and tours involve increased physical activity. The itineraries blend longer and shorter days, along with leisure time. Participants should be able to walk longer distances, stand for extended periods and navigate more stairs. They must also be able to handle uneven walking surfaces. This level is not suitable for participants who require mobility assistance devices.
OLLI Level 4 – Very Active
Very active trips and tours require participants to be physically fit to ensure safety and enjoyment. Participants should be able to handle extensive walking, hiking, transfers over rough and dusty terrain, high altitudes, early mornings, late evenings or extreme temperatures. They may also encounter wet and windy conditions. This level is not suitable for travelers who use wheelchairs, walkers or other mobility assistance devices.
Members may participate in trips from any of the chapters TUSCALOOSA – GREATER BIRMINGHAM – GADSDEN
Greater Birmingham
BHM 201 Eagle Awareness Weekend
Friday, Jan. 23 – Sunday, Jan. 25
Trip Leader: Annette Vazquez (drnocat@hotmail.com)
Refund Deadline: Jan. 2
Depart: 8:45 a.m. Friday, Jan 23 Riverchase United
Methodist Church parking lot on the corner of Old
Montgomery Hwy and Carl Raines Lake Rd.
Return: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan 25
Fee: $350 DBL, only option (Transportation, Package-Lodging, Wine Social, 2 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner, all bird programs for the weekend)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Spend the weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park and see Alabama’s largest concentration of American Bald Eagles. Your package includes a room with two queen beds, two breakfasts and one dinner. In addition, you will see live shows with speakers and birds of prey and participate in field trips to see eagle nesting sites and observation points. Packages are limited and fill up fast; register quickly and join us on this amazing excursion!
Elizabeth Moore Chocolate Making Classes
BHM 203 Truffles and Nut Confections – Friday, Feb. 6, 9:30 a.m.
BHM 204 Molded Bon Bons – Friday, Feb. 6, 1:30 p.m.
Refund Deadline: Jan. 22
Trip Leaders: Annette Vazquez (drnocat@hotmail.com) and Gail Sheppard (gakshepp@gmail.com)
Meet: 10-15 minutes prior to class time at the
Elizabeth Moore Chocolate Shop, 2655 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL.
Fee: $105 each session
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 Easy/Light Walking
Indulge your sweet tooth in a hands-on truffles or bonbons making class with Swiss chocolatier Susan Notter. In the first class, we will be making piped chocolate truffles, dipped in chocolate, and rolled in cocoa. Pecan pralines and almond nut clusters are also part of this class. Each participant will take home approximately 24 pieces. The second class will learn how to use cocoa butter colors to decorate molds, then use tempered chocolate for the cavities. We will make ganache fillings for the bonbons, fill, cap and turn out! Each participant will take home 21 molded pieces.
BHM 205 Super Jazz Concert
Sunday, Feb. 8
Trip Leader: Gail Sheppard (gakshepp@gmail.com)
Meet: 2:45 p.m. at John Carroll High School auditorium, 300 Lakeshore Pkwy
The performance begins at 3 p.m.
Fee: $7 Pay at the door.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Since 1978, Super Jazz has performed four concerts each year, showcasing big band arrangements from all eras. The band features a traditional instrumentation of five saxes, five trombones, five trumpets, a rhythm section and an endless stream of musical ideas. All concerts are performed in a family-friendly, smoke-free environment.
BHM 206 The Birmingham Museum of Art
Friday, March 6
Trip Leader: Gail Sheppard (gakshepp@gmail.com)
Meet: 10 a.m. at the main entrance to the Birmingham Museum of Art
Fee: Free; however, the museum appreciates donations.
Activity Level: OLLI Level – Easy/Light Walking
Our hometown museum was described by a visitor as a hidden gem, a diverse collection of over 27,000 pieces of artwork, free of charge, with easy parking. This museum is three stories and houses an eclectic selection of art. It has the largest collection of Asian art in the Southeast, as well as Native American, African, European, American and Alabamian art. Come join us on this fabulous artistic experience.
Gadsden
GAD 201 Alabama Cooperage
Trinity, AL
Friday, Jan. 30
Refund Deadline: Jan. 22
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont (slild01@aol.com)
Depart: 8:30 a.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $45 (Transportation)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
Did you know Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrels are made in Alabama? Join us for a fascinating tour and see firsthand how these iconic barrels are crafted. Explore the barrel-making process, learn how the wood influences the flavor of whiskey and watch skilled coopers assemble the barrels. Discover the legal requirements for bourbon barrels — including the specific type of wood used and how many times a barrel can be reused. Because of its unique role in aging spirits, the whiskey barrel has even been called a “breathing time machine.”
GAD 202 The Lehman Trilogy
Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, AL
Saturday, Feb. 14
Refund Deadline: Jan. 23
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont (slild01@aol.com)
Depart: 9:30 a.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $99 (Transportation, Ticket)
Activity level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
A sweeping theatrical adventure, tracing the rise and fall of an immigrant family from Montgomery, Alabama, to Wall Street. From a small general store on Montgomery’s Commerce Street to unimaginable wealth on Wall Street, the Lehman Brothers epitomized the American Dream. Together, they built a firm that would shape — and later shake — the very foundation of global finance.
GAD 203 “9 to 5: The Musical”
The Whole Backstage, Guntersville, AL
Friday, Feb. 20
Refund Deadline: Feb. 5
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont (slild01@aol.com)
Depart: 12:30 p.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $57 (Transportation, ticket)
Activity level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
Featuring the unforgettable music of Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, “9 to 5: The Musical” follows three coworkers pushed to the edge by their sexist, egotistical boss. What follows is a hilarious and empowering tale of revenge, friendship and workplace justice. Join us for a time of laughs and music.
GAD 204 Baker Bindery
Anniston, AL
Friday, Feb. 27
Refund Deadline: Feb. 12
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont (slild01@aol.com)
Depart: 8:30 a.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $35 (Transportation)
Activity level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
Baker Bindery is a renowned bookbinding and restoration company specializing in traditional, hand-worked techniques. They provide meticulous restoration services that ensure preservation for future generations to enjoy. Do you have a family Bible, a first edition, or a favorite book that is in poor condition? They can restore it for you. We will see the process as we watch a master craftsman work.
GAD 205 Cherry Blossom Festival
Macon, GA
Friday, March 27- Sunday, March 29
Refund Deadline: Feb. 27
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont (slild01@aol.com)
Depart: 8:30 a.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $335 DBL, $495 SGL(Transportation, lodging, tickets)
Activity level: OLLI Level 2-Moderate
Each March, Macon becomes a pink, cotton-spun paradise as over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in all their glory. Festival lovers are treated to one of the most extravagant displays of color in the nation as they visit the cherry blossom capital of the world. We will take a guided tour of the Cannonball House, named for damage sustained during the Civil War. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture, featuring period furniture and an English garden. Its rich history includes the Adelphean Collection, a Civil War and General Museum, and more.
GAD 206 Blount County Memorial Museum
Friday, March 13
Refund Deadline: Feb. 26
Trip Leader: Shirley du Pont
Depart: 8:30 a.m. 121 N 1st St (formerly UA Center)
Return: 6 p.m.
Fee: $35 (Transportation)
Activity level: OLLI Level 2-Moderate
The Blount County Memorial Museum, opened in 1971, is dedicated to preserving and teaching history, while also honoring our military veterans. On permanent display is an example of FDR’s New Deal Arts Program. We will go back in time and have lunch at the Greasy Cove General Store. You will find vegetables, flowers, food and ice cream at the Cove. It’s a wonderful place to look around and pick up a treasure.
Tuscaloosa
TUS 201 Discover Prattville – Cotton Gins, Bamboo Forest and Prattville Pickers
Friday, Jan. 23
Refund deadline: Jan. 8
Trip Leader: Becky Hardesty (bexmail@yahoo.com)
Depart BCC: 7:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 5:15 p.m.
Fee: $24 (Transportation)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Your morning will start off with a guided tour of the Prattaugan Museum and time to investigate the on-site archives. We will then travel to the Wilderness Park/Bamboo Forest for a short walk through the park. Lunch will be at the Oak Tavern (part of the Marriott), after which we will go to the Prattville Pickers Antique Mall.
TUS 202 Exploring Wetumpka: Crater, Culture and Charm
Friday, Feb. 6
Refund deadline: Jan. 22
Trip Leader: Gary and Mary Ann Hankins (garylh331@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 7:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 5:30 p.m.
Fee: $30 (Transportation, Admission)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Please note: The terrain around the crater is uneven and may not be suitable for those with mobility issues or assistive devices.
Explore the Wetumpka Impact Crater, formed 85 million years ago, then enjoy a Dutch-treat lunch. Visit historic Fort Toulouse (1717), see filming sites from “Big Fish,” and experience Wetumpka’s charming downtown, restored by HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover,” with time for shopping.
TUS 203 Library & Information Science
Friday, Feb. 20
Refund deadline: Feb. 5
Trip Leader: Peggy Hamner (sswims2001@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 9:15 a.m. • Return BCC: 11:45 a.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Experience firsthand how the University’s School of Library and Information Science inspires discovery, creativity and community engagement in its new home, the renovated McLure Library. Tour its collaborative archival digitization lab, Book Arts studios and a Youth Literature Reading Room, all designed to prepare students for evolving careers in library and information science in a changing world.
TUS 204 UA Opera Theatre Rehearsal – Two One-Act Operas
Thursday, Feb. 26
Refund deadline date: Feb. 16
Trip Leader: Peggy Hamner (sswims2001@gmail.com)
Meet: 6:30 p.m. at Bryant Jordan Hall, 285 Kilgore Ln
End: 9:30 p.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Watch talented UA Opera Theatre students and faculty perform two one-act operas, Victor Ullman’s “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Suor Angelica.” This rehearsal will be accompanied by piano, and Paul Houghtaling, director of Opera Theatre at the University, will talk with us before the music begins.
TUS 205 One Day, Two Wonders
Friday, March 6
Refund deadline: Feb. 18
Trip Leader: Amelia Yessick (ameliaheath@hotmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 4 p.m.
Fee: $36 (Transportation, Admission)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Step into the past as we visit a 2-million-year-old wonder, Natural Bridge in Lynn, Alabama, to walk the one-mile loop thru the unique forest, visit the gift shop and drink from the artesian well. Leaving there, we travel to Fayette for a Dutch-treat lunch at newly renovated Lisa’s Barbeque (lots more on the menu) followed by a tour learning about the arts and culture of this small town, which is embracing its heritage through frogs — yes, frogs!
TUS 206 Come Visit the Carillon at Denny Chimes!
Friday, March 27
Refund deadline: March 12
Trip Leader: Donna Boles (donnaboles@comcast.net)
and Cathy Quinn
Depart BCC: 1:30 p.m. OLLI Van shuttle begins at 1:30 p.m.
Return BCC: 3 p.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Visit Denny Chimes with Dr. Amir Zaheri, the University’s carillonneur. He will share the history of the landmark and demonstrate how the carillon is played. It’s a campus icon and a treasure for the community, with national and international renown. A few in the group may even have the chance to play the chimes with Dr. Zaheri!
TUS 207 Montgomery – A Smorgasbord of History and Culture
Wednesday-Thursday, April 8-9
Refund deadline: March 2
Trip Leader: David Maxwell (dhmaxwell1@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 7:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 5:30 p.m.
Fee: $195 DBL, $320 SGL
Activity Level: OLLI Level 3 – Active
Get a taste of Alabama’s history and culture in Montgomery. Explore the nationally renowned Legacy Museum, National Memorial, Sculpture Park, the Capitol, and the Museum of Alabama. Enjoy free time to discover downtown at your own pace. On day two, visit the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, followed by lunch in Wetumpka and Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson before returning home.
TUS 208 Nordic Walking at Aldridge Gardens
Tuesday, April 14
Refund deadline: March 31
Trip Leader: Leroy Hurt (Leroy.T.Hurt@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8:30 AM • Return BCC: 1:30 PM
Fee: $24 (Transportation)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Enjoy a Nordic walking excursion at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover. Learn to use walking poles for a full-body workout, then take a guided walk around the lake with the Gardens’ director of education, highlighting the gardens’ beauty. Poles provided; dress for the weather. Group Dutch-treat lunch follows the walk.
TUS 209 Treasure Hunting in Birmingham
Friday, April 17
Refund deadline: April 2
Trip Leader: Sheree Miller (Evergreens3@yahoo.com)
and Danielle Houston
Depart BCC: 9 a.m. • Return BCC: 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $24 (Transportation)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Get ready for a day of shopping and picking! Who knows what treasures or bargains you may discover… a rare antique, an addition to a much-loved collection or a beautiful fashion statement! Join us as we hunt through the Irondale Pickers and the Lovelady Thrift Store. Enjoy a delicious Dutch-treat lunch at the famous Irondale Cafe (home of the film “Fried Green Tomatoes”). Put on your walking shoes and come along!
TUS 210 Vicksburg
Tuesday-Wednesday, April 21-22
Refund deadline: March 13
Trip Leader: Leroy Hurt, (Leroy.T.Hurt@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8 a.m. • Return BCC: 6 p.m.
Fee: $230 DBL, $340 SGL (Transportation, Lodging, Admission)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Discover the charm of historic downtown Vicksburg with time to explore and shop, then enjoy dinner at the iconic Beechwood Restaurant before a breathtaking sunset walk. Day two starts with Nordic walking portions of the Military Park landmarks and a guided tour of Vicksburg National Military Park. Conclude your adventure with a Dutch-treat lunch before returning.
TUS 211 Rama’s Amazing Garden Tour
Friday, April 24
Refund deadline: April 9
Trip Leader: Peggy Hamner (sswims2001@gmail.com)
Meet: 9 a.m. at Rama Pidikiti’s home near Cottondale
End: 2 p.m.
Fee: $40 (Tour and lunch)
Activity Level: OLLI Level 3 – Active
Walk with Rama around her extensive property that she and her husband began landscaping over 30 years ago. Hear Rama’s tips on plants and landscaping and admire her unusual and lovely garden. Then, on Rama’s patio, enjoy delicious East Indian dishes, with recipes and spice packets to take home.
TUS 212 Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra (TSO) Rehearsal, Moody Hall
Sunday, April 26
Refund deadline: April 16
Peggy Hamner (sswims2001@gmail.com) and Donna Boles
Depart BCC: Meet: 6:30 p.m., Moody Music Building, UA
Return BCC: End: 9:30 p.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Enjoy watching a fine orchestra prepare for a concert as TSO rehearses some of the music to be played in its final performance of the 2025-‘26 season, including “A Time for Jubilee,” commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Selma marches, and pieces by Giuseppe Verdi and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
TUS 213 Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, Tra La!!
Wednesday, April 29
Cancellation deadline: April 16
Trip Leader: Peggy Hamner (sswims2001@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: Meet: 9:30 a.m., Bobby Babb’s home, Tuscaloosa
Return BCC: End: 11:30 a.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Enjoy the springtime burst of color in Bobby Babb’s beautiful garden of roses and other flowering plants. Admire the blooming flowers while Bobby provides tips on growing roses based on his years of cultivating more than 150 varieties. It’s a lovely way to start the day!
TUS 214 Tour of Mal Moore Football Facility-AM
Monday, May 11
Refund deadline: April 24
Trip Leader: Linda Lyerly (linda.p.lyerly@gmail.com)
AM Tour Depart BCC: 9:45 am
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Step into the shoes of a talented football recruit by touring the UA Football Facility! See the indoor practice facility, weight room, physical therapy facilities, team meeting room (with promotional videos), motivational corridors, UA-NFL player wall, national championship trophies, rings and more!
TUS 215 Tour of Mal Moore Football Facility-PM
Monday, May 11
Refund deadline: April 24
Trip Leader: Linda Lyerly (linda.p.lyerly@gmail.com)
PM Tour Depart BCC: 1:45 pm
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Step into the shoes of a talented football recruit by touring the UA Football Facility! See the indoor practice facility, weight room, physical therapy facilities, team meeting room (with promotional videos), motivational corridors, UA-NFL player wall, national championship trophies, rings and more!
TUS 216 Medal of Honor Appreciation: Nordic walking at Veterans Memorial Park
Monday, May 25
Refund deadline: May 8
Trip Leader: Leroy Hurt (Leroy.T.Hurt@gmail.com)
Meet: 8:30 a.m. Meet at Veterans Memorial Park, Tuscaloosa
End: 10:30 a.m.
Fee: None
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Learn and practice Nordic walking at Veterans Memorial Park on National Medal of Honor Day as we also learn about Alabama’s Medal of Honor recipients and about historic military equipment displayed at the park.
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