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 Board in Birmingham
Monday, Sept. 14 – Fee $55
Refund Deadline: Aug. 31
Trip Leader: Gail Sheppard (gakshepp@gmail.com)
Meet: 11:45 a.m. at Board in Birmingham; End: 2 p.m.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 Easy/Light Walking
Indulge your culinary skills for an instructional class at Birmingham’s first charcuterie bar. Our host, Corinne Sweet, owner and founder of Board in Birmingham, will show us how to prepare and organize a variety of delicious treats. At the conclusion of the demonstration, you will have a charcuterie box to take home to impress your friends and family.
BHM 202 Foxhound Bee Company Experience and Tour
Friday, Sept. 25 – Fee: $30
Refund Deadline: Sept. 11
Trip Leader: Gail Sheppard (gakshepp@gmail.com)
Meet: 9:50 a.m. Foxhound Bee Company, Tour ends about 11:15 a.m.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 Easy/Light Walking
Join us for a hands-on introduction to the world of beekeeping. A master beekeeper will guide us through the facility, explain the tools and supplies used in raising bees, and show how that delicious golden honey is harvested. If you’ve ever been curious about bees or the craft of beekeeping, this is a trip you’ll enjoy. We’ll finish our visit with a Dutch-treat Southern-style lunch at the Irondale café, “The Original Whistlestop Café.”
BHM 203 Cullman Oktoberfest
Friday, Oct. 2 – Fee: $34
Refund Deadline: Sept. 18
Trip Leader: Annette Vazquez (drnocat@hotmail.com)
Meet: 8:45 a.m. Riverchase United Methodist Church – Return 2:30 p.m.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Experience the charm of Cullman, Alabama, a town proud of its German heritage, during its lively Oktoberfest. Savor traditional foods, browse handmade crafts, and enjoy festive music, costumes and decorations. This engaging day trip offers culture, flavor and fun in a welcoming, walkable setting perfect for active lifelong learners. Prost!
BHM 204 The Birmingham Museum of Art
Friday, Nov. 13 – Fee: $5, the museum also appreciates donations
Refund Deadline: October 16
Trip Leader: Annette Vazquez (drnocat@hotmail.com)
Meet: 10: a.m. at the main entrance to the Birmingham Museum of Art – Return: At leisure
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
By popular request, we are heading back to our hometown museum for another day of exploration. During our previous visit, many members did not experience the full breadth of the museum’s impressive and diverse collection — more than 27,000 works of art. With free admission and easy parking, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and enriching day. Whether you couldn’t join us before or you’re simply ready for more art and inspiration, we’d love to have you with us for this encore visit.
BHM 205 American Village Christmas Tour and Luncheon
Friday, Dec. 11 – Fee: $40 (early bird pricing until Oct 1, then to $58)
Refund Deadline: Nov. 13
Trip Leader: Annette Vazquez (drnocat@hotmail.com)
Meet: 9 a.m. at Riverchase United Methodist Church to carpool OR 10 a.m. at American Village – Return 2 p.m.
Fee: Free; however, the museum appreciates donations.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2– (carts ar available for mobility needs)
Experience the holidays at the American Village with immersive historical vignettes led by costumed interpreters. Savor a cheerful Christmas lunch, then enjoy time to explore the beautifully decorated grounds. A delightful blend of history, storytelling and seasonal spirit designed to brighten your holiday.
Gadsden
GAD 201 Burritt on the Mountain
Saturday, Sept. 19 – Fee: $72
Refund Deadline: Sept. 4
Trip Leader: Vicki Rhodes (vickirhod@gmail.com)
Depart: 8:30 a.m. at Etowah County Courthouse
Return: 5 p.m.
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2
Burritt on the Mountain is a 167-acre living history park featuring the 1938 mansion of Dr. William Burritt and a historic park with relocated 19th-century homes, a blacksmith shop and other structures, offering a glimpse into early American life with period interpreters and nature trails on Round Top Mountain.
GAD 202 Apples, Foliage and Marble: Small Towns with Big Views
Friday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, Oct 4 – Fee: $350 double occupancy only
Refund Deadline: Aug. 31
Trip Leader: Vicki Rhodes (vickirhod@gmail.com)Meet: 8:30 a.m. at Etowah County Courthouse Ends: 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4 *Supported by the Dennis James Travel Fund.
Activity level: OLLI Level 2
Please join us for a trip to the Ellijays of North Georgia, where we can sample and purchase a wide variety of apples, see the beautiful fall foliage the mountains have to offer, attend a Marble Festival and tour a marble quarry. The famous pink, or Etowah, marble is minded in nearby Jasper, Georgia.
GAD 203 Bulloch Hall: An Atlanta Plantation with Presidential Ties
Friday, Oct. 23 – Fee: $75
Refund Deadline: Oct. 9
Trip Leader: Vicki Rhodes (vickirhod@gmail.com)
Meet: 8:30 a.m. at Etowah County Courthouse – Ends: 7 p.m.
Activity level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
Bulloch Hall, a fine example of temple-style Greek Revival architecture, was completed in 1839 for Maj. James Stephens Bulloch and his family. Bulloch Hall is a house museum, featuring period rooms, and was the site of the December 1853 marriage between Martha “Mittie” Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt, the elder, of New York. Their son, Theodore, was the 26th President of the United States, and their granddaughter was First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. The grounds include a reconstructed slave cabin and slave garden, summer house, privies and demonstration garden. The surrounding historic district features many structures of the Civil War period, including Smith Plantation, Barrington Hall and The Roswell Presbyterian Church. The former locations of several mills burned by Federal troops on their march to Atlanta are marked.
GAD 204 Christkindlmarkt
Saturday, Nov. 21 – Fee: $55
Refund Deadline: Nov. 6
Trip Leader: (vickirhod@gmail.com)
Meet: 10 a.m. at Etowah County Courthouse Ends: 6 p.m.
Activity level: OLLI Level 1-Easy/Light Walking
The Cullman Christkindlmarkt brings authentic German holiday magic to Alabama, blending traditional European charm with Southern hospitality. Located in Depot Park, this festive, walkable market features illuminated wooden huts selling handcrafted ornaments, artisan goods and German delicacies like bratwurst, chimney cakes and hot mulled wine.
Tuscaloosa
TUS 201 Who Knew There was a WWII Prison Camp in West Alabama?
Friday, Sept. 11
Refund deadline: Aug. 28
Trip Leader: Gary Hankins (garylh331@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8:15 a.m. • Return BCC: 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $40
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Travel through Pickens County to see the mysterious face in the Carrollton courthouse window, explore the Aliceville Museum honoring the WWII German POW camp, and stop by the historic 1948 Coca-Cola bottling plant. Then enjoy a Dutch-treat lunch, and finish with scenic views at the Tom Bevill Visitor Center along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
TUS 202 Creating a Mosaic Betsy Ross Flag
Monday, Sept. 14
Refund deadline: Sept. 1
Trip Leader: Sharon Shelton (sshelton09@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 9:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 5:30 p.m.
Fee: $10
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Join your OLLI members in creating a Betsy Ross mosaic flag in the studio of Linda Munoz in Cuba, Alabama. After a Dutch-treat lunch in Livingston, the afternoon will be spent cutting the glass and gluing it in place. The project will be donated to a local school.
TUS 203 Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Department Beasor B. Walker Law Enforcement Complex Tour
Monday, Sept. 21
Refund deadline: Sept. 8
Trip Leader: Jim Colby (jcolbyemail@gmail.com)
Meet: 12:30 p.m. at Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Department • Tour Ends: 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $10
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1- Easy/Light Walking
The Sheriff Beasor B. Walker Law Enforcement Complex is a state-of-the-art facility for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department, which serves as a primary hub for various law enforcement divisions and specialized training.
TUS 204 Birmingham Museum of Art and AEIVA – A Day of Exploring Creativity
Friday, Sept. 25
Refund deadline date: Sept. 11
Trip Leader: Sheree Miller (evergreens3@yahoo.com), Danielle Houston (dhouston6565@gmail.com)
Departure: 9 a.m. from BCC
Return: 3:45 p.m.
Fee: $30
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Join us in exploring two hidden gems of creativity in Birmingham! First, we visit the Birmingham Museum of Art with over 27,000 pieces of artwork, including the Southeast’s largest Asian art collection. Enjoy a Dutch-treat lunch at Niki’s West. Our last stop is the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts on the UAB campus, which concentrates on post-WWII modern and contemporary art.
TUS 205 To Those Who Love the Vastness of the Skies
Monday, Sept. 28
Refund deadline: Aug. 26
Trip Leader: David Maxwell (dhmaxwell1@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 7:30 a.m. • Return BCC: 5:45 p.m.
Fee: $15
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Come visit Maxwell AFB, an important hub of the U.S. Air Force. This bus-driven, largely windshield tour is presented by former Air University Chief Historian Lt. Col. (Ret) Dr. Robert Kane about its more than 100year history. After lunch in town, we visit the Enlisted Heritage Research Institute Museum and Archives.
TUS 206 The University of Alabama Campus Highlight Tour (A.M.)
Monday, Oct. 5
Refund deadline: Sept. 21
Trip Leader: Becky Hardesty (bexmail@yahoo.com)
Depart BCC: 9:00 a.m. from BCC
Return BCC: Noon
Fee: $20
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2- Moderate
This is a tour of The University of Alabama’s campus, including stops at the Presidential Mansion, the Gorgas House, and ending at the Museum of History. The guide will point out various buildings and attractions throughout the campus from the bus.
TUS 207 The University of Alabama Campus Highlight Tour (P.M.)
Monday, Oct. 5
Refund deadline: Sept. 21
Trip Leader: Becky Hardesty (bexmail@yahoo.com)
Depart BCC: 1:00 p.m. • Return BCC: 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $20
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2- Moderate
This is a tour of The University of Alabama’s campus, including stops at the Presidential Mansion, the Gorgas House, and ending at the Museum of History. The guide will point out various buildings and attractions throughout the campus from the bus.
TUS 208 T-Town Tour
Friday, Oct. 16
Refund deadline: Oct. 2
Trip Leader: Amelia Yessick (ameliaheath@hotmail.com)
Depart 10:15 a.m. from BCC • Return BCC: 3 p.m. to BCC
Fee: $30
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2 – Moderate
Join us as we visit several significant and historical sites in Tuscaloosa including the Federal Building “Points of Time” murals, Kentuck on Queen City located in the former Queen City Pool Building (on the National Register), Manderson Landing, where we will view the statue of Minerva and learn Tuscaloosa history on the “Path on the River,” a Dutch-treat lunch at the art-filled Mellow Mushroom pizzeria, historic Capitol Park and other local art works.
TUS 209 Passport to the Sky: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Tuscaloosa National Airport (Tuesday)
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Refund deadline: Oct. 13
Trip Leader: Gary Hankins (garylh331@gmail.com)
Meet: 9 a.m., parking at airport terminal. Tour End: Noon
Fee: $10
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1- Easy/Light Walking
Visit the airport terminal, operations center, Air Traffic Control, Fire Station 12, Ascension FBO (Fixed Based Operations – Flight Training School), and possibly visit a private hangar.
TUS 210 Passport to the Sky: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Tuscaloosa National Airport (Thursday)
Thursday, Oct. 29
Refund deadline: Oct. 15
Trip Leader: Gary Hankins (garylh331@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8 a.m. • Return BCC: 6 p.m.
Fee: $10
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1- Easy/Light Walking
Visit the airport terminal, operations center, Air Traffic Control, Fire Station 12, Ascension FBO (Fixed Based Operations – Flight Training School), and possibly visit a private hangar.
TUS 211 Out and About: Nordic Walking at Aldridge Gardens
Thursday, Oct. 29
Refund deadline: Oct. 15
Trip Leader: Leroy Hurt (connectionslth@gmail.com)
Depart: 8:30 a.m. from BCC
Return: 1:30 p.m. to BCC
Fee: $28
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2- Moderate
OLLI members will enjoy a Nordic walking excursion to Aldridge Gardens in Hoover. Beginning with a class on using Nordic walking poles to make walking a more effective exercise, the group will participate in a guided walk around the lake.
TUS 212 Geology Field Trip of Tuscaloosa County
Monday, Nov. 2
Refund deadline: Oct. 19
Trip Leader: Philip Malone (philipgmalone@gmail.com)
Depart BCC: 8:00 a.m. from BCC
Return BCC: 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $33
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2- Moderate
This field trip will focus on roadside geology. We will travel to the far corners of Tuscaloosa County to learn about its diverse geology. Our journey will include visits to rock outcrops at various locations in the county, as well as sites around the city of Tuscaloosa. Lunch will be Dutch-treat at a local restaurant.
TUS 213 How the Civil War was Fought in the South: Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield
Friday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 7
Refund Deadline: Oct. 16
Trip Leader: Becky Hardesty (bexmail@yahoo.com)
Depart: Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 a.m. from BCC
Return to BCC: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. to BCC
Fee: $200 double/$300 single
Activity Level: OLLI Level 2- Moderate
Visit the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield in Georgia, with an optional hike to the top of the mountain. Visit the Southern Civil War and Locomotive History Museum to see additional Civil War relics and stories, including The General. Visit the Marietta Square to see the Liberty Bell, choose from a number of museums, including the Gone with the Wind Museum, Marietta History Museum, Museum of Art, and/or William Root House. We will enjoy a Dutch-treat lunch at one of many restaurants on the square.
TUS 214 Visit Historic Homes of Greensboro & Demopolis
Friday, Nov. 13
Refund deadline: Oct. 30
Trip Leader: Gary Hankins (garylh331@gmail.com)
Depart: 8 a.m. from BCC – Return: 5:30 p.m. to BCC
Fee: $55
Activity Level: OLLI Level 1 – Easy/Light Walking
Visit Magnolia Grove, then enjoy a drive past the historic homes and buildings of Greensboro. After a Dutchtreat lunch, continue to Demopolis to see Gaineswood National Historic Site and Bluff Hall, finishing the day spotting hay bale art on the road to Eutaw and arriving back in Tuscaloosa.
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