Top 2010 Attractions in Alabama

Some 541,000 golfers played the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail last year, ranking it number one among state attractions that charge admission.

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville ranked second with attendance of 540,153. The Birmingham Zoo was third with 431,061 and the McWane Science Center, also in Birmingham, placed fourth with 388,707 visitors. The Huntsville Botanical Garden was fifth with 300,000.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile was sixth with 286,848 and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds was seventh with 235,000. The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile attracted 191,687 for eighth place. The Montgomery Zoo came in ninth with 185,833. Point Mallard Park in Decatur placed tenth with 185,000. Attendance figures released by the Alabama Tourism Department were submitted by local tourism organizations.

In other categories, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens attracted 350,000 visitors as the most attended free attraction. More than 800,000 people attended Mobile's Mardi Gras for the largest festival. The Alabama Gulf Coast beaches were the state's number one natural destination, attracting 3.6 million visitors last year. Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa was the top sports destination with 712,747 fans attending Crimson Tide football games. The top shopping destination was Hoover's Riverchase Galleria with 15 million shoppers. For more information visit www.alabama.travel.

Following the Birmingham Botanical Gardens among free attractions, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts ranked second with attendance of 150,561 and the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery placed third with 118,196. The Birmingham Museum of Art was fourth with 115,576 and the U.S. Army Aviation Museum in Fort Rucker ranked fifth with 108,737. Aldridge Botanical Gardens in Hoover was sixth with 80,000. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham came in seventh with 64,100. Fort Conde in Mobile attracted 39,141 for eighth place. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery was ninth with 36,269. The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville was tenth with 25,000.

Following Mobile's Mardi Gras celebration among festivals, Bayfest in Mobile was second with 300,000 and the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival placed third with 265,000 in attendance. The Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores ranked fourth with 250,000. The W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence placed fifth with 150,000. The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival in Foley was sixth with 75,000. The Trail of Tears Commemorative Ride in Waterloo placed seventh with 65,000. Christmas Around the Merry Go Round in Valley was eighth with 63,717. The Spirit of America Festival in Decatur attracted 60,000 for ninth place. The Elberta German Sausage Festival was tenth with 50,000.

Following the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches among natural destinations, Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores ranked second with attendance of 711,474 and Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in McCalla was third with 507,350. Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville was fourth with 483,745. Eufaula National Wildlife Festival attracted 474,537 for fifth place. Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City was sixth with 344,799. Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville placed seventh with 270,000. Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville ranked eighth with 265,770. Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne was ninth with 192,574. Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro was tenth with 180,000.

Following Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa among sports destinations, Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn ranked second with attendance of 688,692 and the Birmingham Race Course was third with 297,488. Birmingham Barons Baseball placed fourth with 275,887. Montgomery Biscuits Baseball attracted 269,840 for fifth. Talladega Superspeedway was sixth with approximately 215,000. Mobile Baybears Baseball was seventh with 190,000. Huntsville Stars Baseball was eighth with 91,000.

Following the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover among shopping destinations, the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro was second in attendance with 830,499.

"ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT RELEASES 2010 ATTENDANCE NUMBERS." States News Service. COMTEX News Network, Inc. 2011. HighBeam Research. 12 May. 2011 <http://www.highbeam.com>.