Do you remember these Alabama field trips?

When you’re in grade school, field trips make up some of the best days of the year, which is likely why the memories made on those field trips stick with us long after we’ve graduated.

With that in mind, This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers to share their favorite Alabama field trips they’ve been on. The answers ranged from trips many of today’s students still go, like a visit to the Alabama State Capitol or the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, to outings less likely to get school approval, like a hatchery that sends you home with a baby chick in a paper bag or the county jail.

Regardless of the destination, one thing it’s safe to assume hasn’t changed about field trips? Kids love ‘em because it means a day away from desks.

You can read some of the reader submissions below, and you can read all of them on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

“I loved going to the state capitol (I thought it was so beautiful) and Pike Pioneer Museum in Troy (I have always been fascinated by pioneer living).” — Suzanne Davis Fuller

“This answer will forever be each year’s Advanced English trip to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. I went every year from eighth grade through senior year. Every year felt better than the previous one. I’m 43 years old, and it’s still one of my favorite places in the world.” — Brandy Elizabeth Nichols

“The Meyer Planetarium of Birmingham-Southern College. Hooked me on celestial worlds and the universe. I took my grandson several times to the Gayle Planetarium in Montgomery; we both loved it.” — Patt Grumm

“Alabama Symphony Orchestra at the Birmingham Auditorium long ago. It was a beautiful experience for elementary school children.” — Margaret Bowman-Artist

“Guntersville Dam! It was our reward in elementary school for making all A’s!” — Faith Fossett Fletcher

“That would be Huntsville Space & Rocket Center around the year 1987. Magical.” — David Hutto

“During third grade at Grandview Elementary in Dothan, we went to the chicken hatchery, and we each got to take home a baby chick in a brown paper lunch bag.” — Beth Wages Johnson

“Trips to the Alabama Theater to see ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’.” — Karen Atchison

“Helen Keller’s Birthplace in elementary school was my favorite. I got my mom a little cedar trinket box and she still has it all these years later. She’s 86 now.” — Nickie Barnes

“Going to Smith’s Bakery on Dauphin Street in Mobile. The smell of fresh bread was so delicious.” — Libby Fant Allenbach

“We went to the county jail in fifth grade, which was wild.” — Jonathan Davidson

“In elementary school, we went to a peppermint candy factory in the Birmingham area somewhere. We were allowed to take a bag of any broken candy sticks.” — Roger L. Hatton

“We went to the Golden Flake Factory and that was pretty neat.” — Ivy Grace Weaver

“When I was in the third grade at South Highland Elementary school in Opp, we went to Hall Brothers Daily in Montgomery. I don’t think there was anyone that didn’t enjoy every second.” — Rick Godwin

“We went to the brick factory in Selma in third grade. We got to write our names on the bricks and draw on them before they baked them. I remember during the tour it was very hot in there and the workers were nice to us too.” — Tommy Griffin

“Red Mountain Museum. You could walk along the side of the mountain and see all that went into building the expressway.” — Josh Grimes

“Moundville State Park was the only one I ever went on. Rode the train, which was scary to a seven-year-old.” — Jerri Pearson

“In the second grade in 1958, we rode the train from Enterprise to Elba, Alabama, probably about 20 miles one way. We carried sack lunches and ate at the depot then rode the train back home. It was enjoyable and a fun day! Good memories!” — Sarah Long

“The first time we went to the symphony, I thought that it was going to be so boring but anything to get a free day from school, and then they played the William Tell Overture (the theme song to the Lone Ranger). We went every year and I loved it.” — Joslyn Williams

“Going to the BJCC to see the ‘Wizard of Oz’ play and ‘The Nutcracker’.” — Debbie Hayes Travis