Birmingham Alabama
In Birmingham Alabama you will find a lovely part of the US with great culinary heritage and highlights. It's a nice place to stop over when travelling.
Birmingham Alabama in a nutshell
Once a major industrial centre in the southern US, Birmingham has become a modern metropolis and one of the most liveable cities in the country.
Alabama’s largest city, Birmingham is renowned for its culinary prowess, evident in restaurants headed by James Beard award-winning chefs and other stunning eateries that have followed their lead.
Nestling at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, this Southern city is a great base from which to explore Alabama, as it’s so centrally located.
Boasting an incredible number of green parks and gardens, the city is also home to numerous historic sights that tell the stories of battles lost and won and events that changed America’s history.
In the mid-20th century, Birmingham was a hotbed for the civil rights movement, and you can learn all about this prickly period in the city’s history in the Civil Rights District, home to the Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church.
The surrounding mountains and Oak State Mountain Park offer a superb selection of outdoor pursuits, from swimming and hiking to horse riding, and in Birmingham itself you’ll find one of the oldest baseball stadiums in the country, Rickwood Field, as well as some stunning championship golf courses.
Music is another popular activity and the lively music scene is evident in numerous clubs and festivals, many held in the city’s leafy parks.
Best time to visit: Come in the springtime, when the city is awash with colourful flowers and the weather is superb.
Best Area for Sightseeing: In Birmingham and on its outskirts are numerous places to explore. See Things to do in Birmingham, below, for some ideas.
Shopping in Birmingham: There are all sorts of shops, malls and stalls to shop in, but a favourite place is The Market at Pepper Place, a Saturday morning market held between April and December where you’ll find great local handicrafts, flowers, food and live music.
Food & Restaurants in Birmingham: The city’s award-winning restaurants, including those by James Beard chefs Chris Hastings and Frank Stitt, are legendary, so come and savour superb French-inspired cuisine at fine dining establishments and hidden treasures around town. The local craft beer is well worth sampling, too.
Nightlife: Nightlife is energetic, musical and vibrant throughout Birmingham, so check out the variety on offer – it’s party time!
Things to do in Birmingham Alabama:
- Spend time relaxing in one of the city’s beautiful parks, like Vulcan Park, which also houses a museum.
- Explore the city’s iconic Civil Rights District full of sites commemorating the movement’s struggle for equality.
- For more than a century, the Alabama Peanut Company has been roasting peanuts in Birmingham. Pick up some while you’re in town.
- Explore the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum, a great place for sports aficionados.
Best way to get around: You can use the bus or rent a car, depending on what you intend seeing while you’re in town.