Whether it’s a vacation, or you’re just passing through, it’s easy to be leisurely here in Birmingham.
No matter what your idea of a good time is, you’ll find plenty of activities to suit your lifestyle—or something new you’ve always wanted to try.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few suggestions.
Food
We weren’t named Zagat’s #1 Next Hot Food City for nothin’.
With James Beard Award winners all across town, barbeque you’ll want to write home about, and historic meat-and-threes and soul food restaurants at every turn, we take our food seriously. In fact, it’s become a defining characteristic of our city.
Our Foodie Weekend Part 1 itinerary will guide you through some of the premier plates in the city, including legendary chef Frank Stitt’s Highlands Bar & Grill, an eight-time James Beard nominee for most outstanding restaurant in America, and OvenBird, the latest creation from celebrity chef Chris Hastings.
Hungry for more? The Foodie Weekend Part 2 tour will serve up a second helping of Birmingham’s finest restaurants, including perfect pork sandwiches at Saw’s BBQ, magnificent breakfasts at Trattoria Centrale, and fresh Gulf seafood at Hot and Hot Fish Club.
Shopping
It’s impossible to leave Birmingham without a souvenir or two…or 12.
And it’s quite easy to find unforgettable treasures all over town.
If your wardrobe needs a few new additions, there’s plenty of browsing (and buying) to do at malls like The Summit and the Riverchase Galleria. And for one-of-a-kind boutiques and charming galleries, head to the villages of Mountain Brook and downtown Homewood.
Be careful, though—your friends and family might get mad if you don’t bring something back for them.
Live Music
There’s live music every night of the week here in Birmingham. International superstars, up-and-coming sensations, and local legends alike take the stage with devoted crowds backing them up.
Take our Live Music Spin with a visit to outstanding new venues like Saturn and Iron City—and don’t forget the after party at Zydeco, Oasis, or The Nick, one of the South’s most iconic dive bars. If you don’t want to stop the music, make a day trip to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
And you won’t want to miss a Saturday night trip to Gip’s Place, one of the country’s last real juke joints featuring live blues every night in an unforgettable BYOB atmosphere.
Outdoors
Alabama is geographically interesting, from the mountains in the north to the beaches in the south and all the lakes, rivers, and forests in between.
And Birmingham is right at the center of it all.
Go Outside with our outdoorsy itinerary and you’ll experience nature as it was meant to be. Start with the hiking and biking trails of Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama’s largest public park. And you’ll find even more trails all across Red Mountain Park, just on the edge of town.
For the high-octane adventurer’s, the ziplines at Red Mountain are a must. Take in an aerial view of the mountains and valleys with the Red Ore Zip Tour, or take the ultimate ride on the Mega Zip.
Once you’ve experienced the natural splendor of Birmingham, you may feel downright bored indoors.