In my opinion, there's no better place to call home than Birmingham, Alabama. The Magic City is a perfect combination of Southern and urban, and the must-do, must-see, must-eat list for the city seems to go on and on. Living downtown has given me endless chances to experience the things Birmingham has to offer. Here, I've compiled a list of some of my favorites.
Food:
1. FIVE
Chicken and waffles for brunch... do I even have to say anything else? Honestly, this restaurant has it all. Open for brunch on Sundays, lunch on Saturdays, and dinner every night, FIVE has something on the menu for everyone. My favorite for dinner is the paned chicken with shallot caper cream and mashed potatoes.
2. MELT
Can we please talk about the legendary Mac Melt? A GRILLED CHEESE FILLED WITH MACARONI? Excuse me while I cry tears of joy. Don't forget to finish your meal with some deep fried Oreos (crying some more).
3. Al's Deli & Grill
Because Sometimes a baker is the way to survive at 4 am when you feel like you're about to starve to death. It's ok, we've all been there. And Al's is always open and always there for you, no matter what.
4. Cantina Laredo
This place has the best queso I've ever had. Located in the quaint Uptown area, Cantina Laredo never fails to satisfy a Mexican craving. Their homemade appetizers are only the beginning. If you order guacamole, they come to your table and make it in front of you, and they also have the most delicious sizzling Mexican apple pie. If you haven't tried Cantina, you definitely need to.
5. Saw's BBQ
What's Birmingham, Alabama without a Southern classic? Saw's BBQ has it right. Their delicious barbecue and chicken along with their unforgettable white BBQ sauce makes Saw's one of the best barbecue joints in the state.
Shopping:
1. What's on 2nd?
Full of knick-knacks and one-of-a-kind antiques, What's on 2nd is one of Birmingham's quirkier hidden treasures. Though you may not find the most useful items here, you are sure to find something unique and this store is so full of randomness that you'll want to spend hours strolling around and browsing the shelves.
2. Reed Books
If you're a bookworm like me, Reed Books is one of the best places in the world. Stuffed to the brim, books literally fall off the shelves at this cozy bookstore downtown. You're sure to find a book with a real story here because all the books once belonged to someone else. If you visit, say hello to Mr. Reed for me. He'll have a lot to say; be sure to listen.
3. The Summit
Right outside of Birmingham, down Highway 280 there lives a magical wonderland of stores and delicious food called The Summit. Seriously, it's worth the traffic if you're ready for a full day of shopping and eating. (Check out Chuy's if you're down for some yummy Tex-Mex and a beautiful view off the patio.)
4. Homewood
Downtown Homewood, right down the road from the Vulcan, there's a cute strip of stores and restaurants that are fun to visit if you're looking for local finds. Homewood is quaint and friendly and overall it's a great place to eat and shop.
Must-Sees:
1. The Vulcan
On a night when the weather feels nice and the sky is clear, pay the fee to see Birmingham from the top of The Vulcan. I promise it's worth the $8; you'll really see this city from the best view possible and the hugeness and busyness becomes so real. It feels like my own mini New York City, which is my favorite place in the entire world and that's one of the things I love most about Birmingham.
2. Railroad Park
This park located right next to Regions Field is the perfect place to picnic, go for a run, or just sit by the water and enjoy the skyline of the beautiful city.
3. The McWane Center
OK, so what if I'm a total child? I've loved the McWane Center ever since I was a little kid. Those field trip days were the ones you never wanted to miss, and the exhibits in that museum will never get old. Plus, you always learn something new, even if you wouldn't have ever needed to know it. Science is cool and so is the McWane Center.
4. The Birmingham Zoo
Who doesn't love animals? The zoo is the perfect place to see everything from giraffes to sea lions to zebras, and don't forget to ride the carousel while you're there. Sometimes it's just fun to be a kid again.
5. Color Tunnel
Cliche, I know, but the color tunnel really is a fun place to take pictures, blow bubbles, whatever. It's just not something you see every day and it's one of the little things I love about Birmingham.
Must-Do's:
1. Sloss Fest
In 2015, Birmingham finally got its own music festival and I can honestly say it was one of the best weekends of my life. It was my first festival, and I saw some of my favorite bands like Cage the Elephant, Band of Horses, Young the Giant, Manchester Orchestra, and The Avett Brothers (where I camped in the front row for hours before the show so I could touch them when they crowd surfed). I can guarantee you I'll be there every year, and you should go too.
2. Barons Baseball Game
Who doesn't love a classic baseball game with an ice cold lemonade and a hot dog? The Birmingham Barons play at the beautiful Regions Field, and if you're lucky you may see some fireworks too.
3. Ride Bikes
Birmingham offers a bike rental service, which is awesome. Biking around the city on a perfect day with your friends will never disappoint. The view of Birmingham from all its hills is awesome, and you'll get some fresh air and good exercise while you enjoy it.
4. Concerts
The music scene in Birmingham is awesome. From Workplay to Iron City to Zydeco, you're sure to find an artist you like at some point. I've seen bands like Arctic Monkeys and Citizen Cope, and of course there are always the smaller undiscovered bands that are fun to go see just for a night out and some new music.
5. Hike at Moss Rock
Moss Rock in Hoover is one of my favorite places ever. It's beautiful and full of cool spots for picnics, and there are so many perfect places to set up your Eno and enjoy the nature. It's also one of the best locations for Geocaching, and it you don't know what that is you should definitely look into it.
So what's so awesome about Birmingham? Pretty much everything. There's no other place I'd want to spend my college years. When I drive on the interstate and I start to see the skyline and all the lights, that's when I know I'm home. I hope you enjoyed reading about why I love this city, and as always, it's nice to have you in Birmingham.
