Much like Chattanooga, the city of Birmingham, Alabama, was once defined by industry — iron and steel — but has reinvented itself with lively neighborhoods and a food scene that’s earned serious attention. There’s even a ridge trail overlooking the city — an Alabama cousin to Stringer’s Ridge. Chattanooga may have the edge in natural beauty, but post-industrial Birmingham has plenty of character of its own, from weathered brick warehouses now filled with galleries to craft cocktail bars buzzing with new energy.
THINGS TO DO
Some of the most notable moments of the Civil Rights era occurred in this city, such as the Children’s Crusade, the church bombing that killed four children and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 manifesto on nonviolent civil disobedience, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Birmingham Civil Rights Institute preserves the history of that era.
Info: bcri.org
The 16th Street Baptist Church, the city’s first black church was bombed on Sept, 15, 1963, killing four girls attending Sunday school and injuring more than 20 others. It reopened for services in June 1964 and is still a functioning church today. Visitors can see the sanctuary or take a tour.
Info: 16thstreetbaptist.org
Sloss Furnace closed in 1971 after 90 years of producing iron. It’s now the only twentieth-century blast furnace in the U.S. that’s preserved and open to the public. Learn about ironmaking amid enormous industrial structures or attend concerts, festivals and exhibits of metal art.
Info: slossfurnaces.org
A 56-foot statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, overlooks the city from atop Red Mountain. The statue was designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, intended to reflect the city’s roots in iron and steel.
Walk or bicycle along the two-mile Vulcan Trail or visit the Vulcan Park and Museum.
Info: visitvulcan.com
Set on 67 peaceful acres, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens include more than two dozen spaces that showcase plants that thrive in Southern gardens. The gardens are free and open to the public every day of the year.
Info: bbgardens.org
Set in the city’s historic Southside neighborhood around Birmingham’s Dr. Pepper bottling facility, Pepper Place features retail, restaurants, art galleries and creative workshop space.
Info: www.pepperplace.com
WHERE TO EAT
The Hot and Hot Fish Club features a menu that blends Southern, French and California cooking styles in a space with plenty of natural light and red brick. The restaurant was Michelin Recommended in 2025. Reservations are recommended.
Info: hotandhotfishclub.com
Saw’s BBQ is a beloved barbecue spot famous for its Carolina-style smoked meat and signature sauce, also sold in bottles. People go for the pulled pork and brisket, but the wings have a following too.
Info: sawsbbq.com
Bottega describes itself as “the American South meets the Italian countryside” inspired by the wine bars and trattorias of Italy. The restaurant is one of three owned by Frank Stitt, who once worked in California’s famed Chez Panisse and in restaurants in France before returning to his hometown of Birmingham. Bottega has a white-tablecloth formal dining room and an adjacent café.
Info: bottegarestaurant.com
Automatic Seafood and Oysters features fish mostly sourced from the Gulf of Mexico and oysters from Southern and Eastern coastlines served in a sleek dining room. Patio seating is also available.
Info: automaticseafood.com
Last Call Baking Co. makes luscious pastries like the leek and mushroom danish and kouign amann, a caramelized and flaky delicacy from Brittany. Next door is local coffee shop and roaster June Coffee which has a light-filled space and charming courtyard.
WHERE TO STAY
The Painted Lady is a boutique hotel located in downtown Birmingham. The hotel is in an 1800s building that once served as a boarding house — and possibly even a brothel. The rooms have names like Pink Pagoda and Celestial Study.
Info: thepaintedlasyhotel.com
The Redmond Hotel, which opened in the 1920s, has the distinction of being the city’s oldest operating hotel. The hotel, now part of the Hilton Curio Collection, is housed in a stately, elegant building and features a rooftop lounge and bar with panoramic city views.
Info: hilton.com/en/hotels/bhmcuqq-redmont-hotel-birmingham