Guidebook for Birmingham
Sightseeing
Vulcan Park and Museum
1701 Valley View DrFREE. Nearby. Birmingham grew up as a mining town. This is one of our iconic landmarks. Come see the old furnace. It's quite fascinating and a unique experience.
66 locals recommend
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
20 32nd St NFREE. Nearby. Birmingham grew up as a mining town. This is one of our iconic landmarks. Come see the old furnace. It's quite fascinating and a unique experience.
Parks & Nature
Our favorite hiking spot! Not far! My personal recommendation for hiking nearby.
81 locals recommend
Ruffner Mountain
1214 81st St SOur favorite hiking spot! Not far! My personal recommendation for hiking nearby.
Triangle Park
4341 Clairmont AveTHE BEST park in Birmingham! Great for kids. 1/2 block from The Carriage House.
Walking trail around the pond. About a 10 minute walk from The Carriage House. Birmingham Public Library also located next to the park.
18 locals recommend
Avondale Park
4101 5th Ave SWalking trail around the pond. About a 10 minute walk from The Carriage House. Birmingham Public Library also located next to the park.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
2612 Lane Park RdLovely gardens. Great for taking pictures. Free!
Railroad Park Foundation
1600 1st Ave SUrban park along Birmingham's rail lines.
A little bit of a drive, so it's not someplace we personally frequent. But if you are a serious hiker, this is one of our area's hottest spots.
114 locals recommend
Oak Mountain State Park
200 Terrace DrA little bit of a drive, so it's not someplace we personally frequent. But if you are a serious hiker, this is one of our area's hottest spots.
Red Mountain Park
2011 Frankfurt DrMay be of interest if you are a serious hiker.
Jemison Park
LOVE walking Jemison.
Arts & Culture
Birmingham Museum of Art
2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr BoulevardHave regular tours and arts & crafts rooms for kids.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 16th St NGreat science museum with activities for kids and toddlers.
107 locals recommend
McWane Science Center
200 19th St NGreat science museum with activities for kids and toddlers.
In walking distance next to Avondale Park. Programs for kids during the week.
Birmingham Public Library Avondale Regional Branch
509 40th St SIn walking distance next to Avondale Park. Programs for kids during the week.
Food Scene
While Bottega and Highlands are our favorite fine dining scenes, Little Savannah is good fine dining in walking distance.
Little Savannah Restaurant & Bar
3811 Clairmont AveWhile Bottega and Highlands are our favorite fine dining scenes, Little Savannah is good fine dining in walking distance.
MELT
1011 4th Ave SGreat sandwiches!
Must. Eat. Burger. Made-from-scratch-at-your-table guacamole is another must-have. I also really like their chopped salad.
13 locals recommend
Babalu Tapas & Tacos - Birmingham
2808 7th Ave SMust. Eat. Burger. Made-from-scratch-at-your-table guacamole is another must-have. I also really like their chopped salad.
My personal favorite. Owned and operated by famed chef, Frank Stitt. Italian fare, best to have a reservation for the dining side, or walk-in to the cafe side. I actually prefer the ambiance of the cafe side. Be prepared to wait an hour or more (at the bar) if you arrive much after 6 pm on the weekends though.
27 locals recommend
Bottega Cafe
2240 Highland AveMy personal favorite. Owned and operated by famed chef, Frank Stitt. Italian fare, best to have a reservation for the dining side, or walk-in to the cafe side. I actually prefer the ambiance of the cafe side. Be prepared to wait an hour or more (at the bar) if you arrive much after 6 pm on the weekends though.
THE place to eat in Birmingham. Owned and operated by famed chef, Frank Stitt. Arguably the finest establishment in town. Call far in advance for reservations.
57 locals recommend
Highlands Bar & Grill
2011 11th Ave STHE place to eat in Birmingham. Owned and operated by famed chef, Frank Stitt. Arguably the finest establishment in town. Call far in advance for reservations.
I have actually never been here because big, fatty breakfasts are honestly not my thing! But I often get requests from guests for nearby breakfast places, and Bogue's has a strong following. It is also just down the street and opens early.
9 locals recommend
Bogue's
3120 Clairmont AveI have actually never been here because big, fatty breakfasts are honestly not my thing! But I often get requests from guests for nearby breakfast places, and Bogue's has a strong following. It is also just down the street and opens early.
PERFECT place for Sat morning breakfast, right in the midst of the Pepper Place Farmer's Market, a weekly Birmingham ritual and institution. Great way to spend a Sat morning! (Pepper Place is open nearly year-round, rain or shine. But check their website, just in case you happen to be visiting the few weeks out of the year it is closed. ;)
14 locals recommend
The Red Cat Coffeehouse
2901 2nd Ave SPERFECT place for Sat morning breakfast, right in the midst of the Pepper Place Farmer's Market, a weekly Birmingham ritual and institution. Great way to spend a Sat morning! (Pepper Place is open nearly year-round, rain or shine. But check their website, just in case you happen to be visiting the few weeks out of the year it is closed. ;)
Farm to table, fresh from the owner's own local farm. Modern design with original artwork. The Basic Salad is exquisite. Located in walking distance! It's actually the closest restaurant to The Carriage House. Check for hours.
Whistling Table
430 41st St SFarm to table, fresh from the owner's own local farm. Modern design with original artwork. The Basic Salad is exquisite. Located in walking distance! It's actually the closest restaurant to The Carriage House. Check for hours.
Seeds Coffee Co. - Lakeview
2808 7th Ave S Really good coffee.
The Abbey Coffee Shop
131 41st St SIt's on the way to the airport.
Entertainment & Activities
B'Ham Zoo station
Mcwane Center IMAX
200 19th St NCatch a Baron's Baseball game! Located directly across the street from Railroad Park.
Regions Field (14th St & 1st Ave S) station
Catch a Baron's Baseball game! Located directly across the street from Railroad Park.
Shopping
Zoe Forest Park
3900 Clairmont AveLocal, in walking distance. Unique, vintage finds.
The perfect Saturday morning excursion! Just a few blocks away, enjoy our local farmer's market. Packed with booths from local artisans and food producers. It's quite the gourmet experience. Bring home some local goodies for a culinary delight! Open from April - early December from 7am-noon, rain or shine. If you're here over the weekend, this is a must-do local activity!
55 locals recommend
The Market at Pepper Place | Saturday Farmers Market
2829 2nd Ave SThe perfect Saturday morning excursion! Just a few blocks away, enjoy our local farmer's market. Packed with booths from local artisans and food producers. It's quite the gourmet experience. Bring home some local goodies for a culinary delight! Open from April - early December from 7am-noon, rain or shine. If you're here over the weekend, this is a must-do local activity!
Shoppe
3815 Clairmont AveCute little garden shoppe in walking distance, right down the street!
The Summit Birmingham
214 Summit BlvdEnglish Village
Local shopping and dining.
Savage's Bakery is excellent, but it is also located on the main street through downtown Homewood, which has a ton of great, local shopping. It's fun to walk down the street and shop or pick up a bite to eat.
Savage's Bakery
2916 18th St SSavage's Bakery is excellent, but it is also located on the main street through downtown Homewood, which has a ton of great, local shopping. It's fun to walk down the street and shop or pick up a bite to eat.
Mountain Brook Village
Local shopping and dining.
Surin has great sushi, but this address will also take you to the main street through Crestline Village, which has some great local shopping and dining.
Surin of Thailand
64 Church StSurin has great sushi, but this address will also take you to the main street through Crestline Village, which has some great local shopping and dining.
Essentials
Piggly Wiggly Clairmont
3314 Clairmont AveCVS
1431 11th Ave SWalgreens
3020 Clairmont AveNewer than CVS.