BIRMINGHAM OVERVIEW

Birmingham, the largest city in the state, is located in north-central Alabama, surrounded by the wooded foothills of the Appalachian mountain range. At the same time, the Birmingham area has a population of more than 1 million, with an abundance of housing options, entertainment, shopping, sports and the arts. Birmingham is a great restaurant city, from BBQ to national award-winning cuisine. It is a major center of banking, health care, biotechnology, education, and insurance in the Southeast. Yet it is less than a day's drive from Gulf of Mexico beaches or the great mountain ranges of the Southeast. The climate is outstanding!

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a major urban university with more than 17,000 students and employment of 19,000, thus offering extensive educational and employment opportunities. UAB creates a hub of entertainment and housing in nearby neighborhood areas of Southside, Lakeview, Homewood and Forest Park. The low cost of living provides approximately 10% increase in your purchasing power in comparison to other major university towns. Come for a visit, and you will not want to leave!

BASICS 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

• Alabama Ballet
• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
• Alabama Symphony Orchestra
• The Alabama Theatre
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens
• Birmingham Dining
• Birmingham Museum of Art (see Summer Art on the Rocks)
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• McWane Center (science center & IMAX)
• Pepper Place Saturday Market
• Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
• Alabama Adventure (Visionland)

RECREATION & SPORTS

• Alabama beaches
• Barber Motorsports Park and Museum
• Birmingham Barons Baseball
• Birmingham Bike Club
• Birmingham Track Club
• Birmingham Zoo
• Bump N' Grind mountain bike race
• Mercedes Marathon
• Oak Mountain State Park
• Outdoor Club South 
• Xterra triathlon

PUBLICATIONS & NEWS

• activeculture.info
• Birmingham Convention and Visitors' Bureau
• Black and White Birmingham City Paper
• The Birmingham News