Exploring Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama in terms of population. The county seat of Jefferson County, the city has a population approaching 1.2m (according to 2007 estimates). The major airport is Birmingham-Shuttleworth International Airport (BHM). This link tells you more than you may want to know about its runways, but I’m going to focus on some of its other amenities.
The airport is located 4.5 miles east of downtown Birmingham, making it a breeze to get to, as well as putting the city within easy reach of travelers on a layover. It’s well served for parking, including our Birmingham airport parking lot and a cell phone lot. If you’re not driving yourself, then the major car hire companies are all easy to get to from the main terminal. The airport is fully accessible for disabled travelers too. Last year, BHM carried more than three million passengers.
Other facilities in the airport include:
- a food court
- two ATMs between concourses B and C on the upper level
- free WiFi
- shops
- a business centre
- international medical assistance
Venturing out of the airport, there’s lots to see in and around Birmingham itself.
Birmingham, Alabama Attractions
See lions, gorillas, rhinos, geckos and more at the Birmingham Zoo. You can tour the zoo on the Zoo Express train and enjoy a range of educational activities. There’s even overnight camping if you choose to pass up a stay in a hotel.
It stays warm in Birmingham, which means that plants really thrive at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Check out the tropical plants in the huge glass greenhouse and visit themed gardens to enjoy the sight and aroma of thousands of plant species. There are more than 10,000 to view on this 67.5 acre site.
Get a taste of Birmingham’s industrial history by visiting the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. The furnaces date back to the 1880s when they were a major part of the city’s steel industry. There’s a park and sculpture garden to see as well and, unless there’s an event on, admission is free.
The McWane Science Center is an interactive science museum, where visitors can experiment with the laws of physics, explore space, construct machinery and more. Whether you’re interested in coral, dinosaurs or robots, you will find something of interest here.
Combine shopping with sightseeing by visiting the Riverchase Galleria, which boasts the western hemisphere’s largest skylight. The huge glass atrium adds to the appeal. You can shop, eat and enjoy indoor fountains and gardens.
Finally, find out about Alabama’s contributions to jazz history at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. It’s amazing how many jazz greats got their start here.
Tags: Attractions, bhm airport parking, birmingham airport parking, offsite airport parking
