Taking off Travel blog

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.

About a year ago we wrote about strange celebrations from around the world. Now it’s time to add to that list.

Camel Wrestling

I’ve always been fascinated by camels - they have a certain sort of lumpen elegance and the fact that they can survive in harsh conditions makes them worthy of respect. However, I certainly wouldn’t want to wrestle one. But that’s just what happens in the Aegean region of Turkey. It seems the camels spend a lot of time pushing and shoving before heading for the crowd, which is when it gets really exciting. I’d certainly pick up my heels to avoid a ton of overexcited camel, wouldn’t you?

Read more »

Sometimes the most exciting attractions are those closest to home - and we never make the time to visit. We figure there will always be time to get there. I discovered one of those attractions on my recent visit to England. I’d lived in Nottingham for around eight years, yet had never visited Nottingham Castle. And it probably wouldn’t have occurred to me to make it a priority had it not been for my daughter.

Model of Nottingham Castle

We’ve been reading the tales of Robin Hood at home, and once she knew we would be visiting Nottingham, she asked if she could see the castle. We agreed, and I have to say that it’s the best £3.50 I’ve ever spent. We approached from Castle Gate, one of the old entrances to the walled city. Outside the castle is a statue of Robin Hood, as well as plaques depicting scenes from the well known tales.

Once inside, there was plenty to look at. We bypassed the children’s play area, where kids could sit on tiny horses and pretend to joust or clamber over a wooden climbing frame. Instead, we headed to the top level, which gave a panoramic view of the city. You could see why that was a good location for a castle, as inhabitants would have been able to spot their enemies from any angle.

We then went into the castle itself, hopeful of going even higher, but alas, the top level was closed off as it was too unstable to permit visitors. Perfectly acceptable in a castle that dates back to the 1670s. The site itself has housed a castle at least since the Norman Conquest. Inside there were three art exhibitions, ornate decorations, including a stunning coat of arms mosaic on the ground floor, and an entertaining video showing some of the uses of the caves under the castle.

For me, though, the highlight was the history of Nottingham City exhibition, which starts with the earliest known information and works its way to the present. You can see armor, chain mail, spears, saddles, clothing and more which bring the different periods to life. There are also several good models of the city at different eras. This is one location that’s well worth a visit.

Chicago O’ Hare Airport is one of the busiest in the US, with more than 70 million people a year passing through its terminal doors. If you’re going to fly through there, then it pays to know what’s on offer when it comes to flights, amenities and parking.

Terminals And Airlines

O’Hare Airport uses four terminals, each with restaurants, shops, ATMs and business services. Most of the international carriers use Terminal 5, while other flights are routed through Terminals 1, 2 or 3. You can find the airport layout here (PDF).

Most domestic carriers and a wide range of international ones fly though O’Hare Airport. In general, the airline you travel with will determine your gate, though there are occasional exceptions. The normal boarding gates for airlines flying out of O’Hare are listed in this O’Hare airport guide.

Amenities

As well as the services listed above, O’Hare Airport has other useful amenities including:

• facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including a visual paging system and accessible transport between terminals.
• Taxi service
• Wi-fi internet and several power workstations where passengers can recharge electronic devices free of charge.
• Touchscreen virtual concierges

Read more »

Albany International Airport (ALB) has come a long way since its origins as the first municipal landing site for planes on a polo field three miles north of the city. The airport played host to many of the most famous aviators of the early 20th century, including Charles Lindbergh. These days, it is a busy commercial airport, with around 180 arrivals and departures each day. We’ve already looked at attractions around JFK and LaGuardia, but what do you do on a layover in Albany?

State Capitol Staircase, Albany, NY

Exploring History

One of the best things to do in Albany is to explore the city’s history. As the oldest surviving European settlement from the original 13 colonies, it has a lot to explore. Options include the Georgian home of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler, which dates from 1761 and includes 18th century furniture and art. The Albany Institute of History and Art is another must see. It is one of the oldest museums in the US and was founded in 1791.

From Shakers To Slater

The Shakers played a major role in the area’s history, including providing some of the land that became part of the airport. The Shaker Heritage Society preserves this history and offers you the chance to visit America’s first Shaker settlement - a 770 acre site. Explore history from a different perspective by visiting the USS Slater, a refurbished Cannon Class destroyer escort. Also worth a look when it’s reopened is Cherry Hill, which houses a collection amassed by the Van Rensselaer and Rankin families over 176 years.

Read more »