Birmingham lands on Travel Channel's list of '11 next great destinations'
By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
Birmingham, AL
An Alabama city needs to be one of your destinations this year, according to the Travel Channel.
The Travel Channel has somerecommendations if you want to spend 2016 jetting around the world.
What places are on their list for the "coolest passport stamps of 2016?" Bolivia ("food scene here is exploding!"); Coastal Cambodia ("sweet thatched hut for as low as $10 per night!"); and Uganda ("volcano hike to see the golden monkeys!")
Amid all those exotic destinations, however, is one much closer to home. Birmingham landed on the list of top 11 destinations for 2016. and is the only U.S. destination mentioned. Why Birmingham? Here's what the Travel Channel had to say:
"This mid-sized southern city can now claim America's oldest baseball park (Rickwood Field) and one of the newest with Regions Field, opened in 2013. Avondale Brewery, Good People Brewing and Trim Tab Brewing have all opened over the last few years, creating a craft beer scene to go along with the city's serious culinary talent. The James Beard Awards nominated Highlands Bar & Grill in the national, Outstanding Restaurant category this year.
This January, the historic Lyric Theater (see above gallery) will reopen across from the famous Alabama Theater downtown. Mae West, The Marx Brothers, Roy Rogers and Buster Keaton all found a spotlight in this vaudeville theater and after being shuttered for decades, it's fully restored to its former glory. Expect national and global acts in performance art and music regularly."
Well done, Magic City. Well done. Now about that city council and mayor...