First-time visitors to Birmingham say time and again that they “never knew how beautiful it is.” With the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains as a dramatic backdrop, the city is laid out on a series of lush rolling hills and takes advantage of its surroundings with 4,000 acres of parks and stunning golf courses.
But the natural beauty of the area is only part of what makes Birmingham special. The same people awestruck by its picturesque landscapes will tell you they never expected to encounter a city with so much charm, hospitality, and abundance of things to do.
James Beard and the BJCC
Meeting-goers love nothing more than a great meal, and Birmingham has rightfully earned a reputation for being able to provide that in spades. (There is a reason it is called the “Dinner Table of the South!”) So, should you mistakenly have it pigeonholed as serving only barbecue and fried pies, prepare to loosen your belt a notch. Here in Birmingham, you can hardly throw a martini olive without striking a James Beard Foundation award-winner or nominee.
The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) has meeting facilities all on one campus. The BJCC complex campus has 350,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space. It includes a 16,500-seat arena and 4,000 seats in two theaters, along with two hotels and a dining and entertainment district.
Must-See Attractions
Visitors typically find the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of vintage and contemporary motorcycles alongside a dramatic racetrack, to be a fascinating diversion.
Guests of the city might also experience the story of Birmingham’s role in the long march to civil rights as told at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the focal point of the city’s Civil Rights District, now Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
