Airport
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
IATA Code: BHMLocation: The airport is conveniently located five miles (8km) from Birmingham's downtown business district.
Time: GMT ?6 (GMT ?5 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 205 595 0533
Transfer to the city: Several shuttle services, including the Airport Express and the Birmingham Door to Door, operate between the airport and the city, but reservations must be made prior to arrival. Taxi services are available 24 hours a day at ground level outside the baggage claim area.
Car rental: Rental car counters are located at ground level near the baggage claim area and Concourse B. Vendors include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Thrifty, Enterprise, National and Hertz.
Facilities: Facilities at the airport include restaurants, bars, shops, fax/copy and package delivery services, currency exchange, wireless Internet and tourist information. Two ATMs are available on the upper level between Concourses B and C. The business centre is located in this area as well.
Parking: The free Cell Phone Lot is recommended for drivers waiting to pick up a passenger. It is located on Airline Drive, a short distance from the terminal building. The airport's parking garage, located within easy walking distance of the terminal building, provides short-term parking at a rate of $1 per hour and $24 per day; and medium-stay parking at a rate of $1 per hour and $12 per day.
Departure tax: None.
Website: www.bhamintlairport.com
Visit worldtravels.com for the full guide to Birmingham Alabama. Build a complete Birmingham Alabama travel guide and email to your clients - sign up for a trial subscription of World Travels Pro.
Birmingham Alabama
Birmingham is Alabama's largest city, with nearly one million people living in the metropolitan area. Although it is a world-renowned financial and medical centre, its sophistication has not come at the expense of its Southern charm. The foothills of the Appalachian Mountains provide the backdrop for its tall buildings, cafés still specialise in country-fried steak and butter beans, and its history as a centre of segregation has been transformed into a future that celebrates African American heritage. Because it has retained a true Southern distinctiveness, it has been called the last major Southern city in America.
The city of Birmingham is rich in diverse architecture, with sleek office buildings as well as historic homes and landmark churches. Tree-lined streets, parks, the botanical gardens and the Birmingham Green, and a landscaped promenade running through the city mean visitors never feel far from nature. Trendy neighbourhoods have come alive in Birmingham, complete with antique shops, coffeehouses, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Especially popular areas include the Lakeview District, which was originally a resort area at the turn of the 20th century, and is now full of stylish entertainment options; and the Five Points South District, an eclectic area of restored historic buildings now popular with local university students.
Most significant, perhaps, is the Civil Rights District, a six-block section of the city in which major civil rights events took place. Here visitors can tour the 16th Street Baptist Church, the site of a bombing that killed four African American girls. The church was rebuilt and today continues to serve the community as an open-door institution. Also worth a visit is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which tells the story of African-American life and the struggle for equality through arresting multimedia exhibitions.
