WESLEY'S GUIDE: BIRMINGHAM, AL
***Written by Birmingham local, Wesley (@haveawesleyday and www.haveawesleyday.com). Wesley is a creative who currently resides in Birmingham, AL with her husband, Peyton, and her cat, Elmo. She has a true affinity for the “old school” way of doing things, and as often as she’s capturing daily life on her Instagram stories, she’s also capturing her latest travel venture on film. Curating content around a styled life has been a favorite creative outlet of hers since 2015 and has become her favorite way to connect with the creative industry.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL I’d argue any time, but prepare for intense Alabama heat during the summer. The great thing about Birmingham is that the cold never gets too intense, so you can enjoy most outdoor amenities year round.
WHERE TO STAY Historic Airbnbs — Birmingham is known for its beautiful, historic architecture, so don’t miss out on staying in a stunning downtown loft with exposed brick, or a spacious 100+ year-old home with loads of charm.
Aim for the Forest Park or Highland Park areas, Morris Ave, or Downtown close to 1st Ave N/20th Street N area.
friday.
Wake up early—and I mean early——to scoop up the highly coveted pastries at June (coffee shop) & Last Call Baking (bakery). The two live right next to each other, and June sells Last Call goodies in addition to the best Orange Fig Latte you’ll ever taste.
Venture over to Mountain Brook Village to enjoy a chicken salad sandwich (toasted on white) + limeade at Gilchrist, a historic little soda shop that’s been adored by the community since forever. Lots of time & love will be put into your meal, so prepare to sit & stay a while.
While you’re in the area, stroll around Mountain Brook village shops, where you’ll find boutiques stocked with curated, high-end finds like French antiques (French Door Antiques), fashion finds (Etc., M. Cory, Ex Voto, Tulipano), & home goods (A’Mano, Table Matters, details).
Choose Your Afternoon Adventure:
Visit one of the city’s popular breweries (Good People Brewing is my personal favorite!), Back Forty, or TrimTab for a relaxed experience.
Settle in at Golden Age Wine Garden (downtown) to sip your way through their extensive & worldly natural wine selection in their dreamy courtyard.
Have dinner downtown, with your choice of (arguably) the best restaurant scene in town. Make plans for authentic, upscale Mexican fare at Salud, or Trattoria ZaZa for an elevated pizza experience.
Walk over to catch an indie film at Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema and support one of Bham’s most beloved hubs for the arts.
If you’ve still got steam, cozy up in a booth at the Collins Bar for a night cap & have a uniquely curated cocktail experience, made to order based on your preferences.
saturday.
Get to Pepper Place Farmers Market early to stroll around before the heat of the day & pick up local produce & independent artist finds—and of course, pet all the dogs you can. FarmStand by Stone Hollow Farms is a favorite of mine!
Head to Forest Park to grab a coffee & brunch at General for the most chic European café vibes. Don’t miss the BLTJ (bacon, lettuce & tomato jam) sandwich. Post up for a little while and browse through their shop of European home goodies—I promise you won’t leave empty handed.
Head next door to Shoppe to stroll through their iconic greenhouse, pick up a plant to take home with you, or just stop & smell the roses (and take a couple of photos for the gram!)
Head to the Birmingham Museum of Art (free entry!) where you’ll be delightfully surprised to find an impressive art collection, including pieces from Sargent, Cassatt—and yes, even a prized Monet.
Visit The Garage for an afternoon brew in their tucked-away, eclectic courtyard. A storied local gem!
Choose Your Dinner Adventure:
Visit Bottega Café for authentic Italian fare in a vibrant setting. Be sure to order the off-menu ‘Orange Thing’ cocktail. The café does not take reservations, but is my preference to the white table cloth counterpart.
If you’re a Frenchie at heart, visit La Fête on Morris Avenue—an authentic French bistro with a très romantique atmosphere. Try Le Cheeseburger or the Steak Frites–two truly mouthwatering options.
sunday.
If you know me at all, you know I couldn’t leave out my Frenchie favorite: Continental Bakery. Stroll in to grab a coffee + pastry before settling in on the terrace to people-watch or enjoy your current read. Before you leave: scoop up a box of their artfully decorated shortbread cookies or macarons to take home with you.
If you have a little time to spare before you take off, visit the Botanical Gardens (just down the road from Continental!) to take in the beauty of the iconic rose garden, greenhouse & generally stunning grounds.
Pop into the on-site Leaf ’N Petal shop, in case you have a hankering for treating yourself to even more charming home goods & plants.
OTHER SPOTS NOT TO MISS…
Golden Age Wine Bar (Mountain Brook Village)
RAINY DAY ADVENTURES…
Visit local bookstores like Thank You Books & Little Professor
Spend a little extra time at the museum
Catch a matinee at the Alabama Theatre during their Summer Film Series
Browse through Seasick Records
Hunker down to sip on a matcha latte at Grounds + shop unique, slow fashion finds at Basic
Play classic indoor arcade games at UpDown