National Geographic: Birmingham + other industrial cities are prime travel destinations

Birmingham is emerging as a prime travel destination, according to National Geographic.

This month, the venerable magazine highlights 10 U.S. industrial cities that have had a “glow up.” 

Unsurprisingly, The Magic City topped the list, followed by: 

• Buffalo
• Cleveland
• Detroit
• Lake Charles
• Pittsburgh
• Richmond, California
• St. Louis
• Tacoma 
• Wilmington, Delaware.

Birmingham attracting first-time visitors

Here is what National Geographic had to say about Birmingham and the other nine industrial cities: 

“After decades in decline, a handful of flyover or underrated cites are now attracting first-time visitors. With careful urban planning, corporate support, and community collaboration, these cities are nodding to their pasts while moving toward a more modern, and in some cases, sustainable future. Here are 10 industrial cities emerging as prime travel destinations.”

What brought about Birmingham’s comeback?

History and greenspaces. The publication recognized a number of The Magic City’s most beloved places:

• Sloss Furnaces
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens
• Vulcan Park
• Five Points South – notably Chez Fonfon
• Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 

Did National Geographic get it right? Tourism is on the rise in the Birmingham metro area with nearly four million people visiting in 2023. Thanks to recognition by a global publication such as National Geographic, those numbers should continue to climb.

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