Get to Know Birmingham

Birmingham’s Neighborhoods

Enjoy these descriptions of Birmingham’s many neighborhoods written by women who love their communities!

Alabaster

Avondale

Avondale is experiencing a resurgence and renewal lately with a facelift to its park, historic houses being renovated, and many delicious eateries popping up (Melt, Fancy’s on Fifth, Big Spoon Creamery, and Cookie Dough Magic to name a few). Miss Eve’s story time at the Avondale Library is the stuff legends are made of. Sozo Trading Company is a fun store to find new, used, and repurposed clothes, art, jewelry, and items for your home.

Bessemer / McCalla

Living in McCalla is perfect if you like the feel of a rural town where you might see an occasional tractor driving down the road, but you also don’t want a trip to the store to be an hour drive one way. Downtown, along with several shopping and dining options, are just a short drive, yet homes are mostly situated on beautiful acreage with farmland and creeks around most turns. Tannehill State Park is a historical park that offers hiking, camping and outdoor recreation. Taking a train ride through the park and finishing the day at the ice cream shop are among favorites for families visiting Tannehill. Alabama Splash Adventure is a water and amusement park located right where Bessemer and McCalla meet. A family can spend a day having a blast at the park or for a very affordable price, especially with season passes. Many of the businesses in McCalla are family owned and operated, which makes shopping and dining more meaningful. And chances are, if you hang around very long, those families you are supporting will likely become your friends.

Calera

Center Point

Chelsea

After we were married, my husband and I bought our first house in Chelsea and we’ve been here ever since. In those past 14 years, Chelsea has experienced amazing growth, and it’s a wonderful place to raise a family. The city motto is: Chelsea- it’s all about family. Our son is a 4th grader at Chelsea Park Elementary, and our daughter will start kindergarten in the fall. I can’t say enough about the wonderful teachers and staff there. We have a great library that offers fun activities, and the second floor is dedicated entirely to kids’ books and movies. There are plenty of places to eat, with new restaurants continuing to open. Cute local shops abound, including a kids’ boutique, women’s clothing shops, gift shops, coffee shops, a bakery, and lots more.
Named the fastest growing city in Alabama in 2017, Chelsea is a great place to be!

Clay

Crestline

Crestwood

Less than 5 miles to downtown Birmingham, even closer to Pepper Place, and right next door to Avondale – you’ll find Crestwood. It was the unique, historic homes on the north side that originally drew us in to this neighborhood, but it was the sense of community that sealed the deal for us! I’ll never forget driving through Crestwood for the very first time and seeing neighbors smiling and waving around every corner. When we moved in they welcomed us with baked goods and quickly became the people we call to borrow a cup of sugar (yes, really!) or a tool when we’re working on a home improvement project. You’ll find us chatting over cocktails on spring afternoons while our children play together in the yard, or stopping to meet new neighbors and talk while out on a walk. Crestwood has its own unique culture – so there’s always an interesting conversation to be had! There are artists and entrepreneurs, doctors and dancers, musicians and athletes, religious clergy and retirees, students and politicians, liberals and conservatives. We have neighbors from Germany, Brazil, England, Australia, and Eastern Europe – just to name a few! (Not to mention children adopted from Haiti, Thailand, Ethiopia, and China!) We’re all so different – but we come together to celebrate and enjoy one another at block parties, alley parties, parades, and progressive dinners. If you’re looking for a friendly, welcoming community – won’t you be our neighbor?

Fairfield

Fultondale

Gardendale

Nestled in between busy city life and rural country life, Gardendale offers its residents the best of both worlds. Welcoming new, state-of-the-art medical facilities, locally owned shops and restaurants, and plenty of family recreational activities, our community has been filled with growth. I’ve loved calling Gardendale home for the last twenty years!

Helena

Homewood

Homewood is such a fun, walkable community thanks to the Lakeshore Trail and neighborhood sidewalks that lead to fabulous parks (Homewood Central Park, Homewood-Overton Park, and Patriot Park) and fantastic food (Homewood Gourmet, Cookie Fix, O’Carr’s, Ash, and Gianmarco’s to name a few). Be sure to check out its many boutiques and shops local only to Homewood (including Sikes, Alabama Goods, Birmingham Bubbles, and Little Professor Bookstore)!

Hoover {Bluff Park / Green Valley}

If you’re new to the area, you might be introduced to the “new” Hoover, those parts that run along Highways 150 and 280. But you should definitely check out “old” Hoover, the original city area that runs along Highway 31 and up the mountain along Patton Chapel and Shades Crest Roads. Here you’ll find well-constructed homes on larger lots with quick access to Moss Rock Park, shopping, neighborhood schools, community pools, and more. Plus the Hoover Library and Rec Center are close by! What I love most about this “old” Hoover where I grew up are the neighborhoods that maintain their timeless value but keep you close to modern conveniences.

Hoover 

Hueytown

Irondale

Leeds

Leeds is a small tri-county city located off of I-20 East of Birmingham; convenient to downtown, Trussville, and 280. While easily accessible to larger areas of greater Birmingham, it retains a family-friendly small town charm. Downtown Leeds has the library, the original Pants Store, Mum & Me Mercantile, Green Up Garden Shop, Tails & Ales, other various businesses and the newest addition, the restaurant The Three-Eared Rabbit! Leeds also has a new primary school which is located in the municipal area near the local splash pad. The splash pad is a fun spot in the summertime and free for residents! Another fun free spot is the Veteran’s Park located off of 119 with part of the Cahaba River flowing through. It is a large, beautiful, natural space for family & friends to gather.

Minor

Montevallo

Moody

When you love the Birmingham area but you don’t want to live right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city, there’s Moody. Just off I-20, only a short ride from Birmingham, Moody has what you want in a family-friendly city. Moody has nice neighborhoods full of homes with spacious back yards, a city park that offers Little League and soccer, ample choices for a church, and a few hidden gems for kid entertainment – like the Moody Splash Pad and Playgrounds (located inside the Common Grounds coffee shop). The public schools in Moody get good reports, and there are a couple of choices for private school nearby. The home school population in the area is large as well, so no matter your family’s choice for education, you’ll find what you need in Moody. Since Moody is not in Jefferson County, expect to find it a little more affordable than other Birmingham suburbs while still being close enough to enjoy all the city has to offer.

Morris/Kimberly/Warrior

Mountain Brook

Mt. Laurel

Pelham

Pinson

Pleasant Grove

Springville

Springville is a quaint, small town with more to offer than what meets the eye. With their award-winning schools, historic downtown district, and beautiful landscapes, we are proud to call Springville home. A visit to Springville’s downtown historic district can include a trip to an antique mall, several boutiques, and salons. My favorite is a stop for lunch at The Springville Café and dessert at Laster Sundries on Main for the best ice cream around. A nearby park, volleyball field, walking trial, fishing pond, and splash pad are within walking distance of the historic downtown district. The community is quickly growing with several new construction opportunities to fit a variety of styles/budgets. Springville even offers its very own Children’s Library that hosts a variety of activities from toddler story time to book clubs for teens/preteens. Springville continues to welcome growth with new businesses and a brand new state-of-the-art pediatrics office. We love the small town feel of Springville for our young, growing family while still being convenient to all Birmingham has to offer.

Trussville

Tuscaloosa

Vestavia

Vestavia Hills is centrally located within the Over the Mountain area of Birmingham with easy access to Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook, and the 280 area. It is an amazing community with great schools and wonderful local restaurants. The library in the forest is also amazing! Cahaba Heights has a particularly great sense of community with its village feel. So, enjoy a great meal, a day at the library, or take in a high school football game with your neighbors!

Exploring Birmingham

A Perfect Day in Mountain Brook

A Perfect Day in Bluff Park

A Perfect Day in Homewood

A Perfect Day in Trussville

A Perfect Day North of the City

A Perfect Day in Crestwood

A Perfect Day in Avondale