Homewood Travel Guide

Discover the best things to do in Homewood, Alabama with our comprehensive travel guide. From hiking and biking routes to local eats and cultural attractions, we've got you covered.


Introduction to Homewood

Welcome to Homewood, a charming city located in Metropolitan Alabama, South United States of America. This city has a unique blend of metropolitan living and southern hospitality. Homewood boasts a plethora of activities, attractions, and things to do. Whether you’re here for a short stay or a long visit, this guide will help you discover everything that Homewood has to offer.

List of Places to Visit in Homewood

Get ready to explore Homewood with this list of must-see attractions:

Culturally Important Attractions: Museums and Historical Places

  • Homewood Historical Society Museum: This museum showcases the history of Homewood and the surrounding areas, including photographs, documents, and artifacts.
  • Vulcan Park and Museum: A massive, 56-foot statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking, perches atop Red Mountain, overlooking the city. The museum provides insight into the statue’s unique construction and history.
  • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: This museum features exhibits, videos, and interactive installations that highlight the Civil Rights era of the 1960s.

Natural Attractions of Homewood: Outdoor Adventures and Scenic Views

  • Oak Mountain State Park: One of the largest state parks in Alabama, Oak Mountain offers excellent hiking trails, biking, and camping.
  • Alabama Wildlife Center: Explore the wildlife of Alabama through its diverse animals and birds. Kids will love interacting with Alabama’s furry friends and learning about the state’s ecology.
  • Red Mountain Park: While visiting Homewood, enjoy outdoor recreational activities, including scenic views across Birmingham from Red Mountain Park and fresh air.

Hiking/Biking Routes of Homewood

For those who love outdoor activities, Homewood offers miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. A few must-visit trails are:

  • Shades Creek Greenway Trail: This trail starts in Homewood and crosses both urban and natural settings. The trail is accessible for walkers, joggers, and bikers.
  • Jemison Trail: A well-maintained trail located in the heart of Homewood features forested areas and picturesque views of Shades Creek and the surrounding woods.
  • Village Creek Trail: Follow this fun hiking trail through the vast greenery of Homewood with paved walkways in a park-like setting.

Best Things to Do in Homewood: Activities and Tours

Apart from hiking and biking, Homewood offers many more activities and tours that you’ll love, such as:

  • The homewood farmers market and Pop-Up among the trees: The farmers market never fails to impress customers with its fields of vegetables, seasonal fruit, meats, honey, and canned goods. It opens on Saturdays and Tuesday afternoons.
  • Magic City Sign Tour: Discover the history of Birmingham as it unfolds through its signs with this tour of iconic signs.
  • Cahaba Brewing Company: This locally-owned brewery offers an excellent taproom experience with some of the best beer in the state and brewery tours, only open during particular seasonings.

Week-Long Itinerary for Homewood

Here’s a sample itinerary to make the most of your time in Homewood:

Day Activity
Day 1 Visit Homewood Historical Society Museum, Vulcan Park and Museum, and have dinner at Hot & Hot Fish Club.
Day 2 Hiking at Oak Mountain State Park and head to the Alabama Wildlife Center.
Day 3 Self-Guided tour of Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and lunch at Niki’s West.
Day 4 Biking the Shades Creek Greenway Trail and have lunch at FLIP Burger Boutique.
Day 5 Village Creek Trail hiking and visit Botanical Gardens.
Day 6 Tour Cahaba Brewing Company and visit the Red Mountain Park.
Day 7 Pop-Up among the Trees and the Magic City sign tour. Have dinner at Farm Bowl + Juice Co.

Food and Drink Scene of Homewood

Home to an exciting food and drink scene, Homewood has plenty to satisfy your appetite. Here are the top must-try dishes and local beverages:

Must-Try Dishes

  • Fried Green Tomato Salad from Hot & Hot Fish Club: A crunchy twist of hot & crispy green crispy tom, packed with flavor and served with fluffy greens and slice red tomatoes.
  • Chicken and Waffles from Ashley Mac’s: A southern café favorite, this dish features a freshly made waffle with honey glistening in the crispy batter and served with batter-fried chicken strips, served with sweet peach jelly.
  • Burger and Fries from FLIP Burger Boutique: Gourmet burgers famous for creatively topped patty creations such as the Alabama Slammer burger or the Vegetable burger.

Local Beverages

  • Avondale Brewing Company: One of the most popular breweries in AL, this taproom pours a variety of distinct ales, lager, and seasonal beers. Coffee- and citrus-infused flavors are popular here.
  • Revelator Coffee Company: Get a caffeine fix by ordering some locally roasted coffee that supports local growth, a unique micro-roaster company located in Homewood, Alabama.

Where to Stay in Homewood: Hotels, Hostels, and Guesthouses

Homewood boasts various accommodations such as hotels, hostels, and guesthouses. Here are the top three hotels in Homewood:

  • Hampton Inn Birmingham-Homewood: Only 1.6 miles away from Downtown, the hotel rooms feature a TV, pillow-top mattresses, and microwaves. They offer free coffee and tea in the lobby.
  • Aloft Birmingham Soho Square: With its perfect location in Birmingham’s Homewood neighborhood, this 3-star hotel promises both comfort and convenience. They offer free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
  • Courtyard Birmingham Homewood: The Hotel rooms feature flat-screen TVs, work desks, and ergonomic chairs. They offer free coffee and tea in the lobby.

What to Buy in Homewood: Souvenirs and Local Products to Bring Home

Some local goods and gift shop ideas include:

  • Homewood Toy & Hobby: Children and adults interested in toys, craft supplies can find what they’re looking for. The shop has a vast collection of toys, hobby items, dolls to party items.
  • Alabama Goods: This store has the goal to keep Alabama local small businesses in operation by offering excellent quality and support local businesses. Find t-shirts, flowers, skin products, kitchenware, and even funny items here.

Local Culture and Customs of Homewood

Homewood is a Southern city, and traditional southern customs have influenced the local culture.

Best Time to Visit Homewood

The best time to visit Homewood is in the spring and fall, with moderate temperatures and beautiful foliage. Keep in mind that summers can be extremely hot and humid, and winters cold, especially in the mountainous areas. Homewood’s monsoon season is in January, making it a more unpleasant season for outdoor activities.

Do’s and Don’ts of Homewood

Here are some do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind while visiting Homewood:

Do:

  • Be respectful to local customs, people, and city monuments.
  • Visit attractions that bring cultural knowledge.
  • Have some fun shopping souvenir items and local products.

Don’t:

  • Littering publicly be fined.
  • Avoid discussing politics or controversial issues in public.
  • Disrespectful habit to locals and city attractions is deemed insulting.

Safety and Health

Homewood is a quite safe city with low crime rates. However, you should always be wary of your surroundings, particularly at night. As a visitor, it is always good to have travel insurance. Contact your embassy or consulate for more health and safety information.

Getting to Homewood: Transportation Options and Logistics

Homewood is easily accessible by air, train, and bus. Here are the most convenient modes of transportation:

Airports Near Homewood

  • Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport: Homewood can be easily reached via a 20-minute cab ride.

Bus Stations Near Homewood

  • Greyhound Bus Station: This bus station is conveniently located near downtown Homewood and is accessible by both local buses and taxis.

Other Options

  • Amtrak Train: From Birmingham Station, take the connecting train to Homewood Station.

How to Get Around in Homewood

Getting around Homewood is easy with numerous public transport options like buses and taxis. Additionally, Homewood has an extensive network of bike-friendly routes and trails.

Where to Go Next from Homewood - Nearby Destinations and Excursions

Homewood is ideally located to explore nearby destinations such as Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery. Visitors can explore the civil war museum in Tuscaloosa or the rocket center at Huntsville.

Conclusion

Homewood is a city that boasts a vast array of attractions, activities, and eateries, perfect for both business and leisure travelers. Explore the museums, get lost in nature, or indulge in some of the unique dishes at local restaurants. No matter what your interests are, Homewood is an exceptional place to visit.