New York Times Article comparing Birmingham and Nashville (Montgomery, Huntsville: city hall, tech jobs)

[bfmx1]

Originally Posted by _OT

When you think about it; not a lot of people are traveling to cities for outdoor activities, maybe LA and Miami, but it’s not really common as you may think. Not even Austin or Nashville.

I agree. Maybe Denver, Ashville/Charlotte for the smokeys, and of course parts of CA and Miami for obvious reasons. Which is why I say it's not good to try to promote it when it's not very promotable. I would say the same about 90% of cities in the US.

[Shakeesha]

Originally Posted by _OT

When you think about it; not a lot of people are traveling to cities for outdoor activities, maybe LA and Miami, but it’s not really common as you may think. Not even Austin or Nashville.

I disagree. Thousands come every year for Nashville's lakes and hiking. Middle Tennessee is very outdoorsy.

[_OT]

Originally Posted by Shakeesha

I disagree. Thousands come every year for Nashville's lakes and hiking. Middle Tennessee is very outdoorsy.

Statiscally, thousands go to Birmingham for outdoor activities, that’s still doesn’t mean Birmingham is a tourist spot in regards to its outdoor activities; same for Nashville.

It’s not normally a draw for either Nashville or Birmingham. If you go out to LA, and you spark a random conversation about Nashville’s Tourist Attractions, you know, and I know what’ll exactly be brought up the most, and it doesn’t involve outdoor activities. In this case, same thing goes for Birmingham.

If someone is going to spend $$$ to go to a lake and go hiking, especially in Tennessee, why go to Nashville?

[BamaDave]

Originally Posted by JesseRohr

Forgive me, but as one who works in the secondary education system I would believe you've got a bit of a bias towards the magic bullet to fix the metro. Nothing wrong with that, but I would just disagree. Skilled workers and educated workers are not one in the same.

I have a hard time believing clubbing residents over the head with more college is hardly an answer to attract businesses here. The residents leave here chasing high paying jobs available elsewhere because many of the other metros have more to offer.

My impression was the Superintendent and Chancellor were talking about education in general and how it needed to be improved at all levels, but the specific meetings with manufacturers who were considering moving to Alabama were disappointed with the lack of basic skills (not college level) among potential employees. This is anecdotal, as they didn't give any specific examples.

I absolutely agree that college is not an answer for everybody. Two year schools can help many, since they offer a lot of skills-based programs; however, you still have to be able to communicate and do basic math to succeed in those areas as well.

[BamaDave]

Originally Posted by _OT

Statiscally, thousands go to Birmingham for outdoor activities, that’s still doesn’t mean Birmingham is a tourist spot in regards to its outdoor activities; same for Nashville.

I could see the outdoor activities in Nashville being a secondary draw for things to do if someone visits for a few days. My wife and I like to mix up city stuff and outdoor stuff when we visit places that offer both. However, I agree that outdoorsy stuff isn't really a primary draw for tourists in either Nashville or Birmingham.

I absolutely think Birmingham's setting should be a major selling point for recruiting new employees. The city doesn't take advantage of its natural beauty. Why don't we have more restaurants and bars where you can sit out and look over the city lights, for example?

[jero23]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

I could see the outdoor activities in Nashville being a secondary draw for things to do if someone visits for a few days. My wife and I like to mix up city stuff and outdoor stuff when we visit places that offer both. However, I agree that outdoorsy stuff isn't really a primary draw for tourists in either Nashville or Birmingham.

I absolutely think Birmingham's setting should be a major selling point for recruiting new employees. The city doesn't take advantage of its natural beauty. Why don't we have more restaurants and bars where you can sit out and look over the city lights, for example?

Many of the newer restaurants are taking advantage of the scenery. Especially, the newly developments do include outdoor elements such as patios with great views of the City and Red Mountain.

[JesseRohr]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

I absolutely think Birmingham's setting should be a major selling point for recruiting new employees. The city doesn't take advantage of its natural beauty.

This x100

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

I absolutely think Birmingham's setting should be a major selling point for recruiting new employees. The city doesn't take advantage of its natural beauty. Why don't we have more restaurants and bars where you can sit out and look over the city lights, for example?

It seems that pretty much everybody I've ever encountered who comes to Birmingham for the first time remarks on its beauty. As in, "I kind of thought it would just be flat." Mind you, it's not Asheville or Denver. But it does speak to the fact that no one really is aware that the surrounding area is quite graceful.

[mcalumni01]

Are there going to be people outside the region to know about birmingham nature scene. Probably not. I highly doubt it if the city is running radio and tv ad's about red mountain and ruffner mountain and other amenties in other cities media market. Most tourist spots in this country that people know off hand has been popular for many decades. Is the city using social media and the internet to promote spots around the city, more than likely.

There are websites dedicated to both mountains area, vulcan park sit on top of red mountain. Everyone visits vulcan. Their are many people that comes in town on business or school tours and make their way to different spots in town every year, all year. Just because the majority of us don't see it, don't mean it's not happening.

When people think of alabama, they think of it as portrayed thru television and movies. So of course they are suprised when they make a trip and see tall buildings, paved streets, entertainment options, diversity of people, mountains, etc. because backward, stuck in the past image is what's been market thru the entertainment media companies.

Alabama is a poor state to begin with. So wanting things to be like florida, california, new york, texas, and others are just unrealistic. Birmingham has what it have from local people wanting to make change and invest time and effort into bringing more things to the city. Can it happen at a faster pace. Maybe, perhaps. That would be great. But it is what it. is right now.

[Shakeesha]

Originally Posted by _OT

Statiscally, thousands go to Birmingham for outdoor activities, that’s still doesn’t mean Birmingham is a tourist spot in regards to its outdoor activities; same for Nashville.

It’s not normally a draw for either Nashville or Birmingham. If you go out to LA, and you spark a random conversation about Nashville’s Tourist Attractions, you know, and I know what’ll exactly be brought up the most, and it doesn’t involve outdoor activities. In this case, same thing goes for Birmingham.

If someone is going to spend $$$ to go to a lake and go hiking, especially in Tennessee, why go to Nashville?

No it's not the same for Nashville. This includes outdoor parks and festivals. Not even close.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...ties-nashville

https://www.visitmusiccity.com/visit...odo/outdoorfun

https://www.tennessean.com/story/ent...est/417450002/

https://www.cmaworld.com/cma-fest-so...-year-history/

https://www.nashvilleshores.com