Birmingham--Our Day Trip & A Question (Mobile, Huntsville: weekend getaway, work, house)

[dramamama]

We drove to Birmingham today so I could attend a meeting down there. Any rate, the drive was totally easy and uneventful despite the rain. To and from Bham we kept saying, wow, it's a lot easier to do this than going to Baltimore Inner Harbor in NoVA. When we got there we had time to kill before the DH and my daughter left to go check out the galleria off of I65. We thought we were going to the Whole Foods, but ended up in the village of Mountain Brook by accident. It was delightful: found a cool Jewish Deli, very fun shops (super expensive too) and a unique, almost European, tudor flair. LOVED IT! We were told about two other villages that were "new" and tried to find one in Homewood before I went to my meetng, but failed. Also missed Whole Foods but will find that easy enough. They dropped me at my meeting place and went to the Galleria Mall for shopping. Then when my meeting was done, they got me and I went back to the big mall with them.

It was very noisy, lots of glass and light, but tons of echoing. Not a lot of upscale furniture type stores like I'd expect of a galleria mall (eg Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Etc) but there was a Forever 21 and a Delia's so my girl was happy. Great food court as well.

So, two questions--probably need to post this on Bham site too but too lazy--where are the other villages like Mountain Brook and does one of them house Whole Foods?

And there is an upscale castle looking Marriott that we want to go stay at for relaxation in Hoover, AL... anyone know about it? I have the web site, so I don't need it now, but just want to know if anyone has stayed there and has inside info.

Thanks!

[gsp4ever]

Whole foods is off of US 280 not too far from the Summit--which is at the Junction of I-459 and US-280. You'll find Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, SAKs, etc. there. Were you the one who like CA Pizza Kitchen? It's at the Summit too.
The Summit Birmingham - Home

The only "quaint village" types of places I could think of would be Vestavia Hills and Homewood (in addition to Mtn. Brook). They are all relatively close to each other and sort of "on the other side of town" from the Galleria.

I'm not going to be able to give you very good directions but you would take I-20/I-59 East towards Atlanta/Gadsden as you are coming into downtown from Huntsville. Then you would take US-31 South. This gets you into these areas.

What I think of as Homewood's "Village" is on Oxmoor Road (you can also access this from Lakeshore Drive of I-65) and Vestavia Hill's "Village" would be on Rocky Ridge Road. You could do a mapquest for Vestavia Hills High School and Homewood Public Libraray to get very close.

[dramamama]

Thanks--we were on Oxmoor but we just saw a small village. I think it might have been it but it didn't look too new--it's SOHO as someone told us while we were there. I am definitely going to the Whole Foods--and Penzey's Spices is around there as well. We're going to the Rossbridge marriott next weekend for two nights and just chillaxing--it's been a long, hard working summer for us and school started pretty early. We only had a 6 week break. Any way, that resort is close to the Galleria so my daughter and I can shop while my hubby golfs, there are two pools (one indoor and one outdoor) and a spa (I am getting my pedicure/manicure for sure that weekend). I can't wait to go. This whole area is just lovely--the drive was super easy. It's just great living somwhere where things are so accessible.

[gsp4ever]

Small Village--I think that's it. Maybe there is something else that I'm not aware of. I'd love to know more about the Rossbridge Marriott. A friend and I were considering going there for a weekend away. The Summitt isn't *that* far away from the Galleria--maybe 15-20 minutes on I-459. You may have some time to check it out during your weekend getaway. Those "over the mountain" areas near B'ham are very nice and are the only other places I'd consider living in AL.

Sometime, you might consider planning a getaway to the Marriott Grand at Point Clear, AL. Wonderful golf and a very nice resort down on Mobile Bay. Very classy--I love it there. Would be nice for a long weekend.

[Mawoods]

The castle like resort you mention is Ross Bridge. It is beautiful. Our daughter was married there and we had the whole weekend there with golf, parties, wedding and reception. It is a nice getaway with even a spa which all of us women enjoyed one day too. A little expensive but very nice.

[dramamama]

Originally Posted by Mawoods

The castle like resort you mention is Ross Bridge. It is beautiful. Our daughter was married there and we had the whole weekend there with golf, parties, wedding and reception. It is a nice getaway with even a spa which all of us women enjoyed one day too. A little expensive but very nice.

We are booked for next weekend and I can't wait! It'll be nice to truly get away from it all. I'd like to check out Point Clear as well. Is it fairly close to the beach? I will have to look on the website.

How wonderful that your daughter's wedding was so lovely. What a fabulous venue!!

[Southlander]

There are several "themed" areas built many years ago in the Mt. Brook-Vestavia-Homewood area. One of the neatest is "Hollywood," a section in Homewood that has sort of Spanish Colonial-style architecture.
There are a couple of other neighborhoods in north Birmingham that date back to the turn of the last century and are full of wonderful homes, but the areas have fallen on hard times. On of the posters in the B'ham forum is restoring one of them.

Remember, Birmingham is not that old a city. It didn't even exist during the Civil War. Much of the growth there was quite rapid in the early part of the 20th century. I wish they offered a tour of downtown architecture - there are some truly lovely old buildings there.

Yes, I would suggest a visit to the B'ham board - they are quite friendly and can give you specific directions to various areas.

Here's a link to the Birmingham visitors' center: www.birminghamal.org

[dramamama]

Thanks for the info--we saw the Hollywood homes--very very cool!

[Mawoods]

one thing that is fun to do in Birmingham is a visit to Schloss Furnace along with a visit to Tannenhill Park. You get a feel and knowledge of what the area was like and the importance of coal and the steel industry there. The Furnace is free and the park is very reasonable like 3 dollars.

[cjaila]

Dramamama,

It appears that you and your girl like to go shopping and hanging out. By all means go to the Summit. I think you both will have a wonderful time there. And they have some great restaurants around their too. Also, if you have time, take a drive through the Southside area, close to UAB and Vulcan park. It is lovely there as well.