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Reflecting the modesty and courtesy that has come to define the Southeast - Birmingham has grown quietly but steadily into a thriving hub of the New South. And among the city's moss-covered oaks and stately plantations, alive in its spirited people and hard-learned lessons - this city's pulse beats as strongly with urbane progress as it does with Dixie charm. When you join the Macy's South team here, you're certain to experience both. In its epitome of polish and progress, Birmingham is arguably one of America's best-kept secrets. While Alabama's long been home to lavish natural resources (cotton is the crop you'll most likely recall, but an abundance of coal and iron ore also made it a bustling steel center), Birmingham has, over the years, diversified its economic foothold to include a refined portfolio of medical, educational, financial and technological enterprises. It's a town booming with big business ... and bigger opportunity! But if there is one reigning testament to the endurance of this city, it can be found in the gulf between Birmingham's turbulent past and its promising future. From an economically crippling collapse of the steel industry after World War II to the state's civil and political unrest in the 1960s - Birmingham faced tremendous adversity. But today's version is a strikingly different sight. And a stroll along this city's sidewalks reveal not only a strong, vibrant and dynamic community, but one who's talent for reinvention is evident just about everywhere you look. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham enjoys a voluptuous rolling terrain freckled with lakes, rivers and streams. And thanks to the city's temperate climate (averaging out to 45 degrees in the winter and 79 degrees in the summer), the outdoorsy types can enjoy Birmingham's rustic side all year-round. There's certainly plenty to enjoy! At Oak Mountain State Park, locals can go boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking, golfing or horseback riding. For the avid golfer, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers a network of courses throughout the state that have been dubbed as some of the best public golf on Earth. But for a taste of Birmingham's unadulterated landscape, a trip to Ruffner Mountain (the area's last undeveloped section of the Appalachian Mountains) offers seven miles of nature trails that amble through its dense forests and hilly terrain. Other outdoor adventures include the Birmingham Zoo, Botanical Gardens and the Rickwood and DeSoto Caverns. Outside of the city's natural splendor, Birmingham is brimming with historical, cultural and educational centers. With an important place in America's past, Birmingham pays homage to the events and people that helped shape the city. At the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, you can learn the stories behind some of the nation's greatest musical talents, including Nat King Cole, Erskine Hawkins and Amos Gordon. Similarly, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame honors state sport legends Jesse Owens and Willie Mays, among others. But arguably the city's most treasured historical landmarks are its Civil Rights District - a six-block tribute to the American Civil Rights Movement, and its Civil Rights Institute - a self-directed exhibit that remembers both the celebrated and unsung heroes of the Civil Rights era.
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