Tag Archives: tourism

Regions Tradition makes Alabama top ten tourism list

Regions Tradition logo. Courtesy of official website.Back in August, the PGA Champions Tour announced that the Regions Charity Classic and the Jeld-Wen Tradition would be replaced with a new event at Shoal Creek on May 2-8, 2011 called the Regions Tradition.

They’ve even archived the audio from the announcement.

Last week in the midst of the last minute hustle and bustle before the holiday weekend, Alabama’s Department of Tourism included the event in a press release listing the state’s top 10 events for 2011 (it got included at No. 5 – though it looks like they’re listed in chronological order).

It’s the only event included on the list that takes place in Birmingham proper, with several events planned for Montgomery as part of the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

We’ve still got a feeling that the Year of Alabama Music is going to be a bigger deal, but that’s just us. If you don’t believe us though, maybe the web exclusives from this month’s Oxford American music issue on Alabama will change your mind…

Langford to suggest support for zoo expansion

Trails of Africa logoThis morning during Mayor Langford‘s  comments to the Birmingham City Council, he announced plans to present a proposed redevelopment agreement to councilors next week that would allow the Birmingham Zoo to begin work on its long planned expansion called Trails of Africa.

The mayor reported that the zoo, which is currently the state of Alabama’s #1 tourist attraction, has already raised more than $6 million for the 14-acre expansion but needs additional financial support to make it a reality. A report in The Birmingham News from September 2007 had zoo officials estimating the overall cost of the project at $15 million.

The City of Birmingham owns the zoo, but the property is operated by an independent 501©3 organization.

Image: Courtesy of Birmingham Zoo website