Birmingham to Kannapolis train

Birmingham may not be the capital of Alabama, but it does hold the crown as both the cultural and entertainment capital of the Cotton State. The second-most populous city, Birmingham was founded during the Reconstruction Period, which followed the American Civil War.

Quietly going about its business as an industrial powerhouse, producing much of America's iron and steel, Birmingham didn't enter the world's consciousness until the Civil Rights Movement one hundred years later. It’s one of the 8 iconic cities on our Martin Luther King, Jr. road trip, as it’s the city where Dr. King wrote his famous “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” When visiting, be sure to stop at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn more about the city’s civil rights history.

Today known as America's 'Magic City,' new life has been blown into downtown Birmingham in recent years. Its streets have been cleaned up, allowing the city's historical gems such as the Alabama Theater to shine once more both by day and by night.

The Birmingham Museum of Art contains the most extensive collection of artworks in the southeastern United States. It's connected to the nightlife districts of Five Points South, Lakeview, and Uptown by a series of charming tree-lined public squares. Close by Five Points South also lies Red Mountain's Vulcan Park, home to the world's largest cast-iron statue. It was made for the St. Louis World Fair of 1904.

Birmingham is an important regional hub linking the Deep South, the Appalachian Mountains, and Piedmont. Travelers can easily reach other noteworthy destinations in the U.S., including Dallas, Phoenix, and Montgomery, thanks to the hundreds of bus and train routes to and from Birmingham.

Kannapolis is a city in the suburb of Charlotte, known for its unique, Greek-inspired name. The city is popular for its attractions and parks, especially as it has a rich history of music and motorsports. At Kannapolis, the love for music shows in the different theaters like the Gem Theatre and North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. It is an outdoor-friendly city with different parks, outdoor shows, train rides, animal preserves, and recreation areas, including Frank Liske Park, Village Park, and Fisher Farm for biking and hiking. Kannapolis also has Tiger World, an exotic preserve for endangered animals (with no Tiger Kings).

Kannapolis has a scenic vibe during the day, but at night, it has an exciting nightlife with different lounges, nightclubs, bars, taverns, lounges, and parties. The city also has a fast-growing craft beer scene, but wine lovers can also visit the Douglas Vineyards, the top winery in the city. Downtown Kannapolis has evolved into an entertainment district, as it features houses, businesses, restaurants, boutiques, and local stores.

While the closest major airport is CLT over in Charlotte, you can easily get to Kannapolis by train from over 20 other cities. Amtrak has the Amtrak Carolinian and Amtrak Piedmont with routes through the city. The city's public transportation is easy to access through Rider Transit services.