Cuba, Sardinia, Bolivia, and... Birmingham? Count the Magic City among the world's hottest vacation spots, as Birmingham has been named one of the Travel Channel's 'Next 11 Great Destinations!'

The Travel Channel published its list of the best cities to visit in 2016, and it's full of exotic locales like Cuba, Bolivia, Myanmar, and The Philippines. Places like Poland, Estonia, and The Republic of Georgia also made the cut.

It may be a bit of a surprise to see Birmingham counted among these destinations, but those familiar with recent revitalization efforts know there are many, many exciting things happening in the Magic City.

Here's what the Travel Channel had to say about Birmingham as a vacation destination:

This mid-sized southern city can now claim America’s oldest baseball park (Rickwood Field) and one of the newest with Regions Field, opened in 2013. Avondale Brewery,Good People Brewing and Trim Tab Brewing have all opened over the last few years, creating a craft beer scene to go along with the city’s serious culinary talent. The James Beard Awards nominated Highlands Bar & Grill in the national, Outstanding Restaurant category this year.

This January, the historic Lyric Theater will reopen across from the famous Alabama Theater downtown. Mae West, The Marx Brothers, Roy Rogers and Buster Keaton all found a spotlight in this vaudeville theater and after being shuttered for decades, it’s fully restored to its former glory. Expect national and global acts in performance art and music regularly.

Are you surprised to see Birmingham turning heads on an international scale?

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