Alabaster is a friendly, fast-growing suburb south of Birmingham with affordable housing, quiet neighborhoods, a compact downtown of restaurants and coffee shops, and ready access to outdoor recreation like nearby Oak Mountain State Park—great for travel therapists who want comfortable, low‑stress multi‑week stays with easy weekday routines and pleasant evenings.
When you want more action, downtown Birmingham (about a 20–30 minute drive) offers museums, live music, pro sports and an international airport, and Tuscaloosa (roughly 50–60 miles) brings college‑town events and nightlife, so you get small‑town calm with big‑city weekend options.