Oxford

Located in Alabama's Calhoun County, which is known as a dynamic growing area, Oxford has a down-home style that is edged by high energy possibilities. A mix of restaurants, shopping, cultural and historic entertainments are available in a multi-city area consisting of Oxford, Anniston, Jacksonville, Piedmont, Ohatche, Weaver and Hobson City. Oxford event venues are some of the top in the area. Oxford is a 45-minute drive from Birmingham International Airport and about a 90-minute drive to Atlanta International Airport, which is a significant Delta Airlines hub. While there are no shuttles available, the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau has a transportation alliance that provides transportation for meeting groups. Chief among convention venues, Oxford Civic Center completed a renovation project in early 2013 that added an entire meeting section with 12 function rooms, the largest able to seat up to 250 people. (There is also a gym that can host a banquet for up to 1,000 people.) Augmenting those facilities are several hotel venues in Oxford; the largest, the 124-room Hilton Garden Inn, has four meeting rooms and a ballroom that can seat up to 300 people. Other hotels with small meeting space include the 92-room Courtyard Marriott, with 1,220 square feet that can accommodate up to 100 people; the 81-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, with 900 square feet in two rooms; the 101-room Hampton Inn, with 888 square feet; and the 80-room Holiday Inn Express, with a meeting room to host up to 100 people. In May 2013, the Oxford Performing Arts Center opened after a two-year renovation of the City Hall, which began as a school in the 1920s. That $10.4-million facility has a 1,146-seat theater available for group rental. The Oxford area, including neighboring Anniston and Talladega, has a number of different venues for special events. Among the most popular are Oxford Lake, Anniston Natural History Museum, Berman Museum, Botanical Gardens, White Oak Vineyard, Jacksonville State University, Talladega Super Speedway, and Fort McClellan. When it comes to eating out in Oxford, the city offers a number of popular restaurant chains, such as Golden Corral, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. There are also distinctive eateries famous in the area for their cuisine, such as Gargrerick's Cafe, with its pecan-crusted grouper; Brad's Bar BQ, known for its ribs, and Yume, serving a fusion of Asian cuisines that includes Japanese sushi and hibachi dishes, as well as Korean and Thai influences.