The South is known for being a friendly place, but Southern Living recently spotlighted a group of businesses that take it to the next level -- and three of them are right here in Alabama.

As part of their “20 Friendliest Places In The South” story, readers nominated thousands of businesses from across the region that they felt were the most welcoming before editors narrowed it down to their top picks. Among them were three with locations in Alabama: Bottega restaurant in Birmingham; The Laurel Hotel And Spa in Auburn; and WaWa convenience stores, which has several locations in the Mobile area.

Bottega has been a beloved restaurant in Birmingham since opening in 1988 and has often been recognized for four-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Frank Stitt’s Southern-Italian fare, but i

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