A Guide to Huntsville, AL

Located in mountainous northern Alabama, Huntsville is one of those unassuming cities you’ll fall in love with immediately. This is a place where science meets art and where there’s enough creative innovation to send astronauts to the moon – literally! Nicknamed Rocket City, come for the space exploration and stay for the mouthwatering food, rich culture, and hands-on history.

Watch our “Huntsville, Alabama” episode from Season 1’s “Places to Love” below:

Where to Stay in Huntsville

Right by the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa is in a great spot for all you’ll want to do while in town. It’s also right along a nice, 1.4-mile walking trail that’ll lead you along Big Spring and over to Big Spring International Park. Bonus – complimentary made-to-order breakfast!

What to Do in Huntsville

Spend the Day in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center 

While Houston is largely in charge of building and training astronauts, Huntsville controls the science experiments and developments. This is the place responsible for the rockets that put man on the moon and the first US satellite into orbit. Right now? It’s currently working on travel to Mars. Learn more about Huntsville’s “Rocket City” side at the impressive U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It’s an interactive museum and home to one of the largest collections of space artifacts. There’s a ton to do here, so make sure you have enough time. Whether you want to see a real Saturn V rocket up close, learn more about the Space Race, get a taste of what it’s like to train like an astronaut, or check out astronomy shows at the INTUITIVE® Planetarium, there’s truly so much to do and see here that it will blow your mind! Whatever you do, don’t shy away from chatting with the center’s docents. Many are NASA and military retirees and will love sharing their stories and knowledge.

Don’t worry, families. Kids will have a blast “exploring the moon” at KidSpace. If they really seem interested, look into signing them up for Space Camp!

Photo via Huntsville.org

Enjoy Huntsville Botanical Garden

If you have nice weather, get outside and explore the delightful Huntsville Botanical Garden. The garden has been around since the 1980s and is a really lovely testament to the city’s determination! In just six months, the newly formed Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden Society was able to raise $200,000 USD to build the garden. Today it has expanded to 118 acres full of gardens, meadows, woodland paths, and more. Right now, they’re hosting some whimsical trolls in Mother Earth Troll Garden. (If you’ve seen my “Louisville and Bourbon Country” episode, Thomas Dambo’s charming creations will be familiar.) You’ll also want to keep an eye out for events. They have an amphitheater perfect for live music and performances.

Bonus: If you have dogs, they’re allowed in on Thursdays. And don’t worry a cat lover or two made sure the gardens don’t forget about your feline friends that like to travel too – they’re allowed in on Mondays.

Shop around Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment

As the country’s largest, privately-owned arts facility, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is your one-stop shop for, well, arts and entertainment! Once a huge factory, this space has been transformed into a true artist’s paradise with 148 working studios, six galleries, a theater, and a performance venue. Walk around to see artists at work, and if the door’s open, head inside!

These are some of the cool shops I check out:

• Artimaps – Artist David Nuttall creates intricate maps of fictitious places. He also has a very moving series in which he designs maps from people’s scars.
• Pizzelle’s Confections – Handcrafted chocolates, cookies, and ice cream? I’m in!
• Piper & Leaf Tea Company – You know how I feel about my tea! This spot also doubles as a coffee and tea shop.
• Tangled Strings Studio – Check out former NASA engineer Danny Davis as he handcrafts guitars. If you time your visit right, you may be able to plan your visit to coincide with one of the studio’s performances.

Step Back in Time at Burritt on the Mountain

Ever wonder what life would’ve been like in 1800s Alabama? Well, just head over to Burritt on the Mountain. Situated over 167 acres on Round Top Mountain, this living historic park allows you to step back in time and see what farm life would’ve been like two hundred years ago. There are multiple authentically historic buildings as well as historically faithful replicas. While here, visitors will be able to learn all about the kind of skills needed to survive in those early days. (Yes, that means you can churn butter!) 

One especially cool place I loved visiting was the Dorothy Davidson Rosenwald Schoolhouse. It’s a replica of a school that would’ve been part of the Rosenwald Program in the early 1900s. Founded by Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington, the program spent nearly 20 years from 1913 to 1932 building over 5,000 new schools, shops, and teacher homes in 15 states aimed at African-American education. When you visit Burritt, you can see what a typical 4th grader’s day would’ve been like!

Bring hiking shoes when you come. Burritt is also home to quite a few beautiful nature trails and even connects to Monte Sano State Park.

Photo via Huntsville.org

Follow Huntsville’s Secret Art Trail

Street art lovers, you’ll love this one! Downtown Huntsville has what’s called a Secret Art Walk! Pick up a map from the Downtown Huntsville Visitor Information Center and see if you can find all 21 murals that make up the trail. Don’t miss the classic “Welcome to Huntsville” mural by Gracie Lennox for your perfect vacation pic!

Where to Eat & Drink in Huntsville

G’s Country Kitchen

I always say, the best food can be found in strip malls! No matter where you go, there will be one or two secretly amazing restaurants, and in Huntsville, that’s G’s Country Kitchen. Located in Oakwood Shopping Center, this place has some good, southern soul food that’ll water your tastebuds the minute you walk in the door. Owner, Greta Russell, pulls from three generations of recipes and treats everyone, no matter how new, like they’ve been a regular here for years. 

Straight to Ale Craft Brewery

Beer in a middle school?! Don’t worry, it’s been quite a while since class was in session at R.L. Stone Middle School. These days, the school looks a lot different. It’s now known as Campus 805, and the former gymnasium is home to Straight to Ale Craft Brewery. The company actually started with Free the Hops. This organization has been working overtime to change Alabama’s very out-of-date Prohibition Era laws and educate the state on the importance of craft breweries. These days, they serve up some truly fun brews, and their brewery has an extensive menu and scratch-made kitchen. Way more fun than my middle school!

Anything I’m missing in this guide to Huntsville, Alabama? Let me know below!