Huntsville, Alabama completely took us abruptly. We knew “Rocket Metropolis” had NASA’s largest house flight middle and the beloved House Camp, however we had no concept their music, artwork, and meals scene would even be out of this world. Town has one of many highest concentrations of PhDs within the nation, and they’re utilizing their depraved smarts in a number of enjoyable methods. Huntsville has reworked a cotton mill into the nation’s largest privately owned artwork middle, an outdated highschool right into a brewery and leisure complicated, and constructed an amphitheater so acoustically good and sustainable that it has been named one in all Billboard’s finest venues on the planet!
For all of Huntsville’s development and innovation lately, it haven’t forgotten its roots. As Alabama’s first capital and a metropolis spared in the course of the Civil Battle, it has a number of the state’s oldest and grandest structure. What initially put Huntsville on the vacationer map within the late 1800s was its “Mountain of Well being.” Monte Sano State Park’s 2,400 acres of wilderness stay inside the metropolis limits within the identify of conservation and recreation. Huntsville clearly needs to verify its friends and residents are properly taken care of, and it has paid off, incomes town US Information & World Report’s “Finest Place to Stay.”
We spent 5 days in Huntsville, and couldn’t imagine how a lot there was to discover on this little metropolis. That can assist you plan an unforgettable journey, we’ve created this listing of one of the best issues to do in Huntsville, Alabama. Buckle up, Rocket Metropolis, right here you come!
Gush Over Massive Spring
The perfect place to start out your Huntsville journey is the place the city started…Massive Spring! In 1805, John Hunt heard tales of a spot past the Appalachian Mountains with an ever-flowing spring of crystal-clear water. When he noticed 20 million gallons pouring out per day, he made it his homestead, and lots of of settlers shortly adopted go well with. After 150 years as Huntsville’s consuming supply, Massive Spring’s swimming pools and canals are actually the center of their central park.
To get a really feel for the uncooked magnificence that attracted Hunt to this place, begin on the Spring Avenue entrance to see the water effervescent from the limestone bluff. Meander the canals and sit on the expansive pond to admire the reflections of town’s skyscrapers and Huntsvillians of their glad place.
💡 Huntsville Journey Tip: Are available in April for the Southeast’s premier arts pageant, Panply, or summer time Mondays for Massive Spring Park’s weekly live performance collection.
Structure Corridor, The place Alabama Started!
This unsuspecting cupboard maker’s workshop is the place Alabama’s statehood started with the signing of its structure in 1819. In the present day, it’s a stunning museum, surrounded by eight historic buildings, together with a regulation workplace, print store, put up workplace, cabinetmaker’s store, and residence, providing a glimpse into Alabama’s earliest days. The charming outside exhibit is free, and the museum affords atmospheric lantern excursions across the holidays.
The Secret Artwork & Mural Tour
You possibly can’t assist however discover the colourful murals throughout Huntsville, however to see the best and be taught in regards to the artists behind them, comply with the Secret Artwork Path within the Quigley Arts & Leisure District. Whereas murals make up many of the 16 stops, there are additionally fabulous sculptures hanging off buildings and stained-glass artwork for the keen-eyed. We liked the colourful “This Lady Can” by Kim Radford, celebrating ladies’s proper to vote, and “The Catalyst” mural by Robert Bean for its intelligent selfie opps, like holding a balloon, using a motorbike, or flying away on a Poppins-style umbrella. For more information, take a look at this detailed guide to the Secret Art Trail.
💡 Journey Tip: In any of Huntsville’s 5 designated Arts & Leisure Districts, open-container legal guidelines loosen up. Bars pour your drink right into a magic purple cup, and it could actually journey with you in your stroll till the following watering gap that calls to you.
Wander the Mansions of Twickenham
Huntsville’s oldest neighborhood is a fairytale-meets-textbook of early American structure. Courting again to 1814, Antebellum mansions (greater than 65!), Greek Revival, and Victorian properties are fantastically preserved right here. Williams Ave SE is the grandest thoroughfare, and each intersecting avenue has swoon-worthy homes.
For an opportunity to go inside a historic house, the Weeden House Museum is a good alternative. Along with admiring its Nineteenth-century stylings, the work and poems of lifelong resident Maria Howard Weeden supply a deeper look into Huntsville life, notably that of African People. Guided excursions depart at 10:00 a.m., Monday-Friday, with extra excursions on Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
💡 Journey Tip: Pull up HuntsvilleHistoryTours.org in your cellphone to comply with the Huntsville Historical past Tour’s audio information to dive into the historical past of town’s most spectacular buildings.
Journey Again in Time at Harrison Brothers {Hardware}
Working on Huntsville’s historic Courthouse Sq. since 1897, Harrison Brothers is a handyman’s, antiquarian’s, and artwork lover’s dream. After the Harrison household stocked its wood cabinets and knobbed drawers for practically a century, the Historic Huntsville Society fortunately took over the stock and froze this place in time. Peek into the creaky cupboards of forgotten wares. Marvel on the rope-pulley freight elevator and go across the six-foot-tall protected till you attain the Harrison Brothers Gallery. It options the works of greater than 50 regional artists and native purveyors on your souvenir-shopping pleasure. Use money, and the clerk will ring you up on the bronze register from 1907.
Frolic in Huntsville Botanical Backyard
Discover 118 acres of manicured gardens and native habitat, together with a path of three,000 azalea bushes, a butterfly home with monarchs fluttering round you, an Aquatic Pavilion to catch the water lilies’ reflections, and a Backyard of Hope for most cancers sufferers and their households. And don’t miss probably the most thrilling everlasting exhibit…Mama Zelda, an enormous troll created by world-renowned recycled artist Thomas Dambo.
We got here to the Huntsville Botanical Backyard particularly to see this troll, whose hair of twigs and vines varieties a whimsical labyrinth to achieve her, however shortly realized there was a lot extra occurring on the backyard. On the day of our go to, there was the “International Rhythm & Blooms” live performance collection, a scarecrow artwork exhibit, and a medieval fencing event. Check their calendar of events for what enjoyable they’ve in retailer on your go to!
Play Hooky At Campus 805
@honeytrek What was a highschool for 60 years is now each naughty pupil’s dream. At Campus 805, the gymnasium is a brewery, the English classroom is a tattoo parlor, a row of lockers hides a speakeasy, and the sports activities fields are actually pageant grounds, for adults to run wild throughout their 13-acre schoolyard. Bending the principles a bit additional, the Huntsville Arts & Leisure District allows you to stroll exterior and between bars together with your purple open container, with out getting detention. As they are saying at Campus 805, college won’t ever be the identical once more. #campus805 #visithuntsvilleal #partner #iHeartHSV @Huntsville, AL @Straight to Ale ♬ ACDC style hard rock(1021726) – Canal Records JP
What was a highschool for 60 years is now each naughty pupil’s dream. At Campus 805, the gymnasium has change into a brewery, the English classroom a tattoo parlor, a row of lockers completely hides a speakeasy, and the sports activities fields are actually pageant grounds, for adults to run wild throughout this 13-acre schoolyard. We liked Straight to Ale’s beer, meals, and self-guided brewery tour by means of the outdated fitness center and wandering the halls of lockers in search of cool companies, like Ronnie Raygun’s classic pinball arcade and Rocket Metropolis Laser. Not like a traditional college, you’re going to wish to come on a weekend when all these quirky school rooms are open and everyone seems to be enjoying hooky.
Be an Astronaut for the Day on the US House & Rocket Heart
Irrespective of in case you are tremendous into science or house exploration, this NASA & Smithsonian-Affiliate museum will blow your thoughts. It’s the official customer middle for the Marshall House Flight Heart—the rocket makers that despatched man to the moon and the geniuses actually propelling the way forward for house exploration. The US Space & Rocket Center additionally dives into the fascinating historical past of Huntsville, going from a floundering cotton mill city to a driving pressure within the House Race.
It’s the place you’ll be able to see the precise Saturn V rocket that despatched Neil & Buzz to the moon, a life-size reproduction of the Pathfinder House Shuttle, and numerous artifacts and Twenty first-century prototypes of house journey. This museum is extremely hands-on, letting you hop aboard a world house station, climb into capsule cockpits, and even drive an FS-VC twin system flight simulator that can have you ever doing barrel rolls.
The Intuitive Planetarium is a separate ticket, however so value it to see the most recent findings of the James Webb House Telescope (probably the most highly effective ever constructed) and witness the evolution of galaxies, the lifecycle of stars, and a form of magnificence we by no means knew existed. And if the US House & Rocket Heart actually will get your engines firing, join House Camp! Not only for youngsters, household, and all-adult classes can be found. Dozens of the grads have change into precise astronauts, and everybody we all know who’s participated continues to speak about it, even a long time later.
Paint the City Crimson at Lowe Mill Arts & Leisure
From a cotton mill to a shoe manufacturing unit to the most important privately-owned artwork middle within the USA, Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment has obtained endurance and a lot enjoyable on faucet. Once we noticed this collection of century-old warehouses, with their gritty bricks and wonky home windows, we couldn’t imagine what was inside…a labyrinth of 153 working artwork studios, 4 efficiency areas, a meadey, classic arcade, and lots of extra inventive areas. Not some pretentious museum, Lowe Mill needs everybody to seek out their inside artist, providing open lessons in the whole lot from comedian book-making, to cigar field guitar classes, ceramics, and Celtic dance.
As not-so-good painters, we have been slightly intimidated to enroll, however with beloved native artist Yuri Ozaki internet hosting a 1-hour class for a mere $20, we needed to give it a go! We realized a ton, had a blast, and really got here away with a portray we’re happy with. To make the night time even cooler, we caught Lowe Mill’s Friday night time live performance collection, danced to a five-piece band till closing time, and had a late-night banquet at Chef Will The Palettes’ plant-based meals truck. Watch the video (above) for the magic of Lowe Mill.
Play Disc Golf Like a Professional
Disc golf is likely to be a fringe sport in some locations, however not Huntsville! Town is house to one of many world’s first programs and simply obtained the bid for the 2027 PDGA Beginner World Championships. There are 11 programs on the town; die-hards ought to head to the OG Tom Monroe Memorial Disc Golf Course or the John Hunt Park to get to the greens earlier than the championship gamers do.
Or should you’re disc-golf dabblers like us and revel in a stroll within the park simply as a lot, hire a set of discs for $5 on the Outside Recreation Heart, then head to Monte Sano. This state park is gorgeous, and we liked that its course goes by means of the North Alabama Japanese Backyard, with its bamboo forest, tea home, and Haiku Path with inspirational poems alongside the best way.
💡Journey Tip: Have additional power after your spherical of disc golf at Monte Sano? Hike the Sinks Path to Stone Cuts Loop for northern Alabama’s spectacular limestone formations.
Catch a Live performance (or any occasion!) at The Orion
How do you create one in all Billboard’s High Music Venues within the World? Pair a Grammy-award-winning rockstar, who understands what artists and followers need, with one of many savviest cities within the American South. With the Mumford & Sons keyboard participant and venue guru on the helm, Huntsville’s Orion Amphitheater is the place music meets neighborhood, sustainability, and a helluva good time.
We got here to The Orion to see Blink-182 (one in all Mike’s all-time favourite bands!), however shortly realized it was a lot greater than an 8000-person music venue. The outside has a big-art park, meals vehicles, a dive bar, and a number of areas for neighborhood occasions all through the week. Inside, you gained’t discover your common sizzling canine and Bud Gentle beer stands, however quite 15 bespoke bars, mixing cocktails with herbs grown on website and pouring all-Alabama brews that profit environmental nonprofits. Sustainability is on the core of The Orion, with its no-single-use-plastic coverage and dedication to ship zero waste to landfills. Actually, the week we visited, their reusable cups program celebrated its 1 millionth reuse!
The Blink-182 present was as superior as anticipated, however the enjoyable we didn’t see coming was the after-party! The Orion threw in an additional band without spending a dime at The Dome, and we danced till midnight on a Monday with lots of of stoked locals…what an evening!
Finest Huntsville Bars & Eating places
Domaine South
In entrance of Massive Spring’s waterfall sits the most effective eating places on the town, with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence to again it up. Love the vibe at Domaine South, with their art-packed partitions and ceilings dripping with crops. With a concentrate on native and seasonal components, the menu adjustments weekly, and you may all the time depend on their beautiful charcuterie boards (with a number of vegan cheese choices!). Go for glad hour (11-5pm) to take pleasure in their tremendous wines and admire the waterfall within the sunshine.
Customary Social Market
Half gourmand bodega and half restaurant, Standard Social Market appears like a hip locals’ joint, they usually have been loads accommodating to newcomers. We requested for a Southern meal vegan-style, they usually put their scrumptious black bean burger between a biscuit with a facet of fried inexperienced tomatoes, and we have been in comfort-food heaven!
Revivalist
As soon as a Nineteenth-century tavern, Revivalist is channeling its old-school vibes within the chicest manner. This place pulses with date-night vibes and has costs to match your special day, however value it for the tahini cauliflower steak and French onion orzo.
Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro
A completely gluten-free and largely plant-based menu, this bakery and bistro is nice for well being and planet-conscious diners. Get Mason Dixon’s vegan cookie-dough chocolate cupcake—it’s divine!
Stovehouse
A former range manufacturing unit is now a food-court-meets-adult-playground, simply exterior of downtown. Centered round a yard of garden video games and sunsails, Stovehouse’s 15 eateries and bars let mates comply with their appetites in numerous instructions and are available collectively over big checkers and cornhole. Kamado Ramen and Pourhouse hit the spot!
Catacomb 435
This speakeasy does it proper, with clues to get to the entrance door, a secret password, and really customized cocktails in a moody, cool setting. Catacomb 435’s menu is only a collection of checkboxes to mark the flavors, spirits, and vibes you’re feeling, and their mixologist makes magic from there.
Extra Vegan Choices
We reached out to @HuntsvilleVegans and this group of native plant-based devotees really helpful Vujee Vegan, The Veggie, and Hippea Camper for unbelievable 100% vegan eateries.
The place to Keep
106 Jefferson
The Victorian-era Huntsville Lodge is again as a posh Hilton Curio property. Completely located within the coronary heart of downtown and throughout from vigorous Jefferson Alley, the rooms are stylish, their rooftop bar is a locals sizzling spot, and their foyer is related to one in all Huntsville’s best eating places (learn: your Hilton Honors F&B credit score will get you breakfast or cocktails!)
Placemakr
Within the booming Mid-Metropolis neighborhood and simply throughout from The Orion Amphitheater, this apartment-style hotel is a good various to Airbnb with the identical homey comforts.
Monte Sano Cabins
Sitting on the bluffs of the state park, simply 5 miles from downtown, Monte Sano has eleven 1930s cabins constructed by the CCC. Not too long ago renovated with fashionable kitchens and bogs, with out shedding their stone fireplaces, wide-plank ceilings, and screened-in porches of yesteryear. We’re so glad we added this stint in nature to our metropolis keep!
Attending to Huntsville
Being in Northern Alabama and the state’s largest metropolis, Huntsville is extra related than you would possibly assume. Only a two-hour drive from Nashville, and three.5 hours from Atlanta, Knoxville, and Memphis, it’s a straightforward highway journey. In the event you’re flying in, Huntsville has direct flights from New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas, LA, and extra main cities. And making journey to Huntsville additional nice, HSV has repeatedly been named “Finest Small Airport within the USA” for its environment friendly service and surprising delights, like an artwork gallery, dwell music, and a brewery. Rental vehicles are plentiful and one of the simplest ways to get round Huntsville.
Rocket Metropolis Rocks!
Clearly, there are many issues to do in Huntsville, however the ingenuity and inventive spirit behind them is what impressed us most. We marvel at how Huntsville reinvented itself from a defunct mill city to a beacon of NASA know-how. Then, when the glow of the House Race light, they centered on artwork and structure, reimagining outdated buildings as inventive areas to deliver their neighborhood collectively.
Then, what all the time makes a spot so memorable is the individuals you meet! From catching up with our outdated buds, Jen & Ed, who made Huntsville their house, to breaking bread with new mates at Lowe Mills’s portray lessons and vegan meals truck, we noticed Rocket Metropolis and Alabama in a brand new and shining gentle and know you’ll too.
P.S. Massive Because of Visit Huntsville for inviting us to city and supporting our work!
