There’s Plenty to Explore in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville Alabama, nicknamed The Rocket City, is located in North Alabama. It is the fastest growing tech city in the United States as the home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Huntsville is not just a growing tech city. According to al.com, Huntsville is becoming the largest city in Alabama, passing Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery. In 2010, Huntsville’s population was just 180,000 and has grown just shy of 200,000 in 2018.
But Huntsville is more than just The Rocket City. If you get the chance to visit, here are seven things to explore.
Little Rosie’s Taqueria – Little Rosie’s is a local favorite, serving Tex-Mex cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One of the first stops I make whenever I go home is Little Rosie’s. My personal favorite is their Mexican Lasagna or Chicken Pocket Taco with chips, queso, and salsa.
NASA – If you coming to Huntsville, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a must. It’s dedicated to educating people about space and is the largest spaceflight museum in the world.
The Space Center is filled with interesting information and exclusive artifact exhibits, including training equipment, astronaut artifacts, The Apollo 16 capsule, and a moon rock brought back from the Apollo 12 mission.
Huntsville Botanical Garden – The Huntsville Botanical Garden is one of Alabama’s top visitor attractions. The Botanical Garden includes a breathtaking 112-acre garden of fern glades, a day lily garden, 14 themed herb gardens, a nature trail, and a children’s garden.
The Botanical Gardens are also known for hosting some of the most elaborate wedding parties, and are a beautiful destination for a photo shoot.
If you are ever in Huntsville during the winter holidays, The Botanical Garden hosts their annual Galaxy of Lights event, featuring the most beautiful Christmas lights throughout the garden you can see either by walking or driving.
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment – Lowe Mill is a former cotton mill that was restored as the largest privately owned arts facility in the United States. Lowe Mill is a 171,000 square foot building, which includes over 100 working artists studios, restaurants, performance venues, and several local art galleries.
The magnificent building alone is enough of a reason to visit Lowe Mill, with its unique designs and layout. However, if you still are not convinced, Lowe Mill also includes stores that offer unique vintage clothing, jewelry, records, and one of my other favorite restaurants, The Happy Tummy, known for their delicious sandwiches and wraps.
Campus 805 – Campus 805 is a dining and entertainment entity. The building formerly served as the main building of Butler High School from 1951 to 2009. However, when Huntsville changed their school districts, they decided to close Butler High School and redesigned the building for entertainment purposes.
Campus 805 has everything from restaurants, breweries, and a speakeasy, to arcades, axe-throwing, art classes, a golf simulator and much more. It’s perfect for all ages and demographics, definitely a must visit while in Huntsville.
Monte Sano State Park – Monte Sano is Spanish for “Mountain of Health,” and if you get the chance to visit, you will know why. Starting in the late 1800s, tourists from all around the United States traveled to Huntsville to visit the park to experience the clean fresh air and spectacular views the mountain offers.
Monte Sano offers locations for hosting many events, including a wedding venue, business meetings and family reunions. Fun fact – My family has had three family reunions there that are always such a blast for all ages.
The facility offers log cabins with enchanting views, amenities, including a kitchen, fireplace, showers and bathrooms, cable television, grilling areas, a screened in porch, and picnic tables.
Monte Sano also has countless trails with beautiful mountain top views and waterfalls. Anytime is a good time to visit, but my favorite time of year is the fall when all the leaves are changing.
The EarlyWorks Family of Museums is three different museums, including Alabama Constitution Hall Historic Park, EarlyWorks Children’s Museum, and the Historic Huntsville Depot.
Growing up, I remember taking field trips to these locations and loving every second of it. Each museum is different, but so much fun and educational.
The Alabama Constitution Hall offers tours that take you back to Huntsville in the 1800s, honoring Alabama’s statehood.
The EarlyWorks Children’s Museum was my personal favorite. This museum was designed specifically for children. There is a Talking Tree, giant-sized musical instruments, and a “kidstruction zone.”
Lastly, the Huntsville Depot and Museum offers an inside look of the history of Huntsville’s transportation and city growth from the 1860s.
