In Northern Alabama, Huntsville offers a NASA Visitor center, rich in NASA history. It is also home to Space Camp, the camp dedicated to STEM and reaching for the stars. Huntsville is a gateway to nearby recreational opportunities in the Cumberland Plateau, part of the Appalachian Plateau for those who want to explore the outdoors. Here are the top 12 things to do in Huntsville, Alabama and the surrounding areas.
12 Top Things to Do in Huntsville Alabama
Tour U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Take the Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tour
Attend Space Camp
Wander through the Huntsville Botanical Garden
Tour the Huntsville Museum of Art
Stroll along Big Spring Park in Downtown Huntsville
See the Waterfall in DeSoto State Park
Visit the Little River Canyon National Preserve
Tour the Russell Cave National Monument
Learn Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
Find a Treasure at the Unclaimed Baggage Center
Tour U.S. Space and Rocket Center
A must for every visitor to Huntsville, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center features a sprawling complex where I found the world’s largest collection of rockets and space memorabilia. A day’s worth of discovery and learning awaits, along with an IMAX theater and a glimpse into Space Camp.
As a Smithsonian affiliate and the Official Visitor Center of NASA’s Marshal Space Flight Center, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center features a rocket park with 27 missiles and rockets that grew into the NASA program. I also found the Space Shuttle Orbiter Pathfinder, a test simulator, and one of the original Saturn V rockets.
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is located at One Tranquility Base, Huntsville. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Adult admission is $30, kids (5 to 12) are $20 and toddlers 4 and younger enter for free.
NASA Visitor Centers
Take the Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tour
After several years on Hiatus, the Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tours are back. It houses NASA’s research and development facility for programs like the mission to Mars.
Take a guided bus tour of the facility that remains closed to the public. On my tour, we drove into the Red Stone Arsenal and got details on the latest NASA projects.
A bus tour departs daily from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for a two-hour guided tour. Stops include the historic test site of former rockets, the International Space Station (ISS) payload operations and the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory.
Located at Martin Rd SW, Huntsville. Tours are limited to U.S. citizens, and a picture ID is required for those over 16. General admission tickets are $25 for those over 5, and kids 4 and under are free.
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Attend Space Camp for Kids and Families
With programs for kids as young as 9 to adults, Space Camp offers STEM-based camps in various topics. With two-day introductory mini-camps to week-long summer resident camps, future astronauts taste the space life without leaving Alabama.
For families that share a love of space, Space Camp offers a family camp. In a three-day program, families work together to learn about rocket construction and use training simulators.
Aviation Challenge Camp
Learn to fly like a military fighter pilot in this aviation-focused camp.
- Mach I ages 9 to 11
- The Mach II ages 12 to 14
- Mach III ages 15 to 18
- Family Aviation Challenge with kids 7 and older
Space Camp
Train like an astronaut with a simulated mission to space.
- Space Camp ages 9 to 11
- Space Academy ages 12 to 14
- Advanced Space Academy ages 15 to 18
- Adult Space Camp ages over 18
- Family Space Camp with kids 7 and older
Space Camp Robotics
Make and maneuver robots on land, in the air and underwater.
- Robotics Camp ages 9 to 11
- Robotics Academy ages 12 to 14
Additional camps for teachers and educators as well as group camps.
Space Camp is located at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Meals and lodging are provided in camp-like dorms.
Wander through the Huntsville Botanical Garden
This garden features 118 acres to explore and spend time outdoors. The Huntsville Botanical Garden is close to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and a good place for families.
It features aquatic habitats at the Damson Aquatic Garden, with a pavilion for viewing. . It also includes stunning floral collections, like its azalea trail and dogwood trail. Visitors will also find a demonstration vegetable garden and herb garden. Best of all, check out the garden’s outdoor railway.
Located at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville. Open Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adult admission is $19 and kids (3 to 15) are $15.
Tour the Huntsville Museum of Art
The Huntsville Museum of Art offers 14 galleries and includes 3,200 pieces in its permanent collection. It features a gallery dedicated to art by American women. Also visitors will find art from regional artists.
Located at 300 Church St SW, Huntsville. Open Tuesday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $12, and kids (6 to 11) enter for $5.
Stroll along Big Spring Park in Downtown Huntsville
This park is centrally located, and Big Spring is located there. Big Spring Park features wide walking paths, landscaping and even a playground.
It is a pleasant way to get around Downtown Huntsville. Visitors will find attractions like the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Von Braun Center nearby.
Located at 200 Church St SW, Huntsville. Free to enter.
See the Waterfall in DeSoto State Park
Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, DeSoto State Park preserves the CCC-built Desoto Lodge and cabins. Though the 104-foot Desoto Falls is my favorite park feature, it is a must.
DeSoto State Park offers camping along with the lodge, cabins and restaurant. Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet for the kids and take a hike to discover the rugged beauty of northern Alabama. DeSoto State Park adjoins the Little River Canyon National Preserve.
Located at 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, 75 miles southeast of Huntsville. Open daily from dawn to dusk. DeSoto State Park is free to enter.
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Visit the Little River Canyon National Preserve
From Lookout Mountain, Little River flows through sandstone carving Little River Canyon as it passes over Little River Falls. One of the wildest and cleanest rivers in the Southeast, Little River offers recreational opportunities like rock climbing, kayaking and hiking.
Stop by the Little River Canyon Center for a map, a Junior Ranger booklet and an educational movie. While in the Little River Canyon National Preserve, you can hike, bike, go birding, kayaking and even rock climbing.
If limited on time, take the 11 mile (17.7 km) scenic drive along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway (Highway 176). From there you can see waterfalls, rock faces and the lush forest landscape.
Located at 4322 Little River Trail NE and open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Little River Canyon National Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset and is free to enter.
Tour the Russell Cave National Monument
Near the Tennessee border, Russell Cave National Monument offers a glimpse into human civilization 1,000 years before European contact. It provides one of the most extensive archeological records on the East Coast.
Explore Russell Cave from its boardwalk on a self-guided trail. The monument also has additional hiking trails.
Russel Cave National Monument offers a Junior Ranger badge for kids. There are BARK ranger activities for dogs.
Located at 3729 County Road 98 in Bridgeport, 70 miles northeast of Huntsville. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Russell Cave is free to enter.
Learn Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
In the early 1800s, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole people were forcibly removed from their lands. They walked, took wagons and even steamboats to be relocated to the Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, from 1838 to 1839.
Visitors can retrace the Trail of Tears using several routes, including land and waterways. The Benge Route passes through the Little River Canyon National Preserve, where I found interpretive information on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
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Find a Treasure at the Unclaimed Baggage Center
In the tiny town of Scottsboro, I stumbled upon the final destination for lost baggage. After airlines spend 90 days looking for a bag’s rightful owner, unclaimed bags end up in Alabama.
Bargain hunters across the country take a side trip from Interstate 59 to hunt through a retail space spanning several buildings. During my visit, I found wedding dresses, racks of men’s suits, a coat of armor and high-end watches like Rolex and Cartier.
Be prepared to dig, though. I found clothing sized and grouped by color. In the facility, I found dressing rooms and a café serving Starbucks along with gourmet sandwiches and pastries.
The Unclaimed Baggage Center is located at 509 West Willow Street, Scottsboro, 40 miles southeast of Huntsville. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
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Take a Day Trip to Mentone
Located atop Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, Alabama, Mentone is an outdoors charming mountain getaway. During my visit, I explored the art galleries and had brunch at a woodland-themed cafe.
Brunch at the Wildflower Cafe
Tucked away in a woodland fairyland, I stumbled upon Wildflower Café. It is a charming eatery that appeals to grandmothers and grandchildren equally.
As I meandered through the rooms of the old house, I stopped to enjoy the local artists’ work that covered the walls. My eyes darted around the dining room, where I sat in a mismatched chair and sipped on a glass of iced tea.
I sampled remakes of southern stables on flowered pottery that reminded me of my grandmother’s pattern. The standout at Wildflower Café, the Famous Tomato Pie, boasts a tender yet flaky crust with layers of tomato and cheese. Firm and flavorful, it’s a must. The Polenta Shrimp Grits also topped my list with an elevated remake of the southern favorite. I finished out my brunch with a ham and cheese quiche with a hearty mouth-feel and tender, savory crust.
The Wildflower Café is located at 6007 Alabama Highway 117 in Mentone, 70 miles southeast of Huntsville. Open Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Art Galleries in Mentone
After a hearty brunch at Wildflower Café, walk next door to Kamama Gallery for a collection of local artists’ work. I found pottery, landscapes and sculpture in the cultural hub of Mentone. Grab a cup of coffee at the Kamama Gallery’s café, located at 5951 Alabama Highway 117.
Another spot is the Mentone Arts Center at 5951 AL-117, Mentone. It is open from Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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1 Comment
Catherine Parker captured some of the best of North Alabama. Mentone,AL is a magical mountain town that deserves a visit. There are many restaurants and unique shops here. Thank you for mentioning Kamama!