Huntsville, Alabama
According to Electronicsmatter, Huntsville is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeastern US, Alabama . Huntsville seamlessly blends the rich history of Southern hospitality with innovative high-tech enterprises and cultural diversity. The Rocket City, famous for the US Space & Rocket Center and its part in the race to the moon, is growing fast. This beautiful city continues to attract the best scientists and engineers in the country and is also experiencing a renaissance. Restaurants, shops, craft breweries and other social hotspots are popping up and thriving everywhere.
6 Attractions in Huntsville, Alabama that you can’t miss
1.US Space & Rocket Center
Spend a day at the US Space & Rocket Center. Explore the history of space exploration or get hands-on with the interactive exhibits. People of all generations can feel like an astronaut for a day or a week! See the National Historic Landmark – an authentic Saturn V moon rocket – one of only three on display in the world! Explore the development and evolution of the Space Shuttle program to the International Space Station and learn about NASA’s latest innovations. Enjoy incredible artifacts from our nation’s space program, hands-on interactive exhibits, space travel simulators, and INTUTIVE planetarium shows. The USSRC is also home to week-long Space Camp®, Aviation Challenge® Camp, and Robotics Camp programs. Additional amenities include free parking, restaurants, gift shops, strollers and dog kennels. Stay for an hour or stay for a week… there is something for everyone!
2.Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round and contains diverse ecosystems to explore within its 112 acres. From grassy meadows to forest trails, aquatic habitats to beautiful collections of flowers, the garden invites guests of all ages to discover the beauty and wonder of the natural environment. Hike along the nature trails as you admire collections of Alabama’s native plants. Unlock the Children’s Garden after meeting the fluttering butterflies in the country’s largest open-air butterfly house. Find peace in the cool shade of the trees, surrounded by the sounds of nature. With additional events, exhibits, and programs throughout the year, the garden is a source of plant conservation, education, and celebration for all.
3.Monte Sano State Park
Monte Sano, Spanish for “Mountain of Health”, rises more than 500 meters above sea level. The mountain has attracted visitors since the mid-1820s with the establishment of the town of Viduta, a derivative of the Spanish word “Vida”, meaning life. Viduta was home to a sanatorium and hotel resort, Hotel Monte Sano, which opened in 1887 and closed in the early 1900s due to a declining economy. Located in downtown Huntsville, 2,500 acres of nature offers 14 vacation homes, camping grounds, picnic areas and pavilions, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, and flower gardens.
4.Twickenham Historic District
Did you know Alabama’s largest Antebellum district is in the heart of Huntsville? Take a step back in time as you pass through rows of pre-Civil War homes built in the beautiful architectural style of early America. If you’re an architecture enthusiast or just enjoy looking at historic homes, a tour of the Twickenham District is a must-do activity on your next trip to Huntsville.
5.Historic Huntsville Depot
Climb on locomotives, see Civil War graffiti, and listen as guides talk about working on the railroads. It is home to Rocket City BBQ Cook-Off and Whistle Stop Festival. The Huntsville Depot was used as a hospital, Union prison, and residence for both black and white Union soldiers, who left graffiti on the walls of the third floor.
6.Big Spring International Park
Big Spring International Park lured settlers to Huntsville more than 200 years ago, and the city has been celebrating it ever since – growing up around this green space and preserving it for its citizens. The park hosts numerous events including Panoply Arts Festival, Concerts in the Park and many more. Kids will love the famously friendly ducks, geese and koi that call the Big Spring home. As you explore, keep an eye out for the famous red bridge and cherry trees that were gifts to the city from Japan.
