Destination Huntsville: Rocket City Attractions

The Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has compiled the 2022-2023 Huntsville Destination Guide. The pamphlet details many of the particular attractions that visitors to the city really should come and see. 

It’s no surprise that the first stop on the tour is the Space and Rocket Center. The Saturn V Rocket does tend to draw the eye, after all. At the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, visitors can view Space Age artifacts, such as a moon rock from the Apollo 12 mission, or the Command Module off of Apollo 16. Flight simulators and g-force equipment give visitors an astronaut experience that they can’t get anywhere else. 

Contrasting with the futuristic Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville’s history is on full display at attractions such as the H.C. Blake Art and History Center or Burritt on the Mountain. At 167 acres of lovingly-preserved 19th-century architecture, Burritt on the Mountain uses living history interpreters to showcase life in pre-industrial Alabama.

Those looking for expert insight can join guided tours, like the autumnal Huntsville Ghost Walk, or the Huntsville Civil Rights Landmarks Tour. The Digital Huntsville History Tour allows visitors to take in the city’s history at their leisure. 

The natural beauty of North Alabama can hold an allure all its own. Monte Sano State Park offers 2,140 acres of lush green woodlands, with twenty miles of hiking trails and dozens of campsite facilities. To the south of the city is Ditto Landing, a marina and watersport hub for those looking to enjoy boating and waterskiing on the Tennessee River. The guide includes a scannable link to an extensive guide for the numerous waterways around the city, where one can enjoy kayaking, inner tubing, or fishing. 

One of the more clever trends that Huntsville has embraced has been the repurposing of its old, disused facilities, keeping their distinctive architecture while putting them to fresh new use. Lowe Mill is one of the earliest examples of this, with its numerous local shops, art galleries, and restaurants built into what was once a textile mill. Others followed suit, such as Stovehouse, which was once the Martin Stove Factory, and Campus No. 805, which was built in a former middle school. 

As Huntsville has been growing and developing as a true city, it has been to pick up some of the finer arts that naturally arise in such a hub. Opera Huntsville and the Huntsville Ballet are newer additions to the city, while the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra has been performing for over fifty years. 

For those looking to leave the black ties at home, Huntsville boasts a number of music venues. The Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center has hosted concerts for many years, but the newly-completed Orion Amphitheatre at Apollo Park is a great outdoor venue, as is Big Spring International Park, with its Concerts in the Park and Jazz in the Park events.

Bridge Street Town Centre and Parkway Place Mall accommodate those in need of a little retail therapy. Bridge Street Town Centre has a lovely atmosphere, with its broad, cobbled walkways, street lanterns, and elaborate landscaping. Those looking for something more unique can check the many antique stores in town, such as the Railroad Station Antique Mall, Firehouse Antiques, and the Alabama Antique Store. 

Huntsville has quite a few restaurants, ranging from rustic Southern comfort food at G’s Country Kitchen to fine Italian wining and dining at Mazzare’s Vinoteca. Steakhouses like Char Restaurant serve superior cuts grilled to perfection, while Chef Will the Palate at Lowe Mill caters to the more herbivorous among us with a fresh and crisp vegetarian menu. 

The Huntsville Destination Guide not only contains all that visitors and tourists may wish to see in the city, but it has suggestions that even long-term residents might want to check out. The Destination Guide is free for download, to receive by mail, or to pick up physically at the Huntsville Visitor Center downtown and at the Huntsville Airport.

Featured image provided by the CVB.