A Weekend Guide to Huntsville, Alabama

Blast off into a memorable weekend in Huntsville Alabama—where history, adventure, Art, science, and Sothern charm collide. Your Rocket City escape awaits!

Huntsville is a beautiful city hidden away in northern Alabama. Do you want to know a special fact about it? NASA's Space & Rocket Center is in Rocket City, but you don't have to be intimidated by that. This city is surging with a passion for delicious food, history, and unusual adventures, so you don't need a PhD in astrophysics to have a great time here. An outing in Huntsville can transform an ordinary weekend into an amazing escape, whether you like exploring botanical gardens, savoring the local BBQ, so delicious it could send you into orbit faster than NASA’s rocket, or stargazing at the planetarium. Prepare yourself for an incredible weekend with places to explore in Huntsville Al, by packing your curiosity and a handy straw cowboy hat—after all, this is the South!!

Although Huntsville provides entertainment and fun outing options all year round, spring, the beginning of summer, and fall are perfect times to visit. The weather is perfect around these times, each having its own benefits.

The flowers are in full bloom, and the temperature is warm typically ranging from 60 to 80 Ferenhite, offering comfortable weather especially if you are interested in walking tours.

The weather is mild and sea breezes are blowing. Moreover, it’s the peak season when Huntsville organizes many festivals and events, and the city is not very crowded giving it a plus point to explore the city with full freedom.

With moderate temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 Ferenhite, fall is a great time of year to experience Huntsville's outdoor attractions without the heat or humidity of summer. The city's parks, particularly those near Big Spring Park, become even more beautiful by the dark orange and red leaves, turning the ground in their shade.

Easy and affordable accommodation is a travel essential, and if you are planning your trip to Huntsville, your only trustable option should be VIP INN AND SUITES! With the proximity to many key attractions like Botanical Gardens, Big Spring International Park, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and many others this property is all laid-back travelers like us need!

This hotel provides modern amenities to their customers like air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, comfortable and spacious rooms, free private parking, shared lounge, and friendly staff. Moreover, the onsite Japanese restaurant called Miyako is always ready to serve delicious Japanese cuisine in a family-friendly ambiance.

A pro traveler always explores a new city for what it’s famous for and eats at the place that serves the food everyone talks about! Collecting all the necessary information for your perfect start to the trip, here is what you need to do on your first day in Huntsville.

After grabbing a delicious breakfast of scones, muffins, bagels, pancakes, muffins, or breakfast sandwiches from well-appointed bakeries located downtown, head straight to the space-themed educational center to start your day with a bang at space and rocket center. This attraction does not go unnoticed due to its huge Saturn V rocket, but the real fun begins inside! Visitors can enjoy fun space camps, captivating displays and indoor exhibits, a gorgeous outdoor park, and a planetarium show. So if you ever wonder about the space history of this city, this place holds all your answers. Tickets cost 30 dollars for adults, and 20 dollars for children aged 5 to 12, making it a perfect outing spot for all.

Serving customers in two different locations, Rosie’s Catina is the master when it comes to authentic Mexican cuisine in Huntsville. Opened in 1995, it serves delicious homemade tortillas, combo platters, a wide range of margaritas, and its special Raspberry Chipotle Salmon to the Huntsville community. So, adding this restaurant to your foodie things to do in Huntsville this weekend is a must!

After exploring the space and rocket center, let's head out to Big Spring International Park to learn about the origins of this beautiful city. Huntsville got its name after John Hunt, famous for discovering the Big Springs, a fresh spring located just across the street. This park is a perfect sanctuary to chill and relax in nature providing walking paths, Koi ponds, and old canals surrounded by beautiful nature. This park is also loved by the locals for its beautiful sunset views and charming oasis in the heart of downtown Huntsville.

If you happen to be a night owl and wondering what to do in Huntsville Al, we know a few night stops filled with music, food, dance, and much more! Not only that, this city also has an interesting historic town.

With more than 65 homes on display from the times before the Civil War occurred, the Twickenham Historic District is the state's largest district. With its tree-lined streets, and a variety of architectural styles, such as Gothic, Federal, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne, this neighborhood is a must-visit on your day 2 in Huntsville, especially if you are an architecture enthusiast. The highlight of this town which should not be missed is the Weeden House Museum, which is situated near Twickenham. Visitors have the opportunity to see ancient houses in real life and discover more about their intriguing history. Notable people once called the Weeden House home, including Federal commanders who lived there during the Civil War, giving deep insights into their lives.

Next visit the Huntsville Botanical Garden, a popular spot full of diverse species of plants in the middle of the city. Offering a much-needed break from the city’s hustle and bustle, this lovely garden has a relaxing vibe, walking routes that take through multiple themed gardens, and the largest outdoor butterfly cage in the USA where guests can admire hundreds of butterflies in their natural habitat. Every visit is full of surprises as the garden often hosts special displays from time to time. Families particularly those with small kids, will love this place, as in the kid's section they can enjoy exploring the butterfly house, a splash area, exhibits, and play areas that promote experiential learning and inquiry.

Finally, when hunger strikes on day 2, try the famous O1’ Heidelberg, a restaurant in Huntsville that has been serving authentic German food since 1972. Guests should start with starters like warm bread like pumpernickel bread, and for the mains, we would recommend sausage platters and delicious schnitzel dishes. Is it even a dinner without a good portion of dessert? Try out their popular glass cake box, where you can either choose a black forest cake slice or a German chocolate cake slice. O1’ Heidelberg is owned by the Schrader family, and their warmth and hospitality towards the customers make this place a must-try spot.

In case your touristy spirits are high as well as your stamina, we have added a brief list of more things to do, places, and attractions you can check out in Huntsville Alabama on your two-day weekend trip.

The Museum of Art in Huntsville can be found downtown, featuring a diverse collection of American Art from the 19th century to the modern age. Visitors can also see exhibitions by local and regional artists, beautiful sculptures, paintings, art, photographs, and much more.

Late at night when everyone is asleep Huntsville is still awake celebrating the darkness and spirits of the night, with clubbing, parties, and music venues downtown. So what better way is to end your weekend trip with good moves on a dance floor, buzzing music, and a delicious glass of wine? It’s a great way to mingle with locals and wrap up your memories in this fun city.

Visit Monte Sano State Park if you are a nature lover or a fitness enthusiast to begin your day. This park is popular since it has miles of hiking trails, bicycling routes, beautiful views, and picnic areas. Monte Sano promises to be a fun experience whether you're looking for family fun or a solo adventure in Huntsville.

Want to see the creative and arty side of Huntsville? Head straight to Low Mill Art and Entertainment. This place holds firmly the memories of the textile mill that used to run here, but now it is home to art galleries, studios, and space for performances. Visitors can buy souvenirs from the shops, watch artists doing their work live, or even participate in hands-on workshops.

• If you are not a walking person, don’t worry, just get yourself cheap car rentals Huntsville AL. They offer great deals to visitors providing comfortable cars in your budget, making traveling around the city super easy, fast, and convenient.
• Come with a comfortable pair of shoes with you as walking tours in Huntsville especially if you join hiking, bicycling, or tour of the historic town can be very tiring if you are in sandals, heels, or something else.
  
  
• Carry a bottle of water with you always, because no matter in what season you come no one is safe from dehydration.
  
  
• Try to do your own research before visiting Huntsville. Check the opening hours of the attractions, ticket requirements, and age restrictions (if visiting with family) to maximize your time and energy.
  
  
• Engage with the locals as much as possible to uncover the city's hidden gems and underrated restaurants that aren't featured in any travel guide. You might also stumble upon some juicy conspiracy theories, adding a bit of intrigue to your adventure!
  
  
• Try to align your plan with events happening in Huntsville, because they are worth it! If you love local festivals you can join the Panoply Arts Festival or Rocket City Brewfest, as they both bring the city to life.
  
  
• Use the map if you are interested to see the mural work. As you stroll around the city in downtown Huntsville, grab a map from a store and carry on following the mural trail. The locations are super gorgeous and Instagram-worthy.
  
  
• Not everyone in life gets to see a rocket launch live, and if your timing is right while visiting Huntsville, you can see one too! The Marshall Space Flight Center close to the city occasionally does rocket launches and people from the city and around the city gather around hours before just to see it live.