Best Things To Do In Huntsville, Alabama

Just east of the city center is this beautiful state park that boasts amazing views regardless of season. The park contains over 2,140 acres that provide camping and cabin options to take in the mountaintop views. Tackle the 20 miles of hiking trails or 14 miles of biking trails, depending on your fancy. If you are looking for something more laid-back, try a round on their disc golf course.

You can’t go to a city with the nickname Rocket City and not check out this place. It contains a giant collection of actual rockets and other space memorabilia for the public to explore. Seasonal shows at the onsite planetarium guide you through the constellations, planets and stars. Attractions like the Flight Simulator Experience and Multi-Axis Trainer allow an in-person experience of what astronauts go through during preparation for missions. For those really wanting the full experience, prepare to get wet, book in advance and bring your bathing suit to undertake various underwater astronaut trainings and virtual reality adventures. Those run from snorkeling to even full-fledged scuba diving.

Built on the site of a closed middle school, this converted entertainment venue connects historic districts with up-and-coming West Huntsville neighborhoods. The complex hosts breweries and restaurants, some of which will be mentioned in more detail in this guide, but also hosts other places to try axe throwing, ballroom dancing lessons or even get a tattoo. The athletic fields that surrounded the school have been transformed into recreational parks to connect the old and new buildings.

Indulge your artistic side with a visit to the largest privately owned arts facility in the southern United States. With over 152 artist studios, the focus is on visual arts like painting, sculpture and woodworking, but it also includes disciplines like bookbinding, ceramics, culinary arts, glass, jewelry and fashion. From May through October they also have an outdoor market every Saturday for local vendors.

They are the minor baseball team with the coolest nickname in sports. The Double-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels play their home games just outside the city at Toyota Field. Their name is an obvious nod to the area’s connection with space exploration, but the raccoon mascot, Sprocket, gives a wink to a certain “Guardians of the Galaxy” character and has been a smash success for the team since it was unveiled in 2018.

Located in downtown’s mixed-use space The Avenue, the husband-and-wife owners Matt and Stephanie Mell offer fine dining in a casual spot that flexes a classic wood and brick design aesthetic. Order the black Angus filet and wash it down with a glass of wine or one of Huntsville’s local craft beers.

Community is the emphasis at this Five Points restaurant and tavern that sources ingredients from the local farms and was built on a sustainable food restaurant model. They’ve garnered lots of local attention for a dish that stuffs the grits inside fried shrimp, but we all suggest trying the duck leg.

The Toybox Bistro motto isn’t “Eat, Drink and Be Nerdy” for nothing. Embrace your inner Urkel and take in the many collectibles — think “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Transformers” — along the walls. When you’re here, double up your order with the waffled macaroni and cheese and spicy fried pickles.

This is the go-to place for brunch in Huntsville. It serves as the onsite restaurant for the Von Braun Center, home of concerts and minor league hockey among other live events, which provides views of downtown’s Big Spring Park. It features a spacious indoor dining area, a covered patio and even a rooftop bar.

Opened in 2008 in a building that was first erected in 1821, chef James Boyce’s restaurant combines modern American cuisine with Southern flair. The menu is a casual approach to fine dining and changes depending on what can be sourced locally. It’s hard to go wrong with braised black Angus beef short ribs or any of the seafood.

Located at the before-mentioned Campus No. 805, this is one of the most famous breweries in north Alabama. They create premium ales and lagers that offer a Southern interpretation on brewing traditions. More than 20 beers are on tap and there’s a rotation of seasonal options. Inside, the vibe is relaxed, while the pet-friendly patio leads right into a recreational green space. It also helps that arguably the best pizza in town, Earth and Stone, is connected to it and provides food service to the brewery.

Like trying new things? Green Bus is the brewery for you. It is a nano-brewery, meaning that it makes only very small batches of its beer, so its selection is diverse and constantly changing. Enjoy your drinks there in the cozy downtown location, or ask for a purple cup and take it with you as you explore Huntsville’s entertainment district, which allows open containers.

Enter a different era as you visit this speakeasy. Dim lighting, silent movies and a musical selection of yesteryear creates a fine atmosphere to go along with the old-time theme. Hand-crafted cocktails are the drinks of choice in this establishment.

 This is the late-night staple of downtown Huntsville. They provide live music every night of the week and have been the destination of many a late night in the city for decades. 

This rooftop bar likes to describe itself as “impeccably posh without pretension.” The name was inspired by Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” and features classic cocktails (or elixirs) but also has a wine and beer menu that will keep any drinker content. It mixes open-air seating with a lavish bar area within its spacious 4,000-square-foot lounge.

This stylish boutique hotel nestled in the heart of downtown indulges its guests with amenities of the present and aesthetics that honors the past. Its location makes for easy walking to several places on this list. If you do not want to leave the hotel, it offers Revivalist for your restaurant needs and Baker and Able as a rooftop bar. Baker and Able is yet another embracement of the space industry heritage of the city, as it’s named after the first two monkeys to survive spaceflight.

Located west of town, this Marriott-owned hotel is located in Bridge Street Town Centre, which has a bevy of retail and dining options within walking distance. It is also close to the Space and Rocket Center and features breakfast at its own Sage Grill.