20 Things To Do In Huntsville al

Huntsville rose to international fame when it became ground zero for NASA’s space missions, virtually overnight, putting Huntsville on the map. Huntsville’s history in Alabama is profound and rich, as the city served as the state’s capital for a year after Alabama was included in the Union in 1819. So you can imagine how many interesting things to do in Huntsville you will find. 

Today, this northern Alabama city is one of the state’s most populated metro areas and is home to a vibrant art and outdoor community. There’s a treasure trove of fun and interesting things to do in Huntsville and lots of unusual places to see, from the largest space museum in the world to the stunning Burritt on the Mountain perched on top of a mountain. Huntsville is one of Alabama’s finest cities, offering a delightful experience in and around its expanding metro area.

Huntsville, Alabama

20 Things To Do In Huntsville 

1- Visit The U.S. Space and Rocket Center

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center launched Huntsville to international fame during the mid-20th century when the United States decided to make Huntsville the Launchpad for its space program.

Home to unique exhibits dedicated to all things space-related, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a must-visit landmark in Huntsville.

Opened in 1970, the centre has welcomed over 16 million visitors through its doors with attractions such as G-Force simulators, a model of the International Space Station and the Apollo 16 command module.

The world’s largest space museum, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, is guaranteed to be an exciting day out.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center is at 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805. The Huntsville area attraction pass will give you access to this site and others. Check it out here.  

2- Explore Alabama Constitution Hall Park

Alabama Constitution Hall Park is situated in the oldest neighbourhood in Huntsville and commemorates the 1819 Constitutional Convention when Alabama was officially admitted to the Union.

With eight buildings, the park takes visitors on a history trip to the 1800s, where visitors can experience a 19th-century blacksmith, cabinet maker, and post office.

Alabama Constitution Hall Park offers guests a window into history like no other landmark in Huntsville could, making it an excellent Huntsville place to stop and tour.

Alabama Constitution Hall Park is at 109 Gates Ave S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801.

3- Go Hiking In Monte Sano State Park

Meaning ‘Mountain of Health’, the Monte Sano State Park is a stunning 2,140-acre outdoor oasis with 88 campsites, 14 chalets and even a Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.

Opened in 1938 and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1996, the park attracts active visitors with 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails and 14 miles (23 km) of biking tracks.

The park is one of Huntsville’s best outdoor attractions and is well worth planning an afternoon visit.

Monte Sano State Park is at 5105 Nolen Ave S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801.

4- Visit The Historic Huntsville Depot Museum

An important prison, hospital, and military barracks during the Civil War, the Historic Huntsville Depot Museum is a delightful family-friendly museum to stop by to learn everything there is to know about Alabama’s history.

An Operational train station and railway depot from 1869 to 1968, the Historic Huntsville Depot Museum’s railway-themed exhibits and artefacts are entertaining for adults and children.

Historic Huntsville Depot Museum is at 320 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

5- Pay Your Respects At The U.S. Veterans Memorial

The U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum is one of the most revered and respected museums of its kind in the United States, honouring the men and women who risked their lives for their country throughout the history of the United States.

The museum displays memorabilia, uniforms, weapons and artefacts stretching from the Civil War to the Vietnam War.

The museum’s centrepiece exhibit is the retired military vehicles on display outside the museum’s main building, which is a favourite among families with children.

U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum is at 2060 Airport Rd S.W., Huntsville, AL 35801.

6- Feed The Animals At Harmony Park Safari

The Harmony Park Safari offers visitors a one-of-a-kind zoo experience with self-guided two-mile (3 km) safari drives, where guests can see the park’s animals up close and personal.

Housing a collection of animals such as zebras, kangaroos, llamas, camels and ostriches, Harmony Park Safari is the best place in Huntsville to learn about exotic animal species from around the world.

With feed buckets available to purchase, feeding the animals at Harmony Park Safari is one of the fun things to do in Huntsville for kids.

Harmony Park Safari is at 431 Clouds Cove Rd S.E., Huntsville, AL 35803

7- Eat And Shop At Bridge Street Town Center

Bridge Street Town Center is the shopping and dining epicentre of Downtown Huntsville, with over 70 restaurants and shops backdropped by verdant trees and plants, including a five-acre (2 ha) freshwater lake.

Bridge Street Town Center is the place to go to see a movie, grab a bite to eat, catch a live music performance, or even take the dogs for a jog.

Free to enjoy and a harmonious blend of nature and urban, the Bridge Street Town Center is well worth stopping by.

Bridge Street Town Center is at 365 The Bridge St #106, Huntsville, AL 35806.

8- Visit The Butterfly House At The Botanical Garden

Not far from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the scenic Huntsville Botanical Garden is a volunteer-operated outdoor landmark with extensive collections of fauna and flora.

The 118-acre (48 ha) facility houses the Purdy Butterfly House, the largest of its kind in the United States, where visitors can spot animals such as tadpoles, butterflies, turtles and various insects.

Welcoming over 350,000 annual visitors through its doors, the Huntsville Botanical Garden is one of the city’s top attractions and certainly worth stopping by.

Huntsville Botanical Garden is at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave S.W., Huntsville, AL 35805.

9- See A Show At The Von Braun Center

The Von Braun Center is Huntsville’s entertainment capital, hosting live concerts, theatrical performances and other events.

Capable of seating up to 10,000 people, the Von Braun Center has three halls hosting everything from rodeos to hockey games.

Situated right in the heart of Downtown Huntsville, the Von Braun Center is within walking distance of Huntsville’s best restaurants, shopping districts and landmarks.

Plan an entire day out around the Von Braun Center, especially if you’re in the mood for a live event.

Von Braun Center is at 700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

10- Enjoy The Tranquility Of Big Spring Park

Big Spring Park is one of Downtown Huntsville’s best and most-visited attractions, with over 12 acres (5 ha) of greenery right in the city’s heart.

The park’s namesake limestone spring covers a significant portion of the park and sets the backdrop for a delightful day out.

The Big Spring Park is an unmissable Huntsville destination within walking distance of all of Downtown Huntsville’s world-class amenities.

Big Spring Park is at 200 Church St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

11- Admire Works At Huntsville Museum of Art

The expansive Huntsville Museum of Art has impressive collections of European, American, African and Asian artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries in the South.

Spread out across seven separate galleries, the museum exhibits pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella and John Sloan and works by Buccellati.

The art capital of Huntsville, the Huntsville Museum of Art, is an incredible destination for those planning to experience the city’s cultural side.

Huntsville Museum of Art is at 300 Church St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

12- Visit Burritt on the Mountain

Perched on the slopes of the Monte Sano Mountain, the Burritt on the Mountain overlooks the entire Downtown Huntsville area, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city’s streets.

Once the estate of Dr William Henry Burritt, the area on which the Burritt on the Mountain sits, was gifted by Burritt to the city after his death.

Burritt on the Mountain is a multi-use venue with a museum, fantastic outdoor scenery and amenities that makes any visit to Burritt on the Mountain enjoyable.

Have a picnic on the lawn, gaze out over Alabama as far as the eye can see or tour Burritt’s 19th-century estate; Burritt on the Mountain has plenty to keep you entertained.

Burritt on the Mountain is at 3101 Burritt Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35801.

13- Take The Kids To The EarlyWorks Children’s Museum

The fascinating EarlyWorks Children’s Museum was designed to entertain, educate and inspire children in a fun and engaging manner.

This unique museum explores different fields, including science, history, and biology, encouraging kids to interact and immerse themselves in every exhibit the museum has on display.

The museum’s most popular attraction is its roleplay area, where kids up to 10 years old get to dress up in accurate outfits of various occupations or a period in history.

A fun place for kids and grownups, the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum is a must for anyone travelling with children.

EarlyWorks Children’s Museum is at 404 Madison St SE, Huntsville, AL 35801.

14- Watch An Ice Hockey Game Or An Ice Skating Competition

With two Olympic-sized ice rinks under one roof, the non-profit Benton H. Wilcoxon Ice Complex opened in 1959.

Established to bring world-class ice skating amenities to the people of northern Alabama, the Benton H. Wilcoxon Ice Complex is open to amateurs and professional figure skaters.

Named after the person who donated the venue to the city of Huntsville, the Benton H. Wilcoxon Ice Complex hosts professional figure skating competitions and ice hockey games throughout the year, making it a fun and unique place to visit.

Benton H. Wilcoxon Ice Complex is at 3185 Leeman Ferry Rd S.W., Huntsville, AL 35801.

15- Step Back In History At Weeden House

Built in 1819, the Weeden House Museum and Garden is one of Huntsville’s most prized historic homes.

The former home of famous painter and poet and Huntsville native Maria Howard Weeden and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John McKinley, Weeden House Museum and Garden even served as barracks for army officers during the Civil War.

Weeden House is ingrained into the history of Huntsville, Alabama, and the broader South and provides a glimpse into life during the early 19th century.

The oldest house of its kind open to the public in Alabama, it’s a good place to soak up the historical vibe.

Weeden House Museum and Garden is at 300 Gates Ave S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801.

16- See A Show At Merrimack Hall

Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center started as the factory and shop of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, a textile company, in 1898.

The 25,000 square foot (2,323 m2) textile factory played a significant role in putting Huntsville on the map during a time when Huntsville mainly was a mill town.

Today, the structure houses the Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center and is one of Huntsville’s top venues for live theatrical and dance performances.

This non-profit organisation has been open to the public since 2007 and can accommodate up to 300 people in this intimate live performance venue.

Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center is at 3320 Triana Blvd S.W., Huntsville, AL 35805.

17- Hug Alabama’s Largest Elm Tree

The 72-acre (29 ha) Madison County Nature Trail, also known as the Green Mountain Nature Trail, is a free-to-visit outdoor paradise with abundant hiking and biking trails to enjoy the great outdoors.

The venue is home to the largest elm tree in all of Alabama and a scenic 16-acre (6 ha) freshwater lake with a beautiful covered bridge.

Situated close to Downtown Huntsville, the Madison County Nature Trail is one of the best free things to do in Huntsville.

Madison County Nature Trail is at 5000 Nature Trail Rd S.E., Huntsville, AL 35803.

18- Admire Local Art At Lowe Mill

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is the largest privately-owned art centre in the United States and is located in an old former textile mill, which the owners have beautifully restored.

The Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment blends modern art with the city’s blue-collar past in a captivating venue showcasing some 200+ artists across six different galleries.

Hosting a variety of engaging classes, workshops, and live performances throughout the year, the Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is perhaps Huntsville’s best cultural attraction.

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is at 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805.

19- Go Birding At Hays Nature Preserve

The unspoilt Hays Nature Preserve is a picture-perfect park with over 10 miles (16 km) of nature trails for cycling or jogging in one of the most pristine outdoor venues in Alabama.

The preserve is a nature park where the natural landscape and fauna and flora remain undisturbed.

As a result, the park is a haven for wildlife and is part of the North Alabama Birding Trail, making the park an excellent place to visit for outdoor fun and wildlife watching in Huntsville.

Hays Nature Preserve is at 7161 US-431, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763.

20- Visit The North Alabama Railroad Museum

Situated in Chase, just down the road from Downtown Huntsville, the North Alabama Railroad Museum was created to honour and celebrate the rich history that the railroad had in Alabama.

The Chase Depot is the museum’s star attraction and is the smallest union depot in the United States.

Other attractions include interesting exhibits, train memorabilia and a train that picks up passengers for a fun tour right outside the museum.

North Alabama Railroad Museum is at 694 Chase Rd NE, Huntsville, AL 35811.