48 Hours in Huntsville

July 2023

BY AMITY MOORE JOYCE

Alabama’s Rocket City Welcomes You! Come one, come all! Science nerds, nature lovers, art appreciators, craft beer enthusiasts, foodies and just about anybody else for an out-of-this-world weekend in Huntsville, AL.

Friday

AFTERNOON

Get settled in your hotel. Huntsville is becoming more attractive to travelers, so there is no shortage of choices, but a unique one downtown is the recently opened 106 Jefferson, which sports mid-century charm. One of its virtues is its location. Walk out the hotel’s doors and, within a quarter mile, you can further stretch your legs at Big Spring International Park. It’s usually a hub of activity, hosting one festival or another, welcoming families feeding the ducks near the actual spring or giving people a spot of green to be outside. While there, notice the red bridge and cherry trees—both gifts to Huntsville from Japan. 

For a shopping trip that marries the past with today’s must-haves, go to Harrison Brothers Hardware, also located within a block or so of your hotel. This general store was founded in 1897 and still displays the original cash register. Its shelves are stocked with made-in-America products, including arts and crafts, food, toys and things you didn’t know you needed but are definitely buying and taking home. Kids love the store’s scavenger hunt, an appreciated diversion that allows parents to shop.

EVENING

One popular downtown dinner spot, 1892 East Restaurant & Tavern, presents seasonal American fare influenced by what is growing locally. New to the scene, BeeZr Gastropub + Social Exchange enables you to sip small-batch beers crafted by Chandler’s Ford Brewing and nosh on tapas-sized dishes prepared by Champagne Taco Kitchen.

What and where you eat is important, but so are your after-dinner plans. If you’ve planned your trip to Huntsville right, you’ve timed it to coincide with a concert you can’t wait to see at the new Orion Amphitheater. Rolling Stone recognized it as a top spot for concerts, and native Alabama musician Jason Isbell says it’s his new favorite venue. If you’re more of a spontaneous, decide-when-I-get-there traveler, then chances are good you’ll find some great shows at one of the city’s entertainment complexes: Stovehouse or Campus No. 805. 

Saturday

MORNING 

You’ve got a busy day ahead, so don’t skip breakfast. Order one of the hearty omelets or the banana pancakes at City Café Diner. Spend the rest of the morning in awe at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center—everywhere you look, it seems, you are surrounded by rockets and space memorabilia from one of the largest such collections on this planet. Visit rocketcenter.com to find out about various virtual reality experiences, including snorkeling and landing on the moon, available here. Be aware that some require a wardrobe change. Advance tickets are encouraged. 

AFTERNOON

During minor league baseball season, the Rocket City Trash Pandas might be in town. They play home games at Toyota Field in Madison, located about 10 miles west of Huntsville. If they’re not in town, follow one of the many trails the community has developed. For example, you could pace yourself and drink responsibly on the Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail. 

Or, you could toast your way along the recently launched Downtown Huntsville Craft Cocktail Trail. Booze not your thing? Then indulge your artsy side at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment. Formerly a thriving textile mill, the complex today is the largest privately owned arts facility in the South and provides space to more than 200 working artists. Pop into the studios to see them at work or to browse their finished pieces. 

EVENING

Tonight, treat your taste buds to some of Huntsville’s global influences. For Chinese, head to Ding How II, where the menu includes family meals. These options, available for two to five people, include predetermined selections, such as moo goo gai pan and sweet and sour pork, but also come with daily soup, spring rolls and fried rice. Another long-time dining landmark since 1972, Ol’ Heidelberg Restaurant dishes up delicious German schnitzel and sausage. Or, Neon Lilly, located in Bridge Street Town Centre, presents eclectic Eastern European cuisine. Think authentically prepared Polish pierogies and Ukrainian kielbasa.

Sunday

MORNING

Perk up for your last day in town with your pick of stops on the Downtown Huntsville Craft Coffee Trail. Currently, 11 coffee shops participate, sharing their best roasts, lattes, drips and more. Fully energized, conquer a hiking trail at Monte Sano State Park. Another option could be some of the 70-plus miles of trails provided by the Land Trust of North Alabama and held in six nature preserves. Only two miles from downtown, trails in Monte Sano Nature Preserve also connect with networks in the state park and Burritt on the Mountain. 

AFTERNOON

Burritt on the Mountain sits atop Round Top Mountain. Take a guided or self-guided tour of the historic 19th-century Burritt Mansion and learn about farming in the 1800s from interpreters dressed in period clothing and through hands-on demonstrations.