Location: Huntsville
Top Things to do in Huntsville
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10 Things to do in Huntsville That You Shouldn't Miss
Huntsville is the fourth-largest city in Alabama, located in the northernmost part of the state. A city with a 200-year Southern heritage, visitors will find activities that celebrate Huntsville’s rich history, as well as attractions that highlight the city’s scientific side. At the Alabama Constitution Village, villagers in period clothing take time from their daily chores to guide you through eight reconstructed Federal style buildings. Younger visitors will love the 150 hands-on activities at the Sci-Quest Hands-on Science Center and older kids will learn what it takes to be an astronaut at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Looking for outings with a cultural flair? Landmarks such as the Huntsville Botanical Garden and Huntsville Museum of Art are must sees. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville to its "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010" list.
Restaurants in Huntsville
1. Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 159 reviews
MAKE IT YOUR FIRST STOP! While in the Huntsville/Madison area visit one of area Visitor Centers for information, discount attraction, sports, arts & entertainment coupons.
Reviewed By N4868DSbrians
We e mailed and called Tourism Alabama but they never sent us anything. Then the state visitor center at the Tenessee/Alabama border was baricaded/closed!! We just about gave up on Alabama. Make sure you go to the Huntsville Visitor Information Center on Church Street. If you are lucky you will be met by Yvonne or Brenda. These ladies are a fountain of information about not just the Huntville area but also other parts of Alabama.we consider ourselves fortunate to have made their aquantance.
2. U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 341 reviews
Located in Huntsville Alabama, The U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum is one of the premier military museums in the world. The exhibits of memorabilia, artifacts, and military equipment range from the American Revolutionary War to present day. Included in the collection are many rare and important artifacts including the oldest surviving jeep: the Ford Pygmy.
Reviewed By N7085FQjohnm
This museum has so many artifacts from the Revelotionary War era to the modern-day. The volunteers at the museum were very helpful and clearly have a passion to see the history on display in the museum maintained and shared. My family of 5 with 3 kids under 7 thoroughly enjoyed it! The museum would very much benefit from a larger, updated space and some money to upgrade the exhibits. They clearly are doing the best with the money they have. I hope the city or some other group will help this museum, as they have plenty of artifacts to be a world-class museum; they just need some money to take the next steps.
3. The Weeden House Museum and Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Built in 1819 (the same year Alabama became a state) the home is not only a source of fine 19th Century furnishings and Federal style architecture, but is also the home of poet and artist Maria Howard Weeden. Howard Weeden was born in the house in 1846. Except for the Civil War years when Federal officers occupied the home, Howard spent her entire life in the home. She is known as being one of the first artists to paint African Americans true to life during the years following the Civil War. Guests enjoy a guided history tour which transports them to a bygone era learning about architecture, Weeden art and life in the Antebellum South. Since the home is furnished with antiques and original art that is accessible to visitors,tours are guided tours and last around an hour and 15 minutes. Tours are offered Wednesday-Saturday beginning at 10:30 AM or by appointment. Information at weedenhousemuseum.com
4. Monte Sano Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By df917 - Huntsville, United States
was a planned visit to do some geocaching ,did manage to close a few in area . there are so many more to go . if you not tried GEOCACHING give a try.
5. Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 41 reviews
The Huntsville Veterans Memorial, dedicated on Veterans Day, 11.11.11, honors and pays tribute to all veterans for their "Courage", "Sacrifice", and "Duty". The Memorial has become a hallowed place that inspires visitors to reflect, remember and honor veterans. It provides an educational venue to teach visitors about our military past, the cost of war, and sacrifices made to ensure our freedom.
Reviewed By PhilipA1043 - Huntsville, United States
This is a very peaceful, serene, and clean memorial dedicated to all branches of the US Armed Services. The main memorial consists of individual monuments to the great wars from WW1 through the Gulf Wars, with historic timelines throughout, while the pathways behind consist of bricks and benches dedicated to individual soldiers, platoons, and groups who served. The American flag can be seen for miles as you enter Huntsville, and the accompanying flags are always stately flown alongside just a tad lower. What a great place to spend a lunch hour, or a great stop along the way to downtown Huntsville's other tourist attractions!
6. U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,098 reviews
Home to Space Camp, Aviation Challenge and NASA's Official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center; The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world.
Reviewed By RichardF215 - Greenville, United States
While on a road trip my wife and I stopped in here to how we the USA put a man on the moon. The museum it'self offers a lot of great information and many different displays some very exciting and some in need of a good facelift. But most important is realizing what it took to put together this space program and the people that we're able to accomplish the task. This was a challenge that had nothing to do with politics this was a program from people from every walk of life. Some who used their brains and some who used their hands. Some were men and some were women and there was a mix of gays and brown people. We were a Unites States of American that came together with a common cause and mastered the challenge. I saw people here the day we toured the museum that didn't speak English and I didn't speak their language but we were here to honor all the people who made this task a win-win for the whole world. There is a lot to see for all ages, movies, attractions like wall climbing for kids, old newspaper headlines, videos, many presentations, rockets and engines and lots of memorabilia. Parking is easy, food is available, and there is something for everyone. Extremely easy to get to off the interstate.
7. Twickenham
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By dewaynep2016 - Elizabethtown, United States
I picked up a walking tour map at the Huntsville Visitors Center and headed off! The sheer amount of antebellum houses is remarkable in and of itself. The Weeden House is the only one available for tours, as the others are privately owned, but is only open M-F for tours. And, after you finish looking at the houses you can walk to the Harrison Brother's store and museum, the Constitution Village (closed during the winter), and get some good food downtown.
8. Huntsville Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 871 reviews
The 112-acre Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round and contains a diverse ecosystem of meadows, upland and bottomland forest, and wetlands, as well as a variety of specialty gardens and native plant collections. The Mathews Nature Trail contains the largest accredited trillium collection in the U.S. and the Anderson Education Center is home to the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. The Native Plants Teaching Garden is a public space that highlights the way local plants, soil, pollinators, and birds create distinct communities and how they interact to form a diverse, sustainable, and attractive landscape. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Garden is a member of the American Public Gardens Association, the North American Plant Collections Consortium, and the American Horticultural Society, as well as an ArbNet-accredited arboretum.
Reviewed By 532serenityj - Sterlington, United States
This place was amazing had something for everyone. hammocks, rock areas (painted rocks) playgrounds for various ages, lovely gift shop, amazing art work thru out the gardens and various places.
9. Huntsville Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
From Norman Rockwell to Hudson River School Landscapes and everything in between, the Huntsville Museum of Art is a must-see on your next visit to Huntsville! The Huntsville Museum of Art sits in Big Spring Park, the epicenter of the dynamic and evolving city center that is Downtown Huntsville, Alabama and works as a magnet for cultural activities. Stop by today and see the Museum's permanent collection of art, along with a wide variety of well-known traveling exhibitions. The Museum also has a large interactive children's gallery! Visit the hsvmuseum.org for all of the current and upcoming exhibitions. Founded in 1970 by city ordinance of the Museum Board of the City of Huntsville, the Museum serves Huntsville and Madison County's combined population of 420,000 residents. The mission statement of the Museum is to bring people and art together through acquiring, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting the highest quality works of art.
Reviewed By melissaaI5004LN
What a great trip for an intro into Art for my DD daughter who is 16. It was just small enough and covered a lot of major art categories. She especially like the YAM young artists art on display. We enjoyed all the galleries--especially the sterling silver animal carvings!
10. Von Braun Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 270 reviews
The Von Braun Center is a multipurpose facility located in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. It offers multiple venues for presenting cultural, educational, entertainment, sporting and social events. With over 170,000 sqft of flexible meeting space The VBC is able to accommodate events of all sizes.
Reviewed By waldentenn - Signal Mountain, United States
This is a top-drawer arena for sports. We visited for a minor-league hockey game. The place is clean, good family atmosphere, comfortable seats and good sight-lines. Tickets were reasonable and the place was 3/4s full on a Sunday afternoon. One of the best venues in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
