Things To Do in Huntsville

Huntsville is the birthplace of Alabama. Pioneer John Hunt, for whom the city is named, lived in a cabin alongside a spring here in 1805. A town grew up around him and by 1819 it was the largest town in the Alabama Territory. That year the leaders of Alabama Territory met here to petition the U.S. Congress to grant Alabama statehood.

Constitution Village (open Tues.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm) is a permanent exhibit of what life was like for 19th century villagers. Guides dressed in period clothing take you through eight reconstructed Federal style buildings and the actual site where forty-four delegates gathered to forge the way for Alabama’s Statehood. Contact (800) 678-1819

Huntsville Depot & Museum offers one of the nation’s oldest remaining railroad structures, old locomotives, Alabama’s largest public model railroad, and lots of Civil War history. (Open Tues-Fri. 9 am-5 pm) Contact (800) 678-1819

Harrison Brothers Hardware, est. 1879, is the oldest continuously operating hardware store in Alabama. It’s a great place to visit and shop for interesting gifts. Located downtown on the square. (Open Mon.-Sat.) Contact (256-536-3631)

Twickenham Historic District
Twickenham (the original name for Huntsville) was the cotton trading center of the Tennessee Valley during the mid 19th century. Planters and merchants built impressive town homes. Because many of the wealthy businessmen remained loyal to the Union at the start of the Civil War, the town was spared the destruction of occupying armies. Walking tours of the Twickenham historic district, the state’s largest collection of pre-Civil War homes, are popular year-round.

Huntsville Botanical Garden a beautiful 110-acre site with stunning floral collections, inviting woodland paths and broad grassy meadows. Kids love the G-scale trains that travel the Garden Railway. Enjoy lunch in the Tea Room (open 7 days a week) Contact (256-830-4447)

Burritt on the Mountain a Living Museum (open Tues.-Sat.) The museum is housed in the mountaintop mansion of Dr. William Henry Burritt built in the 1930’s. The surrounding historic park contains restored farm buildings which show life in this area during the mid to late 1800’s. The grounds offer marvelous panoramic views of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley. Contact (256) 536-2882

Early Works Children’s Museum is the South’s largest hands-on-history museum. Hear stories from the talking tree. Walk the gangplank and explore a 46-foot keelboat. (Open Mon.-Sat. 9 am-5 pm) Contact (800) 678-1819

Monte Sano State Park is a 2,140-acre park sitting atop Monte Sano Mountain. Monte Sano is Latin for “mountain of health.” At 1,650 feet, the air is said to be cooler and cleaner. The park is adjoined by Huntsville Land Trust public lands. Together they offer many miles of excellent hiking and mountain biking trails. The park has primitive camping and 89 developed campsites. There are 14 recently renovated cottages for rent near a gorgeous cliff overlook of the valley.

The Wedding Chapel is adjacent to the Huntsville Land Trust public lands and looks out onto the State Park. It is about a three-minute drive to the Park cabins. Cabins rent for $70, campsites are $14. Contact the Park Office (256) 534-3757

Huntsville Museum of Art. (Open Tues.-Sun.) 6 to 8 major traveling exhibitions per year, plus shows by regional artists. Contact (800) 786-9095

Family amusement park, attractions for everyone. Minature golf, bumper cars, batting cages, carnival rides, go-karts, arcade, waterpart, concessions. Full-swing golf, rock-climbing wall.

Harmony Safari Park is a federally licensed nature preserve of free-ranging exotic and endangered animals. Stay in your car on a two-mile tour and see zebras, zebus, antelope, buffalo, camels, ostriches, pythons and crocodiles. (Open Sat.-Sun. Apr-Oct.) Contact (877) 726-4625

is the state’s largest tourist attraction and the world’s largest space attraction. It is the home of the internationally known U.S Space Camp. There are exhibits, tours, rides, restaurants, IMAX theater, and shopping. (Open Mon.-Sun. 9 am-5 pm) Contact (800) 637-7223

Nearby: lots of sports and recreation, fishing, golf, night life, theater, restaurants and shopping.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Cathedral Caverns State Park, 40 minutes east of Huntsville. (Open Mon.-Sun. 9 AM-4 PM) Contact (256) 728-8193

Jack Daniel’s Distillery, one hour north of Huntsville in Lynchburg, TN