Huntsville
A high-tech city with a rich history that draws people from all over the world
Huntsville is one of the towns in the Southeast of the United States that is growing the fastest. Huntsville has a long history of southern kindness, as well as new high-tech businesses and a lot of different cultures. In fact, people in the city speak more than 100 different languages and accents. The city has always been built on a sense of wonder and adventure. In fact, in 1958, the city was used to send the first American satellite into space. Wernher von Braun, known as one of the “Fathers of Rocket Science,” lived and worked in Huntsville in the 1950s and 1960s. He started the space and rocket business that is still linked to the city today. Feel that same sense of awe-inspiring wonder as you visit landmarks like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center or venture into Huntsville’s lively neighborhoods and historic areas that are off the beaten path.
A place where science and art meet
One of the most amazing things about looking out over Huntsville is seeing a 36-story-tall Saturn V moon rocket. That’s just one of the amazing sights at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, which is the tourist center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Explore the world’s biggest space museum to see more than 1,500 artifacts, such as Explorer I, a model of the first U.S. satellite, and a rare “full stack,” which is a huge space shuttle with an external tank and two solid rocket boosters.
But art fans shouldn’t feel left out. The Huntsville Museum of Art has both regular and temporary exhibits that people can enjoy. One of the most interesting is the Sellars Collection of Art by American Women. The Panoply Arts Festival is held every year in downtown Huntsville to celebrate the arts, music, and other things. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is a great place for art lovers because it is in an old textile mill and has public studios for artists. People can look at art in galleries, see live shows, and even take art classes like hula hooping, painting, and sculpture.
The Great Outside
Because Huntsville is in the large Tennessee Valley, it’s easy to take day trips to go on experiences in the mountains. Monte Sano State Park is on Round Top Mountain, which is also known as Monte Sano Mountain. You can visit the park to enjoy the peaceful Japanese garden or to walk trails that are covered in azaleas in the spring and colorful leaves in the fall. At nearby Burritt on the Mountain, you can combine your love of nature and history. It has a historic mansion, outdoor exhibits, and nature walks.
You can walk through the beautiful flowers at the Huntsville Botanical Garden or look at historic antebellum houses and their gardens around town. Big Spring International Park is a hidden spot on the lake in the middle of downtown that’s great for a romantic picnic or a leisurely walk.
Fun Food and Drink
There are many different ways to enjoy food. You can eat at the Main Street Café in an old jail cell. The café is in a renovated city hall and jail in Madison, which is about a 15-minute drive from Huntsville. At G’s Country Kitchen or Blue Plate Cafe, you can enjoy Southern comfort food. Both serve meat-and-threes, a traditional dish with one meat and three sides – yum! If you’re thirsty, go to one of Huntsville’s breweries, Straight to Ale, and get a Monkeynaut IPA. You can also visit Campus No. 805, a famous brewing, dining, and entertainment center in the hub of the city.