Aerospace, Arts and Eats: How to Enjoy A Weekend in Huntsville, Alabama
The Rocket City Guide: Where Space Exploration Meets Southern Soul
With the recent buzz around the Artemis II mission, Huntsville, Alabama has been propelled into the global spotlight. As the home base for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the world-renowned Space Camp, the city has hosted aerospace enthusiasts from across the globe since 1982. Yet for every technological advancement, the city still has a quirky, artsy vibe and deep African-American roots. In this travel guide, I’ll share where to stay, things to do and what to eat to enjoy a three or four-day weekend in Huntsville.
Why Visit Huntsville, AL?
Huntsville is Alabama’s largest city but still gave me a small-town vibe and has stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains. The weather in March was pretty mild and I bet the fall foliage that surrounds the city creates a pretty, natural backdrop for the season.
Safety 9/10
I felt safe the whole time I was in Huntsville. Aside from my time at the kite festival, there usually wasn’t anyone within five feet of me. My trip was very ‘aunti-coded’ —meaning I prioritized comfort, peace, and early nights over a nightlife and bar-hopping but recent data supports my experience.
Accessibility 10/10
The whole point of this trip was to experience the ease of navigating the city for people with disabilities. (I’m legally blind in my right eye.) Downtown the crossing buttons were both visual and audible and the sidewalk was smooth. I’d just returned from Mardi Gras in New Orleans with uneven cobblestones and sidewalks that are major tripping hazards so I was pleasantly surprised. Outside the Marriott Trilogy on Big Spring International Park there was a caution cone marking a small strip of muddy grass. The orange cone made it difficult to get the picture I needed but I appreciated the safety efforts.
Things to do in Huntsville, Alabama
Cocktails & Cosmos at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
This event indulged my inner nerd. Imagine, stepping into the world-class INTUITIVE Planetarium with a signature cocktail and learning about how astrology and astronomy differ and how they intersect. It was cool relearning things from science class and pairing it with my curiosity about how birth charts affect personalities. Topics rotate each Friday so there’s something fresh to learn each weekend.
Huntsville Revisited Museum and Urban Hike
Mr. William Hampton is a 6th generation Huntsville native with a wealth of knowledge so vast he’s lovingly called the “Huntsville historian.” We met Saturday morning and did a tour of downtown. He started by explaining the history of old-school gangster Jessie James, someone I’ve never heard of before, but our conversation quickly turned into the Black history of the city. He held up an image of Black citizens being baptized in the Big Spring that’s now been turned into the anchor of a downtown park and I instantly felt connected to the soil . The most interesting thing I learned during our tour is that founding member of a cappella group Take 6, Mervyn Warren, is the brains behind big screen, mega-hit “I Will Always Love You” sung by Whitney Houston in “The Bodyguard.” Warren also produced and arranged "Joyful Joyful" for the scene-stealing performance by Lauryn Hill and the choir in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.” Finding out that the man who shaped the sounds of Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill is a Huntsville native was the absolute highlight of my trip.
WIlliam Hampton, Owner of Huntsville Revisited
Here’s a List of Other Black-Owned Businesses to Support
Year-Round Festivals in Huntsville
After my morning tour, I headed to my first ever kite festival which was a fun few hours filled with bright kites twirling in the sky, performances from local dance troupes and people from the community enjoying the sights and sounds. This free festival is held each March to foster inclusiveness and harmony in the community by bringing people together with family-friendly activities. I also met with organizers of Panoply Arts Festival and the world’s largest Cigar Box Guitar Festival which take place in April and May, respectively. If you’re like me and enjoy scheduling trips around festivals, check out this list and plan accordingly.
Lowe Mill ARTS and Entertainment
This repurposed textile mill is now the largest privately-owned arts facility in the United States. Well-lit rooms are filled with artists, artisans and vendors of all kinds. I spent about an hour perusing the building and met a variety of people including someone who makes fictitious yet plausible maps, a guy who turned sticks and only tennis balls into canes and saw what I can only describe as a butterfly dance class. Someone could spend hours here because there are food and drink options and I scored some really cool vinyls at Vertical House Records.
This is another Festi-approved location! I got a behind-the-scenes tour with the director of the facility and now I’ve added The Orion to my list of bucket list venues. The owner, Ben Lovett, is a member of Mumford & Sons and used his experience as a touring performer to develop a venue that is both performer and audience-forward. As I toured the green room, backstage and looked out to the colosseum seating, it’s clear why this amphitheater was featured on Billboard’s global Top Music Venues list in 2024. To see which events are coming up, check out The Orion’s “What’s On” list.
You could spend hours here, especially when everything is in bloom. I could tell my trip was just a few weeks before all the pretty colors emerged from the earth. This garden sits on 118 acres but it’s also centrally-located in town. Throughout the site patrons can see Mama Zelda in the Mother Earth Troll Garden, which is made from all natural materials and a wonder for kids and adults alike. She’s over 20 feet tall and truly a sight to see. There’s also a butterfly garden, a koi pond with waterlilies and talkative frogs and plenty of spots to stop and take in the scenery.
Where to Stay in Huntsville, Alabama
There is no shortage of places to stay in Huntsville. Whether you are looking for luxury accommodations or prefer an affordable get away with the basics, there are multiple options at affordable prices which is becoming rare in this economy. I got to hang out in the swanky 106 Jefferson Huntsville, Hilton Curio hotel and Marriott’s brand new Trilogy Hotel right on Big Spring International Park. I stayed at Homewood Suites by Hilton Huntsville Downtown and was really happy with the hotel. It’s on the outskirts of downtown which is a great way to be close to everything but still out the way. The room was comped for my trip, but it was perfect for me. I asked if I was staying in an ADA-compliant accessible room because it was large enough to easily navigate with a wheelchair and the shower had a low-entry and grab bar. My room was on the second floor so it wasn’t a designated ADA room, which means each of the hotel rooms is well equipped for all guests. The TV was 40 inches so I could actually see the screen without sitting on the edge of the bed and they had a hot breakfast that was worth waking up to eat.
Where to eat and drink in Huntsville, Alabama
Let’s not forget, Huntsville is in the south, so it’s part of the North Alabama BBQ Trail and also close enough to the gulf that there’s also a great variety of seafood and Cajun options to try. I’m not sure if you can go wrong. Here’s some of the places I enjoyed during my trip.
This regionally owned restaurant is located right under the hotel I stayed in but also worth the trip if you stay elsewhere. It reminded me of my fave burrito joint, Qdoba. The big difference is, Taco Mama focuses on supporting local produce companies to bring scratch-made salsas, toppings, and guacamole to customers. They also have a local bar.
You might as well call me Brunch BAE because I love nothing more than having a bruncha food options at once with a glass of bubbly. I got a southern omelet because omelets are my fave and it gave me a chance to taste Alabama-made Conecuh sausage. This is one of the places where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner all day so people with a variety of tastes can enjoy together.
Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza
I got a sneak peak and video of the pizza oven where the magic happens but I ordered a caprese salad because it seemed like a good, healthy option. My meal was great and the slice of pizza I ‘borrowed’ from someone was great too.
Earth and Stone is located inside this brewery on the edge of Campus No. 805. While I’m not usually a beer drinker, I loved that they offer local cocktails, wine, and adult slushies. Plus, the pizza joint serves adult ice cream including Bourbon Butter Pecan which sounds so good!
Commonly referred to as an "adult playground” this former high school is the perfect place to spend your evening. There are various breweries, bars, restaurants and entertainment sites, including Rocket City Lasers in the repurposed AV room.
Final Thoughts on the Rocket City
People visit Huntsville from around the world because of the connection to NASA, but beyond the launchpads lies a city with a quirky arts scene and deep African-American roots that define its true character. While walking through downtown hearing the enthusiasm in Mr. Hampton’s voice, I realized that the city’s true power is in the quiet, pride that locals have for their city. Huntsville doesn't scream for your attention, but if you listen closely, it’s singing a song you’ve known your whole life. Whether you’re a science nerd, a music lover, or just someone looking for a smooth, accessible sidewalk and a good slice of pizza, Huntsville is waiting to welcome you, too. So, I have to know—did you grow up singing 'Joyful, Joyful' like I did, or are you more of a 'Cocktails and Cosmos' kind of traveler? Let me know in the comments if Huntsville is now on your bucket list for 2026.
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