12 Reasons to Visit Huntsville, Alabama

Credit to Apryl Chapman Thomas & Southern Hospitality Traveler

HUNTSVILLE, ALA., IS ONE OF THOSE DESTINATIONS THAT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU’RE YOUNG, OLD OR SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE; TRAVELING WITH KIDS, AS A COUPLE OR BY YOURSELF; ENJOY THE ARTS, LIKE THE OUTDOORS OR LOVE HISTORY, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING (OR SOME THINGS) THAT’LL APPEAL TO EVERYONE’S INTEREST.

Here are 12 reasons (and there are plenty of more) to visit Huntsville:

1. Home to 1,500 space artifacts from the spaceflight program, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Space and Rocket Center holds the distinction of being one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight museums in the world.It is also home to Space Camp, Aviation Challenge Camp and Robotics Camp as well.

As the state’s most popular attraction, plan on spending some time here. You don’t want to miss viewing artifacts like the Skylab Training Module, Pathfinder Shuttle Shack and more, like the grave for “Miss Baker,” the squirrel monkey-naut. Check out the collection of rockets in Rocket Park or challenge yourself on simulatorslike Space Spot or G Force Accelerator. Over in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration is the Saturn V Moon Rocket, one of three in the world, suspended from the ceiling. You’ll realize how small you are as you walk under it. Be sure to take you time looking at the different exhibits covering space exploration.

2.At Huntsville Botanical Gardens, it is very easy to lose track of time as you leisurely explore its 112-acres. Enjoy the scenic Four Seasons Gardens or find inspiration at the Herb Garden or Vegetable Garden. No matter where you go in the garden, there is always something to see. Don’t skip over the Nature Center, where you’ll find Purdy Butterfly House, the country’s largest open-air butterfly house.

3. No doubt about it, history is a big part of Huntsville. Downtown is home to three historic districts: Twickenham, Old Town and Five Points, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Twickenham has one of the largest concentrations of antebellum homes in the South with over 65 structures. It is here that you’ll find Alabama Constitution Village. The living history village highlights the years of 1805-1819, and the Alabama’s entry into the Union as the 22nd state during the 1819 Constitutional Convention.

Also located within Twickenham District is Howard Weeden House Museum and Garden. Among the many other points of interest in this district include the I. Schiffman Building (birthplace of actress Tallulah Bankhead), and the Harrison Brothers Hardware Store.

For those who enjoy exploring historic cemeteries, Maple Hill Cemetery, located in the Five Points Historic District, is both the largest and most historic cemetery in Huntsville. It is the final resting place for five former governors as well as soldiers from the War of 1812 and Revolutionary War.

And that’s just a start when it comes to Huntsville’s history. There are plenty of more attractions (like North Alabama Railroad Museum and Veterans Memorial Museum), and places (like Historic Huntsville Depot and Alabama State Black Archives Research Center and Museum) to keep every level of history lover busy.

To read the article in its entirety, click on the link to see the article on Southern Hospitality Traveler.
http://traveler.southernhospitalitymagazine.com/places_al.php?id=9