Gateway to the Stars

From before Alabama's admission as a state in 1817 to 1826, Huntsville served as the first seat of the state government; appeals for statehood and eventually the state Constitution were written here in Huntsville. Many of the original buildings still exist in this area.

Located in the extreme northern part of Alabama, Huntsville thrived on the cotton trade. As railroads were built, Huntsville became a major economic center until the Civil War. It was spared from the Union army during its occupation due to the loyalty of many of the wealthiest businessmen. As a result, it is the largest collection of pre-Civil War homes in the Deep South.

In 1950, the Redstone Arsenal army base employed a group of rocket scientists led by Wernher von Braun. This group put the first man into space and eventually transported a man to the moon. The long-lasting effect of this group is today's space program and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where visitors can see the rockets and equipment used in space.

Since 1950 as a result of the addition of the space program, the population has jumped from 1500 to about 170,000. Huntsville is the fourth-largest city in Alabama and about 120th in the United States. There are plenty of shopping centers and restaurants to keep up with the population.

Culturally, Huntsville is also significant. With the Renaissance Theater and the Von Braun Center, there is a diverse selection of cultural events in the city. When I went, they were hosting two community theaters and a monster truck show--I did say diverse. The Museum of Fine Art offers a rotation of exhibits. Huntsville also has a botanical garden that rivals any that I've seen with acres and acres of beautiful landscaping.

I had the opportunity to spend a 3-day weekend here and saw most of the tourist sites. I skipped a couple of children sites, Sci-Quest and Early Works. If you plan your time well, a weekend trip will allow you to see all the attractions in Huntsville that you will want to see.

Quick Tips:

I recommend a trip to Huntsville, AL, for anyone interested in the Space Program. Along with Cape Canaveral and the Houston Space Center, this is the part of the trifecta for space exploration enthusiasts. I also recommend this trip for families with pre-teen children; along with the space center, there are educational attractions specifically for children. Finally, I recommend Huntsville for weekend getaways. With all the amenities of a larger city, Huntsville is a nice place to just get away to. Thrill junkies will not find a lot to do here. There are a couple of rides at the space center, but even those are smaller versions of what amusement parks offer.

One final note: before examining the individual attractions of this area, remember that if you are traveling to Huntsville on your free time, you should spend it doing things that you enjoy. Whether you are on vacation or traveling through your retirement, you should do things that you like, not necessarily what I or any reviewer says is fun. If you enjoy golfing, you should spend a day of your trip golfing on one of the courses; Huntsville is right on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and has several renowned courses. There is a large variety of sporting events and activities in Huntsville, and they even have a public ice rink that hosts a hockey team in the fall. Spend some time doing the things that you enjoy the most and you will get more out of your experience to this (or any) area.

Best Way To Get Around:

Huntsville is not that large; attractions are only miles apart. However, it is just large enough to require a car to see all the sites. There is a public transportation system here, but it runs too infrequently to be made use of by tourists.

When going downtown, you can walk through the historic district, to the Tweeden house, to the Museum of Art, and to the Von Braun Center without having a car. However, the rest of the shopping, attractions, and hotels are too far apart to effectively walk between them.

Traveling the main roads will get you to almost all the attractions in Huntsville. Interstate 565 cuts through the middle of Huntsville and exits directly to the space center and the botanical gardens. The local areas are off 231 and 431, which hit 565 near downtown; 231 South leads to many of the sporting venues. The main drive for hotels, restaurants, and shopping is University Drive (State Highway 72); this includes the mall and a couple of supercenters. University Drive intersects with Church Street, which takes you to the downtown area. If you know these five streets, you will have no problem finding everything in Huntsville.

I stay at a lot of La Quinta Inns as I travel. They are always pretty moderately priced, generally pretty comfortable, and generally easy to get to and around the main sites of a city.

This last point is especially true of the La Quinta in Huntsville at the Space Center. Located on University Drive, it is right in the middle of the commerce side of town with the mall, the supercenters, and many shops and restaurants within a mile of the hotel. This La Quinta sites about halfway between the space center/botanical gardens and downtown Huntsville, with the historic sites and museums.

Price-wise, the La Quinta Inn is on the lower end for this area. Everything (but the gas) is moderately priced in Huntsville, and the $50 per night seems to be a pretty good deal compared to others in the area.

The cleanliness and overall quality on this hotel were good but not exceptional. There were some papers left in the dresser from a previous stay, but the room did feel clean. The continental breakfast was poor; I ended up eating out instead. The staff was friendly.

The amenities this hotel offers are similar to others in the neighborhood. There is a pool. All rooms have basic cable TV. The two ice machines closer to the back of the hotel were both broken.

I recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Huntsville, Alabama, strictly due to its location, as it is pretty average on everything else.

Website: http://www.lq.com

I didn't realize until just now as I looked up the website that there are so many Barnhill's locations. I used to live in Montgomery and would visit the location there fairly often. Anyway, this restaurant was very close to my hotel, so I stopped to eat here for lunch.

I generally don't review a lot of restaurants, as I consider them to be about the same. I run into good service and bad service, good food and not-so-good food, but given differences in taste, most restaurants are very similar. So, I take time to review only restaurants that I find exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Barnhill's Buffet is neither. That is to say, it is good food. It is very good food, but it is not exceptional.

The other thing that I look at when I write these reviews is the locality and the specialty of the food. When I go to Philadelphia, I want to eat a cheesesteak. When I am in New Orleans, I want to eat Cajun food. I want a taste of the region or culture. Barnhill's is also good at this. They serve Southern dishes, such as chicken, catfish, and a variety of smoked meats with a big glass of ice tea.

When you combine my two categories, quality of the restaurant and "regionality" of the food, you will see why I recommend Barnhill's. It's not the best chicken you will ever have, but it is good chicken. It's not Huntsville or Alabama specialty food, but it is Southern food.

Anyway, this is very good food at a pretty good price: the buffet with a drink is $10. If you haven't tried one of these restaurants, you will enjoy eating here.

Website: http://www.barnhills.com/

High above Huntsville on the Monte Sano Mountain, the Burritt Museum offers a taste of the regions history.

The museum was originally built in 1936, when Dr. William Burritt moved here to enjoy his retirement. His mansion served as his home until his death, when he gave it to the city to turn it into a museum.

The mansion now houses a beautiful collection of antiques and tells a little bit about the man who built it.

On the historic side of this attraction, there are some original 19th-century buildings that were brought here from throughout the valley. The majority of people living in this area were farmers and lived very sparingly. There weren't all the big plantations dominating the countryside in this area like there were farther east and south. It is also very interesting to compare these homes from the 1800s to those from the same time period that you can see in downtown Huntsville. Obviously, those living in town were much more affluent and had more sophisticated homes.

One final part of this attraction that I think needs to be mentioned is the overlook. From this spot on the mountain, you can look out and see all of Huntsville.

I recommend this site for anyone interested in history. I also recommend this attraction for families with small children, who will enjoy the petting zoo in the barnyard.

Website: www.burrittmuseum.com

Located just outside of Huntsville, Cathedral Caverns is smaller then most similar parks; the trail is only three-quarters of a mile long. These caverns are noteworthy, however, because they hold some world records and house some beautiful formations, such as Big Rock Canyon and Stalagmite Mountain.

The first record that this cavern has is apparent as you walk up. The entrance to the cavern is 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, the largest natural entrance to a cavern. The thing that impressed me the most was a stalagmite column. Nicknamed Goliath, this column reaches the ceiling in a cavern that is 45 feet tall. Besides being a record height, this column is huge and dominates one entire cavern. Another formation holding a record is the Frozen Waterfall, which is the largest formation of its type.

One big tip is to call ahead for tour times. Entrance to the caverns is by guided tour only. This is both good and bad. It is good because the guide is knowledgeable in the formations. She pointed out points of particular interest and patterns that would have otherwise been missed and answered any questions that came up from the group. The downside to having a guided tour is that they only start at set times. If you show up without calling ahead, you might have to wait a couple of hours until the next tour starts. If you call ahead, they will be able to tell you when the next tour starts so that you won't have to wait too long for the next tour.

I recommend this tour for anyone interested in caverns and rock formations; while smaller than others, there are some exceptional formations here holding several world records. I also recommend this tour for anyone who hasn't been to a cavern before. There are better caverns to see, but this is probably a good size for those who just want to experience it without spending too much time on it. Finally, I recommend this tour for families with small children; they will marvel at the formations more then adults.

Website: http://www.alapark.com/parks/park.cfm?parkid=2

Some of the buildings here in historic downtown Huntsville date back to 1800, before Alabama was a state.

Well over half the houses in this area date back to before the Civil War. It is especially uncommon to see a pre-Civil War community this size, as most were destroyed during the war. Huntsville, however, was saved, as it was the home to many loyalists and was spared the Union army's destruction at the end of its occupation.

One interesting note for those who will also see Burritt on the mountain; compare these houses to those on the mountain, also from 1850. This demonstrates the difference between city and country living at the time.

The Weeden house is open seasonally for tours. There is not much to see inside the house, but it will give you a feel for the inside as well as the outside of the houses of the period.

Harrison Hardware was originally opened here in in 1897 and still operates with much of its original equipment, including the cash register. This provides a first hand look at how a store of that time would have looked.

I recommend a trip to the historic district of downtown Huntsville for anyone interested in history or architecture.

Website: www.huntsville.org

I like to look at art museums. However, I find it hard to judge one against the other based on the museums themselves. You have to understand that most of the paintings, sculptures, etc., that you see in a museum of art are on loan to that museum from private collectors, other museums, or the artists themselves. The museum itself is just a bunch of walls with a roof on top of it.

Having said that, I do highly recommend the Huntsville Museum of Art based on my visit to this area. When I visited, they had just completed an exhibit on Ansel Adams and were currently featuring Maxfield Parrish. Those are big names for a small town like Huntsville, so I have to believe that the curator is pretty good. The paintings are all well presented with enough background information to give you some background on the artists.

The ongoing exhibit American Masters includes paintings from several artists that you should know, such as Audobon.

I recommend the Huntsville Museum of Art for anyone interested in art. I also recommend the museum for anyone with free time between the other attractions.

Website: www.hsvmuseum.org

I went to see the Huntsville Botanical Garden in the last of January, which is in the middle of winter. As you might expect, plants and trees are not blooming during this time of year.

Having said that, I put the Huntsville Botanical Garden as the second best the I've ever seen (behind the Japanese Garden in San Antonio). Perhaps it is because it was winter and different than others I had seen, but the plants were very well trimmed. I'd very much like to visit this garden again in the summer to see if it has the same beauty as in winter.

Exhibits are organized into either trails or gardens. Mostly the local plants are represented. The Aquatic gardens combines architecture, water, and plants. A couple of the gardens the stand out are the daylily garden and the herb garden. There is also a vegetable garden where children can learn how things grow. There is also a butterfly garden. One final exhibit of note is the historic dogwood tree, which is over 100 years old.

I recommend this attraction for anyone visiting Huntsville.

Website: http://www.hsvbg.org/

I rated this site as highly recommended, but I was disappointed when I got here. I set aside a day to see everything that it had to offer; it ended up taking only 3 hours to see and ride everything.

First, there is an IMAX film. They typically play only two films, Magnificent Desolation, the story of man's lunar landings, and Fighter Pilot, which shows how pilots are trained. With only three showings every day, you have to catch the one that is playing during your visit. If you arrive at 9am and miss the first show at 11am, you'll be finished with the other exhibits and waiting over an hour for the second show at 1pm. The other problem with this theatre was the seating; it wasn't made for adult men. I had to sit sideways in my seat to keep from hitting the lady in front of me. The shows typically play at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, with Magnificent Desolation being the one to watch at 11am and 3pm. Both shows last just under 1 hour.

The museum itself was interesting. There are a lot of life-size models of materials used in space and lunar exploration. There are computer games and simulations throughout the museum, including one where you have to pilot the space shuttle into a landing. Tours of the museum run every hour and walk you through exhibits in the museum. I didn't enjoy the tour, as the guide was very hard to hear with all the talking and noise from the exhibits and the videos that are going on in the museum. The tour lasts about 45 minutes.

Outside is Rocket Park, which houses a collection of rockets and missiles. The space shuttle and the space rockets are the highlight here, but you should take time to see the missiles and missile-launching vehicles.

There are three rides, an attraction, and a live show here. First, the live show Outpost in Space allows you to see how life is on the International Space Station. Actors go through some of the daily functions that we wouldn't have otherwise considered. This show lasts about 30 minutes.

The attraction and the three rides operate on alternating schedules. One hour two will be open, the next hour the other two will be open, then back and forth. This might be because I went in the off-season, so you might consult the ticket office as you enter. The attraction is a rock-climbing wall. The rides are Mission to Mars (a motion theatre), G-Force Accelerator (aka the fair ride Gravitron), and Space Shot (similar to rides in amusement parks but smaller).

I was disappointed during my visit, as I was expecting this to be the highlight to my tour of Huntsville. However, I still recommend this for everyone, as there is entertainment and educational value to this attraction and there just isn't anywhere else that focuses on space exploration as this place does.

Website: http://www.spacecamp.com

The one thing that I would admire the most about Huntsville over much larger cities, such as New Orleans, where I currently live, is the amount of cultural activity that goes through here. There is always something going on at the local venues. When I was here, Renaissance Theater had a play, the stage at Burritt on the Mountain had a musical, and Von Braun Center Arena had a monster truck rally. Even though it is a smaller city, there is always something happening in Huntsville.

I took in the "Trial of Frank James," presented by Theatre Huntsville at the Von Braun Playhouse. I went to see this as it was historically a huge event for Huntsville. It would be the equivalent of the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1860s. It was bigger then the city itself.

The acting is pretty typical of community theater and the effects are likewise. Don't expect a Broadway show, but it is a good night out.

I recommend the Theatre Huntsville for anyone visiting Huntsville. There is not much to do here after 5pm, so this will be a welcome treat.

Website: http://www.theatrehsv.org

I enjoyed the tour of the Veterans Memorial Museum. There is a lot of war memorabilia from all the wars that the United States has been part of. However, the bulk of the artifacts center around World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.

The museum itself is not that interesting. There are a lot of tanks and army vehicles, but those seem common place these days. If you have ever ridden around in a tank, looking at one that's 50 years old just isn't the same. I see the progression, but it just isn't that interesting to me.

The one really good point to the museum is the tour guide. The tour guide I had was a veteran of Korea and Vietnam. The stories that he would tell and the opinions that he gave were far more entertaining then the museum artifacts by themselves.

I recommend this museum for anyone interested in the military or in either World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam War. Also, I recommend this attraction for anyone interested in history with free time from other local attractions.

Website: http://www.memorialmuseum.org

In 1819, 44 representatives from all of Alabama came to Huntsville. They came together to draft a petition for statehood to the United States of America and to sign an official Constitution for the state. The largest building in the city at that time was the cabinetmaker's craft shop.

This shop is still in similar condition to how it stood in 1819. There is, also, a post office, a stable, a blacksmith shop, and the home of the sheriff from that time period.

It is important to note that at that time what we now know as Alabama was the American frontier, principly unsettled by whites and loosely populated by Native Americans. Huntsville was populated by fewer then 200 people,, but was the center for trade for all the surrounding farms. This area only had a couple of large plantations with slaves; the majority of the land was owned by single family farmers, who lived off the land and traded surplus goods for anything that could not make themselves.

A costumed interpreter takes you through each of these buildings and explains how life was at that point in time. The interpreter will demonstate some of the crafts of the time.

I recommend this site for anyone interested in history, expecially those interested in early American history, frontier life, and Alabama state history. I also recommend this attraction for families with small children.

Website: www.earlyworks.com

This attraction is maintained by a group of railroad enthusiasts, who volunteer their time to the museum.

The museum itself is a collection of train cars that have been donated to the museum. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to enter the cars. There is a depot, but you are not allowed to enter it either.

The major plus to this attraction is the rides on the train. About 12 times a year, the group takes the train on a ride through the country side.

Currently restored to its condition of 1860, the Huntsville Depot shows how this area was impacted by the trains that passed through it. In the 1820s when the depot was built, Huntsville was still a frontier community. When the train company decided to build a line to go from Memphis, on the Mississippi River, to the east coast, the people of Huntsville got together and built this depot.

During the Civil War, when Huntsville was taken by Union soldiers, the depot was used as a prison for the Confederate soldiers that were captured. After those soldiers were sent to prison camps, the depot was used to house the Union soldiers stationed to hold Huntsville for the north.

You begin the tour with a short film that gives a little insight into the history of Huntsville. It tells about the building of the depot and how Huntsville progressed afterwards.

Next you will meet Andy Barker, a robotic ticket agent, and his friends; the telegraph operator and the conductor. This is a little quirky for adults, but I'm certain it helps hold the attention of children, as it provides information on the time period and how people led their daily lives.

A tour of the first and second floors takes you through the various rooms of the museum, which are filled with exhibits from the time period, and a model of the town as it looked in 1860.

The real treat for historians is the third floor, where you can explore on your own. The walls here have been stripped of all the paper and paint that had covered them through the years, and now appear as they did in the Civil War. You can see graffiti left from soldiers on both sides of the war; when the Confederate soldiers were housed here as a prison, and when the Union soldiers used this as their base during their occupation of the town. This gives this the best glimpse into what the soldiers thought throughout the time here.

Outside the museum on the grounds, there are a couple of trains, including one that runs around the little track on the property. You can enter any of the cars to see how each one had a different purpose.

I recommend this attraction for everyone, especially those interested in history, the Civil War, railroads and trains, and families with children. This attraction is educational, historically significant, and interesting for those not easily occupied.

Website: www.earlyworks.com

Friday: Visit the Huntsville Visitor Center at 500 Church St. Website: www.huntsville.org.

Here you can get discount tickets to the local attractions through the passport program. Ask the attendants for coupons to the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Art (or Early Works if you have children; see below), Burritt on the Mountain, Alabama Constitution Village, and Historic Huntsville Depot. You should also purchase a ticket to the US Space and Rocket Center with the IMAX theatre for $18, saving $1 over the regular price.

Be sure to pick up a map of Huntsville for finding the other attractions and a brochure of the walking tour for downtown Huntsville.

Also, the people here have up-to-date guides on the shows and cultural events that are going on. You can call from here to place reservations for the shows that you want to see. They usually book several days in advance, so it would be better to book tickets before you arrive.

The attendants here will also be able to suggest and give you menus to the local restaurants.

Depending on which of the local events you plan to attend, you will have to go there. If there are no events that you wish to see, you might want to take in a nice dinner before going to your hotel for the night.


Saturday:
You can find a good place to park as you will be within walking distance for the first couple of attractions. Remember to feed the meter periodically throughout the day if you park in the public parking area.

Begin at the Alabama Constitutional Village at 9am, as this was the birthplace for the state of Alabama. Use the coupon that you got at the visitor center to get 30% off admission ($4).

Next, you spend an hour walking around the historic area in downtown Huntsville (no cost). Many of the homes here date back 200 years. Be sure to stop by the Harrison Brothers hardware store, which has been open since the 1800s.

Walk to the Historic Huntsville Depot, where you will see the impact that trains have had on this area in particular, as it was a central point from the east to the west. Use the coupon that you got at the visitor center to get 30% off admission ($4).

Drive to Burritt on the Mountain. Use the coupon that you got at the visitor center to get 30% off admission ($3.50). You should spend a couple of hours here, visiting the museum, talking to the attendants about life in the 1800s and how the average people lived, and viewing the scenery. As time and interest permit, there are hiking trails that wind the mountain side that you might enjoy.

Next, head to the Veterans Memorial Museum. Use the coupon that you got at the visitor center to get 30% off admission ($3.50). The tour takes about an hour and a half based on how many questions your group has and how much time you spend going back through the exhibits.

This concludes the historical portion of the trip. Head back downtown. If you are travelling with children, you can visit the EarlyWorks Museum ($5 with the coupon from the visitor center). Without children, you should visit Huntsville Museum of Art ($5 with the coupon from the visitor center).

If you have tickets to a night event, you can walk to the Von Braun center. If not, some of the best restaurants are located within blocks of the museums downtown.


Sunday:
The only place that opens early on Sunday is the US Space and Rocket Center, which opens at 9am. You should start your day here. Be sure to bring the ticket that you purchased at the visitor center ($18), as you have already paid for admission to the museum. Get the 11am show when you enter the museum. Take a moment to watch the film at the Time for Courage theater, which shows news features about the space program. Next, check the schedule for the three rides and the show. Visit the two that are currently playing. Take the 10pm tour of the museum. After the tour, go to the IMAX show at 11am. Visit the alternating two attractions and Rocket Park. By 1pm, you should have seen everything in the park.

Next, proceed to Hunstville Botanical Garden (which is only a block away). Use the discount coupon from the visitor center to get 30% off of admission ($5.50).

You need to leave the botanical garden by 3pm to be at the Cathedral Caverns before the last tour at 4pm. This tour lasts an hour ($8).

Total cost of the trip is $51.50, plus food, gas, and lodging. Also, any additional activities at night depend on what activity you take; typical cost of the theaters is $15.

I recommend a weekend trip to Huntsville for anyone interested in space exploration and for families with children. Also, this trip is a nice getaway weekend for those who have never been here before.