Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Rocket City is soaring. Ask anyone in Huntsville, and they’ll tell you: It’s a different place now than it was just five to 10 years ago. The population is booming, with a nearly 16 percent increase since the 2020 census, making it one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. And yes, the jobs in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing are driving this rapid increase, but there’s something here that makes people want to stay. Maybe it’s the growing culinary scene (two local eateries snagged Michelin recommendations in 2025) or the arts community that keeps Huntsville unique (exhibit A: the quirky Cosmic Christ—aka Eggbeater Jesus—mosaic on the exterior of First Baptist Huntsville). Maybe it’s the city’s wholehearted embrace of its astronomical feats or its balance of urban amenities and outdoorsy offerings. Whatever it is, it’s working. Here are three ways to explore this stellar city.
Space Geek
Learn
Carve out several hours to explore the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home to Space Camp and one of the largest collections of rockets and space artifacts in the world. Highlights of the complex include an enormous Saturn V rocket, interactive planetarium shows, and a variety of VR opportunities, including rocket launch and space flight simulators.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Discover
Acquaint yourself with the city’s art scene by embarking on the Secret Artemis II Trail. Pick up a map at the visitor center and seek out the one-foot-tall rockets hidden at 10 public art installations, including several space-themed stops such as the Galactic Portal mural.
Play
The out-of-this-world decor at InnerSpace Brewing Company spans the galaxy, encompassing everything from alien art to a life-sized Darth Vader figure to moon landing posters. Order a LightSpeed lager and wood-fired pie and check to see if your visit coincides with a Star Trek or Star Wars trivia night.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Taste
Heavenly treats and baked goods line the display cases at the Moon Bakeshop, a cute downtown bakery with comfy velvet couches and Sputnik-style starburst chandeliers. Don’t leave without a galaxy-patterned star- or rocket-shaped sugar cookie.
Sip
Located atop 106 Jefferson hotel, Baker & Able rooftop bar owes its name to Baker the squirrel monkey and Able the rhesus monkey, who were both launched into space aboard a Jupiter rocket in 1959. Come for the sky-high views; stay for the friendly bartenders and rotating selection of cocktails.
Photo courtesy of Harrison Brothers Hardware
History Buff
Shop
Open since 1895, Harrison Brothers Hardware remains much the same as it was over a century ago, with the original countertops and display shelves still intact as well as loads of memorabilia, including a cash register from 1905. Today’s shoppers can pick up Huntsville souvenirs and locally made crafts like ceramics and soaps.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Cole/Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center
Browse
More than 150 working art studios reside within the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center, once a textile mill and later a shoe factory that provided combat boots for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. Art of practically every medium is created and sold here, from stained glass to gourd birdhouses to handmade puppets.
Get schooled
From 1951 to 2009, Campus No. 805 served as a middle and high school for Madison County students. Today the reclaimed space is an entertainment hub of restaurants, breweries (including Straight to Ale in the school’s former gym), and other businesses that occupy the classrooms along its locker-lined halls.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Admire
Built in 1819, the stately Weeden House Museum sits in the Twickenham Historic District. Take a docent-led tour of the preserved home to learn about its former inhabitants, including Maria Howard Weeden, who painted lifelike, humanizing portraits of African Americans, challenging the racial stereotypes of that time.
Time travel
Immerse yourself in a bygone time at Burritt on the Mountain, a historic mansion and park that showcases 19th-century agrarian life through period-dressed interpreters and demonstrations, a barnyard with farm animals, and authentic cabins and outbuildings. Don’t miss the panoramic views of Huntsville.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Sunshine Seeker
Take a hike
Right on the edge of Rocket City lies Monte Sano State Park, a 2,140-acre recreational area on its namesake mountain (Spanish for “mountain of health”) with 20 miles of hiking trails, 14 bike paths, mineral springs, and beautiful woodland scenery.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Stroll
In 1805, John Hunt chose to build a settlement alongside a freshwater spring on land that is now encompassed by Big Spring International Park. True to its name, the striking park in the heart of the city features a bench from the UK, a sundial from Germany, and cherry trees and a red bridge from Japan.
Photo courtesy of Stovehouse
Gather
Once the site of the 1928 Martin Stove factory, Stovehouse brings food vendors, shops, and entertainment together around a seating-filled greenspace called the Food Garden. With live music on weekends, it’s an ideal spot to grab a bite (maybe street tacos from Taqueria El Cazador or Korean fried chicken from Seoul Good) and enjoy a nice evening.
Dine alfresco
The string-lit patio at 2025 Michelin-recommended Purveyor is a lovely spot to enjoy ahi tuna poke tacos and its famous pork osso buco (though the menu rotates regularly). On Saturdays when weather permits, live bands play as part of the restaurant’s Patio Series.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County CVB
Wander
Admire the more than 700 uniquely named varieties of daylilies, stroll through the shaded fern glade, and step into the butterfly house at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Don’t miss the Mother Earth Troll Garden, a mesmerizing labyrinth of natural and repurposed materials formed into the shape of Mama Zelda, a giant troll.
This article appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Southbound.
