Enjoy Three Days in Huntsville, Alabama’s Rocket City

It seems every other week another publication includes Huntsville, Alabama, on a “Best Of” list. Two notable inclusions: The New York Times proclaimed it was “time to party like it’s 1969″ with a visit to Huntsville, and U.S. News & World Report called it the third-best place to live. Huntsville’s rise, you might say, is rocket-like.

And it all makes sense, considering it’s home to NASA, Boeing, Redstone Arsenal and other space-focused companies. Their presence, and that of oodles of other newcomers in recent years, has helped revitalize the city, making it a dynamic place to spend a weekend.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Huntsville, We Don’t Have a Problem

Before the weekend rush, we recommend starting your trip with one of Huntsville’s biggest attractions. But first, coffee. The very chic Honest Coffee Roasters is right downtown and has all the traditional coffee shop favorites, as well as some fun seasonal options (like a nitro cold brew with eggnog sweet cream and a salted maple latte during the winter).

Once you’re fully fueled (see what we did there?), head over to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

The Smithsonian-affiliated center houses one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia, including a 3.16-billion-year-old hunk of moon rock, the Apollo 16 command module and a piece of Skylab, America’s first space station.

There’s also always a cast of immersive and traveling exhibits, like a G-force accelerator and an Apollo 11 virtual reality experience. Plan to spend all morning here.

For lunch, visit Gibson’s BBQ, a local institution that’s been serving up hickory-smoked meats since 1956. While breweries dot the city, we recommend sticking to those in the walkable Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail so that you don’t need to hire an Uber or drive yourself.

If you grab a Craft Beer Trail card at one of the spots on the trail, you can get stamps along the way and earn a “Trail Boss” bottle opener. Favorites include: InnerSpace Brewing Company for its sci-fi-themed taproom and Rocket Republic Brewing for its locally themed brews.

After a handful of breweries, you’re likely going to need to consume something more substantial. Pane e Vino Pizzeria, also found downtown, is a local favorite for its calzones, signature pies and pasta dishes. Finish your night with a rooftop cocktail at BarVista (in the AC Hotel), where both the views and the drinks are intoxicating.

Saturday: Meet the Movers and Makers

The theme of today is all things art and there’s nowhere better to begin than Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment. You’ll find more than 200 artist studios inside the former warehouse, as well as numerous eateries. Grab a cup of coffee from Dragon’s Forge Café, a fantasy-themed coffee shop (be sure to get the “Unicorn Treats” and the “Elven Kiss Latte”), and spend some time wandering.

Some recommendations include Designbyhart Pottery Studio for hand-thrown mugs, Louise Fletcher for custom jewelry, Eric Schultz for photos of Huntsville and beyond, Retro-Fitt Boutique for vintage and pop-culture-inspired outfits and Robert Perrella for stained-glass pieces.

On Saturdays in the summer, also be sure to check out the Outdoor Market, where handmade, secondhand and earthenware goods are on sale throughout the grounds.

Plan for a long lunch — you’re going to need it to get through the smorgasbord of cheese and charcuterie at Domaine South. This cozy spot overlooking Big Spring International Park also has an extensive wine list, as well as lunch-appropriate mains like sandwiches and salads.

This afternoon, the art tour continues with the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail. You’ll need to download the SPACES & Places mobile app for a map of where the various murals and sculptures are (there is work from 27 artists en route).

And because it’s entirely within the Quigley Arts & Entertainment District, you’re welcome to enjoy an adult beverage while you walk. The city doesn’t allow you to BYOB, but dozens of restaurants and bars are allowed to sell drinks to go in a special purple cup. If you have time afterward, the well-curated Huntsville Museum of Art is nearby.

Keeping with the artistic theme, visit Cotton Row Restaurant, which is helmed by an award-winning chef known for crafting inventive dishes. The menu is constantly changing, though French fundamentals and Southern influences are often present.

Previous menus have included dishes like buttermilk fried quail with crispy parsley, lavender honey and Cotton Row hot sauce; and braised black Angus beer short ribs with creamy yellow grits, balsamic-portobello mushrooms, arugula and Provençal tomato.

For a crafty nightcap, check out Stella’s Elixir Lounge for a whole menu of mules and a particularly intriguing cocktail called the “Snickerdoodle,” with tastes of caramel, cream, salt and a decadent caramel-cinnamon-sugar rim.

Other drinking options include the Bottle, Phat Sammy’s, Purveyor, La Esquina Cocina or Rhythm on Monroe, all of which are found on the Downtown Huntsville Cocktail Trail.

Sunday: Start Strolling

After so much time downtown, head over to the Monte Sano district to spend some time in nature. There are more than 22 miles of trails and an 18-hole disc golf course here, as well as an open-air museum.

Consider spending some time at the Weeden House Museum & Garden. Built in 1816, the preserved home is meant to act as a window into the antebellum era, with period-specific furniture and paintings. If you’re really into architecture, it’s worth tootling around the Twickenham district for its Queen Anne and Gothic-style mansions.

Plan for a late brunch at Another Broken Egg Café, where the menu is extensive and the portions are so huge, you’ll probably be full until dinner. Some of their specials include a lobster and Brie omelet, cinnamon roll French toast, pumpkin-infused Belgian waffles and the oversize Broken Egg biscuit sandwich.

Wrap up your trip with a little retail therapy downtown. Harrison Brothers Hardware is a must-visit. It’s no longer a hardware store, but rather, a spot for art and quirky gifts. The building has been a continuously running storefront since 1897. Nearby is Clinton Row, where local retailers have set up shop in old storage units.

For your final evening, pop over to Campus No. 805. Found in a former high school, this entertainment venue offers a varied mix, including an ax-throwing spot, a virtual reality golf course, music venues and a pinball parlor.

Alternate between those and the various breweries and bars (Straight to Ale Brewery and Lone Goose Saloon are local favorites) until dinner at Earth & Stone Wood Fired Pizza, a restaurant that started out by serving their homemade pies from a mobile pizza oven.