The diverse, vibrant cities of North Alabama
NORTH ALABAMA–JUNE 2022–The diversity North Alabama is known for is no more evident than in its cities and towns. While this region is home to a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities, from beautiful waterfalls to abundant lakes to distinctive state parks, its downtowns show its true character. That character is diverse and welcoming, offering both “big city” venues and small-town charm.
This region is bounded by state lines on three sides and begins just an hour south of Nashville, at the Tennessee line, and stretches down past Cullman into Blount County. Interstate 65 runs through the heart of North Alabama but its state highways and scenic roads lead to downtown adventures in every direction.
Huntsville is known as the Rocket City and there are plenty of ways to have a blast there. Of course, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama 35805; 256-551-2230) has long been a favorite attraction. The Smithsonian Affiliate is the Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and has one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world. Now the 8,000-seat Orion Amphitheater (701 Amphitheater Drive NW, Huntsville, Alabama 35806; 256-964-9556), opened in May of this year, has already created a buzz as an exceptional regional entertainment venue.
Attractions like these complement a vibrant downtown with ever-expanding activities. Huntsville has an outstanding food scene and four Arts & Entertainment Districts which allow patrons to experience multiple establishments and outdoor activities. The city’s center is spotted with historic neighborhoods and the largest collection of antebellum homes in the state. There are art galleries and the world-class Huntsville Museum of Art (300 Church Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801; 256-535-4350) alongside EarlyWorks (404 Madison Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801; 256-564-8100), a ground-breaking children’s museum.
This is also home to Huntsville International Airport (HSV) (1000 Glenn Hearn Boulevard, Huntsville, Alabama 35824; 256-772-9395), the largest in North Alabama, with its nonstop service to 10 destinations.
While not as large, there are other cities to explore in the region, as well. Here are just a few highlights.
Decatur’s downtown is known as a favorite shopping location for those who love to browse specialty shops. In addition to downtown retail spots, a walk through the Old Decatur Historic District showcases the many Victorian and earlier 20th century craftsman and bungalow homes. For the younger set, the Cook Museum of Natural Science (133 4th Avenue NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601; 256-351-4505) is a state-of-the-art natural science museum filled with hands-on, immersive experiences where kids can explore, interact with and learn about nature.
Florence sits at the heart of North Alabama’s Shoals region. It is the region’s center for walkable shopping, dining and nightlife. Just across the river, explore American music history in Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, home to FAME Studios (603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661; 256-381-0801) and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios (3614 Jackson Highway, Sheffield, Alabama 35660; 256-978-5151), where legends including Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and many more recorded groundbreaking hits. Nearby in Tuscumbia, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (617 Highway 72, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674; 256-381-4417) showcases the huge part music has played in the history of the Shoals. Live music is still a big part of life here and can be found nearly every night of the week in area venues.
Many add inspiration to their Tuscumbia visit with a tour of Helen Keller’s birthplace (300 North Commons Street W, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674; 256-383-4066), filled with original furnishings and mementos. Playwright William Gibson’s epic drama, “The Miracle Worker” is performed on the grounds of Ivy Green each summer.
From the isles of merchandise at Scottsboro’s Unclaimed Baggage Center (509 West Willow Street, Scottsboro, Alabama 35768; 256-259-1525) to the Mentone Arts Center (5951 Alabama Highway 117, Mentone, Alabama 35984; 256-674-3366) of quiet Mentone, North Alabama has an amazing collection of cities, towns and attractions, each with a unique story to tell.
If you go
There are nearly a dozen trails to follow for curated experiences in North Alabama. The Mural Trail and Train Depots Trail each feature sites in some of the region’s eclectic cities and towns. For personal accounts and recommendations for ways to experience North Alabama’s cities, towns and more, the Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama podcast is a great place to start. North Alabama lodging options are varied and abundant, from luxury hotels to back-to-nature cabins and complete travel information is available from NorthAlabama.org.