Centrally located in the SE, Huntsville has truly earned the nickname Rocket City, USA!
Train like an astronaut at U.S. Space Camp and visit Earth’s largest space museum, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. If green space is more to your liking, come to the Huntsville Botanical Garden, home to the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. Marvel in the kaleidoscope of colors in the 120-acre garden.
For some indoor fun, visit our numerous hands-on attractions with diverse themes including art, history, science, and the military. Our downtown is revitalized with multi-million dollar improvements to the Von Braun Center, an expansion at the Huntsville Museum of Art nearly doubling the exhibit space, and the addition of first-class dining at Cotton Row, James Steak House, 1892 East, and many more tantalizing restaurants.
All this and more wrapped in warm Southern hospitality sprinkled with some of the best events and activities around.
Make the most of your media trip by visiting the Rocket City, Huntsville, Alabama!
1. ) What is your destination most known for?
Huntsville is known as the Rocket City. We’re the birthplace of the U.S. space program and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is the lead facility for research and development on rocket propulsion systems. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is Earth’s largest space museum and home of Space Camp, Space Academy, Aviation Challenge, and Cyber Camp. In 2019, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center had more than one million visitors. Today, the center is open seven days a week and Space Camp is offering its programs to thousands of campers this summer.
2.) During this time, how can we enjoy your destination?
Huntsville’s a GO for Re-Entry! Our attractions, hotels, and restaurants are anxious for your safe and memorable visit. Huntsville International Airport (HSV) boasts direct flights to and from numerous cities including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Charlotte, and of course, Atlanta. New start-up airline Breeze Airways will begin direct service in July between Huntsville and New Orleans, Tampa, and Charleston. We’re centrally located in the Southeast and an easy drive from much of the country.
3.) What hidden gem should not be missed when visiting your destination?
While we’re known for our role in the space program, there’s plenty of art, music, history, and outdoor recreational activities in the community. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is the largest privately-owned arts facility in the South. The Huntsville Botanical Garden is home to the Purdy Butterfly House, the largest open-air butterfly house in the country, and the Huntsville Museum of Art holds the largest collection of art by American women, the Sellars Collections, with more than 300 pieces. EarlyWorks Children’s Museum is the largest hands-on history museum in the region and Burritt on the Mountain can’t be missed for its breath-taking panoramic views of the Tennessee Valley. Stroll through historic neighborhoods in and around downtown Huntsville and Madison and treat your taste buds to a wide variety of dining options.
The Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Southern AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, are playing in their inaugural season at Toyota Field in Madison. An 8,500 seat amphitheater is under construction at Mid-City with a Spring 2022 completion. We have an abundance of hiking and biking trails and even have Craft Beer, Coffee, and Cocktail Trails, for all to enjoy. There are eight hotel properties either under construction or announced in our community that will add nearly 1,100 rooms. 106 Jefferson, a Curio by Hilton property with 117 rooms, is scheduled to open next month.
4.) What’s one feature that can’t be missed when visiting your website?
There’s a wealth of information on our website, www.huntsville.org. You’ll find loads of information on attractions, restaurants, lodging, and activities. There are even discounts available for many attractions!
Take a few minutes to check out the website, and when you find yourself at the bottom of any of the pages, just click on the Rocket. You’ll be launched back to the top of the page to continue your exploration of the Rocket City.
5.) How did you hear about NATJA, why did you join?
The Huntsville/Madison County CVB joined NATJA after I met Dan Schlossberg. We’ve been honored to host an annual conference and I’m proud to be a member of the Advisory Board.
6.) Is there anything else you feel travel media should know about your destination?
With the recent growth in Huntsville’s population, we’re poised to become the largest city in Alabama within the next year or two. We’re large enough to accommodate large conferences, events, and activities but still small enough to appreciate individual travelers and small groups too.
We’ve Got Space in Huntsville, and we want to share it with YOU!
