If the mention of rockets, space and NASA bring to mind Houston or Cape Canaveral, you may be surprised to learn that Huntsville holds claim to the nickname “Rocket City.” Recently, on my first visit, I discovered a community rich in history, cultural diversity and technological research and development — listed on Forbes’ top 10 smartest cities in the world.
Here, transplanted German scientist Wernher von Braun gave birth to rocket science. As the first director of Huntsville’s
Marshall Space Flight Center (MFSC), von Braun was instrumental in creating the Saturn family of rockets that powered American astronauts to the moon. It was on the steps of MFSC that President Eisenhower announced the creation of NASA. Today the center thrives with more than 7,000 government and civilian employees. Tourists can experience a taste of space exploration at NASA’s first visitor center, the
U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a AAA GEM attraction. Highlights include the restored Saturn V rocket, a museum of rocket hardware artifacts, the Spacedome IMAX Theater and the famed Space Camp program.
Huntsville is one of the South’s few major cities left unscathed physically by the Civil War. Numerous historic buildings are intact and, each spring, the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association sponsors a historic home tour.
Interactive historic attractions that teach visitors about early Southern life include Alabama Constitution Village, EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and Historic Huntsville Depot. Fine and performing arts abound at Huntsville Museum of Art and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Community Ballet Association and multiple theater groups. For the nature lovers there are the Botanical Gardens, another AAA GEM attraction, and state parks, hiking trails, caverns and canoeing.
Huntsville’s eclectic dining options range from upscale culinary delights created by world renowned chefs to Southern comfort foods prepared by hometown folks and a wide range of ethnic cuisines.
A destination definitely worth consideration for a family excursion.
