Indiana Travelers: How to Spend 24 Hours in “Rocket City”

At least once a year, I make it a point to visit somewhere (hopefully in a new state) that I have never seen before. Some years I have the time (and the bank account funds) to travel further than others. However, at the end of 2023, after a string of challenging life events, I realized that I hadn't crossed a state off of my bucket list nor visited a new city. After the year I had, this just didn't settle well with me. I needed to make it happen.

So, after some Google research, I found a city in a state I hadn't visited yet that was realistic enough to visit in a single day before the holidays. With a quick text to one of my best friends who is used to my random adventuring, we made the plan and ventured out to Alabama.

"Rocket City" 

Huntsville, Alabama, proudly known as " The Rocket City," is roughly four hours from Evansville, making it a convenient distance for a longer day trip or even a weekend if you have the time. We were able to see all of this in just one day!

The city earned its nickname from being home of the largest space museum in the world, U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Aside from America's largest space program being on display, Huntsville is also the city where the rockets that first put man on the moon were built. Pretty cool, right?

Largest Space Exhibit in the World

Although my friend and I were not able to go inside of the museum during our trip, it was still a sight to see even from the outside. From miles away, we could see the massive Saturn V rocket replica and managed to score a closer look. When I say massive, I mean this rocket dominates the skyline, standing at a whopping 363 feet tall.

My biggest regret is not going inside the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, because of how much cool stuff is housed inside this huge museum. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, Official Visitor Center of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and the home of the Space Camp program, the museum is a must-see attraction. With over 1500 pieces, the museum's exhibits showcase original artifacts, rockets, engines, and interactive experiences.

Catch Stunning Views During a Scenic Hike

Since my dogs were along for the trip, we made a stop at Monte Sano State Park for a quick hike. During our walk, we caught glimpses of beautiful stone formations and scenic overlooks. The hike was moderately rugged, but we managed with two dogs and regular tennis shoes on a dirt path that was soft from recent rainfall.

My favorite view was that of the mountain in the distance. Even on a cloudy day, it was stunning!

Historic Spring Right in Downtown

Our last stop of the day was downtown Huntsville, which was vibrant with colorful murals, dining, and shopping options. We grabbed a drink at Honest Coffee, and it was absolute heaven on the cold December day.

One of the coolest features of downtown was the Big Spring International Park. The park is centered around a spring that is over 200 years old, with fountains, beautiful walking paths, and different events. While we were there, there was a Christmas tree display happening with hundreds of trees designed by Huntsville businesses.

Despite being in a bustling city atmosphere, the spring was serene with ducks floating arounds and bright colored coy fish swimming underneath them.

This pathway gave us a super close view of the spring and my pups loved that they were able to be included in the exploring.

For a spur of the moment trip to satisfy a yearly bucket list goal, our day trip to Huntsville, Alabama was an absolute blast. I would definitely recommend visiting since it is a short drive from the tristate and filled with so many cool activities to check out.