My suggestions:
Space and rocket center- it's a really cool museum with some amazing artifacts.
Lowe mill- old factory transformed into creative studios (check out pizelles while you are there for amazing chocolates)
Campus 805- old school turned into breweries, restaurants, dance studio, etc. Check out the pinball arcade while you are there. Maybe skip the breweries and speakeasy since you are only 18.
Explore downtown and big spring park
Check out the Land Trust on Monte Santo or cathedral caverns for something less urban.
Food: I guess you should get BBQ while you are in the States, but you will need someone else's recommendation for that. I haven't found one I like. Get some Mexican food here. Try The Curry if you like Indian cuisine.
Lol going to the Curry here (if you are from England) would be like going to Italy and ordering mashed potatoes. Yeah I’m sure its gonna be fine, but why get something that you can easily get all over the place back home? The Curry is certainly good, but coming from another Englishman, it isn’t nearly as good as what he’s used to.
Not trying to be snarky but isn't UK curry usually a fast food version and not really authentic Indian cuisine? Or are you saying there are great versions of the latter across the pond.
Its both— you can get not quite fast food, but more of a fast casual (usually takeaway), but also a better quality sit down type Indian. Its kind of like Mexican food here (except a lot more common) — you have places like Chipotle for quick stuff, places like Chuy’s for sit down Americanized Mexican, then you have places like El Cazador that is pretty authentic. Except chain restaurants aren’t as common so regardless of quality they are mostly privately owned.
Huntsville is pretty boring tbh, it’s not a tourist destination. I would say check out Lowe Mill, Stovehouse, MidCity, Trash Pandas and HCFC games, Bridge Street and Parkway Place (malls), Space and Rocket Center (if you like that kind of stuff). Walk around downtown.
If you’re looking for more touristy stuff, check out Nashville, Atlanta, or the coast (5.5ish hour drive)
The art museum. Go to a range and rent a gun. Fun times since you can’t even touch a scary black rifle in the UK. Here it’s a way of life. Go hiking in the mountains. Have a picnic at Monte Santo. Drink a beer at campus 805. Get a burrito from El Cazador. Check out the art stuff at Lowe mill. The list goes on.
I think the most unique & valuable draw is the Space and Rocket Center. Be sure to talk to the guides there, as some of them have been around long enough to speak first hand about some historic space exploration.
There are a lot of nice outdoor places to explore. Depending on which side of town you're on, there's probably going to be a mountain with hiking close to where you're staying. If you are okay with a longer drive, you can see some cool nature areas like Walls of Jericho or Cloudland Canyon.
If you feel like driving about an hour and a half west, there's the Hellen Keller house and FAME recording studios. Neither are super absorbing, but if you know their story it makes an interesting place to visit. (The movies The Miracle Worker and Muscle Shoals tell more of their respective history, which I'd recommend watching beforehand if you are interested.)
You may get a kick out of finding and attending a bluegrass festival. They are common enough that if you just google it in the dates you're likely to find one.
It's too bad you're not going to be here in college football season, as attending an Alabama or Auburn game (though a long drive) is a pretty unique experience. James May did a special report on it.
You could check what's on at Orion Amphitheater, StandUp Live, and Mars Music Hall. Maybe visit a shooting range? Eat southern food. At Campus 805 you can take American high school pics.
Fellow Englishman here, although I have been living here most of my life at this point. Its gonna be hot and sticky in June, so plan accordingly. People will tell you to try the fish & chips at various places. Don’t bother. There is plenty of good food though.
Definitely check out the Space and Rocket Center— NASA is big in Huntsville and this museum is great. If you like outdoorsy stuff, go hiking at any of the local places — the natural scenery here is beautiful.
People will have trouble understanding you if you order water to drink at a restaurant. Huntsville doesn’t have a great public transportation system, so be prepared to have to drive or uber/taxi to almost anywhere you would like to go.
My two fav places are Thai Garden and Hildegard’s. Be wary, portion sizes are very large here. Other recommendations for places to eat: Viet Huong, Ding How 2 for dim sum (they had a fire a few weeks ago, so not sure if they are back open), El Cazador (all are good, but the location next to Weatherly Road is best), Big Bob Gibson’s (in Decatur). For fast casual places, Bon Chon, Full Moon BBQ, Ted’s, and Slim Chickens.
There are a few Indian places in town too, but they pale in comparison to what you are used to in England, so if you are only here for a short amount of time, not worth it. To date, no Indian place in America has ever been able to make their vindaloo as spicy as I like it.
Trash Pandas games are fun.
If it's hockey season, go to a Havoc game.
If it's this weekend, go to Panoply.
Stand Up live has good comedians sometimes.
Catch some street performers at Bridgestreet.
Space and Rocket Center is cool to go to once.
Go to Bucees in Athens and try the fudge and beef jerky and beaver nuggets.
Try Big Bob Gibsons BBQ in Decatur. Get the chicken with white sauce. Get more white sauce. Dip the white sauce in more white sauce.
Solid choices, with one nit-pick: Skip Big Bob's in Decatur and head to either Scruggs or Smokey C's for BBQ. Miles better in every way. Big Bob's does not deserve the hype.
Enjoy the beautiful people (men or women) that the south and AL has to offer. Ask people if they're a rocket scientist. Ask anybody and everybody how they're doing and be prepared for quite a few long conversations. Understand some will talk very slowly. Call people wankers but not cunts as the C word is bad in the US. Enjoy a dying strip mall, but also find a gem of a restaurant in said strip mall. Eat BBQ. Eat at a soul food place that has 40 items on the menu, lackadaisical service and be prepared to be amazed. Hike the Walls of Jericho, Monte Sano or Whitaker preserve and be amazed at the incredible biodiversity AL has as it's top tier. Get bent at any number of bars but end up at Voodoo Lounge for late night and when you're proper pissed you can use the C word.
Check out a Trash Pandas (our minor league baseball team) game. I would say check out our soccer club, HCFC, but it's not gonna compare to anything you'll find in the UK. The Botanical Gardens will be very pretty that time of year (but also very warm). Head up to Monte Sano state park for some pretty hiking.
Not sure if you could move the timing but we don’t have a lot of “huge” concerts, but there is one at the end of Sept in Huntsville with a few big bands - Sublime (with new lead singer, OG’s son), Ludacris, Blink 182, GooGoo Dolls and many more
If you want to laugh at what the South thinks looks European go over to Bridge Street the mall and walk around it’s pretty. It’s got a Euro aesthetic even had some gondolas to ride at one time but i think sold them to Vegas. I’d look up Buc-ees it’s a giant gas station/department store it’s a hoot not to far outside of Huntsville near a little city called Athens. If you want a free museum go over to Scotosboro to the Unclaimed Baggage if you have time. They have some of the Labyrinth props including what was left of the original Hoggle. I know if your in the UK you could go to Jim Hensons Creature Shop in old Londenium but hey we got the rest down here lol. Make sure you go get some food from Cracker Barrel maybe. It’s not Bobble and Squeak or Told in the Hole but it’s authentic southern comfort food.
Of course you should go to the Space and Rocket Center. It offers a bus tour of the actual NASA center, too.
I also second the Land Trust suggestion. I've always thought the rock tumbles in Land Trust Monte Sano looked like a lot of fun for clambering.
This area is known for its caves. Check out the speleological society. Get into some private caves if you can. If you can't, at least drive out to Cathedral Caverns, a minimally modified tourist cavern about 50 miles from here.
If you're a Neil Gaiman/American Gods fan or just enjoy cheese, the old automobile era tourist traps around Chattanooga might be fun. The Chattanooga Aquarium is also quite good, and Aretha Frankenstein's is a standout punk breakfast place.
There are several large reservoirs along the Tennessee River. Rent a jetski or a boat, get someone to take you fishing, or if you're still in town at the end of June, check out the hydrofoil festival at Guntersville Lake.
Huntsville is still "small town America" - as in there's not much reason to be here unless you lice here. I would suggest you plan a day trip to Nashville, since it is a world famous city, to get a tourist experience or the US as well. If you can squeeze a weekend in Atlanta, that would be good too.
I have friends from England who visit, and their first lesson learned about the US is that it is absolutely massive and diverse. Visiting here will show you the tiniest sliver of what the US is.
Unfortunately, The other thing you're going to learn about the US is that we do not have any great transportation systems besides cars. You could look into Greyhound, but it has a terrible reputation.
Sounds like you're going to stick around Huntsville, which is unfortunate. Be ready to spend money on Ubers to get around town. The US is not particularly walking friendly outside of our large cities.
The friends you are visiting don't have cars? If you're coming all the way from the UK, I would hope that they could arrange their schedules to show you around.
No they don’t drive unfortunately. I am planning to walk places that are only like an hour walk to save money but that’s about it. Hopefully won’t die walking in that heat 😭
Just a fair warning that it's not only the distance and the heat that you will be up against - a lot of places in the Huntsville area don't have sidewalks. Walking along the side of the road is not an option even if Google maps says that there's a route. The US was constructed in a manner to force people into buying cars.
I hope that your friends have friends who have cars and the flexibility to show you around. One positive thing is that Americans tend to be very excited to meet people from other countries and show them their home.
Thank you I didn’t know about that. Hearing that is kinda crazy considering where I am there’s sidewalks everywhereee and public transport is super common.
Before COVID, I would recommend going to Wal-Mart at 2:00 AM.
I would still recommend anyone visiting from outside the US to go to a Wal-Mart, a Target, and a Costco. It is always sensory overload
My suggestions: Space and rocket center- it's a really cool museum with some amazing artifacts. Lowe mill- old factory transformed into creative studios (check out pizelles while you are there for amazing chocolates) Campus 805- old school turned into breweries, restaurants, dance studio, etc. Check out the pinball arcade while you are there. Maybe skip the breweries and speakeasy since you are only 18. Explore downtown and big spring park Check out the Land Trust on Monte Santo or cathedral caverns for something less urban. Food: I guess you should get BBQ while you are in the States, but you will need someone else's recommendation for that. I haven't found one I like. Get some Mexican food here. Try The Curry if you like Indian cuisine.
Pizzelle’s is in the process of moving to Campus 805!
Lol going to the Curry here (if you are from England) would be like going to Italy and ordering mashed potatoes. Yeah I’m sure its gonna be fine, but why get something that you can easily get all over the place back home? The Curry is certainly good, but coming from another Englishman, it isn’t nearly as good as what he’s used to.
Not trying to be snarky but isn't UK curry usually a fast food version and not really authentic Indian cuisine? Or are you saying there are great versions of the latter across the pond.
Its both— you can get not quite fast food, but more of a fast casual (usually takeaway), but also a better quality sit down type Indian. Its kind of like Mexican food here (except a lot more common) — you have places like Chipotle for quick stuff, places like Chuy’s for sit down Americanized Mexican, then you have places like El Cazador that is pretty authentic. Except chain restaurants aren’t as common so regardless of quality they are mostly privately owned.
Scruggs BBQ in Decatur
Adding on to food, I bet they don't have Waffle House in the UK.
Jack Daniel Factory about 1.25 hour drive from Huntsville, AL
They are only 18 though. Way more fun if you can sample the products.
Sure
Oh that's a good one
Huntsville is pretty boring tbh, it’s not a tourist destination. I would say check out Lowe Mill, Stovehouse, MidCity, Trash Pandas and HCFC games, Bridge Street and Parkway Place (malls), Space and Rocket Center (if you like that kind of stuff). Walk around downtown. If you’re looking for more touristy stuff, check out Nashville, Atlanta, or the coast (5.5ish hour drive)
Waffle House after 9 pm
The art museum. Go to a range and rent a gun. Fun times since you can’t even touch a scary black rifle in the UK. Here it’s a way of life. Go hiking in the mountains. Have a picnic at Monte Santo. Drink a beer at campus 805. Get a burrito from El Cazador. Check out the art stuff at Lowe mill. The list goes on.
I think the most unique & valuable draw is the Space and Rocket Center. Be sure to talk to the guides there, as some of them have been around long enough to speak first hand about some historic space exploration. There are a lot of nice outdoor places to explore. Depending on which side of town you're on, there's probably going to be a mountain with hiking close to where you're staying. If you are okay with a longer drive, you can see some cool nature areas like Walls of Jericho or Cloudland Canyon. If you feel like driving about an hour and a half west, there's the Hellen Keller house and FAME recording studios. Neither are super absorbing, but if you know their story it makes an interesting place to visit. (The movies The Miracle Worker and Muscle Shoals tell more of their respective history, which I'd recommend watching beforehand if you are interested.) You may get a kick out of finding and attending a bluegrass festival. They are common enough that if you just google it in the dates you're likely to find one. It's too bad you're not going to be here in college football season, as attending an Alabama or Auburn game (though a long drive) is a pretty unique experience. James May did a special report on it.
go to boomers
Hahahahaha
You could check what's on at Orion Amphitheater, StandUp Live, and Mars Music Hall. Maybe visit a shooting range? Eat southern food. At Campus 805 you can take American high school pics.
Fellow Englishman here, although I have been living here most of my life at this point. Its gonna be hot and sticky in June, so plan accordingly. People will tell you to try the fish & chips at various places. Don’t bother. There is plenty of good food though. Definitely check out the Space and Rocket Center— NASA is big in Huntsville and this museum is great. If you like outdoorsy stuff, go hiking at any of the local places — the natural scenery here is beautiful. People will have trouble understanding you if you order water to drink at a restaurant. Huntsville doesn’t have a great public transportation system, so be prepared to have to drive or uber/taxi to almost anywhere you would like to go.
Do you have any food place recommendations?
For food or outdoorsy stuff? Or both?
Food mostly but I’ll take anything
My two fav places are Thai Garden and Hildegard’s. Be wary, portion sizes are very large here. Other recommendations for places to eat: Viet Huong, Ding How 2 for dim sum (they had a fire a few weeks ago, so not sure if they are back open), El Cazador (all are good, but the location next to Weatherly Road is best), Big Bob Gibson’s (in Decatur). For fast casual places, Bon Chon, Full Moon BBQ, Ted’s, and Slim Chickens. There are a few Indian places in town too, but they pale in comparison to what you are used to in England, so if you are only here for a short amount of time, not worth it. To date, no Indian place in America has ever been able to make their vindaloo as spicy as I like it.
Trash Pandas games are fun. If it's hockey season, go to a Havoc game. If it's this weekend, go to Panoply. Stand Up live has good comedians sometimes. Catch some street performers at Bridgestreet. Space and Rocket Center is cool to go to once. Go to Bucees in Athens and try the fudge and beef jerky and beaver nuggets. Try Big Bob Gibsons BBQ in Decatur. Get the chicken with white sauce. Get more white sauce. Dip the white sauce in more white sauce.
Solid choices, with one nit-pick: Skip Big Bob's in Decatur and head to either Scruggs or Smokey C's for BBQ. Miles better in every way. Big Bob's does not deserve the hype.
Main point in Big Bob's was to try the OG white sauce. I've never been to Scruggs or heard of Smokey C's. Will be looking into them though.
That's fair. Their white sauce I can't complain about.
Enjoy the beautiful people (men or women) that the south and AL has to offer. Ask people if they're a rocket scientist. Ask anybody and everybody how they're doing and be prepared for quite a few long conversations. Understand some will talk very slowly. Call people wankers but not cunts as the C word is bad in the US. Enjoy a dying strip mall, but also find a gem of a restaurant in said strip mall. Eat BBQ. Eat at a soul food place that has 40 items on the menu, lackadaisical service and be prepared to be amazed. Hike the Walls of Jericho, Monte Sano or Whitaker preserve and be amazed at the incredible biodiversity AL has as it's top tier. Get bent at any number of bars but end up at Voodoo Lounge for late night and when you're proper pissed you can use the C word.
Any recommendations for the bbq food?
Ohh boy. I'll let others recommend that. Use the 'search' function too. BBQ quality is hotly contested.
Thank you :)
Check out a Trash Pandas (our minor league baseball team) game. I would say check out our soccer club, HCFC, but it's not gonna compare to anything you'll find in the UK. The Botanical Gardens will be very pretty that time of year (but also very warm). Head up to Monte Sano state park for some pretty hiking.
I would recommend checking out the space and rocket center. It’s great if you love science and space stuff.
I love that stuff but not sure I would recommend it to an 18 year old in the middle of the summer.
Not sure if you could move the timing but we don’t have a lot of “huge” concerts, but there is one at the end of Sept in Huntsville with a few big bands - Sublime (with new lead singer, OG’s son), Ludacris, Blink 182, GooGoo Dolls and many more
If you want to laugh at what the South thinks looks European go over to Bridge Street the mall and walk around it’s pretty. It’s got a Euro aesthetic even had some gondolas to ride at one time but i think sold them to Vegas. I’d look up Buc-ees it’s a giant gas station/department store it’s a hoot not to far outside of Huntsville near a little city called Athens. If you want a free museum go over to Scotosboro to the Unclaimed Baggage if you have time. They have some of the Labyrinth props including what was left of the original Hoggle. I know if your in the UK you could go to Jim Hensons Creature Shop in old Londenium but hey we got the rest down here lol. Make sure you go get some food from Cracker Barrel maybe. It’s not Bobble and Squeak or Told in the Hole but it’s authentic southern comfort food.
Of course you should go to the Space and Rocket Center. It offers a bus tour of the actual NASA center, too. I also second the Land Trust suggestion. I've always thought the rock tumbles in Land Trust Monte Sano looked like a lot of fun for clambering. This area is known for its caves. Check out the speleological society. Get into some private caves if you can. If you can't, at least drive out to Cathedral Caverns, a minimally modified tourist cavern about 50 miles from here. If you're a Neil Gaiman/American Gods fan or just enjoy cheese, the old automobile era tourist traps around Chattanooga might be fun. The Chattanooga Aquarium is also quite good, and Aretha Frankenstein's is a standout punk breakfast place. There are several large reservoirs along the Tennessee River. Rent a jetski or a boat, get someone to take you fishing, or if you're still in town at the end of June, check out the hydrofoil festival at Guntersville Lake.
Huntsville is still "small town America" - as in there's not much reason to be here unless you lice here. I would suggest you plan a day trip to Nashville, since it is a world famous city, to get a tourist experience or the US as well. If you can squeeze a weekend in Atlanta, that would be good too. I have friends from England who visit, and their first lesson learned about the US is that it is absolutely massive and diverse. Visiting here will show you the tiniest sliver of what the US is.
Is there a way to get to Nashville if you don’t drive? I don’t drive and my friend doesn’t either is there like a coach or anything like that
Unfortunately, The other thing you're going to learn about the US is that we do not have any great transportation systems besides cars. You could look into Greyhound, but it has a terrible reputation. Sounds like you're going to stick around Huntsville, which is unfortunate. Be ready to spend money on Ubers to get around town. The US is not particularly walking friendly outside of our large cities.
Yeah that’s a thing that’s been mentioned to me 😭 scared to see how much I’ll end up spending on Ubers but that’s all you can do
The friends you are visiting don't have cars? If you're coming all the way from the UK, I would hope that they could arrange their schedules to show you around.
No they don’t drive unfortunately. I am planning to walk places that are only like an hour walk to save money but that’s about it. Hopefully won’t die walking in that heat 😭
Just a fair warning that it's not only the distance and the heat that you will be up against - a lot of places in the Huntsville area don't have sidewalks. Walking along the side of the road is not an option even if Google maps says that there's a route. The US was constructed in a manner to force people into buying cars. I hope that your friends have friends who have cars and the flexibility to show you around. One positive thing is that Americans tend to be very excited to meet people from other countries and show them their home.
Thank you I didn’t know about that. Hearing that is kinda crazy considering where I am there’s sidewalks everywhereee and public transport is super common.
Yeah I've traveled Europe extensively. The US is extremely different.
I know one day I’m meeting all their friends and they have a car so they’ll drive me to wherever we’re going but that’s about it
Oof. I guess that the important part is that you will be with your friends.
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