While Tennessee may be landlocked, the Volunteer state is surrounded by some of the most sought-after southern cities all within a four-hour drive from Nashville. Cities like Tupelo, MS, birthplace of Elvis Presley. Louisville, KY, home of the Kentucky Derby. Birmingham, AL, steeped in civil rights history. Each one rich in music, culture, and history, and close enough to make a perfect day trip!
A few weeks ago, my family and I needed a change of scenery, stat. Considering we had limited time and money, an extended getaway wasn’t in the cards, so we settled on a day trip to Huntsville, Alabama. Turns out, we didn’t need a long weekend and a hotel bill to feel like we’d gotten away — Rocket City delivered way more fun than we expected!
Southbound on Highway 41A
We decided to embark on our southbound journey by taking “the road less traveled” to avoid the chaos of the interstate. We hopped on Highway 41A and took it straight to Huntsville. *You can pick up this rural road at Exit 6 on 440 and Exit 42 on I-840. This route gives you a front row seat to picturesque American Main Streets and sleepy rural towns, like Eagleville, TN where we stopped for caffeine. We popped into Grindstone Cowboy, a popular cafe clearly beloved by locals. We were immediately smitten with its laid-back cowboy vibe. Their tasty menu included breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and signature Outlaw Lattes (my personal favorite is the Annie Oakley).
Nash Family Creamery – Chapel Hill, TN
After caffeinating, we continued through the countryside passing beautiful pastures and working farms. We made a pitstop at Nash Family Creamery – a family-owned working dairy farm located in Chapel Hill, TN, known for its fresh-made ice cream and gourmet grilled cheese! While the creamery wasn’t open when we arrived, my son had fun getting out some energy on their amazing playground. We have experienced their ice cream many times and it is heavenly. A must-try flavor is their Banana Pudding ice cream made with fresh bananas, vanilla pudding mix and Vanilla Wafers.
Fayetteville Main Street – Fayetteville, TN
We got back on the road for about an hour before we stopped for a picnic lunch in Fayetteville, TN. As we were searching for a park, we stumbled upon Fayetteville’s historic Main Street boasting tons of local shops, restaurants, green space and a historic theater! If you have time, take the opportunity to walk around and soak up the small town vibes. I recommend stopping by The Book Inn – a charming book store, Young Vintage – a shop with vintage records and unique finds, and Whistle Stop Bakery – offering indulgent cakes and pastries.
Stone Bridge Memorial Park – Fayetteville, TN
We ended up nestling into a beautiful spot at Stone Bridge Memorial Park, just a couple minutes away from Fayetteville’s Main Street. This park was another unexpected gem we were pleasantly surprised to find. It was the perfect spot for a picnic offering covered pavilions, historic structures, lots of space to run, a visitors center and, of course, the famous stone bridge, whose story stretches back to the Civil War!
Huntsville Botanical Garden – Huntsville, AL
After exploring the park, we hopped on US-431 which led us right into the heart of Huntsville to Huntsville Botanical Garden. If you are a fan of Cheekwood, you will absolutely love this place! The Botanical Garden spans 118 acres of gorgeous natural beauty.
What I loved most about the garden was the invitation to explore and play. Every exhibit and installation told a story and invited some form of interaction. My son loved the whimsical Troll Garden and my husband and I had the best time running around the Mother Earth maze.
The Purdy Butterfly House was a family favorite where we said hello to over 20 species of beautiful butterflies. We also discovered an art-inspired scavenger hunt, a human-sized bird house, a train garden, and a family garden designed for play. It was the perfect way to spend our afternoon.
Lowe Mill – Huntsville, AL
After our horticulture adventure, our journey took us to Lowe Mill, which reminds me so much of The Factory at Franklin. This former textile mill-turned-arts and entertainment hub is the backdrop for some seriously cool art. Many of the galleries are open to the public and there are plenty of tasty treats to try at Lowe Mill’s eateries including my favorite: Fizzy Flapper – an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Their malts and soft pretzels are *chef’s kiss*. Lowe Mill has tons of family-friendly events like Concerts on the Dock and their Outdoor Craft Market. Check their events calendar so you can catch one during your visit!
Agave & Rye – Huntsville, AL
We headed to dinner at one of my absolute favorite Mexican street food-inspired spots: Agave & Rye. The food and drinks are one-of-a-kind and the atmosphere is freakin’ cool! I love the grunge feel it gives with graffiti covered walls, modern art sculptures, and painted portraits of hip hop stars. My son loves to guess who is in each portrait, and I do too! They’ve got a diverse menu to please everyone – even picky eaters like me! My go-to order is the OG Margarita served in a chilled skull mug, chips and guac, and The Gangsta taco – slow braised birria beef with all the necessary taco fixin’s. They also have an outstanding vegan menu with another one of my favorites: the Vegan Quesa Jackfruit (sounds weird, but it’s seriously good).
Shopping at Bridge Street Town Centre – Huntsville, AL
Agave & Rye is located in the Bridge Street Town Centre – another gem we stumbled upon. This outdoor shopping center has a very European feel and offers a mix of popular chain stores and high-end shops. There was a live musician taking requests that evening and my son was loving it along with all the other kiddos that took to dancing in the cobblestone streets. We stopped by the LEGO store to put together some custom minifigs, then stopped by the Chocolate Crocodile for some chocolate covered Oreos and fresh-made fudge to cap off our evening.
Buc-ee’s Pit Stop – Athens, AL
As night began to fall, it was time to bid farewell to Huntsville. We decided to take I-65 North home, not because we didn’t enjoy the scenic country roads, but because my son wanted to make one last pit stop…at Buc-ee’s. Our car needed a fill up anyway – and they have seriously cheap gas!
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop – Cornersville, TN
After we stocked up on Buc-ee’s treats and souvenirs, we continued up the interstate to one of Tennessee’s most recent roadside attractions: Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop. It was still undergoing renovations during our trip, but since its grand opening in June it has welcomed a steady stream of guests and rave reviews! Be sure to try Dolly’s signature “Cup of Ambition” coffee and the brisket sandwich. And don’t leave without a Dolly souvenir!
We made great memories on our day-trip to Huntsville, which we still talk about! Between the beauty of the back roads, the whimsical botanical garden, the eclectic arts and eateries at Lowe Mill, and the birria taco that’s still living rent-free in my head, this city checked every box for a perfect day away. We’re already planning our next day-trip back to Rocket City to visit the Space and Rocket Center – the reason behind the city’s namesake! I’m sure we will discover more hidden gems along the way. If you’re ready for a change of scenery like my family was, do yourself a favor and make the drive — and if you beat us to any new discoveries, come back and tell me all about them!
