Business Trip
How to have fun while business trippin’ in Huntsville, Alabama
By Erica and Tara Cotten
As people who are familiar with traveling for work, we know it can be hard to be in a new city for only a few days and get the most out of it. We hope this “after 5 PM” itinerary helps point you in the right direction while keeping in mind that Huntsville has lots of great things to offer.
Day 1
Bridge Street Town Centre: Bridge Street is an outdoor shopping mall with a mix of retail shops and restaurants. It is one of those places where you could find yourself browsing books in Barnes and Noble, checking out goodies at the Chocolate Crocodile, playing with the latest inventory at the Apple store or heading to watch a game at the Vintage Cigar Lounge. After eating dinner at one of the numerous restaurants, you could take in a movie at the Cinemark theatre, a large multiscreen theatre that offers a 21-and-over exclusive experience with a wine tasting bar and a restaurant/lounge. Convenient parking is offered all around the outdoor mall.
Day 2
Campus No. 805: Campus No. 805 is an old middle school turned adult playground. The campus is filled with local businesses serving delicious food, cold craft beer, and a lot of live local music. They also have things like axe-throwing and virtual golf to liven up your trip. With 19 tenants and growing, it is an ideal after-work hang out location. Currently, Yellowhammer Brewery and Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza are serving delicious food, cold craft beer and a lot of live, local music. Check their websites for opening times and performance schedules. Straight to Ale, Alabama’s largest brewery, also calls Campus No. 805 home (don't forget to find the hidden speakeasy!) Test out your lumberjack skills at Civil Axe Throwing, play a round of virtual golf at X-Golf, and let your inner middle-schooler run wild.
Day 3
After a long work week, we look forward to going for to walk around Big Spring International Park to see the ducks and the red friendship bridge that was gifted to the city by Japan. If the weather is nice and you are in the mood for gelato, walk to Sam and Greg’s Pizzeria and Gelateria, and keep your eyes peeled for the resident ghost, which was confirmed by the Alabama Paranormal Association. For dinner and music, head to Humphrey’s Bar and Grill. You can walk to both locations, but if you are going to be out late, you may prefer to park at the garage on Clinton Avenue. If you need a coffee pick-me-up before driving back to your accommodation for the night, head to Honest Coffee.
Helpful Hints:
We suggest using both TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews.
Do not be afraid to ask locals for directions or for dining advice.
Reservations are recommended for many restaurants located at Bridge Street Town Centre.
Honorable Mentions:
Viet Houng is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants we have experienced. It is small, but is expanding and is always worth the wait. If you are a fan of Boba tea, theirs is worth the trip alone.
The Huntsville Museum of Art is open until 8 PM on Thursday nights.
Von Braun Center – Check their website for list of events while in town. There is always something going on.
We hope we have been able to offer you a few good suggestions through this itinerary of a city we love. Enjoy your trip. We look forward to hosting you again.
Bio
Erica and Tara are Alabama natives, who grew up in Huntsville. They graduated from the University of South Alabama where Erica received a degree in Business Administration and Tara a degree in International Studies. The majority of their time is spent working in cubicles working as full-time Army Civilians on Redstone Arsenal. They enjoy learning more about the world through travel, and recently started their blog TrippinTwins, (@trippintwins) to share their adventures with others. Between them, they have visited 15 countries and 20 states and are proud to call Huntsville home.
