A WEEKEND GUIDE TO DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE, AL
A couple weekends back my girlfriend Rachel and I had the opportunity to visit Huntsville, AL for the very first time! I honestly can’t believe I haven’t traveled there prior because it’s such a quick drive from Birmingham. We really didn’t have super high expectations going into the weekend but as it turns out, we were pleasantly surprised with our entire Huntsville experience. From the food, to the accommodations and activities, I can honestly say the growing city of Huntsville is definitely a must-visit! Because we enjoyed the trip so much, we’ve put together this travel guide featuring where we stayed, where we ate and what we did. I’m also including everything I wore + linking all of my outfit details below each photo!
WHERE TO STAY
While visiting Huntsville we stayed at the brand new, AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown and we seriously could not have loved this property more. During our stay, we found out that this is actually the first AC Hotels by Marriott in the state of Alabama, which we thought was so cool! The hotel was located right in the heart of Downtown Huntsville and was in close proximity to every single spot we visited while in town. The hotel itself was so clean and chic, yet effortless. The staff were also so friendly and accommodating from the second we walked through the door. We were also extremely impressed by our room for the weekend. It was very clean and there was plenty of space for the both of us + all of the clothes we brought (which was a lot, ha!!). The bathroom was also very nice and the view from our room was actually amazing. Our room was overlooking Big Spring Park in Downtown Huntsville, which is so pretty! We also enjoyed the many amenities the hotel had to offer including the convenience store in the lobby, the hotel bar and outside patio with fire pits. Along with a selection of tapas-style small bites, the hotel offered local craft beers, specialty wines and delicious signature cocktails including the brand’s signature “Starry Night” which we actually were obsessed with because it was GLITTERY! Overall our experience at The AC Hotel Downtown Huntsville was fabulous and I would highly recommend staying here if you ever find yourself visiting the area.
WHAT TO DO
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is the largest privately owned arts facility in the United States. With a focus on visual arts, this huge historic factory building has been redeveloped into 148 working studios for over 200 artists and makers, 6 galleries, a theatre, and performance venues.
Campus 805: This whole space was so much fun and such a fun experience. They turned an old middle school into an entertainment venue. There is everything from restaurants and breweries to an arcade and axe throwing. One of my favorite parts was also the hidden bar behind sliding lockers. If you are in Huntsville, this is a must visit place for sure.
The Camp: Before we left town we stopped by The Camp for their farmer’s market and ended up hanging out for awhile. We decided to try some coffee from Alchemy coffee shop and sit outside and listen to some live music. It was such a fun outdoor space and perfect for a Sunday Funday with friends or your family!
WHERE TO EAT + DRINK
Huntsvilles food scene is unreal with so many amazing restaurants. We literally ate all weekend and every single meal was absolutely delicious.
SiP: Our first night in Huntsville, we headed to SiP to enjoy a round of specialty cocktails. This is the perfect spot to meet friends and enjoy a drink or smoke a cigar. The atmosphere is more of an upscale bar with lots of artistic touches to it. I would definitely say it compares to a speak easy.
Honest Coffee Roasters: We stopped into Honest Coffee Roasters on Saturday morning after a yoga class and enjoyed a coffee and an açaí bowl. It was the cutest little coffee shop with so many options to choose from for drinks and breakfast. We ordered the Bootlegger and the Cuban espresso drink and they were both so good.
Domaine South: We stopped into Domaine South on Saturday afternoon for some wine and a charcuterie board. It was such a cute and quaint little space and would be the perfect place to go on a date or to catch up with a girlfriend. The charcuterie board was definitely one of the best I have ever had too. (You will definitely want to call ahead for a reservation because it is a much smaller restaurant.)
Cotton Row: On Saturday night we enjoyed a delectable meal from Cotton Row. If you are looking to indulge in some delicious food, this is the place to go! The menu is absolutely divine and the atmosphere truly is one of a kind. We tried the Fried Green Tomatoes and the Lobster Ravioli to start and they were both so tasty. We finished with their famous Peanut Butter and Jelly in Phyllo and Tahitian Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée. They dare definitely a must try!!
Commerce Kitchen: We started the day on Sunday with a delicious brunch at Commerce Kitchen. Everything was delicious, especially their fried green tomatoes and avocado toast! Did I mention that they have mimosa carafes and a build your own Bloody Mary bar!? We only went to their brunch but this is the perfect spot for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Our stay at The AC Hotel Huntsville was comped in exchange for the social media coverage we provided for the resort. However I am not being compensated for this post. Thank you to The AC Hotel for hosting us!