Summer is here! Before long the kids will be saying they’re bored. Or maybe you need a weekend getaway just the two of you or a girls weekend. Whatever the case, we’ve got the perfect list to keep y'all busy all summer long.
(photo by North Alabama Ambassador David Parham)
Outdoor Activities
1. Have a blast at one of North Alabama's fun water parks: Point Mallard Waterpark, Spring Valley Beach, Sand Mountain Park, WildWater Cullman, and Pirate's Bay Water Park
2. Go on a cave tour at Russell Cave National Monument, Cathedral Caverns State Park, or Rickwood Caverns State Park
3. Go for a picnic, hike, or camp at DeSoto State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park, Lake Guntersville State Park, or Monte Sano State Park.
4. Visit one or all of the magical waterfalls on the North Alabama Waterfall Trail
5. Go fishing on Weiss Lake or any of the other seven North Alabama lakes (Bear Creek, Guntersville, Neely Henry, Pickwick, Smith, Weiss, Wheeler, Wilson)
6. Watch birds at one of the 50 North Alabama Birding Trail sites
7. Take your boat out at Ditto Landing or Coosa Landing
8. Spend the day seeing the waterfall, riding the miniature train, rock climbing, or camping at Noccalula Falls Park
9. Golf at one of North Alabama’s many golf courses
10. See beautiful flowers at Huntsville Botanical Garden
11. Go on the Trains on Main Scavenger Hunt in downtown Madison
12. Take a tour at 1818 Farms in Mooresville
13. Go on the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt in Huntsville
14. Take a picnic and play at the park at Delano Park in Decatur or Spring Park in Tuscumbia
15. Spend the day in Cullman at Hurricane Creek Park or at Sportsman Lake Park
16. See amazing wildlife at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur
17. Visit Cornwall Furnace Veterans Memorial Park near Cedar Bluff and see where iron ingots were made during the Civil War. You can also hike and have a picnic.
18. Visit the tigers, lions, bears, and other animals at Tigers for Tomorrow
19. Spend the weekend fishing, golfing, or relaxing at Goosepond Colony
20. Take a drive on the Natchez Trace
21. Take a picnic and visit one of the seven covered bridges of North Alabama
Hiking Trails
22. 2025 is the "Year of Alabama Trails," which celebrates the state's extensive and diverse trail systems. As part of this initiative, they've highlighted the "25 Must-Tread Trails for 2025," encouraging residents and visitors to explore Alabama's top hiking, biking, and paddling routes. Five of the trails are located in North Alabama. Click here to read more about the Year of Trails and see locations in North Alabama.
23. Take a hike during the day or a night tour to see the glow worms at Dismals Canyon
24. Visit the Natural Bridge of Alabama
25. Take a guided hike at Lake Guntersville State Park to see eagles, at DeSoto State Park to see waterfalls, or at Monte Sano State Park and see an amazing view from the mountain
26. Take a hike in Bankhead National Forest, Little River Canyon National Preserve, North Alabama’s Land Trust, or Cane Creek Canyon Natural Preserve
Adventures
27. Ride the Screaming Eagle Zip Line at Lake Guntersville State Park and DeSoto State Park or take a zip line tour at Vision Ministry Zip Line, Smith Lake Zip Lines, Decatur/Wheeler Lake KOA Holiday Campground, GoFar USA Park, or True Adventure Sports
28. Rappel at Cherokee Rock Village in Leesburg, Palisades Park in Oneonta, or go on a guided rappel or rock climbing tour with True Adventure Sports
29. Take a boat cruise with Wheeler Lake Scenic Cruise
30. Rent a kayak with One World Adventure or True Adventure Sports and go kayaking, or go on an 8-mile adventure on the Cherokee Kayak Trail in northwest Alabama
31. Ride ATVs at Indian Mountain ATV Park or Bucks Pocket State Park
32. Go on the Dash of the Unexpected Geocache Tour
33. Put out your kayak or canoe at Cypress Creek Public Access in Florence
34. Play games at Stars & Strikes in Huntsville
Unique Stays
35. Go glamping in North Alabama: Lake Guntersville State Park, Monte Santo State Park, ReTreet Resort, or Palomino RV Resort
36. Stay in a treehouse, cabin, or yurt at The Flying Carpet: A Moroccan Treehouse, ReTreet Resort, Starlight Haven on Weiss Lake, Goose Pond Colony, Fire Tower Camp, Eagle's Crest, Jackson County Parks and Marina, or Doublehead Resort
37. Relax in a boutique hotel or a quaint B & B: 106 Jefferson, Flying Fifty Boutique Hotel, GunRunner Boutique Hotel, The Stricklin Hotel, Bee on the Brow B & B, Lake Guntersville B & B, Mentone Inn B & B, or Secret B & B
Summer Festivals
38. CoalFest in Brilliant - May 23-24
39. Alabama Jubilee at Point Mallard in Decatur - May 24-25
40. 911 Festival in Haleyville - June 6-7
41. Downtown Oneonta's Cruise & Croon - June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, & October 4
42. Miracle Worker Play in Tuscumbia - June 6-28 and July 11-19
43. Guntersville Lake HydroFest - June 6-8
44. Estes Field PCA Rodeo in Centre - June 14-15
45. Barbarian Challenge in Gadsden - June 15
46. Estes Field PCA Rodeo - June 13-14
47. Alabama Veterans Uplift in Moulton - June 14
48. Helen Keller Festival - June 26-29
49. Spirit of America Festival at Point Mallard - July 4
50. Rock the South - July 19-21
51. W.C. Handy Festival in Florence - July 18-28
52. World’s Longest Yard Sale - August 7-10
53. Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days - August 1-2
54. Watermelon Festival in Russellville - August 15-16
55. Art Sunday in Scottsboro - August 31
56. First Fridays in downtown Florence and downtown Gadsden
History, Science, and Museums
57. Take the kids to an event at Burritt on the Mountain
58. Learn about Huntsville's role in space exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
59. Visit the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur and see the 15K gallon aquarium
60. Take a tour of Pond Spring – General Joe Wheeler Home
61. Learn about Alabama's military history at the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens or one of the other museums or monuments on the Patriot Trail
62. Take a tour of Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia
63. Learn about the history of Red Bay and see Tammy Wynette memorabilia at the Red Bay Museum
64. See the West Point of the South at the LaGrange College Site
65. Visit the Oakville Indian Mound Park and Museum to learn about Native American history
66. Take a tour of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
67. Visit the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center
68. Learn about north Alabama's railroad history at the at the Historic Decatur Train Depot, Fort Payne Depot Museum, Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum, and others, or go for a ride on a real train at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville. Check out the Train Depots Trail at: northalabama.org/places-to-visit/trails/train-depots-trail
69. Learn about each county's history at: Cherokee County Historical Museum, Albertville Museum, Guntersville Museum, Cullman County Museum
70. See where hundreds of man's best friend are buried at the Coon Dog Cemetery outside of Tuscumbia
71. Tour the oldest standing bank in Alabama: the Old State Bank in Decatur (currently closed for renovations)
72. Tour Ave Maria Grotto and pick up some Monk’s Bread in the gift shop
73. See where the Constitution of Alabama was signed in 1819 at Constitution Village in Huntsville
74. Explore the Arab Historic Village and see how life was "way back when"
75. In Oakville, visit the Jesse Owens Museum to learn more about the 4-time gold medal Olympian
76. Learn about Alabama's First Lady of Courage at Ivy Green – Helen Keller Birthplace
77. See and hear the history of Alabama music at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, and FAME Recording Studio
78. Visit one of Florence's many museums: Indian Mound & Museum, Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Pope's Tavern Museum, W.C. Handy Home, Museum & Library, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House
79. Take the kids to explore and learn at the North Alabama Agriplex in Cullman, EarlyWorks Museum in Huntsville, or Imagination Place in Gadsden
Foodies
80. Visit one or all of the restaurants on the North Alabama Barbecue Trail
81. Have lunch or dinner in a cave at the Rattlesnake Saloon
82. Eat at Bama Bucks where you can get a variety of different types of wild game and see some exotic animals
83. Grab a bite to eat at a locally-owned restaurant like 609 Social, The Salty Cod, Red Clay Table, Let's Do Lunch, Champy's, George's Steak Pit, Wildflower Cafe, Main Street Cafe, The Freight House, The Hatter Cafe, and more! Check out the rest here: www.northalabama.org/restaurants
84. Go on a winery tour to one of North Alabama’s wineries
85. Visit one of all of the craft breweries on the North Alabama Craft Beer Trail
86. Visit the Athens Saturday Market and Isom's Orchard for locally-grown veggies
87. Cool off with an ice cream cone at Tess' Place in Decatur, Seven Daughters Scoops in Cullman, or Reeves Farm in Hartselle
88. Treat yourself to some delectable candy at Morgan Price Candy Company in Decatur
89. Grab a cup of coffee at Karma's Coffee, Jubilee Coffee, or Hi-Plane Coffee inside U.G. White
Art and Shopping
90. Go see all the murals on the North Alabama Mural Trail
91. See at performance at the Von Braun Center or Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, The Orion Amphitheatre in Huntsville, Historic Roxy Theatre in Russellville, Pastime Theatre in Winfield, the Princess Theatre in Decatur, the Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville, or Looney's Tavern Entertainment and Cultural Arts Center
92. See the beautiful art at Huntsville Museum of Art, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, or go see the latest exhibit at the Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State
93. Find a bargain and see the museum of strange things lost on airlines at Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro
94. Shop for unique gifts at U.G. White Mercantile in Athens
95. Shop for new and used Lego sets at Bricks and MInifigs in Huntsville
96. Blow your own glass ornament at Orbix Hot Glass in Fort Payne
97. Treat yourself to a spa day at the Soak House & Soapery in Guntersville
98. Find that perfect art piece or pieces to make art at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in Cullman
99. Visit Mary G. Hardin Cultural Arts Center in Gadsden
