rock the south

 

The City of Decatur and festival organizers announced the rescheduling due to unprecedented amounts of rainfall across Alabama this past week. All three previously announced headliners remain on the lineup: Zach Top on Thursday, Oct. 1; Jason Aldean on Friday, Oct. 2; and Riley Green on Sunday, Oct. 4.

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Things To Do To Keep the Kids from Driving You Crazy During Christmas Break

It’s Christmas break, and the kids will be out of school saying "I'm bored" before you know it. Want to know what there is to do in North Alabama to entertain the kids and hold onto your sanity? Take a deep breath and check out these fun activities that can pass the time during the break.

EarlyWorks Museum

EarlyWorks Museum in Huntsville has a lot of cool things to see and several hands-on activities for kids. Don't miss story time by the big tree!

A tree with a face carving stands next to a sign that says "Oral Traditions" at EarlyWorks Children's Museum

Cook Museum of Natural Science

Visit the amazing Cook Museum in Decatur! So many cool exhibits to see!

An aquarium full of brightly colored red, blue, and yellow fish at the Cook Museum

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for the day. There's plenty here to see and do to keep the kids busy for hours!

Rockets rise up behind the saucer-shaped U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Burritt on the Mountain


Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville is a neat place to explore to see how life was back in the 1800s. There's animals to see and a playground to play on. Don't miss the cute gift shop on your way out either.

Children climb on a wooden fence to look over at a goat being led by a woman in a straw hat at Burritt on the Mountain

Go on a Hike

Our North Alabama Ambassador Zenovia Stephens wrote a blog for us about several family-friendly hikes in north Alabama! These make great opportunities to get outdoors and get some exercise. Check it out here: www.northalabama.org/blog/post/family-friendly-hikes-in-north-alabama.

A man, woman and three children pose for a photo with a small waterfall behind them

Tigers for Tomorrow

Tigers for Tomorrow is a must-see if you're an animal lover! There are many tigers, lions, bears, and other animals that have been rescued from less than desirable situations. Make sure you go on a guided tour because you not only learn so much about each animal but you are also allowed to take photos. Amazing place!

Close-up photo of a tiger from Tigers for Tomorrow

Cave Tour

Take a tour at Cathedral Caverns or Rickwood Caverns state parks. Beautiful sites to see at both state parks.

A look at rock formations inside Cathedral Caverns State Park

Imagination Place

Play in the snow at Let It Snow! - Imagination Place in Gadsden. Hours of fun for kids!

A young boy slides on a green toboggan on an indoor slide painted to look like it is snow-covered at Imagination Place

Skating in the Park


Go Skating in the Park at Huntsville Museum of Art. They've created an ice skating rink just behind the museum that is open throughout the day. Warm up inside the museum with a tour of the beautiful art. The museum also has a neat gift shop you don't want to miss.

An outdoor skating rink is set up in front of the Huntsville Museum of Art

Tinsel Trails

Go see the Festival of Trees at the Gadsden Museum of Art, the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville, and the Tinsel Trail at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. So many uniquely decorated trees all three locations.

A canal lined with brightly colored Christmas trees along the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville, Alabama

For more things to see and do in North Alabama, go to www.northalabama.org.

Muse Award
Author
Melea Hames

A 1995 Auburn University graduate, Melea has been a social media manager in the tourism industry since 2010 at Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. At AMLA, Melea is responsible for creating content on Visit North Alabama’s social media platforms, writing blog posts on the website, coordinating the North Alabama Ambassador Program, and speaking at various events and meetings about social media. Melea is also the host of Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama, AMLA’s new podcast, produced by Relic Agency. The podcast won a 2022 Muse Award - Silver in the Audio/Podcast category. Melea was honored in October 2023 with the Tourism Promoter of the Year Award from the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association for her work on the podcast.

Prior to working for AMLA, Melea received her Masters at UNA in Secondary Education and taught middle school English and coached middle school cheerleaders for three years. She also taught English at Calhoun Community College for 8 1/2 half years. Before that she worked in public relations for an advertising agency in Atlanta, a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia, and for Auburn University in the development office. In 2020, Melea created her very own social media marketing agency called M and M Social. She loves to write, travel, walk in the park (she walked over 600 miles in 2020), go to Auburn games, and read books about WWII.