Summer is here! Before long the kids will be saying they\u2019re bored. Or maybe you need a weekend getaway just the two of you or a girls weekend. Whatever the case, we\u2019ve got the perfect list to keep y’all busy all summer long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Outdoor Activities<\/h4>\n
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1. Have a blast at one of North Alabama’s fun water parks:\u00a0Point Mallard Waterpark<\/a>,\u00a0Spring Valley Beach<\/a>,\u00a0Sand Mountain Park<\/a>,\u00a0WildWater Cullman<\/a>, and\u00a0Pirate’s Bay Water Park<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0Go on a cave tour at Russell Cave National Monument<\/a>, Cathedral Caverns State Park,<\/a> or Rickwood Caverns State Park<\/a><\/p>\n
3.\u00a0Go for a picnic, hike, or camp at DeSoto State Park<\/a>,\u00a0Joe Wheeler State Park<\/a>, Lake Guntersville State Park<\/a>, or Monte Sano State Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n
4. Visit one or all of the magical waterfalls on the North Alabama Waterfall Trail<\/a><\/p>\n
5. Go fishing on Weiss Lake or any of the other seven North Alabama lakes<\/a> (Bear Creek, Guntersville, Neely Henry, Pickwick, Smith, Weiss, Wheeler, Wilson)<\/p>\n
6. Watch birds at\u00a0one of the 50\u00a0North Alabama Birding Trail<\/a> sites<\/p>\n
7. Take your boat out at Ditto Landing<\/a> or Coosa Landing<\/a><\/p>\n
8. Spend the day seeing the waterfall, riding the miniature train, rock climbing, or camping at Noccalula Falls Park<\/a><\/p>\n
9. Golf at one of North Alabama\u2019s many golf courses<\/a><\/p>\n
10. See beautiful flowers at Huntsville Botanical Garden<\/a><\/p>\n
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11. Go on the Trains on Main Scavenger Hunt<\/a> in downtown Madison<\/p>\n
12. Take a tour at 1818 Farms in Mooresville<\/a><\/p>\n
13. Go on the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt in Huntsville<\/a><\/p>\n
14. Take a picnic and play at the park at Delano Park<\/a> in Decatur or\u00a0Spring Park in Tuscumbia<\/p>\n
15. Spend the day in Cullman at Hurricane Creek Park<\/a> or at Sportsman Lake Park<\/a><\/p>\n
16. See amazing wildlife at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge<\/a> in Decatur<\/p>\n
17. Visit Cornwall Furnace Veterans Memorial Park<\/a> near Cedar Bluff and see where iron ingots were made during the Civil War. You can also hike and have a picnic.<\/p>\n
18. Visit the tigers, lions, bears, and other animals at Tigers for Tomorrow<\/a><\/p>\n
19. Spend the weekend fishing, golfing, or relaxing at Goosepond Colony<\/a><\/p>\n
20. Take a drive on the Natchez Trace<\/a><\/p>\n
21. Take a picnic and visit one of the seven covered bridges of North Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n
22.\u00a02025 is the “Year of Alabama Trails,” which celebrates\u00a0the 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<\/a> more about the Year of Trails and see locations in North Alabama.<\/p>\n
23. Take a hike during the day or a night tour to see the glow worms at Dismals Canyon<\/a><\/p>\n
24. Visit the Natural Bridge of Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n
25. Take a guided hike at Lake Guntersville State Park<\/a> to see eagles, at DeSoto State Park<\/a> to see waterfalls, or at\u00a0Monte Sano State Park<\/a>\u00a0and see an amazing view from the mountain<\/p>\n
26. Take a hike in Bankhead National Forest<\/a>, Little River Canyon National Preserve,<\/a> North Alabama\u2019s Land Trust<\/a>, or Cane Creek Canyon Natural Preserve<\/a><\/p>\n
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27. Ride the Screaming Eagle Zip Line at Lake Guntersville State Park<\/a>\u00a0and DeSoto State Park<\/a>\u00a0or take a zip line tour at Vision Ministry Zip Line<\/a>, Smith Lake Zip Lines,\u00a0Decatur\/Wheeler Lake KOA Holiday Campground,\u00a0GoFar USA Park<\/a>, or\u00a0True Adventure Sports<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
28. Rappel at Cherokee Rock Village<\/a> in Leesburg, Palisades Park in Oneonta, or go\u00a0on a guided rappel or rock climbing tour with True Adventure Sports<\/a><\/p>\n
29. Take a boat cruise with\u00a0Wheeler Lake Scenic Cruise<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
30. Rent a kayak with One World Adventure or True Adventure Sports<\/a> and go kayaking, or go on an 8-mile adventure on the Cherokee Kayak Trail in northwest Alabama<\/p>\n
31. Ride ATVs at Indian Mountain ATV Park<\/a>\u00a0or Bucks Pocket State Park<\/a><\/p>\n
32. Go on the Dash of the Unexpected Geocache Tour<\/a><\/p>\n
33. Put out your kayak or canoe at Cypress Creek Public\u00a0Access<\/a>\u00a0in Florence<\/p>\n
34. Play games at Stars & Strikes<\/a> in Huntsville<\/p>\n
35. Go glamping in\u00a0North Alabama: Lake Guntersville State Park<\/a>, Monte Santo State Park, ReTreet Resort<\/a>, or Palomino RV Resort<\/a><\/p>\n
36. Stay in a treehouse, cabin, or yurt at The Flying Carpet: A Moroccan Treehouse<\/a>,\u00a0ReTreet Resort<\/a>,\u00a0Starlight Haven on Weiss Lake<\/a>, Goose Pond Colony<\/a>, Fire Tower Camp<\/a>,\u00a0Eagle’s Crest,\u00a0Jackson County Parks and Marina<\/a>, or Doublehead Resort<\/p>\n
37. Relax in a boutique hotel or a quaint\u00a0B & B: 106 Jefferson<\/a>,\u00a0Flying Fifty Boutique Hotel<\/a>, GunRunner Boutique Hotel<\/a>,\u00a0The Stricklin Hotel<\/a>,\u00a0Bee on the Brow B & B<\/a>, Lake Guntersville B & B<\/a>, Mentone Inn B & B<\/a>, or Secret B & B<\/a><\/p>\n
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38.\u00a0CoalFest<\/a> in Brilliant – May 23-24<\/p>\n
39.\u00a0Alabama Jubilee<\/a> at Point Mallard in Decatur – May 24-25<\/p>\n
40.\u00a0911 Festival<\/a> in Haleyville – June 6-7<\/p>\n
41. Downtown Oneonta’s Cruise & Croon – June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, & October 4<\/p>\n
42.\u00a0Miracle Worker Play<\/a> in Tuscumbia – June 6-28 and July 11-19\u00a0<\/p>\n
43.\u00a0Guntersville Lake HydroFest<\/a> – June 6-8<\/p>\n
44. Estes Field PCA Rodeo<\/a> in Centre – June 14-15<\/p>\n
45.\u00a0Barbarian Challenge in Gadsden<\/a> – June 15<\/p>\n
46. Estes Field PCA Rodeo<\/a> – June 13-14<\/p>\n
47. Alabama Veterans Uplift in Moulton – June 14<\/p>\n
48. Helen Keller Festival – June 26-29<\/p>\n
49.\u00a0Spirit of America Festival<\/a> at Point Mallard – July 4<\/p>\n
50.\u00a0Rock the South – July 19-21<\/p>\n
51.\u00a0W.C. Handy Festival in Florence – July 18-28<\/p>\n
52.\u00a0World\u2019s Longest Yard Sale<\/a> – August 7-10<\/p>\n
53.\u00a0Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days<\/a> – August 1-2<\/p>\n
54.\u00a0Watermelon Festival<\/a> in Russellville – August 15-16<\/p>\n
55. Art Sunday in Scottsboro<\/a> – August 31<\/p>\n
56.\u00a0First Fridays in downtown Florence and downtown Gadsden<\/a><\/p>\n
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57. Take the kids to an event at Burritt on the Mountain<\/a><\/p>\n
58. Learn about Huntsville’s role in space exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center<\/a><\/p>\n
59. Visit the\u00a0Cook Museum of Natural Science<\/a> in Decatur and see the 15K gallon aquarium<\/p>\n
60. Take a tour of Pond Spring \u2013 General Joe Wheeler Home<\/a><\/p>\n
61. Learn about Alabama’s military history at the Alabama Veterans Museum<\/a> in Athens or one of the other museums or monuments on the\u00a0Patriot Trail<\/a><\/p>\n
62. Take a tour of Belle Mont Mansion<\/a> in Tuscumbia<\/p>\n
63. Learn about the history of Red Bay and see Tammy Wynette memorabilia at the Red Bay Museum<\/a><\/p>\n
64. See the West Point of the South at the LaGrange College Site<\/a><\/p>\n
65.\u00a0Visit the Oakville Indian Mound Park and Museum<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0learn about Native American history<\/p>\n
66. Take a tour of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament<\/a><\/p>\n
67. Visit the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center<\/a><\/p>\n
68. Learn about north Alabama’s railroad history at the\u00a0at the Historic Decatur Train Depot<\/a>,\u00a0Fort Payne Depot Museum,<\/a>\u00a0Stevenson 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:\u00a0northalabama.org\/places-to-visit\/trails\/train-depots-trail<\/a><\/p>\n
69. Learn about each county’s history at: Cherokee County Historical Museum<\/a>,\u00a0Albertville Museum<\/a>, Guntersville Museum<\/a>,\u00a0Cullman County Museum<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
70. See where hundreds of man’s best friend are buried at the Coon Dog Cemetery<\/a> outside of Tuscumbia<\/p>\n
71. Tour the oldest standing bank in Alabama: the Old State Bank in Decatur<\/a>\u00a0(currently closed for renovations)<\/p>\n
72. Tour Ave Maria Grotto<\/a> and pick up some Monk\u2019s Bread in the gift shop<\/p>\n
73. See where the Constitution of Alabama was signed in 1819 at Constitution Village<\/a> in Huntsville<\/p>\n
74. Explore the Arab Historic Village<\/a> and see how life was “way back when”<\/p>\n
75. In Oakville, visit the Jesse Owens Museum<\/a> to learn more about the 4-time gold medal Olympian<\/p>\n
76. Learn about Alabama’s First Lady of Courage at Ivy Green \u2013 Helen Keller Birthplace<\/a><\/p>\n
77. See and hear the history of Alabama music at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame<\/a>,\u00a0Muscle Shoals Sound Studio<\/a>, and FAME Recording Studio<\/a><\/p>\n
78. Visit one of Florence’s many museums: Indian Mound & Museum<\/a>, Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts<\/a>, Pope’s Tavern Museum<\/a>, W.C. Handy Home, Museum & Library<\/a>, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House<\/a><\/p>\n
79. Take the kids to explore and learn at the North Alabama Agriplex<\/a> in Cullman,\u00a0EarlyWorks Museum<\/a>\u00a0in Huntsville, or\u00a0Imagination Place<\/a> in Gadsden<\/p>\n
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80. Visit one or all of the restaurants on the North Alabama Barbecue\u00a0Trail<\/a><\/p>\n
81. Have lunch or dinner in a cave at the Rattlesnake Saloon<\/a><\/p>\n
82. Eat at Bama Bucks<\/a> where you can get a variety of different types of wild game and see some exotic animals<\/p>\n
83. Grab a bite to eat at a locally-owned restaurant like 609 Social<\/a>, The Salty Cod<\/a>, Red Clay Table<\/a>, Let’s Do Lunch<\/a>, Champy’s<\/a>, George’s Steak Pit<\/a>, and more! Check out the rest here:\u00a0www.northalabama.org\/restaurants<\/a><\/p>\n
84. Go on a winery tour to one of North Alabama\u2019s wineries<\/a><\/p>\n
85. Visit one of all of the craft breweries on the North Alabama Craft Beer Trail<\/a><\/p>\n
86. Visit the Athens Saturday Market<\/a>\u00a0and Isom’s Orchard<\/a> for locally-grown veggies<\/p>\n
87. Cool off with an ice cream cone at Tess’ Place<\/a> in Decatur, Seven Daughters Scoops<\/a> in Cullman, or Reeves Farm in Hartselle<\/p>\n
88. Treat yourself to some delectable candy at Morgan Price Candy Company<\/a> in Decatur<\/p>\n
89. Grab a cup of coffee at Karma’s Coffee<\/a>, Jubilee Coffee<\/a>, or Hi-Plane Coffee<\/a> inside U.G. White<\/p>\n
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90. Go see all the murals on the North Alabama Mural Trail<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
91. See at performance at the Von Braun Center<\/a>\u00a0or Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, The Orion Amphitheatre<\/a> in Huntsville,\u00a0Historic Roxy Theatre<\/a> in Russellville, Pastime Theatre in Winfield, the Princess Theatre in Decatur,\u00a0the Whole Backstage Theatre<\/a> in Guntersville, or Looney’s Tavern Entertainment and Cultural Arts Center<\/a><\/p>\n
92. See the beautiful art at Huntsville Museum of Art<\/a>, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center<\/a> in Decatur, Tennessee Valley Museum of Art<\/a>, or go see the latest exhibit at the Evelyn Burrow Museum<\/a> at Wallace State<\/p>\n
93. Find a bargain and see the museum of strange things lost on airlines at Unclaimed Baggage<\/a> in Scottsboro<\/p>\n
94. Shop for unique gifts at U.G. White Mercantile<\/a> in Athens<\/p>\n
95. Shop for new and used Lego sets at Bricks and\u00a0MInifigs<\/a> in Huntsville<\/p>\n
96. Blow your own glass ornament at Orbix Hot Glass<\/a> in Fort Payne<\/p>\n
97. Treat yourself to a spa day at the Soak House & Soapery<\/a> in Guntersville<\/p>\n
98.\u00a0Find that perfect art piece or pieces to make art at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques<\/a> in Cullman<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Carley\u2019s](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/c_fill,h_937,q_75,w_750\/v1\/clients\/alabamamlta\/IMG_2551_d7b541d1-528e-4982-a6db-7522492affcf.jpg\")
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<\/p>\nHiking Trails<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nAdventures<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nUnique Stays<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"alabama](\"https:\/\/assets.simpleviewinc.com\/simpleview\/image\/upload\/c_fill,h_896,q_75,w_1156\/v1\/clients\/alabamamlta\/Screen_Shot_2019_05_21_at_12_32_09_PM_5151d802-6ad9-46dd-a9c1-1f13bfcc6164.png\")
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<\/p>\nSummer Festivals<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nHistory, Science, and Museums<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nFoodies<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nArt and Shopping<\/h4>\n
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