Christmas in Rocket City

If I could live anywhere else in the US, it would be Huntsville, Alabama. It’s still in the South, the Bible Belt, and it’s close enough to family. I adore this city.

When Liam and I began discussing where we wanted to go over Christmas break, Huntsville wasn’t even on the list. We had already gone there four times this year, so it didn’t cross my mind.

Nothing will ever beat our trips to NYC and Hawaii at Christmas. But with Judson being so little, it makes sense for us to stay closer to home. I mentioned to Liam we had never seen the space center lit up for Christmas, and it snowballed from there!

We started our road trip at the Christmas market in Cullman, AL.

From there it was off to Huntsville. After checking in at our hotel and grabbing dinner, we headed downtown to Big Spring Park for their annual “Tinsel Trail”. Hundreds of businesses sponsor and decorate a Christmas tree around the pond.

As hard as it was, the following morning we resisted the pull of the Saturn V in our hotel window and instead went to the Huntsville Veteran’s Museum. I have been visiting Huntsville since 1996 and never been there. It was time for us to check it out.

One of the vets there let Liam try on some of the gear so he could feel the weight. It’s a dummy gun, but it was heavy too.

Following the Veteran’s museum, we went back downtown to the Early Works Children’s Museum. It was nothing like the children’s museums we normally visit. It was more colonial and primitive and highly educational. It was also quite small, so you’re done in no time.

They had a few Christmas activities like sock ice skating available.

Liam did his thing while I followed Judson wherever he went.

Finally, we spent the later part of the afternoon and early evening at the space center. Since I’ve shared it so many times in the past, I won’t photo overload here today.

We spent most of our time in the Spark Lab where Liam worked on STEM activities and I played with Judson.

That evening we drove through the Galaxy of Lights display at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens (no good pictures, all blurry), and we spent the following day at the space center.

We had tickets to see the “Star of Bethlehem” at the Planetarium after hours, but a fussy baby did not let us enjoy it. We got up and left. Maybe next year.

I just love Rocket City so much! I hope you were able to enjoy a few days with your loved ones over the Christmas break as well. School will be back before we know it, so I plan to soak up the remaining days with my boys at home. I hope you have a great weekend too!