Whether you want to eat, shop, or get outdoors, South Huntsville has a wealth of options to enjoy and discover. Having lived in South Huntsville for about 40 years, I’ve seen so many changes and improvements, and I’m going to share some of my community favorites.

 

Outside of Walton's Southern Table

Eat

First things first, you need to fuel up for any adventure, be it shopping or hiking, and South Huntsville has everything from fun to fine…dining that is. Nick’s Ristorante is known for their steaks, but don’t sleep on their Italian offerings. This is a great spot for a celebration, even if the celebration is just that it’s a good day to have a good meal.

 

Outside of Rosie's Mexican Restaurant in South Huntsville

On the casual end, we have Walton’s for that classic Southern meat-and-three. We also enjoy Bubby’s with its vintage diner feel, and both Rosie’s and Little Rosie’s are Huntsville go tos-and their cheese dip is a fave. And you can’t go wrong with a pork-topped tater from Lawler’s paired with a sweet tea.

 

Looking for a sweet treat? Peggy Ann Bakery has the best petit fours around.

 

Inside Sunshine Studio in South Huntsville

Shop

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, there are so many places to shop and browse in South Huntsville. Parkway Place, of course, gleams over the area and offers everything from fashion to fun with shops like Dillard's, Belk, Miniso, Box Lunch, and more.

 

Inside the Free People store in South Huntsville near Wicks Family Field.

A Free People and the state’s first FP Movement just opened near Wicks Family Field, along with a new boutique called Ferren.

 

 

Inside a bookstore where rows of books fill the shelves

South Huntsville has a great selection of small businesses to shop and support as well. Sweet Pineapple and Cottage Collective are great gift shops, Sunshine Studio may be the happiest shop around, AM Collective offers it all from vintage to vinyl. The Bookwyrm is a great used bookstore, and Bricks and Minifigs offers Legos for the young and young at heart. I also love to pop into Alabama Goods and see what items I can find created by Alabama makers and creators.

 

Two dogs sitting by the water at Ditto Landing in South Huntsville

Play

Nature and outdoor spaces abound in South Huntsville. Green Mountain has the Madison County Nature Trail, featuring a fairly easy 1.5-mile trail around a small lake, as well as trails that are part of the Land Trust. The Alum Hollow Trail is a favorite of ours. It’s an easy enough stroll with a sharp descent that leads you to Alum Falls and a cave around the corner that was used by Native Americans for shelter.

 

A dog and man standing on a wooden dock on a nature trail

We are also fortunate to have the Greenway that runs the whole way to Ditto Landing and is great for cyclists, walkers, and runners. (Might I suggest picking up anandream at Handel’s on Four Mile Post before heading South?)

 

Speaking of Ditto Landing, it’s a great spot for fishing, boating, camping, and offers special events, plus improvements and additions are currently underway in the form of the new State Dock.

 

South Huntsville is also home to some great playgrounds; there’s one at the South Huntsville Public Library, McGucken Park, and at Southside Park. Southside Park offers something for the whole family as it is also home to a dog park, archery, and disc golf.

 

Drink

If you want to top off your day with a drink, Huntsville has some fun offerings. We love the dog-friendly patio at Das Stahl Bierhaus and their wide selection, 32 rotating taps of craft brews. They are also a bottleshop with tons of great to-go options. Vintage Karma Wine has fun tastings and events, as well as offering wine to purchase, and the new “dive” bar Goodbye Horses is a fun addition to the area.

 

Ready for fun?

Pick and choose suggestions from each of the above categories and create your own perfect South Huntsville Day. There’s always something new to enjoy and discover, so come back and mix and match for your next discovery day!