Road trip from Columbia to Huntsville

Known as “the city beneath the city,” Underground Atlanta has been the cultural heart of Downtown Atlanta since the 1900s. From basement speakeasies to the annual Peach Drop (where an 800-pound peach is dropped from the top of a building to ring in the new year), this arts, entertainment, and retail district has seen it all. Today, Underground Atlanta offers a multifaceted cultural experience featuring a virtual reality gallery, music clubs, and restaurants. travelers can also enjoy outdoor concerts, festivals, artisan markets, and more. This vibrant hub is conveniently connected to the Five Points train station, and just a short stroll from the scenic Broad Street Boardwalk. – Tripadvisor

Philips Arena, named for founding partner Philips Electronics and home of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and WNBA's Atlanta Dream, has hosted many top tours and events including: U2, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live and so many more!

Imagine a zoo that's specially designed to bring the animals up close to you. Imagine a zoo where you have time to notice the subtleties of animal behavior, instead of being pushed along by an impatient crowd. Imagine an exciting and diverse zoo that's still easy to navigate with strollers...or little legs. That's the new Chattanooga Zoo!

Craft and art collections.

Naughty Cat Cafe is a comfortable and healthy space to interact with adoptable cats and enjoy coffee, tea, beer and baked goods. Ages 11+.

This mountain ridge is home to three scenic attractions: Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway. Ruby Falls is the country’s tallest and deepest underground waterfall at 260 feet, while Rock City is where you can supposedly see seven states at the iconic Lover’s Leap. Then, brace yourself as you hop on the Incline Railway—the steepest passenger railway in the world. We recommend you spend at least 4 hours at Lookout Mountain to experience the highlights. Each attraction is priced separately and tickets sell out fast, so book early to secure your spot. – Tripadvisor

ADVENTURE AWAITS! Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States. Take a guided Classic Waterfall Tour, Lantern Tour or Extended Cavern Experience Tour along the scenic cavern trail to the breathtaking waterfall. See ancient geological formations, millions of years in the making, and learn about the cave's storied history. Enjoy extensive views of the Tennessee Valley, Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee River from scenic overlooks and Lookout Mountain Tower. There is always something new to discover at this national treasure! Tours fill quickly, purchase tickets in advance online for best availability.

Interactive children's museum focused on teaching about Alabama history.

One of the largest comic / games / toys stores in the South East! Board Games and TCG Games daily!

The only one in the world! The Cigar Box Guitar Store located in Studio 106 at Lowe Mill A&E features art you can touch. There are dozens of handmade three-and-four string cigar box guitars and other cigar box instruments that visitors can play. Learn more about how these unique instruments are created by the artist himself most Friday and Saturday afternoons. Want to learn how to play cigar box guitar? Come for free lessons on Saturdays anytime between Noon-2:00 and borrow a guitar.

The 118-acre Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round and contains a diverse ecosystem of meadows, upland and bottomland forest, and wetlands, as well as a variety of specialty gardens and native plant collections. The Mathews Nature Trail contains the largest accredited trillium collection in the U.S. and the Anderson Education Center is home to the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. The Native Plants Teaching Garden is a public space that highlights the way local plants, soil, pollinators, and birds create distinct communities and how they interact to form a diverse, sustainable, and attractive landscape. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Garden is a member of the American Public Gardens Association, the North American Plant Collections Consortium, and the American Horticultural Society, as well as an ArbNet-accredited arboretum.