A secret trail in Alabama now contains another secret trail for an experience that combines art, rocketry, and if you choose, a lot more entertainment throughout Huntsville's hopping downtown arts district. Not only do I like the Inception-style dream-within-a-dream vibe, but who can resist unlocking next-level secrecy?
In honor of the Rocket City's long legacy and future in space exploration, the Secret Artemis Trail pairs miniature replicas of rockets with selected public art within the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail.
The mural "Galactic Portal" by Jessie Andrews is part of the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail.
People who want to do the full Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail will see original works of art at 21 different stops.
Artist Kim Radford created the "This Girl Can" mural, which celebrates women's right to vote.
The Secret Artemis Trail features 12, one-foot rocket replicas installed to accompany selected works on the art trail. Students in the High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program created the rockets.
The rocket trail sponsor, Huntsville's Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. in Huntsville, designed and built a critical part of the 322-foot Artemis Space Launch System that will return astronauts to the moon by 2024.
The Koi Mural by Dustin Timbrook is among the stops on both trails. No more spoilers! You'll have to spot the rest yourself.
Another bonus: If you prefer to sip and stroll, you can for these trails. They're within one of the city's five arts & entertainment districts where you can buy an alcoholic beverage from a permitted business within the district and carry it outdoors.
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While you can enjoy both the art and Artemis trails year-round, check local events and entertainment calendars to make it more than a day trip.
While it seems there is always something happening in downtown Huntsville, the monthly night markets are prime times to mingle and browse among arts and other vendors.
Visit the Secret Artemis Trail webpage for details and a trail guide and the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail webpage for full art trail details. A chic place to stay in the heart of the district is 106 Jefferson, which features a rooftop bar and thoughtful decor with many nods to NASA history.
Here are a few more reasons why people all over the country have been talking about Huntsville as a cool place to live.
Have you had a chance to explore this secret trail in Alabama? Let us know your top tips for making the most of downtown Huntsville.
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