Great Staycation Ideas for Spring Break in Huntsville

Not everyone is able to head to the beach or take a roadtrip during Spring Break, but that doesn’t mean it has to be ho-hum! I live in a household that is divided between two school districts. The first week, we were able to plan a nice family trip out of town, but now I find myself struggling to entertain at least one student during Spring Break. If you’re like me, or trying to stay local during this year’s break, here are some kid-friendly excursions in Huntsville & North Alabama that will help you (and your budget!) stay sane.

Spring Break Staycation Fun in Huntsville

We tried to pull together a list of fun things to do during each day of Spring Break. Even if you’re headed to one of the local Spring Break Camps, you’ll still need ideas for the weekends! The itinerary below is coordinated so that it’s possible to do everything on our Best Picks list, but there is a little wiggle room if you opt out of the special events.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Cloudy. High 59° 
Kick off Spring Break with shamrocks at the 45th annual Huntsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade – it starts at 11:00 AM but we advise arriving early to snag a good spot along the parade route. Grab some lunch on the square downtown – we love the slices at Sam & Greg’s Pizzeria.

If you’re feeling very brave and not in need of nap time yet, skip over a block to Big Spring Park and see how fast your kids can finish the free Big Spring Scavenger Hunt. You can pick up a paper map on your way out at Earlyworks, or just play from your phone. Reward yourself with a cup of hot cocoa or a sweet treat at the Cozy Cow Cafe.

Not feeling the parade? Join the Land Trust of North Alabama for a guided hike at the Monte Sano Nature Preserve. Note that this is rated a difficult hike, so it’ll be better for the older kids/more experienced hikes. This event is free, but be sure to register!

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

80% Chance of rain, high 63°. 
Don’t let mother nature rain on your parade! Luckily, you can head over to the Huntsville Museum of Art for their Community Free Day!

Celebrate the young artists included in the Youth Art Month exhibition during opening day with artist demonstrations, awards ceremony, & more. Plus you can squeeze in a visit to the Stender Interactive Gallery for even more creative fun!

MONDAY, MARCH 13

Sunny, high 51°
Since this is a little chillier than the last couple days, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some indoor fun! AND you’ve got options!

Head over to Cook Museum to get an up-close look at the Bone Structures of the Animal Kingdom. You’ll look at the bone of various animal species and compare the unique features that help species survive the wild.

Dive deep into a story time about the ocean with Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre. Head to the Madison Public Library to enjoy this tale read by Stephen Tyler Davis or check out some of the story times at a branch near you!

Learn about weather and the water cycle at EarlyWork’s Tinker Lab. Guests can also enjoy fun spring crafts and explore the children’s museum.

 TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Sunny. High 48°

Bundle up and enjoy some fresh air and Spring Break Fun at Hays Nature Preserve! Join Operation Green Team and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for a fun craft and lesson on water.

Head over to the Huntsville Botanical Garden and let the fun take flight at their Raptor Show. You’ll get to see the raptors up close and learn more about them and their role in the ecosystem. Be sure to make plans to stick around afterwards for the Garden’s newest exhibit, Origami in the Garden.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

Sunny. High 57°

It’s a great day to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air! There’s plenty of great options too!

Head back to Hays Nature Preserve for another morning of Spring Break Fun! Enjoy making a craft, complete a wildlife forestry study, and learn about the water cycle.

We here at Rocket City Mom love a good scavenger hunt – we even created our very own in Big Spring Park! Check out these area scavenger hunts!

• Big Spring Park Scavenger Hunt (Huntsville)
• Downtown Turtle Trail (Decatur)
• Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt (Huntsville)
• Trains on Main (Madison)

Of course a trip to the playground is always a winner or you can head out to enjoy one of these family-friendly hikes.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

High 66°, Sunny

Enjoy a sweet treat and make your own St. Patrick Day’s Craft! Head to Jeremiah’s Italian Ice to grab your favorite gellati or soft serve then get creating!

If it’s not raining, you have one last chance to go out and enjoy a craft and water experiment with Operation Green Team at Hays Nature Preserve.

Head to Cook Museum for Stories at the Store. Be sure to make plans to visit the museum afterwards and walk through the exhibits or check out their Bone Structures of the Animal Kingdom display.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

High 62°; 50% Chance of Rain

Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at MidCity District in between the showers.

Check out the cool creations and snacks at the NEACA Spring Craft Show if you’re not wanting to chance the rain.

Have a monstrously good time rain or shine at Monster Jam in the VBC.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

60% chance of rain. High 48°

If the rain misses us, enjoy some time outdoors during a fun guided hike with the Land Trust of North Alabama. This event is free, but be sure to register!

Or if you’d like to take the fun indoors and have a car lover on your hands, be sure to check out the Hot Wheelers Die Cast Show.

Or grab your fanciest attire and your favorite teddy bear for a special Teddy Bear Tea Party!

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Cloudy. High 46°
Bundle up and head up Monte Sano to Burritt On the Mountain and check out their new exhibit, Wild Goose Chase. Kids (and adults) can enjoy taking a gander around the park while following the clues to find Gertie the Goose!

Spend the rest of the last day of the school break with family or friends. Be sure to make some time to get in bed early and prepare for school in the morning!

Spring Break Staycation Fun for Any Day

• Take a Kid-Friendly Day Trip from Huntsville
• Visit The Main Event Entertainment Center at Bridge Street for a day of arcade games, bowling, laser tag, and gravity ropes.
• Hang out at Dave & Busters, Stars & Strikes, or TopGolf Huntsville.
• Jump off some energy at The Matrix Gym’s Open Play sessions.
• Pop over for some walk-in play at Let’s Play Huntsville. (Best for kids ages 2-5)
• You can spend all day at Decatur’s GoFAR USA Park
• Take to the sky at Vision Zipline Tours
• Let the kids literally climb the walls at High Point Climbing

More Spring Break Ideas…

Spring Break Camps
Spring Break in Huntsville for $8 or Less
2023 Spring Activity Guide to North Alabama