Hannah & Ellis
Hannah & Ellis
Things to Do
We both love living in the Rocket City, and we want to share some of our favorite spots with our loved ones traveling from out of state to be with us. Check out the best (in our opinion) Huntsville has to offer below!
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The quintessential spot in Huntsville and the reason why we're known as the Rocket City! The Space and Rocket Center is always a treat to visit, and sometimes, they have special exhibitions - this year, they've had a special display dedicated to aviation, and in times past, they've had an exhibit on Star Wars! Please note that they will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Here is a link to their admission page for ticket prices: https://www.rocketcenter.com/admission.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Even though it will be winter, the botanical gardens in Huntsville are beautiful year-round. Our favorite part of the holiday season is a Walking Night during the Galaxy of Lights in the Garden. Walking Nights are limited to specific times of the holiday season, but Driving Nights are usually still available leading up to New Years. We strongly recommend taking advantage of the holiday season and treating yourself to a truly magical display!
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment
The stomping ground of Hannah and the place that made her fall in love with Huntsville - Lowe Mill is truly the heart of culture and art in the Huntsville area and we definitely urge you to check out the eclectic and artistic Mill! There are hundreds of art studios for local artists, a distillery and a meadery, various galleries, and amazing food throughout the old textile mill. Pofta Buna serves an incredible menu of savory and sweet crepes with an Eastern European flavor, Chef Will the Palette serves made-to-order gourmet vegan dishes that don't taste like they're missing any meat, Dragon's Forge serves both amazing coffee and charming medieval fantasy vibes, and the original location of the Huntsville classic, Piper & Leaf, is located on the loading dock and is a definite must try when in Huntsville! Hannah's favorite order is a mix of Golden Hour Tonic and Springdrop Spritzer, half sweet, and sparkling, while Ellis has discovered that he might enjoy sweet tea whenever he has the Chocola-tea or the Sweetie Pie Chai (full sweet, of course). In fact, exploring the Mill together was one of the earliest dates we had together, and the fun atmosphere, the annual markets, and ever-changing galleries of art keep us coming back to the Mill as a regular date spot for us! During the holidays, the Mill often has several outdoor markets dedicated to the last-minute shoppers, so if you're here during one of their markets, we encourage you to explore the Mill and the local artisans - some of our best gifts for family and friends have come from these markets!
Big Spring International Park
Downtown Huntsville is always the place to be, whether it's a Tuesday or a Friday night. Big Spring Park is the best place in downtown to be during the holiday season, as it is during the fun (and free!) Tinsel Trail. We love to grab a hot chocolate from the Poppy & the Parliament on the square and walk through the park to admire the creative (and sometimes silly) trees, all decorated by local businesses! Be sure to check out both sides of the park; you may spot the tree for Advanced Comfort Dental, Hannah's dentist and dear church friend Dr. Curtis, and the tree for the company Ellis works for (we would tell you, but it's Top Secret). Behind the Huntsville Museum of Art is an ice skating rink, and there are always some food trucks for beignets and popcorn on Church Street for everyone to enjoy. Also, don't forget to feed the ducks and watch the giant koi wade through the Spring and the canal!
Stovehouse
A recent addition to the Huntsville scene, Stovehouse has quickly become a popular spot for get-togethers with friends or ladies' night for church. The food court is varied and all local businesses, the shops in Gaslight Alley are adorable, and on Thursday nights, the Electric Belle has swing dancing. The lawn area has plenty of places to sit and relax, and there are tons of lawn games for kids and grown ups alike - that's how Ellis kept beating Hannah at giant Connect Four (and why it's a special part of our reception!). For more refined tastes, Charlie Foster's serves both delicious coffee and a distinctive selection of wine in a classy, relaxed space with a great tapas and charcuterie selection. Ellis' favorite food spot is Kamado Ramen, while Hannah loves El Cazador, and we both love to share a strawberry Nutella crepe from Oh Crepe! for dessert.
Coffee Shops
Anyone who knows Hannah knows that she has Opinionsā¢ about a lot of things, but especially about coffee. Here are some of her favorite spots (and favorite orders) in the robust local coffee shop scene:
Gold Sprint - A great place to sit and relax, with a fun, eclectic vibe. Order: El Camino with oatmilk, hot or iced (but best when hot) and their Breakfast Burrito are perfect, whether it's summer or winter outside! Don't forget to get an Earl Grey Scone, sourced from the local brunch spot Good Company Cafe, as a sweet lil' treat!
Honest Coffee - There are two locations, but the downtown location is the one she frequents most because it's at the heart of the Huntsville daily life and the baristas are all awesome people (say hi to Carson if he's on shift!). Order: the seasonal lattes always have the best flavors, but if none of them speak to you, the Cottagecore iced is a beloved go-to. Their acai bowls are also addictive and a good alternative to ice cream; the Lotus Bowl with strawberries instead of bananas is a definite must
Olde Towne Coffee - Small, intimate, and hipster in the extreme, this was one of the first coffee shops Hannah frequented in her early days at UAH. Order: Iced latte with sugar free hazelnut, sugar free salted caramel, and mocha syrups (it's like drinking a sort of guilt free Nutella latte!)
Angel's Island Coffee - A bit of a drive to get to South Huntsville, but well worth the trek. Relaxed, friendly, and community oriented (there's always local art on display, bible study groups on Wednesdays, and coffee making classes for people to enjoy), it's a great place to get some work done or meet up with friends for an afternoon. Plus, they have a drive-thru! Order: the Cookie Cake Latte from their 18th anniversary menu was truly divine, and in the summers, their Golden Hour Blonde with sugar free syrup and iced is so refreshing. They have a great variety of flavor options, so it's really what you make of it!
Flint River Coffee Company - Located near to the church and close to Hannah's job, this is one of her favorite places to relax before heading to Wednesday Night Bible Study. Order: Salted Caramel latte, hot or iced, and the Club sandwich with all the toppings
Restaurants
Anyone who knows us knows we're both big foodies - we love to cook new, inventive recipes together, and the early days of our relationship were filled with trying new restaurants and new cuisines. Even now, we make plans to try out more local restaurants and new recipes in between work and wedding planning! Here's some of our favorite places to eat around town and our recommended orders:
El Coyote - This restaurant has a special place in our hearts (check out the Our Story tab here on our website!) and we come back every year for our anniversary to enjoy our favorite tex-mex place in Huntsville. Hannah loves their fajitas coyote and Ellis always gets their papas con carne because he loves their mole sauce, and we both love to share one of their frozen strawberry margaritas.
Surin of Thailand - One of the best Thai restaurants in Huntsville and the place where Ellis took Hannah to dinner after spending Labor Day at Point Mallard Water Park (and where Hannah realized she might like Ellis as more than a friend). Be sure to order their Surin Baskets for your appetizer - they're life changing! - and their lemon drop martinis are delicious (but strong, so be careful!) Hannah loves their chicken panang and their pad prik, while Ellis loves their green curry and Thai barbecued chicken.
Nitro Tales - A classy, swanky spot in Providence Village, Nitro Tales serves Japanese inspired tapas and delicious cocktails, mocktails, and coffees. Their sushi sando and pork belly rice bowl are delicious, and a sip of either their Maiko To Be or Dubai Dusk will make your day. For dessert, we enjoy their mochi donuts or, when it's in season, their matcha waffle topped with fresh fruit.
El Cazador - With many locations throughout the Huntsville area, it's hard to miss out on some of the best Mexican street food in the area, but the true place to be is the Taco Bus by El Cazador, located on Governor's Drive between Stovehouse and Campus 805. Hannah's go-to order has always been their burrito with pastor and a large horchata and Ellis loves their tacos with lengua and recommends the Mexican Coca-Cola (even though he doesn't love sodas).
-Honorable Mentions: In addition to the Taco Bus, there are a couple other spots that we agree make excellent Mexican cuisine as well. We recommend Taqueria Las Adelitas on Old Madison Pike and Valentina's Kitchen on Highway 72, in front of Chase Cars. The birria tacos at Las Adelitas are to die for and they let you get free refills on horchata and jamaica, and if you grab the cochinita pibil burrito from Valentina's, be sure to say hi to Valentina herself - she's super friendly and makes amazing food using her abuela's recipes!
The Poppy and the Parliament - Huntsville's one and only authentic British pub. We adore their frog legs as an appetizer and their fish n chips are truly authentic. In the winter, a plate of their bangers and mash hit the spot and warm you right up. Be sure to check out their butcher shop & artisan food shop upstairs!
I Love Korea - Even though everyone in Huntsville recommends Garam for Korean food, we love I Love Korea for how accessible, delicious, and friendly it is. Ellis loves their bulgogi bibimbap with the cabbage kimchi and japchae noodles as his sides, while Hannah loves their spicy pork dinner plate and the japchae with the fishcakes on the side.
Sitar Indian Cuisine - Unarguably the best place for authentic Indian cuisine in Huntsville. Hannah loves their lamb vindaloo while Ellis gets the lamb biryani. We're both obsessed with gobi manchurian as an appetizer and gulab jamun for dessert!
Four Leaves - One of our favorite spots in Huntsville and convenient (Hannah practically lives across the street), it's our go-to whenever we don't want to cook an elaborate meal or life gets too busy. Hannah thinks their sushi is the best in Huntsville, and her favorite rolls are the Highway 72 roll and the Pink Lady roll, while Ellis loves their Curry Clay Pot. Bethany also loves Four Leaves, and her recommended order is their Thai basil chicken. We've never had a bad meal at Four Leaves!
Purveyor - Definitely one of the classiest restaurants in Huntsville (and the price tag reflects this!). However, we cannot recommend enough the elegant and delicious experience that Purveyor provides. The menu changes seasonally, but their sweet and sour brussels sprouts and matcha tiramisu live rent free in our minds.