Huntsville, Alabama’s Rocket City

DAY 1: Baseball and Pre-Game On-Field Opportunities

AFTERNOON

Arrive in Huntsville, Alabama, in the afternoon and settle into your hotel for a three-night stay.

EVENING

Head to Toyota Field in nearby Madison for a minor league baseball game featuring the home team, Rocket City Trash Pandas, and experience the excitement of the game and learn about the origin of the team’s unique name.

Field trip add-ons for pre-game experiences include opportunities for performance groups to entertain the audience or students can form a high-five tunnel to welcome the team onto the field before the game. (This applies to games on select dates from April through September.)

Dinner at a local restaurant is included.

DAY 2: Connecting Aerospace, Astronomy & Art

MORNING

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at your hotel before embarking on the ultimate space adventure at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. An immersive educational experience awaits at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Museum during a guided tour, featuring interactive presentations and demonstrations about life on the International Space Station. Discover the universe with a Spacedome® IMAX movie along with hands-on group activities.

Admission also includes access to the INTUITIVE Planetarium filled with the wonders of the universe transformed by a state-of-the-art digital dome theater. Students can learn about space through stunning celestial shows and interactive astronomy experiences that ignite a passion for space exploration.

Boxed lunches are included.

AFTERNOON

In the afternoon, head downtown and explore the Secret Artemis Trail, a scavenger hunt created to celebrate Huntsville’s longstanding role in America’s space program. Groups can discover 12 one-foot-tall distinct rocket sculptures hidden throughout downtown, turning an afternoon walk into a space-themed discovery mission.

EVENING

Enjoy a group dinner and interactive games at Stars & Strikes, an entertainment center boasting thousands of square feet filled with innovative attractions and delicious fare. Students can explore VR experiences, bowling, laser tag, escape rooms and more during a night of fun, food and games.

DAY 3: Hands-On Biotechnology, Genetics and Art

MORNING

After a hearty breakfast, head to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a nonprofit genome research institute located in Cummings Research Park. The campus is home to some of the world’s leading scientists, educators and entrepreneurs with a passion for exploring the possibilities of genomics to improve human, animal and plant life. Hands-on, lab-based field trips engage students in scientific thinking and help prepare high schoolers for futures in STEM-related fields as biotechnology and genetics research continue to advance.

Lunch is included with your group visit.

AFTERNOON

Next, explore a permanent collection of more than 3,000 creative pieces showcasing regional artists of the 1800 and 1900s at the Huntsville Museum of Art. Students can discover landmark collections, including Art by American Women, the Sellar’s Collection, and the world’s largest public showcase of Buccellati silver animals (large animal sculptures crafted of fine silver by the luxury jewelry maker).

Then, head to Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, the largest privately owned arts facility in the country. Groups can discover approximately 200 working artists, restaurants, small businesses and live performance venues in a huge historic textile mill transformed into a home for art, music and culture. Students are encouraged to enter maker studios and speak to artists to learn firsthand about their processes, inspirations and how to purchase work. A wide range of creative activities taught by artists are available for groups, including screen printing, chocolate making and painting.

EVENING

End the day atop Monte Sano Mountain at the von Braun Astronomical Society’s Wernher von Braun Planetarium & Observatory. Educational astronomy programs introduce students to constellations and captivating wonders of the night sky, with presentations led by VBAS members and professional guest speakers. Clear evenings provide students with firsthand observation opportunities such as telescope viewing, connecting what they learned beneath the planetarium dome to real celestial objects.