Those who visit Huntsville and North Alabama will be amazed at the variety of experiences to enjoy in this part of the state, and 100 Things to Do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die is your best guide for finding the activities that suit your interests.

Tour FAME Studios in Florence where Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones recorded famous hits, or walk through a replica of the International Space Station at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. Feast on smoked chicken drenched in Alabama white sauce at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, sample perfect hush puppies at Greenbrier Restaurant in Madison, or share an upside-down banana split at Kreme Delite in Athens. Observe thousands of sandhill cranes in the winter when they migrate to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Try to match Jesse Owens’s Olympic long jump record at the museum honoring him in Danville, or test your skill with rock climbing at Cherokee Rock Village in Leesburg. Shop for bargains at Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, or create a signature charm necklace at ShopMOSS in Huntsville.

In 100 Things to Do in Huntsville and North Alabama, 2nd edition, local author Connie Pearson shares the treasures she has uncovered during decades of living in North Alabama.