4 amazing Christmas day trips near Huntsville that are worth the drive
ByLisa Battles
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Reading time: 5 minutes
With two full weekends before Christmas there’s plenty of time left for special holiday outings. Sometimes a new experience can become a new treasured tradition, and that may mean taking an adventure to find it.
With that in mind, here are a handful of amazing Christmas day trips near Huntsville that are worth the drive!
Bundle up and explore a Christmas cave, go ice skating in charming downtowns and admire historic architecture dripping with holiday finery.
Christmas day trips near Huntsville
1. Wonderland Under Warrior at Rickwood Caverns State Park
As if the 260-million-year-old cave formations of Rickwood Caverns State Park weren’t impressive enough, Wonderland Under Warrior adds thousands of lights, lasers and holiday vignettes to the natural wonder.
Stroll through the cheerfully decorated, twinkling forest pathway to the cave’s entrance. There, you’ll begin to descend steps and wind through glowing passageways that open into delightful, multisensory scenes.
Look for a dazzling waterfall in lights, optical illusions and Christmas characters along the path. The suspense of what’s around each corner is as fun as unwrapping gifts.
Cool tip: Wear a cozy jacket. The cave stays about 62 degrees all year.
- When: Through Jan. 5 | Wednesday-Sunday, 2PM-8PM
- Where: 370 Rickwood Park Rd, Warrior, AL 35180
- Distance from Huntsville: 75 miles
- Cost: $12 for ages 5 and older; free for kids age 4 and younger.
- Get Tickets
2. Christkindlmarkt in Cullman
Prepare for total holiday immersion at Cullman’s Christkindlmarkt, a German-inspired holiday celebration in the heart of downtown. This spectacular event is only in its fourth year and has become a must-do throughout the South.
Thousands of twinkling warm-white lights line every structure and surface of this scene punctuated with Christmas trees and glowing igloo lounge stations. A massive Ferris wheel soars above the grounds, illuminating a massive community tree and the country’s largest Weihnachtspyramide—a tradiational German Christmas pyramid.
Shop dozens of small-business vendors, ice skate, zoom down the tube slide and do kids’ activities. Then tuck away into a large warming house to enjoy a schnitzel and spiral cut fries while listening to carolers.
- When: Through Dec. 23 | Thursday-Saturday, 11AM-9PM; Sunday, Noon-8PM
- Where: 107 Arnold St NW, Cullman, AL 35055
- Distance from Huntsville: 54 miles
- Cost: Admission is free. Bring money for shopping, vendors and select activities.
3. Historic Decatur Christmas Tour + Lights in Decatur
The Historic Decatur Christmas Tour is a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event for good reason.
The state’s largest concentration of Victorian-era and Craftsmen homes line the streets of the Old Decatur and Albany historic districts. Beautiful year-round, these homes shine brightest during the holiday season.
While you can stroll and see the homes’ outdoor decorations any time, this weekend’s thoughtfully curated tour is your ticket to peer inside a handful of them. When you begin at the tour HQ on Saturday, you’ll receive a brochure detailing this year’s tour stops.
The tour includes several other historic structures beyond homes, including a few beautiful churches, the Historic Depot & Railroad Museum and Decatur’s new Scottsboro Boys Museum.
- When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2PM-7PM
- Where: Start at the tour HQ, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson St SE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Distance from Huntsville: 26 miles
- Cost: $35
- Get Tickets
4. Sand Mountain Skate in Downtown Albertville
Use the link below to reserve a time and then glide the easy 47 miles southeast to Sand Mountain Skate in Albertville — the largest real outdoor ice skating rink in North Alabama.
Why the need for reservations? Organizers want to ensure everyone has ample time to skate without getting too crowded. Plus, you can pre-sign your waiver online and save time not standing in line to buy tickets.
This year, organizers shifted the event to the city’s Downtown MTN entertainment district for 2024. What does MTN stand for? Mingle Together Now — and mingling is especially wonderful this time of year.
Skate and then shop and dine throughout the district, where you’ll find boutiques, bakeries, brews and a much-loved bourbon speakeasy.
- When: Through Jan. 11 | Thursday-Sunday, hours vary; See Calendar
- Where: 314 Sand Mountain Dr, Albertville, AL 35950
- Distance from Huntsville: 47 miles
- Cost: Tickets range from $8 if you bring your own skates to $15 depending on times.
- Get Tickets
Do you know of other Christmas day trips near Huntsville that are worth the drive? We’d love to hear your suggestions. Let us know if you create a new tradition at one of these destinations.
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