I visited with a friend there last year. We did the Space Center tour--both the museum and the bus tour. It was interesting. We walked the small botanical gardens. We went to the historic village where people in period dress tell what life was like when Alabama became a state. Nice folks, pretty standard living history site. The museum nearby was strictly for very young children. There are a few historic homes. Concerts are offered in the downtown park some evenings. Somewhat nearby is a town that has lots of the outlet malls.

Judy:

I've been traveling on business to Huntsville for two years. It's a defense-business and NASA town. Consequently, it's a hotel/restaurant town. What I find unique about the place is the extraordinary number of residents in the 35-and-under set. So, yes, there are bars, but that fact has little to do with the university. The best clubs I found are in the old downtown area--around Clinton Ave. Try the Jazz Factory first--it has a pretty good restaurant downstairs and a huge bar upstairs. The bar is pretty lively, and a good blues combo plays on Wednesday nights. There are other clubs within walking distance of that. By the way, a surprising number of good bands play in town; Crossroads seems to attract the best ones. Crossroads also is near the old downtown.

If you happen to be in town during the day and you're looking for something else to do, Monte Santo State Park is just up the hill from downtown. It has beautiful hiking trails.

Sorry. I've never heard of "Unclaimed Baggage Center."

The Unclaimed Baggage Center has been featured in a lot of national shopping articles. I have heard the main one in Scottsboro can be really good if you hit it right.