It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is quite a tourist attraction.

The 359-acre complex continues to be an ideal vacation spot, one-day visit or school trip. Attractions include Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, Mars Climbing Wall, an Experiencing G-Forces display and the Space Academy for Educators.

The center also features an IMAX theater that has hosted more than 11 million visitors.

It’s All an Act

No need to travel to New York to see a Broadway show.

The Broadway Theatre League has been staging productions in Huntsville since 1959. Now in its 47th season, Broadway Theatre League is the second-oldest community theater in the country.

Productions take place at the Von Braun Center, with 10,000 tickets available for each show. The season lineup features five Broadway shows, with the 2006 season including Chicago, Evita, Bombay Dreams and Mamma Mia!

Please Do Touch

The EarlyWorks Museum Complex encourages kids to touch everything on display.

The South’s largest hands-on history complex actually consists of three separate yet complimentary museums — Alabama Constitution Village, EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and the Historic Huntsville Depot. The complex hosts field trips throughout the school year along with learning camps during the summer and school holidays. Youngsters can do chores in a log cabin, learn to gin cotton, go on a history scavenger hunt or visit an old-fashioned general store. They can also learn about railroading and visit a print shop of the 1800s. School field trips are linked to national social studies standards.

EarlyWorks also schedules overnight stays, as well as birthday parties, banquets and receptions.

A Tall Tale

The Big Spring Summit office tower already has the distinction of being one of the tallest buildings in Huntsville.

The seven-story structure overlooks the lagoon in Big Spring International Park, and several floors were leased even before a groundbreaking ever took place. Plans are for the building to feature a restaurant and coffee house on the ground floor.

The office tower developers are now planning to construct 40 to 60 residential condominiums nearby.

To Your Arts Desire

The Huntsville Museum of Art welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year.

It has been named one of the state’s top 10 destinations by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel. The museum became even more popular following a move in 1998 to the current facility in Big Spring International Park.

The museum features a 2,300-piece permanent collection that fills seven galleries. It also hosts several traveling exhibits throughout the year.

Just Keeps on Jammin’

Lynyrd Skynyrd has performed here, and so have Journey, Wynonna Judd, the O’Jays and Boys II Men.

The Big Spring Jam has been rocking Huntsville every September since it debuted in 1993. More than 70 bands roll into Big Spring International Park for the annual concert.

Other past acts include Black Crowes, Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakum, Al Green and Herman’s Hermits, along with Christian music heavy hitters such as Jars of Clay, Third Day and Thousand Foot Crutch.