Alabama Road Trip with Kids: Printing Presses, Pulleys & Peace (Day 4)
Welcome to Day 4: The Huntsville Region
If you’re looking for things to do in downtown Huntsville, Alabama with kids, Day 4 of our Alabama road trip blends early American history, hands-on fun, and one last peaceful night in the mountains. From dipping candles at Alabama Constitution Hall Historic Park to pretending you’re a pioneer at EarlyWorks Children’s Museum, this itinerary brings the past to life in a way that’s both playful and meaningful.
If your kids are reading Ethan & Oliver Adventures: The Great Alabama Road Trip, this chapter captures the charm of downtown Huntsville—where a simple lawmaking lesson turns into a day full of notebook sketches, pioneer jokes, and a twilight hike back at Monte Sano State Park.
Itinerary Overview:
Route: Downtown Huntsville, Alabama
Total Drive Time: ~40 minutes
Activity Time: ~6–7 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
🛑 Stop 1: Alabama Constitution Hall Historic Park
109 Gates Ave SE, Huntsville, AL
Drive from Monte Sano: 18 minutes / 9 miles
🔗 Visit Website
Why We Visited:
We want the boys to understand how Alabama became a state—and how everyday people helped shape it. It’s a rare chance to step into 1819 and actually see the moment of statehood come to life.
What to Expect:
- Step back into 1819, the year Alabama officially became a state
- See a working print shop, cabinetmaker, blacksmith, and candle maker
- Interpreters in period dress
- Learn how newspapers were printed in the 1800s
- Interactive demos on candle-making and woodcraft
- Military discount available
Educational Tie-In:
- Civics: What is a constitution and why does it matter?
- Colonial craftsmanship: Tools, trades, and survival
- Historical empathy: How did families live without modern comforts?
Book Tie-In:
This day of Ethan & Oliver Adventures begins with a surprise: Ethan discovers Alabama didn’t always exist as a state, and Oliver tries dipping his own candle while wondering what laws they would’ve made.
Faith Tie-In:
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.” — Proverbs 24:3
🛑 Stop 2: EarlyWorks Children’s Museum
404 Madison St SE, Huntsville, AL
Walk from Constitution Hall: 2 minutes
🔗 Visit Website
Why We Visited:
We were looking for a hands-on museum that made history fun—especially for younger learners. EarlyWorks does just that.
What to Expect:
- Climb aboard a 19th-century riverboat replica
- Visit a trading post, general store, and pretend post office
- Listen to Alabama folktales beneath the talking tree
- Dress up in pioneer costumes and “shop” for goods
Kid-Approved:
It’s like walking into a historical playland—Ethan and Oliver were fascinated by the water pump and old-fashioned toys, and the tree’s jokes were a hit!
Notebook Prompt:
If you could live in any time period for one day, when would it be? What would you wear? What would you do?
Evening: Return to Monte Sano for Final Night Glamping
Drive from EarlyWorks: 20 minutes / 9 miles
🔗 Visit Monte Sano Glamping
After a full day of founding fathers and frontier fun, we headed back to Monte Sano State Park for our final night on the mountain. The golden-hour light filtered through the trees, and a quiet peace settled over the campsite.
What to do:
Return back to Monte Sano State Park—whose name means “Mountain of Health.” Then take a hike and stretch your legs on the Trough Springs Trail, the same one Ethan and Oliver hiked in the book. It’s a peaceful, shaded walk with roots and rocks that spark imagination—and plenty of space for end-of-day conversation.
Then gather around the picnic table and try making Johnny cakes, just like frontier families might’ve done in the early 1800s. Simple ingredients, a hot skillet, and the crackle of the campfire made for the perfect ending to a day filled with history and heart.
Here’s a quick recipe to try: Click here for the Johnny Cake recipe card (link your printable or recipe post here).
Optional evening highlights:
- Stargazing and quiet reflection
- Short trail walk along Trough Springs Trail
- Cooking Johnny cakes at your campsite
- Notebooking by lantern light
Book Reflection:
Ethan sketched a candle in his notebook, while Oliver proudly declared he could be a mayor in 1819—“but only if I get to make the playground rules.”
What We Learned Today:
- Alabama’s path to statehood started with regular people
- History can be felt when it’s lived and played
- Simplicity—firelight, family, and freedom—can be deeply powerful
Don’t Forget:
- Bring a notebook, a snack, and curiosity
- Snap photos of Constitution Hall’s signage and museum play areas
- Tie it all together with Day 4 in your Ethan & Oliver Adventures book!
Plan It Yourself:
🗺 View our full Alabama route on Roadtrippers
We are not affiliated with any of the locations mentioned. All opinions are our own.
