The weather is heating up in beautiful Athens, Alabama. Are you ready for an adventure-filled season? Whether you’ve grown up in the area or just recently moved to Athens, the city has plenty of fun summer activities to offer. Luckily, your home at Signature Pointe Apartment Homes keeps you close to the action while promising the perfect place to wind down after a day of excitement. Kick off the season on a high note with our list of things to do in Athens during the summer:

1. Events at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena

Famed as the Largest Outdoor Rodeo East of the Mississippi, the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena promises evenings of buck wild entertainment. Purchase your tickets and pony on down to watch cowboys and cowgirls compete for over $50,000 in prize money. Families can enjoy watching rodeo events like bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, and rodeo clowns.

With a focus on local talent and filled with cowboy fun, it’s easily one of the most unique things to do in the Athens-Huntsville area!

2. Hang out at Insanity Complex

Let leisure reach new heights at Insanity Complex. Fill your days with non-stop thrills for all ages between a 30’ rock wall, Adult Skate Night, and an active calendar of events and theme nights. Insanity Complex is home to laser tag, a roller-skating rink, batting cages, an arcade, a skateboard park, a mini golf course, and more. If you can dream it, this amusement center probably has it.

Work up an appetite between competitive rounds of mini-golf or laser tag, then grab pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches, or snacks at the indoor or outdoor concessions. If you’re looking for fun weekend plans, a family night, or a place to go for date night, Insanity Complex has something for everyone.

3. Museum Trips to the Cook Museum of Natural Science

Just 18 minutes from your apartment at Signature Pointe Apartment Homes, history comes alive. Entertainment and education go hand in hand when you visit the Cook Museum of Natural Science. Take the kids out (or embrace your inner child) while enjoying a reprieve from the summer heat.

Sometimes, the best way to learn something is to experience it in action. Located in downtown Decatur, The Cook Museum of Natural Science offers hands-on and interactive exhibits spanning wildlife, outer space, natural disasters, and marine animals. Feed your curiosity and special interests as you learn about the earth’s many landscapes, touch a meteorite, climb up “Big Tree,” or crawl into a beaver lodge. You’re sure to leave with new fun facts across science and history.

However, the fun doesn’t end when you’ve toured through each exhibit. The museum hosts a calendar of events throughout the year, including mining gems, Saturday Science on the Spot activities, and more.

4. Hunt for treasures at U G White Mercantile or Athen’s Pickers #1

With so much to see, it’s easy to spend a day or more searching through Athens’s trove of antique and thrift stores.

U. G. White Mercantile in downtown Athens stands out as a local favorite. In the true spirit of an old-fashioned general store, you’ll find housewares, hardware, clothing and outdoor gear, and plenty of candy, along with anything else you may be looking for. It should come as no surprise that the store serves as a community hub, as it has maintained its business in Athens for over a century. Not to mention that the store features a coffee bar, snacks for sale, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights, so along with some shopping, you can enjoy a good hangout.

Athens Pickers #1 appeals more to those who love bits, bobs, collectables, and oddities. Arranged with a variety of vendors, the layout is essentially a giant indoor flea market. Shop around for a great deal or go booth to booth, admiring nostalgic treasures.

Serendipity Antiques and Interiors is another go-to for a day of retail therapy. Here, you’ll find a fantastic mix of unique products from small businesses and artists, as well as one-of-a-kind finds across décor, furniture, and any knickknackery you might be looking for. Take a stroll through the antique mall and find retro comic books, fine china, beautiful furniture, and timeless jewelry.

5. Discover Bankhead National Forest

Situated around 45 minutes from Signature Pointe Apartment Homes, you’ll find the perfect summer adventure. One of Alabama’s four National Forests, Bankhead National Forest spans 181,230 picturesque acres of woodland, waterfalls, and over 90 miles of recreational trails fit for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The National Forest is home to Sipsey Fork, the state’s only National Wild and Scenic River, and is also nicknamed the “Land of 1,000 Waterfalls” due to its plethora of scenic permanent and seasonal waterfalls.

Head off into the great outdoors and take advantage of the weather for all the summer essentials: camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, picnicking, swimming, stargazing, and roasting marshmallows.

Go for a swim along the Clear Creek Recreation Area or lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails at Caney Creek Falls Trailhead and be rewarded with stunning waterfall views. Dogs are allowed, so the whole family can enjoy a camping trip!

6. Shop fresh at Athens Farmers Market

It’s farmers market season! The Athens Tuesday Markets run from May through August, 3 PM – 6 PM and the Saturday markets run from June to September, 8 AM – 12 PM. Come together to enjoy the fruits of local farmers’ labors. Wake up early, wear your walking shoes, and bring a big bag for your treasures – Athens farmers markets are sure to deliver on quality.

Even better, you don’t have to go far to check out the Limestone County Farmers Market as well, since they share the same site. The market runs from May to November on Tuesdays and Fridays, 6:30 AM – 1 PM.

Savor the sunshine, discover artisan goods, and bring your family or friends. Between baked goods, live music, children’s activities, flowers, and art, boredom will be a distant memory. Reap the benefits of delicious farm-fresh produce and get to know the larger Athens community.

Can’t get enough fresh fruit? Isom’s Orchard is also well worth a trip for a sweet U-pick experience. The 300-acre family farm boasts a legacy of fresh fruit and come autumn, famous apple slushies. In the summer, bring home a bundle of peaches, pears, honey, watermelons, strawberries, veggies, flower bouquets, and more.

7. Visit Point Mallard Park

What’s one of the best ways to beat the heat? Splitting your time between waterslides, naturally.

Point Mallard Park’s Water Park makes it easy to make a splash this summer. The 25-acre park packs plenty of watery fun for all ages, including an Olympic-sized pool, waterslides, a splash pad, a lazy river, a wave pool, and overall fun for all ages. There are poolside cabanas and concessions as well, so you can stay a while and keep comfortable.

The city park is also host to campgrounds, a golf course, and other outdoor activities. Notably, it’s also the site of the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, a colorful hot air balloon festival held every Memorial Day weekend.

8. Grab a breath of fresh air at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

You don’t have to look far for a good view. Take full advantage of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge’s 35,000-acre scenic coastal landscape. The area is a hot spot for birdwatchers and anglers, with great viewpoints to see cranes or reel in a catch. Savor a peaceful stroll along the trails or paddle through on the water. The park is dog-friendly, so bring your favorite hiking buddy along while you spend time in nature.

For more outdoor adventure, grab some trail mix and explore Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve’s popular trails or Joe Wheeler State Park, which offers boat launches, trails, and lakeside dining and lodging.

9. Pick up some friendly competition at Irons and Ales

All the excitement of a day on the greens is kicked up a notch at Irons & Ales. Boasting state-of-the-art golf simulators, a bar and lounge, and kid-friendly games, the indoor golfing facility is one of the most unique and fun activities in Athens, Alabama.

Gather family and friends together for a game night to remember. The indoor golf simulators are set up like bowling alleys, allowing each group to move through virtual courses or practice their swings. After perfecting your putting game, order a refreshing drink or delicious meal from the lounge, which is fully equipped with classic kids’ favorites as well.
In between rounds, keep the competition going with corn hole, foosball, darts, or arcade games.

10. Take advantage of free activities in Athens, AL

There’s no need to break the bank to have fun this summer. In downtown Athens, bring the little ones out to the playground or have a picnic at Big Spring Park. Keep your eyes out for the Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival that runs from June to July, which features kid-sized carnival rides and games, at the hard-to-beat entry fee of free.

For kids (or kids at heart), Delano Park in nearby Decatur also promises an easy day of entertainment between beautiful floral gardens and statues, walking trails, and a splash pad.

Of course, few things feel as in the spirit of summer as a perfect pool day. When in doubt, grab your towel, stop by the leasing office for your resident pool pass, and enjoy our sparkling outdoor swimming pool at Signature Pointe Apartment Homes! Our apartment community seamlessly adds fun and relaxation as a part of your everyday life.

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