Helping you Nail your New Year’s Resolutions
The upcoming new year is the perfect time to make some resolutions for 2023. Luckily for us Huntsville has a ton of great ways for you to meet your resolutions.
Try a New Way to Get Moving
When’s the last time you got into a pool? Check out these two membership opportunities to get in some laps, or even try out a water aerobics class. Swim all year round at the Redstone Aquatics Center and the Huntsville Aquatics Center.
Aerial Fitness and Vertical Barre will give you a challenging and unique way to move your body at HypnotQ Island.
Do you enjoy watching Ninja Warrior? Did you know that Huntsville has a gym where you can train just like the contestants on the show? Try out the Ninja Obstacle Academy, they have classes for ages 4 to 99!
Do you have some aggression you need to get out? Try boxing as a workout with Rocket City Rocks Boxing or Rock Box Fitness. Bonus tip, if you know anyone with Parkinson’s Disease, Huntsville as a boxing program for them at Rock Steady Boxing.
Learn a New Art Medium
The art of decorating cookies can be mastered with Frescia at Sweet Treat Therapy. Join a scheduled event or contact her about private classes!
You can perfect your painting skills at Pinot’s Palette (while enjoying a beverage if you choose), or you can find one of their chunky knit blanket classes to learn how to hand knit!
Create your own wooden signs with Hammer & Stain Huntsville. Projects range from door planks to serving trays, with classes using resin, ceramics and wool sprinkled throughout their calendar.
Are you looking to be in the spotlight? Take an improv class at Shenanigans Comedy Club and see if improv might be your thing. If you already have the skill of comedy, writing, or singing- challenge yourself to go to an open mic at locations like Gold Sprint Coffee and Straight to Ale (hosted by Out Loud HSV.)
Join a Club and Meet New People
Huntsville Pickleball Club is a fun way to meet new people and learn America’s fastest growing sport. There are opportunities for beginner to advanced and there are indoor/outdoor locations throughout Huntsville and Madison.
Huntsville Young Professionals is a rapidly-growing forum and professional network for young professionals in their 20s to 40 from various industries across Huntsville. They have lots of service projects and social events to participate in.
Huntsville Horror is a group for people who enjoy scary shows, movies and books. Watch and read together and discuss your shared passion of all things creepy.
There are tons of university alumni clubs based in Huntsville. Not only can you find clubs such as University of Alabama, Alabama A & M University and Auburn University, Huntsville has out-of-state alumni clubs such as the University of Florida and Mississippi State.
Support a Local Sports Team
The Huntsville Havoc hockey team is currently in the middle of their season, so grab some tickets and enjoy a game at the Propst Arena for as little as $9 per ticket. Bonus if you get a picture with the team mascots, Chaos and Ruckus.
The Rocket City Trash Pandas are a recent addition to the area and have already become a staple in the community. Watch the team play baseball at Toyota Field for the 2023 season starting in April.
Huntsville City Football Club is a MLS NEXT Pro soccer team that is scheduled to start their inaugural season in spring of 2023. The team will play at a renovated Joe Davis Stadium (where the Huntsville Stars used to play.)
Check out a local college athletic event at Oakwood University, UAH and Alabama A & M University.
Play Games
There are lots of great game stores in the area, and most offer table space for playing games, as well as have groups that play types of games on a regular schedule. Here is a list to get you started: Poke Collect (Pokémon and trading card games), Raging Gazebo (Flesh and Blood), Lucky Dice Café (model kit building nights, miniature games, role playing and they have food!), The Deep (Magic the Gathering), JC’s House of Cards (Magic the Gathering, Flesh and Blood, role playing, miniature games), Magnolia Gaming (Pokémon and Magic the Gathering). Most locations/local games have Discord chat servers to learn more or go to their websites to see everything they have to offer.
Whether you are wanting to try virtual reality, laser tag or old school pinball these places have you covered: Rocket City Arcade (Classic 80s and 90s games), Stars and Strikes (Arcade games, bowling and laser tag), Pints and Pixels (classic arcade games, pinball and Skee Ball), Altered Reality (board games and VR arcade games), Starlight Pin Ball Arcade (pin ball and arcade), The Game Cave (gaming consoles and tournaments), Main Event (mini golf, story rooms, bowling, virtual reality and laser tag), Insanity Complex (arcade, mini golf, laser tag).
Looking for more traditional games like Canasta, Bridge and BINGO? Check out what the Huntsville/Madison County Senior Center and Huntsville Parks & Recreation have to offer.
Do you miss playing kickball? Miss it no more! Huntsville has an adult kickball league called Go Kickball where you can get your fix of the classic school yard game.
Become a Regular
Memberships are a great way to truly explore and get the most out of a location. The Huntsville Botanical Garden memberships provide free admission, early access to special events and a discount at their gift shop!
The Land Trust of North Alabama has membership options that provides benefits such as priority registration to events, discounts from Preservation Partners and a car magnet.
Libraries have way more than books to offer (though books are super awesome), so make sure you sign up for a membership with the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library.
Become a member of the Huntsville Traditional Music Association, whether you play an instrument or not. They are a non-profit with the objective to preserve and perpetuate traditional music, instruments, and styles of rendition. You can also listen to one of their Coffeehouse Concerts at Burritt on the Mountain.
Volunteer
The United Way of Madison County works with numerous local non-profits in the areas of health, education and financial stability. You can also contact the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to learn about ways to increase community awareness, funding and impact through lots of different organizations.
The City of Huntsville has two departments with foundations that accept donations: Huntsville Animal Services and Operation Green Team. You can also help volunteer with the animals and organize park cleanups!
The North Alabama Zoological Society is a 501c3 interested in promoting fields of study, preservation, and conservation related to the animal kingdom. They are currently fundraising to put a zoo and aquarium in the area. They also are currently engaged in conservation and education activities in the community today.
Many local non-profit organizations have fundraising events that are supported mostly by volunteers. Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama has the annual Tour de Ville, AshaKiran has the yearly Community Kite Festival, Arts Huntsville has Panoply every year and SO MANY MORE. Try Googling something you have interest in and adding “Huntsville” or “North Alabama” to find a volunteer opportunity you will be passionate about.

Ashley Polesak has spent the last 10 years living her best life in Huntsville, Alabama. She loves to explore all of the things that Huntsville and the surrounding areas have to offer and is a big proponent for scouting out local experiences. Ashley lives and breathes the outdoors and recreation opportunities in the area, you are very likely to run into her at a park or on a hiking trail. If she has her two rescue dogs with her, Oba and Twyla, please excuse their over-excitement, they are currently being trained and it’s a work in progress! If she had to describe herself in television characters she would choose 1/4 Eleanor Shellstrop, 1/4 Leslie Knope, 1/4 April Ludgate and 1/4 Margaery Tyrell.
Great suggestions!