Famous as the birthplace of Texas’s founder, Huntsville is home to museums, natural attractions, and Sam Houston State University, whose students give the city a youthful vibe. The streets of the compact, pedestrian-friendly downtown are lined with independent shops, bookstores, and a wide array of restaurants. Huntsville is extremely proud of its famous former resident, and while you are here, you can check out the 67-foot-tall statue of Sam Houston or visit the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. You can also head to the historic Oakwood Cemetery, which is the final resting place not only for Houston but for many notable Texans.

If you want to get closer to nature, you can explore Huntsville State Park, but that is not where you’ll spot the city’s most notable wildlife. The Prison Bat Colony, whose population of Mexican free-tailed bats is estimated to be 750,000 strong, lives in an abandoned warehouse. Every evening, just before sunset, you can see the bats fly out of the warehouse for the night.

Huntsville has a relatively mild climate all year round, making it a great destination to visit any time of the year. It can get wet in the depths of winter, so it is a good idea to bring an umbrella for cold-weather visits. Lower, albeit mild, temperatures from November through February allow you to enjoy the outdoors while avoiding the heat.

While summer can get hot and humid — sometimes uncomfortably so — the shoulder seasons of fall and spring offer plenty of sunshine to sample the produce of local wineries al fresco. These are some of the best times to book a Huntsville cabin, visit Huntsville State Park, or even take a day trip to Houston.

Sam Houston Memorial Museum

Covering the life and legacy of the first president of the Republic of Texas, which existed from 1836 to 1846, this museum features rare artifacts from Houston’s life, including items related to the surrender of the Mexican army, when the republic won its independence. On the museum’s 15-acre grounds, you can also see Houston’s law office and his private residence, which he built himself and lived in with his family.

Huntsville State Park

Located within Sam Houston National Forest, this 2,000-acre wooded area is a great spot for hiking and biking in the shade of East Texas Pineywoods, around an hour’s drive south of town. Prairie Branch Loop leads you along the side of the lake over several boardwalk sections, or you can cast a line for bass and perch in Lake Raven — just look out for alligators.

Sam Houston State University

Founded in 1879, this gorgeous 316-acre campus is set amid rolling hills and towering oaks. Featuring historic 19th-century brick buildings mixed with shiny glass-and-steel marvels, Sam Houston State University is an intriguing place to explore. Catch a movie about astronomy and space at the planetarium and take a free guided stargazing tour when weather permits, or work up a sweat hanging off the walls at the Climbing Center.