Exploring Alabama: Space Dreams, Fifth-Wheel Adventures, and Sweet Surprises

Our journey next took us into Alabama, where we packed in two very different—but equally unforgettable—experiences. One was all about rockets and childhood dreams, and the other was learning (sometimes the hard way) how to live with our new fifth wheel.

First, let’s talk about Space Camp. The moment we walked through the doors, Patrick was like a kid on Christmas morning. As a boy, he had always dreamed of going to Space Camp, so finally being there in person felt surreal. He was in his element, soaking up every detail—from the towering rockets to the story of the space race. Seeing him geek out was almost better than the exhibits themselves.

One of the many rockets at Space Camp

I told Patrick not to be so lame and give us a fun memory...he succeeded!

Patrick even shared memories of watching rocket launches from Cape Canaveral when he was younger, which made the experience come full circle. And honestly, the history in Huntsville is fascinating. After World War II, rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and his team were brought to the U.S. through Operation Paperclip. Their work on the V-2 rocket paved the way for America’s missile program at Redstone Arsenal and later NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Huntsville became the heart of America’s rocket city, and you can still feel that legacy everywhere you look. There are even mysterious stories floating around about things like the so-called red mercury program, which just added to the sense of awe and intrigue. Standing there, surrounded by so much history, you couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all—and the excitement of what came next in space exploration.

From there, we swapped out rockets for rolling hills at DeSoto State Park, where a whole new kind of adventure awaited: learning how to manage our fifth wheel. This was our first time towing it, and wow—what a difference from our Airstream. It pulled so much smoother, and for the first time ever, our stuff inside stayed put. No more opening the door after a long drive only to find spaghetti jars and coffee makers all over the floor. That was a huge win!

Of course, new rigs mean new lessons. When we arrived at the park, we quickly realized we had no idea how to unhitch the fifth wheel. Normally, we’d consult “YouTube University” for a crash course, but with no Wi-Fi, we had to figure it out the old-fashioned way—trial, error, and a whole lot of laughing at ourselves. It wasn’t graceful, but we got it done.

And then came the tire adventure. Wanting to be responsible, we had bought an inflatable air pump so we’d always be prepared if the tires needed topping off. Sure enough, when it was almost time to leave, we checked the pressure and—thanks to a big temperature swing—our tires were low. Easy fix… or so we thought. Our battery, of course, was nearly dead. Cue a last-minute Lowe’s run for a backup battery, followed by the two of us playing tag-team pit crew with just barely enough juice to inflate the tires. We’d pump for a few minutes, then sit around while one battery charged just enough to swap with the other. It was equal parts frustrating and hilarious. Definitely one of those “laugh about it later” moments. Lesson learned: always charge your batteries the night before you leave unless you want your departure to turn into a comedy show.

The park itself was worth every bit of the chaos. I was thrilled to learn that DeSoto is the hometown of the band Alabama—one of my favorites—which made being there feel extra special. On top of that, it was a birder’s paradise. Each morning, we woke up to a chorus of bird calls we’d never heard before, a reminder of just how magical new places can be when you slow down and listen.

Love finding these random places on our travels!

Alabama gave us a little bit of everything—Patrick’s childhood dream come true at Space Camp, a crash course in fifth-wheel living, and the peaceful beauty of nature sprinkled with a dash of music history. It was the perfect mix of adventure, laughter, and learning, and we rolled away feeling grateful (and maybe just a little wiser).