Fifteen-ish miles northeast from the always booming Huntsville, Alabama, is the quiet enclave of New Market.
The town (population of around 1,300) has seen a little growth over the past few years, but it still remains a charming, bewitching place where you’re sure to find plenty of friendly faces willing to talk your ear off.
There’s a lot to love about this small town, but we narrowed it down to three reasons. Check ‘em out, and let us know about your favorite small town!
The rich barbecue scene
Recently, our friends over at This is Alabama asked their Facebook audience to tell them the best barbecue town in Alabama, and quite a few people chimed in that New Market should be on the list. And that’s pretty understandable, with not one, but two world-class barbecue joints to its name. Both Ole Hickory BBQ and New Market BBQ are must-visit BBQ restaurants for any Alabamian. New Market BBQ has a smoked mac and cheese that is rich and perfect and so delectable it made the Alabama Department of Tourism’s list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” (The brisket is absolutely a show-stopper as well.) And Ole Hickory BBQ is just good eatin’. The pulled pork sandwich is a delight. The pork is piled with sweet slaw, and then Ole Hickory adds their signature vinegar-based red sauce to the mix. In fact, we loved it so much we named it one of the state’s best pulled pork sandwiches in 2016.
Flowers, flowers, flowers!
Of course, New Market is home to to some gorgeous farm land, and most notably it’s home to Hubert Family Farms, one of the most popular attractions in north Alabama. Each spring, the farm hosts thousands of people for its U-pick tulip gardens, and each fall it’s the same for its massive rows of sunflowers. On the weekends of these seasons, Hubert Family Farms is the place to be for families across North Alabama — there are food trucks, live entertainment, hot air balloon rides and more. Owned by fourth-generation farmer Seth Hubert and his wife, Kaylee, this is a uniquely Alabama experience.
The loveliness
Like many small towns, New Market is overflowing with charm, and you can find it in its small businesses. Moonpie John’s Mercantile is open during the weekend and sells vintage candy, T-shirts, local goods and more. There’s also a cafe that’s crazy good inside; the menu consists of items like a baloney rueben and Elvis PB&B. (And of course, there are plenty of Moonpie and Moonpie-inspired desserts to choose from!) Moonpie John’s is right next to 1910 Gin, an event space with a lot of personality. And of course, we gotta mention Pickett’s Family Restaurant, where you can get Southern, home-style cooking made with love. (Definitely try the biscuits at breakfast!)