HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Each area within The Tennessee Valley has a different vibe. This month, we unzip the 35763, focusing on the Hampton Cove area.
"I think that within the City of Huntsville, Madison, Hampton Cove, all of them offer a different flavor in communities and for us here in Hampton Cove I think it's one of nature," said Engel & Völkers Real Estate Advisor, Bernie Tomkies.
While driving around Hampton Cove, was able to nail down the angle of this month's Unzipped and that being that, Hampton Cove is literally where a sense of home and nature come together in perfect harmony.
"I don't know that people realize that we are actually in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail. People will say, 'these aren't mountains' but I think because my ears pop it counts. It counts as a mountain," Tomkies jokingly explained.
This closeness to nature makes the area unique.
"What's exciting about Hampton Cove is the proximity to all things nature as well as downtown [Huntsville]. You can be hiking up on Blevins Gap within five minutes, or you can be in Jones Valley within 10. Governors and Big Spring Park are 15 minutes away, go to a concert at Von Braun or at a hockey game, dinner on the square and then back home within 15 minutes. The proximity to everything is phenomenal, even though people believe that it's so far away. It's really not," said Tomkies.
Tomkies and I actually decided to do our interview at Hays Nature Preserve.
"There are 10 miles of hiking, biking, kayaking, you can put your kayaks in right here at the Flint River, there are even horse trails that are right here" said Tomkies.
This area is also home to the only universal playground in Madison County and the second universal playground in the entire state of Alabama, Cove Universal Playground.
"Which is the most amazing playground and it was built for all kids in mind especially those with special needs."
So, it's safe to say that Hampton Cove is a piece of paradise for nature lovers... But back to what I said earlier, about that sense of home and nature coming together.
There are also some pretty fantastic places to live in the 35763.
"Hampton Cove has luxurious homes in the 8,000 square foot range, all the way down to patio homes, townhomes and we have a brand new senior living facility," said Tomkies.
Making what she often preaches, even easier for those who want to live there, which is: "You have to love where you live."
Something she and her family had to grow through themselves, creating a path to a place they call home now, Hampton Cove, a place that, to many... is like its own little slice of heaven!
"We moved here about four years ago and everybody was worried about us moving to Alabama. I hate to say that but when you don't know you don't know. And so once I got here I dove deep and I wanted to learn everything that there was in Huntsville to do. And when we were trying to focus on where we wanted to live, we fell in love with the Hampton Cove area just because you go over Cecil Ashburn or over Governors Drive and you feel like you're in another world," said Tomkies.