If I understand, you have a 5 day break. Huntsville is safe, but will be quiet. Not much for a college student to do as a tourist.
Huntsville is great - especially if you are sciency.
Chattanooga has cool stuff as others noted - lookout mountain, rock city, world class aquarium, nature, etc. Itâs a pretty neat city (on the way from Nashville to Atlanta if you wanted to do a few days in two places).
Franklin - which I noted in the first note - is a Southern suburb of Nashville - so you could do the Nashville area - which also has tons to do - country music hall of fame anyone 
For a college student, seeing Broadway at night might excite them. Downtown is pricey but affordable hotels close enough to Nashville are avail - or Air BNBs - and you can hike Radnor or Percy Warner, both great for a not so difficult hike.
Birmingham is on the direct route from Memphis to Atlanta - so itâs your shortest way by an hour. Itâs a big city - theyâll have stuff too - like the Barber Motorsports Museum, Alabama Sports HOF, etc. but it doesnât seem as much up the alley.
Huntsville is neat. If you donât find a satisfactory AirBNB (they have plenty) or decide on a hotel, you might need to stay out by the airport or in Athens (not far away) to save money.
Iâm sure youâll have a great time!!
Enjoy.
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