Decatur, Alabama is excited to be celebrating the bicentennial of its founding during 2020. All of its greatest assets will be on prominent display for visitors to experience and enjoy, and events that have become local traditions will be elevated and promoted like never before. Decatur is guaranteed to provide entertainment and education at any time, but for those who have yet to discover it, 2020 will be a phenomenal time to explore these five reasons to visit.
GREAT SOUTHERN FOOD
A number of the “100 Best Dishes to Eat in Alabama” are found in Decatur. Start with Big Bob Gibson’s barbecued chicken with white sauce and a slice of their coconut pie topped with 3 inches of meringue, then walk a half block to Morgan Price Candy Company for the absolute best English toffee you’ll ever eat. Head downtown and check out the scrumptious salads and sandwiches at Curry’s and make dinner plans for Simp McGhee’s on Bank Street for elevated dishes with Cajun seasonings.
The RailYard on 2nd Avenue, b.b. Perrins on Holly Street, Alfonzo’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant on the Beltline are locally-owned eateries with crowd-pleasing menus, and Whisk’D is a neighborhood cafe on Grant Street that is perfect for breakfast or brunch.
COOK MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and FINE ARTS
The long-anticipated Cook Museum of Natural Science opened in June of 2019 and is drawing rave reviews. It covers zoology, geology, paleontology and art in nature with state-of-the-art, hands-on exhibits, live animals and marine aquariums.
If visual and performing arts are more interesting to you, then the Alabama Center for the Arts and the Carnegie Visual Art Center will provide much to satisfy with their ever-changing exhibits. The Princess Theatre, across the street from the Center for the Arts maintains a full schedule of concerts, films, lectures and plays.
WHEELER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE and NATURAL ASSETS
Yearly migrations of sandhill and whooping cranes are watched by many locals and visitors every November through January, but the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is also a perfect habitat for 300 species of birds and hundreds of mammals, reptiles and fish. In addition to the informative visitors’ center, the observation building has two stories of window viewing and plenty of powerful binoculars.
The Wheeler Lake portion of the Tennessee River borders the city of Decatur and provides endless days for fishing and boating. Fishing tournaments are held almost every weekend, especially in the spring, and most originate from Ingalls Harbor.
POPULAR ANNUAL FESTIVALS
Carnegie Carnival kicks off the year’s festivals with Mardi Gras-themed parades in downtown Decatur. Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic takes place at Point Mallard Park on Memorial Day weekend and attracts dozens of balloon operators and thousands of spectators for the arts and crafts vendors, car shows, food trucks and photography possibilities. Daikin, a prominent industry based in Decatur, hosts its festival at the Morgan County Fairgrounds that same weekend and celebrates U.S. and Japanese culture.
The Spirit of America Festival on the 4th of July also takes place at Point Mallard Park and includes a gigantic, free fireworks show. Fall brings the Civil War reenactment of the Battle for Decatur and Riverfest, a barbecue competition with lots of musical entertainment.
SHOPPING ON 2ND AVENUE, BANK STREET and BEYOND
Pictured is of the Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts
Bank Street, in what most refer to as “old Decatur,” is home to great antique stores, clothing boutiques, home décor stores and restaurants. Bank Street runs into 2nd Avenue where the same kind of interesting shops and more restaurants continue. Sixth Avenue (Highway 31) and the Beltline (Highway 67) are the main locations for numerous chain eateries, hotels and retail stores.
The tourism hashtag reads #itsgreaterindecatur, and that claim can easily be supported. This city of approximately 55,000 people is fortunate to have a great geographical location, a moderate climate, a proud history and plenty of citizens working hard to make it a wonderful place to live or to visit.
