Decatur, also known as “The River City,” is located in northwestern Alabama along the banks of Wheeler Lake. For a city with a population of only 55,000 people, there are surprisingly a lot of activities to engage in.
Decatur was known as “Rhodes Ferry Landing” before becoming the city it is today, after Dr. Rhodes, who ran a ferry along the river. The city was finally formed in 1821 and given the name Decatur that we know today.
We will look at 20 things to do in Decatur in this post.
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Things To Do In Decatur
1. Museum Of Blue And Gray
The Civil War was one of the most significant conflicts in American history, with over 625,000 Americans losing their lives throughout the four-year fight.
This conflict claimed the lives of more Americans than any of the previous wars in which the United States had fought.
The Blue and Gray Museum houses numerous weapons and items from the conflict, and it is a fantastic museum to learn about the immense challenges that the war’s heroes faced.
2. The Carnegie Visual Arts Center
The Carnegie Visual Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the region’s first art museum and arts education center; this center serves as a turning point.
The Carnegie Visual Arts Center is housed in a historic structure in the region. Many displays of both local and national works of art are held in this historic structure.
Art lessons for children and adults, camps, and lectures are also available at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center. The Center is available to the public every Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free.
3. Cook’s Natural Science Museum
Cook’s Natural Science Museum is one of the best of its kind in the world. There are over 2,000 exhibits to see, including mounted birds, exotic insects, animals, seashells, coral, and minerals.
There is a portion dedicated to animals found in the Tennessee Valley, which has been grouped in a single display case.
A component of the museum is dedicated to endangered and protected animals, including golden and bald eagles.
After you’ve had your fill of looking about the museum, you can sit in the theater and view natural science films.
4. Farmers Market In Decatur
Nothing beats meeting the people who grew your food and then buying it from them when it comes to buying it as fresh as possible.
Between April and November, the Decatur Farmers’ Market is open every Monday through Saturday. The market is bustling with stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, and it can get quite crowded at times.
Every month at the market, there is also a unique event that honors a specific fruit or vegetable that is in season at the moment.
5. Old State Bank
The Old State Bank is one of the few structures that can tell such a diverse story. The Alabama General Assembly authorized three banks in the area to commence operations in 1832, one of which being this one.
The structure, which is approximately 200 years old, has seen two depressions and civil war.
The building’s usage has also evolved; it has previously served as a bank, hospital, guardhouse, and dance hall.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972; it is a lovely structure with many antiques from the Federal and Empire periods.
6. Pickwick Belle
The Pickwick Belle, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, is located on Wheeler Lake on the Tennessee River. The boat has been in operation since 2012 and is a beautiful sight to see with its twin decks.
The ship’s bottom floor has a sealed 1,000 square-foot dining room, gallery, and bar, as well as a dance floor. And for those who want to sit outside, the top station is covered but established for those who want a greater vision of the world around them.
The boats go up and down the river regularly and can hold 112 persons.
7. Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q
Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q is a barbecue joint owned by Big Bob Gibson.
It’s no surprise that this restaurateur was selected “Best Barbecue Restaurant in Alabama” by Birmingham Newsreaders.
Although he’s most known for his mouth-watering, slow-cooked meats served with his famed white sauce, there’s nothing quite like his Fiery Habanero Red or classic Alabama Red variants, all of which are sure to entice even the most discerning consumers!
8. The Shops On Second Avenue
The most distinctive shops in Decatur, Alabama may be found at Shops on 2nd Avenue.
This 4,200-square-foot retail space houses 39 individual stores providing locally produced goods ranging from homemade things to amazing pieces of art by regional artists.
Business owners are passionate about what they do and care about how their products are perceived by the public. You’ll get an exceptional level of customer service that truly sets them apart!
Second Avenue has a welcoming atmosphere that will put a smile on your face as you browse through an endless selection of one-of-a-kind presents that will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a wonderland.
9. The Railyard
It’s a genuine treasure mine of Southern delicacies, and it’s known for comfort food and seasonal cuisine inspired by local and regional influences.
The RailYard is a fantastic spot for fresh, inventive cuisine that keeps guests coming back for more.
Only the freshest ingredients are used in everything from the décor to the varied menu combination at The Railyard offers a laid-back vibe that combines rustic, elegant, and sophisticated elements.
Its laid-back vibe encourages interaction and makes any day feel like a vacation.
10. River Fest
No one enjoys barbecue more than Americans.
Riverfest, an annual festival in America, has been held for more than two decades. The state of Alabama considers the competition to be the Barbeque Championship, and it is a state-sponsored event.
The winner of Riverfest is guaranteed a spot in the American Royal World Championship as well as an invitation to the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational.
I don’t think you’ll find a finer venue to watch the sport while also enjoying the delicious food than here.
Taking part in this sport is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable things to do in Decatur.
11. Point Mallard Park
How about visiting a waterpark? A unique bone for a fact.
Point Mallard Waterpark is planted by the Wheeler National Refuge’s border. It spans over 500 acres along with the props of Flint Creek.
This multi-use relaxation demesne was established in 1970 and is popularly known for that. Gilmer Blackburn Submarine Center was located then.
This center shows off a 10- cadence diving palace, two high-speed water slides, a European- style surge pool, and a lazy swash magnet.
There are also fur coops and a golf driving range. You aren’t done yet. At the T.C. Almon Center are exercise installations, inner courts, and a game room, also a fixed out-of-door kiosk at the Ronald Reagan Spirit of America Fields area.
12. Whitt’s Barbecue
Whitt’s Regale is the fruition of a vision of Floyd Whitt. Floyd Whitt is a regular hole builder who went after his dreams by leaving his bricklaying job and opening his first eatery in 1966.
And at the moment, there are three Whitt’s Barbecue cafes and stores in operation in and around the northern Alabama region which includes the locales on Sixth Thoroughfares and Decatur’s Spring.
This business featured doubly in the Southern Living Magazine and is trusted for its regale menu of beef, pork, caricature, lemon, etc all smoked with hickory wood.
Enjoy the full plate and family pack option with Brunswick stew, regale sandwiches, homestyle side pies, dishes, and eyefuls. You can host a group of 25 in this place or indeed go for customizable events.
13. Amberley Suite Hotel
There are multitudinous places to stay in Decatur, perhaps a hotel or one of the play campgrounds in the megacity.
Would you want to get accommodation? Also, the Amberley Suite Hotel answers all your accommodation questions.
Positioned in the center of this amazing literal Decatur megacity, you’re sure to have a beautiful experience then.
You can access the out-of-door pool and enjoy the 24-hour fitness center. The strategic position of this hotel gives you the convenience of the field and other areas in Alabama.
14. Morgan County Library
With so numerous major structures to choose from in this city, it’s delicate to know which bones to visit if you’re on a short trip, the Morgan County Libraries should be nearly on your list, however.
The libraries are kept in the 1927 Tennessee Valley on Bank Street. Then you can find 1500 boxy bases of libraries and calligraphies dating back to 1819.
It’s a beautiful structure to view and one that has an expansive snap collection, complete with filmland from the civil war.
15. Hot Air Balloon
Alabama Jubilee is the oldest hot air balloon marathon in the Southeast.
It’s known for its friendly community, casual atmosphere, and beautiful geography.
It’s one of the nation’s oldest hot air balloon races, bringing over two dozen hot air balloons from bordering countries to contend with 25 original brigades for great prizes.
Throughout its four decades, Alabama Jubilee grew into a cherished tradition among families and musketeers who all gathered together to commemorate the anniversary of the American flight.
It continues to be a fun event that draws thousands of observers annually, who come just for the spectacle and excitement of watching these various balloons drifting above them.
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16. See The Major Road Depot
This is a commodity every addict of the rails would love. Then you would see numerous rare model trains and a model train layout too.
They also have an atomic theater room where you can watch videos and graphic pane to expand the remarkable history of this megacity’s road from 1834 till now.
You would also find some rare cairns and vestiges of 1905, restored signage, road tools, and some bias on display. You would also enjoy the easy street area and the superb viewing platform for trains.
17. Visit Trapped
Trapped is an escape room installation and the first of its kind by Decatur.
It challenges visiting groups to work as a platoon towards figuring results or suggestions on how they would escape from the numerous trapped apartments.
Each platoon is given one hour to live the themed riddle of his to escape from their room, thereby creating a game experience that can be restated to real-life – problem- working chops and platoon- structure.
There are four apartments in the installation which include Escape From Alcatraz, Treasure of the Emerald Islands, The Morgue for.G. Reaper, and The Bank Robbery.
Callers play in the public room or some reticent apartments on private booking which includes academy functions and commercial platoon-structure occasions.
18. Wheelers Lake
One of the fun stylish effects to do in Decatur, Al is visiting Wheeler Lake.
With a face area of further than acres and a length of close to 60 country miles, Wheeler Lake is proudly the alternate-biggest lake positioned along the Tennessee River.
It’s a man-made body of water created by the Tennessee Valley Authority to control deluges in the region and induce hydroelectric power.
Presently, it has become one of Decatur’s notorious lodestones and has on average further than four million periodic callers.
19. Simp McGhee
This eatery is sited in the Bank Street quarter and offers old-fashioned tapas. Their special menu includes tuna Lafayette, crayfish egg rolls, and angel ratatouille.
You can enjoy the potables, red, fine white, and sparkling fresh wine. There’s a pet-friendly sidewalk that’s sometimes available.
20. Delano Park
Would love to check out the oldest public demesne in Decatur? Delano Park is one of the oldest in Decatur.
Delano Park was created in 1887 as a crucial plan to redevelop the megacity after the American Civil war ended. Just like you would have allowed, this demesne was named in remembrance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The demesne has experienced massive advancements in recent times as seen in the children’s splash pad play area which has gutters and large-scale charts of metropolises in Alabama featured on its bottom.
Also, there were significant rose auditoriums planted which are now reconstructed into the Delano Rose Garden. And also, the literal concrete ground is a notorious point of photos, recollections, and reflection.
Romantic Things To Do In DecaturFor Couples
Thinking of planning a romantic date in Decatur for your lover, and you’re out of ideas? Here are some real ideas for you:
1. Princess Theater
The Princess Theater is a piece of Alabama history and is renowned for its retro aesthetic and vintage neon signage. The performance space hosts a wide range of entertainment, including plays, movies, concerts by well-known musicians, and performances by regional artists.
2. River City Performing Arts Inc
River City Performing Arts Inc. provides expert teaching for dance programs like ballet, hip hop, and tap with classes for all ages. The facility also hosts yearly dancing camps, such as a camp for kids over the summer.
3. Delano Park
Delano Park is a public space including historical buildings, picnic areas, tennis courts with lights, walking paths, gardens, and a playground. It is over 130 years old and spans 28 acres.
4. Wilson Morgan Park
Wilson Morgan Park promotes a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking along trails, playing on soccer fields, tennis courts, and batting cages. A sizable wooden playground structure is also present.
5. Carnegie Visual Arts Center
The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, a renovated library that was built in 1904 by a donor, presents a range of historical artifacts. These exhibitions include works by regional artists and craftspeople, ranging from paintings to sculptures.
Things To Do In Decatur With Kids
Kids are not left out in the fun activities in Decatur. There are lots of fun things to do with kids in Decatur, here are some ideas:
1. Whole Foods Market 365
The Decatur location of the new Whole Foods Market 365 has a small upstairs children’s play area with a few uncharged arcade games. Parents, if you want to indulge in an alcoholic beverage, there is also a beer, wine, and cider bar.
2. Outdoor Farmer’s Market
Visit Decatur on a Wednesday night or Saturday morning to take advantage of the city’s outdoor farmers market, which sells everything from vegetables and tea to pottery and soap.
3. Treehouse Kid & Craft
Enroll your child in a class at Treehouse Kid & Craft, a family-run store and creative space, with a musical or artistic theme. It also offers toys and clothing for infants and children that are created ethically.
4. North Dekalb Mall’s AMC 16 cinema
Popcorn time has arrived at the North Dekalb Mall’s AMC 16 cinema! This cinema has a respectable snack bar and provides current titles at reasonable costs.
5. Woodland Gardens
Go on a guided tour of the Woodland Gardens, a stunning garden full of indigenous trees and plants.
Things To Do In Decatur At Night
After a long week of hustling and bustling, you might feel like unwinding in a really nice place in Decatur at night may be to play games, eat, drink, or have a really nice time. Here are some ideas for you.
1. Eddie’s Attic
For aspiring and seasoned performing songwriters, Eddie’s Attic is a well-liked and intimate live music venue.
The Attic is situated in Decatur, Georgia, a tiny, welcoming community for artists that have been compared as a cross between Berkeley and Mayberry in terms of culture.
Music lovers love the Attic’s music room because it boasts a top-notch sound system and acoustics, and customers are requested to put their phones away and genuinely listen to the tunes.
2. Brick Store Pub
The renowned Brick Store in Decatur, Georgia, does not mess around when it comes to beer; it has not one, but two distinct beer bars. This is in spite of its laid-back Southern vibe.
The main bar, a really laid-back, sunlit pub with towering exposed brick, high-backed seats, and a large horseshoe bar lined with 29 magnificent taps, is the focal point of the old structure.
3. Universal Joint
The greatest dog-friendly patio in town can be found at Universal Joint, a full-service local restaurant that provides delicious food, warm service, a changing selection of tap and bottle beer, and a welcoming community ambiance.
4. Steinbeck’s
Steinbeck’s is a brief work of love for the Decatur, Georgia neighborhood of Oakhurst. It is an original, temporary, cozy, small pub.
Our menu features flavors from all over the world, and we serve anything that sounds delicious with beer. Because themes are typically uninteresting and fascist, we reject them.
We pour great wine and whip up some seriously good cocktails as part of our draft program.
Free Things To Do In Decatur
Thinking about what kind of free things you could try out for fun in Decatur? Here are some ideas:
1. Decatur’s Square
Locals gather in Decatur Square, the hub of downtown Decatur, for a variety of live acts. Due to the abundance of stores and eateries throughout its length, it is also a nice place for a leisurely stroll.
2. First Christian Church of Decatur’s
Community Park at First Christian Church of Decatur is a 1.3-acre park containing a playground for kids, benches, tables, and lots of open space. Additionally, the playground is furnished with toys like tricycles, bicycles, and wagons.
3. Mason Mill Park
One playground is available for toddlers, and the other is for older children, at Mason Mill Park. There are also tennis courts, jogging paths lined with bird houses and bridges, and picnic areas. Photography is frequently done along the picturesque pathways.
4. Glen Lake Park
Among its amenities are a playground, a picnic area with tables, two sports fields, a swimming pool, a basketball court, and five tennis courts with lights. Glen Lake Park is a city park. Leashed dogs are welcome in certain areas.
5. Adair Dog Park
Water bowls and flowing water stations may be found all across the Adair Dog Park, which is a dog park. The park includes a large space where all breeds of dogs can play and is primarily shaded.
Cheap Things To Do In Decatur
Looking if a budget-friendly fun activity to try out in Decatur? Here are some ideas;
1. Medlock Park
Medlock Park, which spans 39 acres, is primarily made up of sports fields, including ones for baseball and softball as well as multi-use ones.
The park has a swimming pool, routes for biking and walking through wooded areas, picnic tables, and a playground.
2. McKoy Park
McKoy Park, which is four acres in size, has baseball and basketball fields, a skate park, a swimming pool, and open green space. The park has a playground, a pavilion for picnics, restrooms, and a building for concessions.
3. Oakhurst Dog Park
An open area in the Oakhurst Dog Park allows dogs to run around freely without being restrained by a leash. Additionally, there are benches in the park as well as a wood chip trail.
4. Williamsburg Dog Park
The Williamsburg Dog Park is accessible to the general public and is located inside the Williamsburg Apartment Complex.
Large dogs are kept apart from smaller dogs by two separate gates, and there is also a dog waste bag stand in addition to a dog water fountain.
Cool Places To Visit In Decatur
No doubt, Decatur has lots of cool places for you to visit, need some ideas? read on!
1. Tellus Science Museum
The Tellus Science Museum gives its guests a vast range of displays, covering everything from outer space to the time of the dinosaurs.
The permanent collections comprise, among other things, a gallery for science in motion, a gallery for minerals, and a gallery for fossils.
2. Downtown Newnan
There are many forms of entertainment, restaurants, and other attractions available to visitors in Downtown Newnan, Georgia. The city’s central area and where most visitors prefer to stay is the downtown area. Newnam routinely appears in big-budget movies, and celebrity sightings are frequent.
3. Carmike Cinemas Plaza 12
Carmike Cinemas Plaza 12, a multiplex with twelve screens, primarily screens first-run Hollywood films with digital video and sound.
The theater offers a range of discounted matinees and specials, and some screens are equipped for 3D movies.
4. Cooper’s Furnace
A free-standing stone kiln from the time before the Civil War, Cooper’s Furnace. The building and adjacent park, which are now included on the National Register of Historic Places, provide tourists with pavilion and hiking trails.
Indoor Activities To Do In Decatur For Adults
Thinking Of what kind of indoor activities to try out in Decatur, here are some ideas;
1. BlueTarp Brewing
A selection of beers is available from BlueTarp Brewing. Beer samples and brewery tours are available to guests. Visitors can use the outdoor picnic tables at BlueTarp and watch sports in the designated area.
2. Suburban Lanes
Suburban Lanes is a bowling facility with weekly daily bowling discounts, a senior bowling league, and shoe rentals. For children under the age of 16, the bowling alley occasionally provides free bowling and summer camps.
3. Glenwood Lanes
Glenwood Lanes is a bowling alley and indoor entertainment complex with 32 hardwood lanes and a retro atmosphere. Additionally, the alley has a complete bar and a live DJ on the weekends.
4. Eddie’s Attic
Eddie’s Attic is a full-service restaurant with live music almost every night of the week, as well as open mic events. The majority of their menu consists of shared meals, burgers, drinks, and wine.
5. The Waffle House Museum
The Waffle House Museum honors the well-known restaurant company in a distinctive and entertaining way. Numerous items and relics from the restaurant’s early years are on display in the museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Decatur Worth Visiting?
Decatur is an interesting and fun place to visit and explore Atlanta and DeKalb County, so yes, Decatur is worth visiting.
What Is There To Do In Decatur Texas Today?
Some fun and interesting things to do in Decatur today are;
Wise County Courthouse. Wise County Heritage Museum.
Petrified Wood Gas Station. The Waggoner Mansion.
Caddo / LBJ National Grasslands. Decatur Municipal Airport.
Wise County Veterans Memorial Park. Battle of the Knobs Site.
What Is Decatur Georgia Known For?
Decatur Georgia is known for its annual festivals like; the annual Decatur Arts Festival, Summer In The City, Decatur BBQ, and Blues & Bluegrass Festival.
What Is Major City Near Decatur TX?
Decatur TX is a short drive of 45 minutes northwest of Fort Worth.
What Are The Top Attractions To Visit In Decatur?
Some top attractions you can visit during your next visit to Decatur are;
Your Dekalb Farmers Market
Decatur’s Square
DeKalb History Center
Kudzu Antiques
Three Taverns Brewery & Tasting Room
What Is The Best Outdoor Activity In Decatur?
One of the best outdoor activities in Decatur is the Glenlake Park & Pool
Conclusion
From this article, we have seen that Decatur is a one-of-a-kind community with plenty of sights and activities to keep you occupied.
After a tour, you won’t be able to deny that its museums, landmarks, marketplaces, parks, rivers, and other attractions are world-class.
So, start thinking about your trip to Decatur and if you have other questions, feel free to relate in the comments below.
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