Yes, it’s true the anglers come for the catfishing. But the rest of the family needs something more and they find it easily in Decatur. Two items rank high on the list of amenities for the non-fishing visitors. Clean comfortable lodging and good food.
The possibilities in both categories are really too many to list. Personally, my wife and I had great accommodations at the Best Western River City Hotel. The complimentary breakfast was way beyond the norm and the rooms were clean and comfortable. It was also convenient to Ingalls Harbor, only an 8- to 10-minute drive. That is just one place and there are dozens more just as good to choose from.
As far as food is concerned, and it concerns me a lot, our number one choice was Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ. Outstanding is the only word to describe it. You can eat in or carry out and be satisfied completely. Having lived with good BBQ in Texas, we have been looking hard to find a good BBQ spot and we did!
Shopping is high on some visitors list, and Decatur delivers with a bang. They have about any national retailer you might seek, but more importantly to get a flavor for the culture and the history of the area, try the antique stores and specialty boutiques along the Historic Shopping Districts in Decatur.
Almost any other activity a visitor would want can be found in Decatur and Morgan County. The best bet for planning is to visit the Decatur Morgan County Tourism website and see the many activities available.
One visit you might want to put on your list is the Givens Wildlife Interpretive Center. It serves as the welcome center for the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. The center is open daily to the public for free. There are self-guided tours, displays, pamphlets, and wildlife films that explain the importance of the area’s wildlife resources.
Last but not least, the people of this area are fantastic. Everywhere we went, friendly people greeted us. Decatur AL and Morgan County, AL rank right there at the top for good ol’ Southern Hospitality, not to mention outstanding catfishing!
