Experiencing Decatur through traveler’s eyes.

Decatur’s stops do not disappoint! The local loop has 5 designated stops: The Old State Bank, The Historic Union Train Depot, Shopping On Second Avenue and Bank, Cook Museum Of Natural Science, and Carnegie Visual Arts Center. The guests come back raving about each stop. The only complaint is that they can not stay in Decatur long enough! As a tour guide, I have the opportunity to tell them about Decatur’s history, their upcoming stops, Decatur’s architecture, historical antidotes and try to slide in a joke or two.

The best part about being a tour guide is not getting to sit up front of a pretty tour bus and talk into a professional microphone and have people listening to my antics but it’s getting to see people who are genuinely excited to experience Decatur. I am able to experience Decatur in a way that many residences rarely get to, seeing it through visitors’ eyes. I think so many of us, including myself, get desensitized to the charming, historical and beautiful southern town of Decatur! When was the last time you thought “Decatur has a vibrant downtown”, because I have heard that several times from our guests. Or when was the last time you marveled at our historic architecture or took advantage of our 3 free downtown museums that are all within walking distance of each other? Being a tour guide has shifted my perspective to realize how much we take for granted in the River City.



Hearing the guests’ feedback from each stop is by far the most enjoyable part of the tours for me. As soon as I start a tour I explain to all of the guests that my indecisive nature has left me calling each stop “my favorite” and they have to tell me their favorite by the end of the day to help me finally make up my mind. This leaves the guests almost no choice but to partake in this game and come back from each stop trying to sway me to have the same favorite as they did. Guests who loved the Old State Bank often times come back from their tour given by Suzanne Langdon exclaiming that they either robbed the bank or made a hefty withdrawal as they board the bus and show me their souvenir 1833 bank statements and fake money. One woman even talked about the eerie feeling she felt in the bank vault after I told her of its use as a makeshift field hospital during the civil war. With cameras in hand they lean over my seat showing me photos of cannon ball and bullet holes that are hidden on the columns and bricks from the civil war battle. The calming atmosphere at Carnegie Visual Arts Center left them relaxed as they described the beautiful art on display.

One of the crowd favorites is the Historic Train Depot. It’s no wonder with Judge David Breland as their guide. One retired veteran boarded the bus after spending most of the day at the depot and told me how he just could not leave. He wanted to stay there for hours. Inside he had found antique model trains, the same he had owned as a child. He told me how Judge Breland let him examine them and send them whizzing around the track reliving his childhood memories. He said he hadn’t seen an engine like that since he had his about 50 years ago and that the depot stop was worth the whole price of the cruise.

Reliving their youth and finding that childlike nature inside themselves became a common theme among the passengers, especially when they talked about their time at Cook Museum! Guests laughed as they told me of how they pretended to be birds in the human size bird nest inside the museum and how a couple got frightened by the bat sounds inside the life size cave. One woman said she spent almost half her time there playing in the sand making volcanoes at the rock exhibit. With childlike wonder they explored the hands-on displays. Their “homework” upon stopping at Cook was to tell me their favorite exhibit when they returned. A nice woman with a sunshine yellow shirt told me her favorite part was watching a group of children ahead of her laughing, playing and being amazed at the wonder all around them. She said she loved watching them play in the sand, marvel at the jellyfish and climb up the large tree. She found joy in their excitement. As she told me this I could relate, because that is what I had been feeling all morning with these guests.

Not only did the passengers experience the fun of museums and hands on activities they also shopped and invested in our local economy! With passengers walking up and down Bank Street and 2nd Avenue almost all of them left with a shopping bag or two! A couple on the hunt for a few antiques to add to their collection at Bank Street Antiques told me afterwards that they had never seen a three story antique mall before. With many shops to choose from there was something for everyone!

One of the biggest hits was Miss Muldrew’s where they got to shop and most importantly talk to Dede Quarry, owner of the store. They loved getting to know Dede, hear her downtown shop recommendations and all about her dog Tess and the ice cream shop “Tess’ Place”. They also loved their time in Pineapples. At pickup a group of self proclaimed “gal-pals” said, and I quote, “The shop owners here are so friendly! They stop and talk to you and have real conversations. It’s so refreshing”. Never have I felt prouder of Decatur’s southern hospitality.

Another downtown favorite was Shops on 2nd Avenue. They loved supporting local artists and entrepreneurs and many of them bought gifts for friends and family back home. While I wasn’t able to see everything they bought they all agreed that Decatur had a wide variety! Another fun notable sight that caused a conversation on the bus was the poker playing raccoons in the window of Absaroka Western Wear!

Many of the guests promised to come back with family and grandchildren and some were already making plans to stay at our new Fairfield by Marriott downtown hotel once it’s completed.



With the loops winding down and as the all aboard call came closer it was clear that Decatur had made a lasting impression on those who took the local loop. A charming, history filled town, briming with smiling faces and southern hospitality and getting to feel the thrill of their childhoods. It is true what they say, “Decatur where it’s greater”.