For millions of years, the Tennessee River has cut its way through the Cumberland Plateau carving the Tennessee Valley, one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the south. Numerous eastern woodland birds and waterfowl occur in abundance, joined at times by uncommon visitors such as nesting Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, vagrant gulls, sea ducks, grebes, loons, shorebirds, and late fall vagrants from the gulf coast. The new North Alabama Birding Trail features 50 sites across the region. The Central Loop of the three loop tour includes eight sites in the Decatur area.

Enjoy 116 acres of the most intact Victorian-era neighborhoods in Alabama. Listed in the National Register of Historical Places, Decatur offers two distinct Historic Districts; Old Decatur and New Decatur-Albany. Learn about both sites through a walking (or driving) tour of Historic Decatur. A descriptive map is available to you free of charge at the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This is how Confederate General Hood described Decatur during the Civil War. Relive the four day struggle between advancing Confederates and garrisoned Union troops that began on October 26, 1864. The Civil War Walking Tour is a self-guided walking tour mostly through the Old Decatur and Albany Historic Districts of Decatur describing the events that took place in Decatur during the war.

Historic Hartselle, named as one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America invites you to stop and sit a spell in a relaxing getaway that transports you through time to a simpler way of life. Historic downtown Hartselle beckons enthusiastic antique shoppers and collectors from around the world. Specialty stores offer collectibles, gift items, baskets, lamps, frames, prints and knick-knacks.

The Morgan County Archives offers 1,500 cubic feet of archival and manuscript materials including the original estate and guardianship case files, birth and death ledgers, marriage records (1819-1930), tax records dating from the 1920's, County Commission records, Circuit Court records and newspapers. Genealogical materials include census, family histories and Bible records. An extensive photograph collection includes images from the Civil War and copies of original photographs, many never published, from the 1933 Scottsboro Boys Trial in Decatur. Open weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

www.home.ix.netcom.com/~mocoarch

As the inventor of the modern water park, Point Mallard continues to lead the way in innovative family fun activities both in and out of the water. The "older" children can play on the scenic 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course while getting back to nature in the wooded campground. Waterpark open mid-May through early September. Other facilities open year round.

www.pointmallardpark.com

Once billed as the "largest playhouse between Birmingham and Nashville, the Princess Theatre, has been a North Alabama landmark for more than a century. Today, the Princess Theatre is once again an important part of North Alabama showcasing such artists as Ray Charles, Loretta Swit, Cloris Leachman and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, a not-for-profit organization, is a cultural, educational and community-service organization providing an environment to promote learning, creation and appreciation of the visual arts, preserve one of the area's significant historical buildings and serve as a multi-purpose community resource for all the citizens of Decatur, Morgan County and all of North Alabama.

Experience wildlife in its' natural habitat or from the comfort of a large glass enclosed observatory at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The center features self-guided tours with displays and films and hiking/biking trails of various distances. Wheeler encompasses 34,500 acres of naturally preserved woodlands and features one of the South's largest educational centers for waterfowl and wildlife study.

The South's love for tradition is revealed in the quaint shops and galleries that celebrate the past with one-of-a-kind antiques and collectibles. The Morgan County Antique & Collectible Trail is an expedition into a world of treasures. From Bank Street in Decatur to historic Hartselle, you'll find unique antiques, collectibles and relics. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice who just loves the past, you'll enjoy searching for your treasures and enjoying the scenery along the way. Let the hunt begin!