By Michael Wetzel, Assistant sports editor, The Decatur Daily
When Jann Swaim was a youngster fishing on Wheeler Lake, he never thought he would one day be directing a college bass fishing tournament involving his favorite schools.
But beginning with Thursday’s practice session, Swaim, an academic adviser at Auburn, will be the man in charge at the Southern Collegiate Bass Championships at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur.
At daybreak Thursday, some of the 30 teams will be launching at Ingalls Harbor. Tournament fishing starts at 6:30 a.m. Friday and ends Saturday with the final weigh-in at 2 p.m.
The winning team advances to the Boat U.S. Nationals on Lewisville Lake in the Dallas area in late May. Swaim promises fans attending a “totally different atmosphere” than at the pro bass events.
“The anglers will be wearing their school jerseys,” said Swaim, a native of Huntsville. “The kids want to win. The same rivalries that exist in other sports exist in bass fishing.”
He said alumni groups and just general college fans have been showing up at weigh-ins to cheer for their favorite schools.
Swaim has seen the Southern Collegiate event grow from eight teams in 2008, its first year, at the Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge, to this year’s largest field.
He compared this season-ending tournament to that of the SEC basketball tournament.
“It’s like a second season,” he said. “Regardless of how your team did in the regular season, you get a second chance to win the championship.”
College anglers worked the waters of Guntersville, Pickwick and Neely Henry during the regular-season series. Bass fishing is a club sport at Auburn, the host school. Swaim said the school helps with hotel and food, but the boats, trailers, fishing gear and insurance costs belong to the student anglers.
“Bass fishing is another way for kids to be included as a member of a team for their college,” said Swaim, 53. “These kids are the future of the sport. There are some really good anglers at these schools.
“But there’s more to it than just fishing. The kids learn to be responsible, and they really seem to enjoy the networking that comes along with meeting kids from other schools.”
Swaim added his club had Auburn grad and pro bass angler Steve Kennedy speak with the members.
“The No. 1 thing I see the kids need to work on is being patient,” Swaim said. “They want to throw their lines a few times and race off to the next spot. I try to stress that they slow down and be more methodical with their time on the water.”
Auburn and UAB have dominated in the past couple of years, but Swaim said this year’s favorites are probably Alabama, North Alabama and Tennessee. He called regular-season points champion Georgia a darkhorse. Georgia’s Randy Tolbert and non-boater Chase Simmemon won the regular season individual series with 276 points. Swaim said a film crew for the Versus television network will be in town covering the event.
While Auburn and some of the other larger schools may field four boats with two anglers a boat, only the top two weights from two of the boats will be counted after the weigh-ins. Swaim said to even the playing field, some schools with only one boat in the tournament can bring 10 fish to the daily weigh-ins.
He said it may take more than 70 pounds to win this weekend’s tournament.
Helping Swaim will be his wife Jenny and assistant director Darrel High.
Spectator admission is free. Friday’s weigh-in is at 3 p.m. and Saturday’s at 2 p.m. Live streaming of the weigh-ins can be found at www.yourschoollive.com.
College bass fishing tournament
The third annual Southern Collegiate Bass Championship will be on Wheeler Lake on Friday and Saturday. Spectator admission is free.
The schedule of events
Thursday
Practice begins at 6:30 a.m. at Ingalls Harbor.
Angler dinner at 5 p.m. at Point Mallard pavilion with regular-season awards and tournament rules to follow.
Friday
Launch at Ingalls Harbor, 6:30 a.m.
Weigh-in at Ingalls Harbor, 3 p.m.
Saturday
Launch at Ingalls Harbor, 6:30 a.m.
Weigh-in at Ingalls Harbor, 2 p.m.
Awards to follow weigh-in.
Schools on Wheeler Lake
As of Wednesday afternoon, here are the schools registered to compete in the third annual Southern Collegiate Bass Championships on Wheeler Lake which begins Friday morning:
Auburn, Alabama, North Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama-Birmingham, Virginia Tech, South Alabama, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Jacksonville State, Gadsden State Community College, Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Austin Peay, Kennesaw State, Radford and Freed-Hardeman. Registration continues through Thursday afternoon.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Peeps Show
The fluffy marshmallows become lawyers, singers, zombies at Morgan Price Candy Co.
By Andrea Brunty, Living editor, The Decatur Daily
Peeps splash in the waves at Point Mallard Water Park, water ski on the Tennessee River and square off in a Decatur vs. Austin football game.
This is no early April Fool’s joke.
Morgan Price Candy Co. at 11th Street Southeast decided to hold its first Peeps Show in March.
Owner Mary Morgan said it was too hard for her to judge the 32 entries, so she brought in Tami Reist of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, artist Blu Smith and Calhoun Community College professor Sue Mitchell.
At an open house Friday, attendees marveled over the creative dioramas, which included everything from bloodied zombie Peeps in “28 Peeps Later” to the Red Hot Chili Peep-ers singing “Jeepers Creepers, where’d you get those peepers?”
Peeps of all colors were getting cloned, while Peep Vader told Peep Skywalker that he is his father. Some of the fluffy sweets climbed Mount Peep, a mountain of miniature marshmallows. Displays also depicted video games like Silent Hill 2 and Dragon Ball Z and the comic book the “Watchmen.”
First-place winner Corie Terry, a senior at Austin High School, loved the movie “Legally Blonde,” so the courtroom scene was a natural choice for her Peeps project.
The judge, bailiff, jury and spectators add to the setting, but it’s the pink Peeps with long blonde hair that stand out — law student Elle Woods had her sorority friends’ support.
Terry was one of several students at Austin who created Peep displays for the contest through an art class. She spent 10 hours on her project — five in class and five at home.
“Everything just came together after I got home and thought about it,” she said.
She used cardboard, paper, felt and tons of hot glue — “You could turn it over and nothing is going to move,” she said.
Despite the time she spent, Terry was surprised to win first place.
“I didn’t know that I would even be in the running,” she said.
For second-place winner Pamela Milligan of Decatur, depicting Concerts by the River was also an easy decision. Last year, her family didn’t miss any of the summer concert series at Rhodes Ferry Park. They also like outdoor activities like fishing, boating and skiing.
“I thought (the contest) was such a cute idea, and I’m a crafty artsy type of person, but then I thought, ‘How in the world am I supposed to do this?’ ” she said. “Then the creative juices got flowing a little bit.”
Her materials included hot glue, Popsicle sticks for water skis, Easter grass for the river water and park grass, cardboard and wine corks for a raft, and paper for a hat and fan for a Southern belle Peep.
Milligan took apart a necklace to use the beads as microphones for the Peeps version of the band, Plus One. The quintet sings at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church, where Milligan is a member.
The 52-year-old is excited to show friends at church her handiwork, which took her a full day to complete.
The third-place display featured “Peeps on the Ground,” a parody of the “Pants on the Ground” song from an “American Idol” audition. Presley Wright, 17, of Decatur included a sequined disco ball, speakers and a black T-shirt for Simon Cowell.
Shaun “Peep” White snowboards into fourth place at the “Peep” Olympics with his red hair streaming behind him. Austin High junior Tyler Brown created the display.
The Best Depiction of North Alabama award went to Kelly Tuck of Town Creek for “Alabama Peep Outdoors.” The 32-year-old artist sketched out her display before finding recycled materials for the campground.
She used items like cardboard, driftwood, rocks, wrapping paper and scrap paper for the Peeps’ tent, sleeping bag, “Outdoor” magazine, campfire and background, which she painted trees and added a glittery sun.
“When you think of Alabama, you think of pretty sunsets and the outdoors, so I tried to show that,” she said. “I had fun doing it.”
It took her about two hours to complete, which she was only able to do after her two young children were asleep, she said, laughing.
Honorable mentions
“Alice in Peepland,” based on the tea party in “Alice in Wonderland,” by Emalie Cruz of Decatur.
“Cloning of the Peeps,” by Elizabeth Self of Decatur.
“Peeps Rocket (Apeepso XIII),” based on the Space and Rocket Center, by Chloe and Will Monin, 8-year-old twins from Decatur.
“Some Peeps Just Want to Play Football,” based on an Austin vs. Decatur football game, by Keri Rodgers of Hartselle.
“Peeps Barber Shop,” by Debbie Graham of Decatur.
On the Net
www.morganpricecandy.com
By Andrea Brunty, Living editor, The Decatur Daily
Peeps splash in the waves at Point Mallard Water Park, water ski on the Tennessee River and square off in a Decatur vs. Austin football game.
This is no early April Fool’s joke.
Morgan Price Candy Co. at 11th Street Southeast decided to hold its first Peeps Show in March.
Owner Mary Morgan said it was too hard for her to judge the 32 entries, so she brought in Tami Reist of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, artist Blu Smith and Calhoun Community College professor Sue Mitchell.
At an open house Friday, attendees marveled over the creative dioramas, which included everything from bloodied zombie Peeps in “28 Peeps Later” to the Red Hot Chili Peep-ers singing “Jeepers Creepers, where’d you get those peepers?”
Peeps of all colors were getting cloned, while Peep Vader told Peep Skywalker that he is his father. Some of the fluffy sweets climbed Mount Peep, a mountain of miniature marshmallows. Displays also depicted video games like Silent Hill 2 and Dragon Ball Z and the comic book the “Watchmen.”
First-place winner Corie Terry, a senior at Austin High School, loved the movie “Legally Blonde,” so the courtroom scene was a natural choice for her Peeps project.
The judge, bailiff, jury and spectators add to the setting, but it’s the pink Peeps with long blonde hair that stand out — law student Elle Woods had her sorority friends’ support.
Terry was one of several students at Austin who created Peep displays for the contest through an art class. She spent 10 hours on her project — five in class and five at home.
“Everything just came together after I got home and thought about it,” she said.
She used cardboard, paper, felt and tons of hot glue — “You could turn it over and nothing is going to move,” she said.
Despite the time she spent, Terry was surprised to win first place.
“I didn’t know that I would even be in the running,” she said.
For second-place winner Pamela Milligan of Decatur, depicting Concerts by the River was also an easy decision. Last year, her family didn’t miss any of the summer concert series at Rhodes Ferry Park. They also like outdoor activities like fishing, boating and skiing.
“I thought (the contest) was such a cute idea, and I’m a crafty artsy type of person, but then I thought, ‘How in the world am I supposed to do this?’ ” she said. “Then the creative juices got flowing a little bit.”
Her materials included hot glue, Popsicle sticks for water skis, Easter grass for the river water and park grass, cardboard and wine corks for a raft, and paper for a hat and fan for a Southern belle Peep.
Milligan took apart a necklace to use the beads as microphones for the Peeps version of the band, Plus One. The quintet sings at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church, where Milligan is a member.
The 52-year-old is excited to show friends at church her handiwork, which took her a full day to complete.
The third-place display featured “Peeps on the Ground,” a parody of the “Pants on the Ground” song from an “American Idol” audition. Presley Wright, 17, of Decatur included a sequined disco ball, speakers and a black T-shirt for Simon Cowell.
Shaun “Peep” White snowboards into fourth place at the “Peep” Olympics with his red hair streaming behind him. Austin High junior Tyler Brown created the display.
The Best Depiction of North Alabama award went to Kelly Tuck of Town Creek for “Alabama Peep Outdoors.” The 32-year-old artist sketched out her display before finding recycled materials for the campground.
She used items like cardboard, driftwood, rocks, wrapping paper and scrap paper for the Peeps’ tent, sleeping bag, “Outdoor” magazine, campfire and background, which she painted trees and added a glittery sun.
“When you think of Alabama, you think of pretty sunsets and the outdoors, so I tried to show that,” she said. “I had fun doing it.”
It took her about two hours to complete, which she was only able to do after her two young children were asleep, she said, laughing.
Honorable mentions
“Alice in Peepland,” based on the tea party in “Alice in Wonderland,” by Emalie Cruz of Decatur.
“Cloning of the Peeps,” by Elizabeth Self of Decatur.
“Peeps Rocket (Apeepso XIII),” based on the Space and Rocket Center, by Chloe and Will Monin, 8-year-old twins from Decatur.
“Some Peeps Just Want to Play Football,” based on an Austin vs. Decatur football game, by Keri Rodgers of Hartselle.
“Peeps Barber Shop,” by Debbie Graham of Decatur.
On the Net
www.morganpricecandy.com
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Bass Tournament
By Paul Stackhouse, Outdoors, The Decatur Daily
On April 2-3, the Southern Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship will invade Decatur, Ingalls Harbor and Wheeler Lake. The first week in April is generally a great time to catch bass, but the lake can be extremely dangerous. Fluctuating water levels can have stumps being exposed out of the water one day and slightly submerged the next.
The Decatur Flats, where a lot of anglers will be casting during the tournament, is well-known as a great bass fishing area because of all the structure it holds. However, a major part of the structure is not going to be visible until you get close, even if it is only a few inches beneath the water.
Safety should be the biggest concern to all of the anglers and boat drivers because one accident can ruin a tournament, especially if there is an injury involved.
I feel quite certain that safety will be an issue at pre-tournament and pre-launch meetings
On April 2-3, the Southern Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship will invade Decatur, Ingalls Harbor and Wheeler Lake. The first week in April is generally a great time to catch bass, but the lake can be extremely dangerous. Fluctuating water levels can have stumps being exposed out of the water one day and slightly submerged the next.
The Decatur Flats, where a lot of anglers will be casting during the tournament, is well-known as a great bass fishing area because of all the structure it holds. However, a major part of the structure is not going to be visible until you get close, even if it is only a few inches beneath the water.
Safety should be the biggest concern to all of the anglers and boat drivers because one accident can ruin a tournament, especially if there is an injury involved.
I feel quite certain that safety will be an issue at pre-tournament and pre-launch meetings
Friday, March 26, 2010
Meeting Notes
Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau board of directors conducted the following business during its monthly meeting Thursday:
•Reported state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, helped get $25,000 in state tourism money to pay for more way-finding signs for Decatur. The signage will direct visitors to the Jack Allen Soccer Complex and the Delano Park Spashpad, and include welcome signs with paid sponsor names.
•Reported the bureau had $40,532 in income in February and $50,656 in expenses for a net loss of $10,123. Income for the first five months of fiscal 2010 showed a net loss of $44,971. Treasurer Wade Weaver said the net losses are due to lagging lodging taxes, and the bureau has made as many cuts to expenses as it can and still be able to promote the city and county. The bureau has reserves to ride out the economic downturn, he said.
•Reported the city collected $49,533 in lodging taxes in December, down 4 percent from the same month in 2008. The bureau receives 75 percent of the lodging taxes for operating expenses. For the fiscal year, lodging taxes are down 23 percent.
•Reported the $2-per-night hotel occupancy fee generated $27,605 in December, down from $28,140 for the same month in 2008. The fund has $163,888 for the fiscal year, down 15.7 percent from the same time period in 2008.
•Reported 33 percent of Decatur hotel rooms were occupied in December, down 1 percent from the same month in 2008. For the 2009 calendar year, the room occupancy rate was 43 percent, down 9 percent from 2008.
•Reported Decatur was one of 85 sites chosen to be part of the Alabama Passport for Fitness. Visitors who complete a historic walking tour in Decatur will get a stamp to add to their passport.
•Reported it sent a bid to host the NCAA Division II men’s and women’s cross country championships in 2013. Events will occur at the Oakville Indian Mounds trails in cooperation with the Jesse Owens Runners Club.
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau board of directors conducted the following business during its monthly meeting Thursday:
•Reported state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, helped get $25,000 in state tourism money to pay for more way-finding signs for Decatur. The signage will direct visitors to the Jack Allen Soccer Complex and the Delano Park Spashpad, and include welcome signs with paid sponsor names.
•Reported the bureau had $40,532 in income in February and $50,656 in expenses for a net loss of $10,123. Income for the first five months of fiscal 2010 showed a net loss of $44,971. Treasurer Wade Weaver said the net losses are due to lagging lodging taxes, and the bureau has made as many cuts to expenses as it can and still be able to promote the city and county. The bureau has reserves to ride out the economic downturn, he said.
•Reported the city collected $49,533 in lodging taxes in December, down 4 percent from the same month in 2008. The bureau receives 75 percent of the lodging taxes for operating expenses. For the fiscal year, lodging taxes are down 23 percent.
•Reported the $2-per-night hotel occupancy fee generated $27,605 in December, down from $28,140 for the same month in 2008. The fund has $163,888 for the fiscal year, down 15.7 percent from the same time period in 2008.
•Reported 33 percent of Decatur hotel rooms were occupied in December, down 1 percent from the same month in 2008. For the 2009 calendar year, the room occupancy rate was 43 percent, down 9 percent from 2008.
•Reported Decatur was one of 85 sites chosen to be part of the Alabama Passport for Fitness. Visitors who complete a historic walking tour in Decatur will get a stamp to add to their passport.
•Reported it sent a bid to host the NCAA Division II men’s and women’s cross country championships in 2013. Events will occur at the Oakville Indian Mounds trails in cooperation with the Jesse Owens Runners Club.
2 soccer events opt to return to Decatur
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The State Cup and Governor’s Cup soccer tournaments that have enjoyed the Jack Allen Soccer Complex the past three years will be back for three more.
Kayla Riggs, special events coordinator for the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, confirmed Thursday the two tournaments will be back in Decatur in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The two tournaments, held on back-to-back weekends in November, filled 1,798 room nights in 2007, 1,137 room nights in 2008 and 900 room nights in 2009. All three years combined generated an economic impact of $2.3 million, according to figures reported by the bureau.
The State Cup involves Division I U-15 and older players and Division II U-14 players. The Governor’s Cup is a Division I Final Four for U-15 players.
Decatur will also be host this weekend for the Olympic Development Program College Showcase.
Riggs said, based on rooms booked through the bureau, the event will fill 482 room nights in Decatur and 254 room nights in Madison and Huntsville.
The bureau has reported in the past some teams spend the night outside Decatur after Decatur hotels run out of rooms with two beds.
The State Cup and Governor’s Cup soccer tournaments that have enjoyed the Jack Allen Soccer Complex the past three years will be back for three more.
Kayla Riggs, special events coordinator for the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, confirmed Thursday the two tournaments will be back in Decatur in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The two tournaments, held on back-to-back weekends in November, filled 1,798 room nights in 2007, 1,137 room nights in 2008 and 900 room nights in 2009. All three years combined generated an economic impact of $2.3 million, according to figures reported by the bureau.
The State Cup involves Division I U-15 and older players and Division II U-14 players. The Governor’s Cup is a Division I Final Four for U-15 players.
Decatur will also be host this weekend for the Olympic Development Program College Showcase.
Riggs said, based on rooms booked through the bureau, the event will fill 482 room nights in Decatur and 254 room nights in Madison and Huntsville.
The bureau has reported in the past some teams spend the night outside Decatur after Decatur hotels run out of rooms with two beds.
New riverboat cruise includes Decatur
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur will be one of 11 stops on a new Historic Rivers excursion cruise, with the first passengers arriving in April.
“Who needs the Queen?” joked Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau. She was referring to the excursion riverboats Delta Queen, now permanently tied up at Chattanooga, and Mississippi Queen, which hasn’t stopped in Decatur since July 2008.
Becoming one of the destinations shows Decatur’s historic homes and downtown shopping have a positive reputation with cruise planners, she said.
Lori Boger, bureau sales manager, said the bureau didn’t have to sell the city because officials from the cruise line, American Canadian Caribbean, contacted her and said they planned to come to Decatur and needed brochures to give to passengers.
The bureau will offer the same hospitality it did for the Delta and Mississippi queens, with guided tours of the historic districts and transportation to shopping on Bank Street and Second Avenue downtown.
The only negative is the boat won’t arrive until afternoon each time, leaving just a few hours for passengers to tour Decatur, Reist said.
The 175-foot-long ship that will stop in Decatur on April 22 and May 2 is called the Niagara Prince. It has 34 passenger cabins and can accommodate 70 guests. It was built in 1994 and refurbished last year.
The cruise line planned to dock at Riverwalk Marina, but Reist said that might change because American Canadian Caribbean wasn’t aware that Decatur had a riverboat docking facility at Rhodes Ferry Park.
Vera DaSilva, marketing specialist for American Canadian Caribbean, said the Rhode Island-based cruise line has a reputation for its casual and personal experience, and 70 percent of its customers return for more voyages.
“Our whole thing is it makes you feel like you’re on a private yacht,” she said. “It’s all about getting to the places you rarely get to see.”
Capt. Luther Blount, a shipbuilder, founded the cruise line in 1966 to give the public the same yachting experiences he enjoyed with his family and friends, DaSilva said. Blount invented the bow landing system, which allows his shallow ships to sail a few feet from shore and let passengers disembark right onto the beach. He also developed the retractable pilot house, which allows his ships to sail under low bridges on rivers and canals.
Decatur will be a stop on two separate legs of a three-section trip from New Orleans to Chicago. The first leg, starting April 16, is from New Orleans to Knoxville; the second leg, starting April 29, is from Knoxville to Nashville; and the third leg, starting May 10, is from Nashville to Chicago.
First-leg passengers, who pay between $3,145 and $3,835 per room, can visit Bourbon Street, Bellingraph Gardens, Waverly Plantation, Shiloh Military Park, Lookout Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The cruise line’s description of Decatur said, “Visit the celebrated historic districts and cruise Tennessee’s Grand Canyon, carved through the Cumberland Mountains.”
This is the first time American Canadian Caribbean has scheduled an excursion on the Tennessee River, DaSilva said, and she expected it will do well based on success of previous river cruises.
Decatur will be one of 11 stops on a new Historic Rivers excursion cruise, with the first passengers arriving in April.
“Who needs the Queen?” joked Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau. She was referring to the excursion riverboats Delta Queen, now permanently tied up at Chattanooga, and Mississippi Queen, which hasn’t stopped in Decatur since July 2008.
Becoming one of the destinations shows Decatur’s historic homes and downtown shopping have a positive reputation with cruise planners, she said.
Lori Boger, bureau sales manager, said the bureau didn’t have to sell the city because officials from the cruise line, American Canadian Caribbean, contacted her and said they planned to come to Decatur and needed brochures to give to passengers.
The bureau will offer the same hospitality it did for the Delta and Mississippi queens, with guided tours of the historic districts and transportation to shopping on Bank Street and Second Avenue downtown.
The only negative is the boat won’t arrive until afternoon each time, leaving just a few hours for passengers to tour Decatur, Reist said.
The 175-foot-long ship that will stop in Decatur on April 22 and May 2 is called the Niagara Prince. It has 34 passenger cabins and can accommodate 70 guests. It was built in 1994 and refurbished last year.
The cruise line planned to dock at Riverwalk Marina, but Reist said that might change because American Canadian Caribbean wasn’t aware that Decatur had a riverboat docking facility at Rhodes Ferry Park.
Vera DaSilva, marketing specialist for American Canadian Caribbean, said the Rhode Island-based cruise line has a reputation for its casual and personal experience, and 70 percent of its customers return for more voyages.
“Our whole thing is it makes you feel like you’re on a private yacht,” she said. “It’s all about getting to the places you rarely get to see.”
Capt. Luther Blount, a shipbuilder, founded the cruise line in 1966 to give the public the same yachting experiences he enjoyed with his family and friends, DaSilva said. Blount invented the bow landing system, which allows his shallow ships to sail a few feet from shore and let passengers disembark right onto the beach. He also developed the retractable pilot house, which allows his ships to sail under low bridges on rivers and canals.
Decatur will be a stop on two separate legs of a three-section trip from New Orleans to Chicago. The first leg, starting April 16, is from New Orleans to Knoxville; the second leg, starting April 29, is from Knoxville to Nashville; and the third leg, starting May 10, is from Nashville to Chicago.
First-leg passengers, who pay between $3,145 and $3,835 per room, can visit Bourbon Street, Bellingraph Gardens, Waverly Plantation, Shiloh Military Park, Lookout Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The cruise line’s description of Decatur said, “Visit the celebrated historic districts and cruise Tennessee’s Grand Canyon, carved through the Cumberland Mountains.”
This is the first time American Canadian Caribbean has scheduled an excursion on the Tennessee River, DaSilva said, and she expected it will do well based on success of previous river cruises.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Point Mallard Park is Alabama's Number One Seasonal Attraction
Montgomery, Ala – Approximately 138,000 people visited Point Mallard Park in Decatur last year, ranking it number one in attendance among seasonal attractions in Alabama.
Water World Park in Dothan was second in attendance with 48,215. Attendance figures used to compile the list were provided to the Alabama Tourism Department by local tourism organizations.
The Alabama Tourism Department released the Top 10 attendance figures for other categories. Beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast were the number one natural destination in the state attracting 4.5 million visitors last year. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville attracted 470,323 visitors to make it the most attended paid attraction. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens attracted 350,000 visitors to make it the most attended free attraction. More than 800,000 people attended Mobile’s Mardi Gras making it the most attended event. Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn was the number one sports destination with 676,912 fans attending Auburn University home football games. For more information contact the Alabama Tourism Department or visit www.alabama.travel.
Water World Park in Dothan was second in attendance with 48,215. Attendance figures used to compile the list were provided to the Alabama Tourism Department by local tourism organizations.
The Alabama Tourism Department released the Top 10 attendance figures for other categories. Beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast were the number one natural destination in the state attracting 4.5 million visitors last year. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville attracted 470,323 visitors to make it the most attended paid attraction. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens attracted 350,000 visitors to make it the most attended free attraction. More than 800,000 people attended Mobile’s Mardi Gras making it the most attended event. Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn was the number one sports destination with 676,912 fans attending Auburn University home football games. For more information contact the Alabama Tourism Department or visit www.alabama.travel.
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