20210621_082542

Denise

Swain

3 years of experience
Huntsville, Alabama/Deep South
United States of America (USA)

Contact Options

About

I am a southern girl who loves sharing the culture, the climate and the curiosity of the Deep South. My hometown is the coastal region of south Georgia. Currently I reside in the cradle of civil rights — Alabama. Today I am passionate about keeping stories alive. Particularly I seek to share the narrative of unsung heroes and those names left out of the headlines.

For me, history came alive in the 1990s when I first visited the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to then, history was only memorizing dates and places. But in that pivotal moment, history was awakened in my spirit as I beheld the balcony where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and I gazed at the hotel room where he spent his final night. That 1990s experience ignited a fire that remains ablaze today.

Exploration and asking questions is high on my priority list. My leisure time includes hiking, bicycling and southern-style front-porch conversation and laughter.

Tours Offered & Destination Knowledge

Cultural/Specialty ToursExperience HostFood & Drink ToursGeneral Walking ToursLarge Group ToursLocal GuideMulti-Day Tour Director/LeaderPrivate ToursStudent Tour DirectorTour Business Owner/Operator

As an Deep South tour director, I am experienced in the following itineraries:

Alabama: Birmigham, Tuskegee, Selma, Montgomery, Huntsville

Tennessee:  Memphis, Nashville

Georgia: St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Brunswick, Sea Island

 

As a local Huntsville, Alabama tour guide I specialize in:

Downtown Huntsville
Arts Community & Local Murals 
African American History 

Fun Fact!
I have finished 7 half-marathons
Hobbies & Interests
Entertaining friends and engaging in deep conversation around the dinner table is an essential activity. You'll find me outdoors -- immersing myself in the forest while hiking local trails. You will also find me on the front row of local outdoor concerts and taking in the vista from a rooftop venue.

Virtual Tour Experience

Served as a Virtual Tour Guide for CE Tours. Led virtual tours via a package called "Southern Soul Cities" and "Tennessee Civil Rights" Served as a Group Leader for Road Scholar during their Virtual Tours through selected Civil Rights destinations.

Testimonials

Denise did a wonderful job in explaining the history of Huntsville. Instead of just giving facts and dates she presented the history of people, groups and architecture by telling a story which makes it easier to understand and retain the Information giving. Overall she was a great and fun tour guide.  D Gre.en

Denise crafted a customized full-day exploration of Huntsville and all that it offers, specific to my request and my schedule. Her breadth of information, delivered in a way that made it very easy to grasp and retain, has given me a ton of new knowledge about Huntsville and a desire to return. Next time, I want to do the food tour! It was a terrifically enjoyable and interesting day, and Denise made it all happen!  E. Chue

Thank you so much Denise Brown Swain for the history of the South and Huntsville. We’re so impressed with the places that you presented to us from arts murals, Museums, old towns, science, politics, space, city tours, food and coffee shops and natural trekking. You worked so hard for us and we’re so delighted with the most detailed and informative tour that we ever experienced. For those who wish or plan to go to the South and looking for a guide that can provide you with historical and modern perspectives, I strongly recommend Denise without reservation. #SceneThatTours   K. Kunplin

 

Denise crafted a customized full-day exploration of Huntsville and all that it offers, specific to my request and my schedule. Her breadth of information, delivered in a way that made it very easy to grasp and retain, has given me a ton of new knowledge about Huntsville and a desire to return. Next time, I want to do the food tour! It was a terrifically enjoyable and interesting day, and Denise made it all happen!

We toured the downtown murals and it was fabulous! She even guided us thrift the rain!   Allis J. 

A thoughtful, beautifully curated tour that showcases the best of Huntsville. We LOVED our personal gift bags with masks and hand sanitizer. It's personal touches like this that make Denise's tours so special!    Donna C.

Details

Gateway Airport(s)

HSV, BNA

Licenses

Training

Trip School; International Tour Management Institute

Language(s)

English

Additional Education

Video Mastery, Trip School, 2021

Entrepreneurs Course, Trip School, 2020

Civil Rights Master Class, ITMI, 2019

Leadership Flagship #34, Leadership Greater Huntsville, 2021

Master of Arts in Speech Communication, North Dakota State University, 2010

General Availability

Year Round

Photo Album