Day 1: Jackson to Natchez
Another easy drive of 100 miles. We did a couple of short hikes at Rocky Springs, including some bushwacking on one when we lost the trail. We could see the car so we just worked our way to that. There were a couple of random safes in the woods. When the village died, they were too heavy to haul out so they left them. The Owens Creek waterfall is just south of Rocky Springs.
The further south we go the more storm damage we see.
The Sunken Trace section on this stretch was one of the best on the parkway.
At the Sunken Trace stop we met a nice woman who was walking her elderly dog. She told us about the Windsor Ruins, which she said was the most photographed place in Mississippi. So we drove 12 miles out there. It was a pretty drive and eerie. Just corinthian columns and some attached iron balconies are left. The house survived the Civil War but burned around 1890. There’s a dramatic example of erosion nearby too.
We thought Port Gibson would be worth a stop but there wasn’t much there, other than a famous steeple with a golden pointing finger. (Our new friend also told us about that, the second most photographed place in Mississippi.)
Mount Locust is one of the remaining structures on the Trace. They’ve recreated the interior too.
The Loess Bluff stop has a good example of the unique soil in the area.
Emerald Mound was unimpressive. So was the Elizabeth Female Academy, though the story was good. It was the first school of higher learning for females in Mississippi, and one of the first in the USA. All that’s left is a ruined wall. It burned in the late 1870s.
We had dinner at The Guest House, where we’re also staying. I expected there would be more bed and breakfasts along the Natchez Trace, but Natchez was the only stop where I found any.
Day 2: Exploring Natchez
We had our first full southern breakfast today: eggs, bacon/sausage, grits, biscuit. Coffee and OJ.
Today we are staying in town. We walked over to the Mississippi River first.
Then we meandered around town looking at old houses. We stopped back at our room for water, the potty, and some rest, then did more walking, taking a winding path culminating at the Natchez Brewery for beer and pizza.
Tomorrow we head for the gulf at Bay Saint Louis.
Essentials
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Lodging
We had one of the queen rooms on the second floor. It was beautiful and comfortable, and opened onto a shared balcony that we took full advantage of. The full Southern breakfast served by the personable and efficient Henry was tasty and filling. Great location right downtown.
Dining
There were several restaurants in Natchez that sounded interesting.
Transportation
We drove our own car.