Natchez

If you visit the Deep South, you must experience Natchez, Mississippi.  All the notions you have about gracious southern living and architecture are all right here.  The city has block after block of ornate buildings of brick and wrought iron with history dating back to the early 1800’s.  The whole city is a National Historic Park.

There are ten large antebellum (pre-Civil War) homes and many smaller, just as intricately built homes, all with beautiful landscaped gardens (not yards, but manicured gardens).  One of the few places to survive the Civil War intact, and once the fourth wealthiest city in America (after New York, Boston, and Philadelphia).   (Note:  We paid a visit to “The Rosalie” built just before the Civil War.  Picture above.  One of the smaller homes is pictured here to the right.)

The “proper” city folk homes are perched on and over the bluff, but there is a location called “Under the Hill” just below the ridge.  Once the gambling and prostitution area of the town.  I believe Mark Twain mentioned it in his book about his travels down the Mississippi River and there is a small inn called the “Mark Twain” located there today.  Looks pretty tame these days.

Although we are visiting in the fall with colorful leaves (perfect weather today), the springtime must be really special with azaleas, camellias, and fragrant magnolias.  In the spring, the city features the Natchez Pilgrimage with over 30 homes and private gardens open to the public.  The hosts dress in antebellum dresses (think Scarlett in “Gone With the Wind”). 

The nice aspect of visiting this time of year—almost no tourists.