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Trace The Natchez Trace This Winter

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You can walk through history on the Sunken Trace/NPS

Travel two centuries ago was a water world, where rivers were the highways for exploration and movement across new lands. Thick forests hampered overland travel, but the need for connections between river drainages was keen, and primitive overland trails were created.

The Natchez Trace is one such trail, stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Today, it'™s a unit of the National Park System as the Natchez Trace Parkway, and makes a good tour, even in winter months.

Winter reveals a different world on the Trace, as hardwood leaves drop, opening views into the surrounding landscape. An auto-tour is a wonderful, relaxing way to see the countryside. This is not a high-speed thoroughfare with truck traffic. There are many picnic areas and hiking trails to stretch your legs, and an historian will delight in the stories interpreted along the way.

You'™ll cross eight watersheds and four ecosystems that are home to 1,500 species of plants, 134 species of birds, 70 types of reptiles, and 33 species of mammals. Even in winter you will be able to spot some of these (especially deer) along the way.

In the winter the weather'™s warmer the farther south, of course, but you can drive the whole length of the Parkway, or pick and choose your section according to the temperatures.

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Snow does occasionally fall along the trace, such as the time it fell on the parkway information cabin at Ridgeland, Mississippi/NPS

Don'™t miss the Emerald Mound, a 1,500-year-old Native American ceremonial site at Milepost 10 (ten miles north of Natchez). And, for a true taste of the times, take a tour of Mount Locust, at Milepost 15. 'œIt'™s an old-style plantation home from the late 1700s,' says Natchez Trace Parkway Chief of Interpretation Terry Wildy. 'œIt'™s one of the few structures left from the heyday of the old trade, and the only public one.'

The Trace itself saw so much traffic that the travelers'™ feet wore a sunken corridor through the forest; it'™s an easily visible and walkable corridor in many sites along the Parkway. (There'™s a good example of a sunken trace 41.5 miles north of Natchez.)

Pull your car over and get out on the Trace. Envision yourself in the early 19th century, miles from civilization, with imagined and real threats from robbers, animals, and natives protecting their lands, seemingly behind every tree. You'™ll be walking in the footsteps of Jefferson Davis, James Audubon, Ulysses S. Grant, and General Andrew Jackson.

Take your time and explore one of America'™s unique trails.

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And before you go, or while you're traveling the Trace, read William C. Davis' "A Way Through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier."


Just did the Trace over 4 days this summer and thought I'd chime in on my favorite stops along the way (and adjacent areas) in case anyone needs ideas in the future. The list is from Nashville to Natchez:  

 

MM 438  Birdsong Hollow in Williamson County, Tn. The nation's first double arch bridge spanning 1648ft and 155ft tall.  A really cool looking bridge just south of Nashville.

 

MM 404.7 Jackson Falls -Restrooms and Drinking Water. Gorgeous view, and the hike to get there is a beauty (down and back up a 900 ft decent). Really awesome little falls.

 

MM 386 Meriwether Lewis - Famous explorer Lewis died a mysterious death here. Visit the grave at this 300-acre park. Self-guided walking trails and restrooms. Info Cabin is open Wed-Fri, 1p-5p, Sat-Sun, 9:30a-5p, Closed Dec 25. New VC.

 

Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center

501 West Linden Street Corinth, Mississippi 38834  (662) 287-9273

Part of Shiloh Battlefield National Park. Really great visitor center. River of blocks in the back is great. One of the better national park visitor centers I have been to. I thought it was better than the Shiloh and Vicksburg Battlefield Visitor Centers.

 

Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum

http://www.elvispresleybirthplace.com/the-tour/elvis-presley-museum/

306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, MS              662-841-1245

You don't have to pay to have a good time. Just walk around the outside for free and check out the historical buildings.

 

Neon Pig Cafe

1203 N. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS  662-269-2533

http://www.neonpig.net/

Mon-Sat: 11a-9p   Sun: 11a-4p

Great restaurant for a sit down lunch in Tupelo.

Interesting burgers, po-boys, grilled sandwiches, pie

 

MM 180.7 French Camp - Historical gift shop and restraurant and museum.   Mon-Sat 9a-4p,

 

MM 175.6 Cole Creek - Cool Swamp with cypress trees

 

MM 122 Cypress Swamp - .5m boardwalk trail through Cypress Swamp. Possible alligators. Can access the Natchez Trail here.

 

Mississippi Craft Center

950 Rice Rd. Ridgeland, Ms                601.856.7546

Exit parkway at Old Canton Road and travel south to Rice Road. Turn left on Rice Road and the center will be on the left. Open year round 9a-5p

Mscrafts.org. Facility displaying work of more than 150 artisans including Choctaw baskets and pottery, old-fashioned quilts, carvings in natural wood and an eclectic array. Demonstrations and art for sale.

 

The Tomato Place

Restaurant, Art Gallery, Veg Stand

3229 Hwy 61 South Vicksburg   39180         601-661-0040

Mon-Sun 8a-8p - PO boys, Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Cobbler, Fried Green Tomatoes

 

Solly's Hot Tamales

1921 Washington St  Vicksburg, MS    39180 601-636-2020

Tues-Sat 11a-8p          8/97TA

Legit Mississippi Delta Tamales -  Hot Tamales, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches, Burritos

A Serious Dive

 

MM 30 Windsor Ruins - Take Mississippi Hwy 552 West and follow the signs

15095 Rodney Rd., Port Gibson, Ms             601.437.4351

Remains of one of the largest antebellum mansions built in the state. Spared during the Civil War, but  burned in 1890. 23 columns remain. Open daily, Dawn to Dusk. Free.


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