Attractions

The City With Soul is Ready for You

Categories
Featured Communities Communities Trace Blog Mississippi Itineraries Attractions Blog Trip Ideas

The City With Soul is Ready for You

The City With Soul is Ready for You

Ready for an authentic experience? Then it’s time to visit Mississippi’s state capital, Jackson the “City with Soul.”

Jackson abounds with cultural and historic attractions, the kind that are iconic in our nation’s history such as the Medgar Evers Home Museum and the Mississippi State Capitol. The Mississippi Freedom Trail, which spans the entire state and contains several sites significant to the civil rights movement, meanders through the city as well.

LeFleur’s Bluff State Park is a lovely setting for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, which offers hiking trails and an aquarium. Its lush green space is a nice compliment to the Natchez Trace Parkway’s sense of nature. You can also find fishing, picnic areas, nature paths, and 28 sites for tent and RV camping in the area.

Jackson’s museums are where it excels. You can explore many significant facets of American history through a local perspective. I began at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures, which links Islamic civilizations worldwide with the earliest enslaved Muslims who came to Mississippi plantations. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Mississippi History Museum and Civil Rights Museum tell the stories that touch the heart and soul.

For those ready to dive into the culinary scene, Jackson is a city for foodies. You’ll be in heaven if you enjoy Southern comfort cuisine as much as I do. Many eateries have been around for years. Comeback sauce, a Southern favorite, is thought to have origins at the 1935 Greek-style eatery Mayflower Cafe. Both Big Apple Inn and Bully’s Restaurant are well-known for their pig’s ears sandwiches and award-winning soul food, respectively. But it’s not just dated restaurants. Parlor Market and The Iron Horse Grill serve contemporary cuisine in historical settings. The Fondren neighborhood’s Walker’s Drive-In is also popular local hangouts with excellent options.

Jacksonians are enthusiastic people with a winning attitude. You’ll feel right at home because of their intrinsic feeling of genuine welcome! Because of its attractions, award-winning chefs, unique restaurants, various exciting events, three historic cultural districts, the abundance of visual and performing and trendy nightlife, Jackson is the perfect destination for your next adventure.

Let’s See Some Blooms!

Categories
Trip Ideas Communities Trace Blog Tennessee Mississippi Attractions Blog

Let’s See Some Blooms!

Let’s See Some Blooms!

Who’s ready for sunny days? We sure are!

During the spring months, the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway is set to bloom into full beauty as the sun peeks out and the temperatures rise. We are happy to announce that springtime is around the corner, and the dogwoods, redbuds, and blooming wildflowers are starting to pop up along the Trace! It’s the perfect time to get outdoors to enjoy this gorgeous spring scenery.

Natchez, Mississippi

From Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, the Natchez Trace Parkway is vibrant with wildflowers for all to enjoy. As you travel this 444-mile route, the flowering trees give the perfect opportunity to experience springtime. Whether your unhurried trip through time is by car, RV, bike, or foot, take a moment to appreciate the foliage’s natural charm and snap a picture or two.

See NPS’s list of common wildflowers and where to look for them along the Natchez Trace.

Travelers enjoying the scenery

You can even stumble upon a special site at milepost 275.2 called Dogwood Valley. This site entails a 10-12 minute walk through a valley where unusually large dogwood trees tower overhead, often revealing an array of bright blooms. While walking, you’ll encounter a short section of the original Trace and walk through footsteps of history.

Dogwoods in bloom on the Natchez Trace

But spring isn’t just meant for dogwoods and redbuds to come out and appreciate the sunshine. Visitors can enjoy outdoor recreational activities like cycling, hiking, fishing, and camping. Bring your loved ones, friends, and the pups – all is welcome on the Trace!

Check out our Instagram photos and Pinterest board to see more spring flowers dotted along the way. And remember that not only is the Natchez Trace Parkway a National Scenic Byway, it’s also a historic one. Take the time to visit the interpretive sites and attractions to get a true feel of its culture and history.

Springtime is the perfect time to get out and explore the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway! Please keep in mind estimated bloom times are difficult to predict due to the length of the Parkway and the variations in weather. Often times, the blooming of dogwood and redbud trees begin in mid-March on the southern sections of the Parkway and travel north, continuing through late April or early May.

Redbud trees along the Natchez Trace Parkway
Redbud trees along the Natchez Trace Parkway

Start planning your trip! Download your free Natchez Trace Visitors Guide.

Follow @TheNatchezTrace on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! #TheNatchezTrace

Explore Tennessee … Your Spring Road Trip

Categories
Trace Blog Tennessee Attractions Communities Blog Leiper’s Fork Nashville Collinwood Franklin Hohenwald Restaurants Restaurants

Explore Tennessee … Your Spring Road Trip

Explore Tennessee … Your Spring Road Trip

Music, homemade biscuits, beautiful outdoor vistas, waterfall and hikes … ready to explore Tennessee?

The area features beautiful natural areas, remnants of early America and the legacies of some of the greatest artists and musicians in American history.

Visit the Wayne County Welcome Center in Collinwood for a hearty welcome to Tennessee, and learn about one of the undiscovered gems along the Natchez Trace. In Collinwood and Waynesboro, you can find deals in antique stores and an inviting downtown made to stretch your legs.  For outdoor enthusiasts, rent a pontoon boat and float the Tennessee River, go canoeing on the lovely Buffalo River or Shoal Creek, or inquire about hunting and fishing in the many rivers and verdant valleys.

Lewis County holds exhibits on early American settlements, the Meriwether Lewis monument/Burial Site, Civil War history and Gordonsburg mining. You can also find a 1960s commune, an Amish and Mennonite payment, General Store, two wineries along the Natchez Trace Wine Trail, working alpaca and horse farms, antique shops with small town prices, unique clothing, specialty restaurants, horseback riding trails and gift shops. Even the country’s largest natural habitat refuge explicitly created for endangered African and Asian elephants is located in Lewis County.

If Sunday morning had a hometown, it would be the quaint community of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. A unique fusion of scenic settings, culture and Southern cuisine can be found at this come-as-you-are treasure off the Natchez Trace Parkway just south of Franklin. You’ll discover the pinnacle of elegance with a side of BBQ and southern charm in Leiper’s Fork thanks to the community’s distinguished force of local artists and galleries, as well as landmarks such as the renowned Fox & Locke and its iconic open mic night stage. You’re likely to feel at home during any visit to Leiper’s Fork, whether you attend a play at the Lawnchair Theatre, sip local whiskey or unwind on a front porch by a fire pit.

Franklin is the ideal location if you want to unwind and experience southern refinement. You will become immersed in a new adventure in a lovely place, from locally-owned distilleries to their nationally famous, historic Main Street. Tennessee’s Franklin is located just south of Nashville. The 1864 Battle of Franklin was fought at this important American Civil War location, and the city is also home to the Carter House and Carnton Plantation, which also contains the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. There is a sizable collection of 19th-century furniture in the Lotz House from 1858. Main Street’s downtown is lined with art galleries, antique stores, and renovated Victorian structures.

Families of all ages may take an enjoyable road trip to Tennessee’s Natchez Trace section to learn about the country’s rich history and experience nature. Spring break and spring blooms are just around the corner, so let’s get to planning! Also, be sure to check out our friends at Nashville’s Big Back Yard for more in-depth stories and history on the area.

Attractions in Leiper’s Fork

Categories
Attractions

Attractions in Leiper’s Fork

You won’t want to miss the Natchez Trace Parkway as it winds through Leiper’s Fork. The Parkway is a 444-mile drive through exceptional scenery and 10,000 years of North American history. Used by American Indians, “Kaintucks”, settlers, and future presidents, the Old Trace played an important role in American history. Today, visitors can enjoy not only a scenic drive but also hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

Click here to see more attractions near Leiper’s Fork.

Click here for shopping in Leiper’s Fork.