Be sure you are hungry when you head to Natchez. The food is great and around every corner is something you will want to try. Maybe it is blueberry lemonade and a slice of banana caramel pie (photo above) at Mammy’s or the diver scallops and jumbo shrimp at Restaurant 1818. Whether you choose to go casual or elegant, Natchez offers it all.
Here are some of my personal favorites:
* Steak and bacon braised brussel sprouts at The Castle at Dunleith.
* Everything at Restaurant 1818, which is located at Monmouth Historic Inn. If you stay at Monmouth, you get a complimentary breakfast. The grits are amazing (I don’t even like grits, but I fell in love with these). And they serve amazing Colombian coffee by Citavo.
* Mint Juleps at the Quitman Lounge at Monmouth. They are world renowned.
* Catfish Briars at Magnolia Grill with the asparagus and stuffed potato.
* Everything at Mammy’s, but I love the layered salad, the sandwich bread is to die for, and the banana caramel pie. Wash that all down with the blueberry lemonade and you are set.
* Steampunk Coffee Roasters has a great selection of coffee, tea and treats.
*The Carriage House at Stanton Hall is a really great place for lunch. I love their tomato aspic and all their salad plates.
Now for the fun…
You have to see the photo exhibit at the Presbyterian Church on Franklin Street. It is an amazing collection of photographs from the the mid 1800s to early 1900s. They document the people, houses and events of that time.
The antique shops on Franklin Street. Great place to find a souvenir.
A carriage ride around downtown. You will see the carriages on Pearl Street.
The Natchez City Cemetery has some beautiful monuments. Park the car and walk around. There are wonderfully detailed fences, mausoleums, and grave markers. If the weather is pretty, be sure you plan to be there a couple of hours.
Driving tour of the antebellum homes. Since they are not all open for tours, you can at least drive by. There are several books which list the homes, provide a brief history of each, and show them on a map. One such book is “The Majesty of Natchez,” which is relatively inexpensive at $17.95 at the Visitor Center.
Go to a casino. See a theatre production. Visit the Old South Winery. There are several annual events that you could plan to attend in addition to the pilgrimage, such as the Festival of Music, Christmas in Natchez, Literary and Cinema Celebration, Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, and more!
2016 marks Natchez’ 300th anniversary and they have planned to celebrate all year long. Why not join them?