Listed in the book, “The 100 Best Towns in America”. Natchez, Mississippi is one of the jewels of the old South. It is the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River. Natchez is home to sumptuous antebellum houses and raucous riverside gambling. It is also the home tothe cultural heritage of the Natchez Indians for whom the town is named.
It is relatively small, with a population of approximately 16,000 people. Natchez offers more than enough activities to fill an entire day. It will leave you wishing you had more time to spend in this charming Southern town.
Natchez Cruise Itinerary
Start your day off right with a gourmet coffee and breakfast at Steampunk Coffee Roasters. The cafe boasts a cool and funky vibe where travelers and locals alike come for the coffee and stay for the conversation. Although it’s a little off the beaten path, the quiches, fresh pastries and stand-out drinks make this a can’t miss stop.
Steampunk Coffee Roasters 114 High St (601) 870-6882
http://www.steampunkcoffeeroasters.com/
Once you have fueled up for the day ahead, head to the Natchez Visitor Center. There you can learn about the history of how the city came to be with a short 20 minute video, The Natchez Story. You can also pick up a tourist map of the town as well as souvenirs at the gift shop.
Natchez Visitor Center 640 S Canal St (601) 446-6345
Activities
Natchez, Mississippi is a charming city with lots of history and southern hospitality. If you only have one day to spend in Natchez, here are some top things to do:
Visit the Natchez National Historical Park: The Natchez National Historical Park is a collection of historic sites that tell the story of Natchez and the surrounding area.
Take a carriage ride through the city: A carriage ride is a great way to see the city and learn about its history.
Tour a historic home: Natchez is home to many historic homes that are open to the public, such as the Rosalie Mansion and the Longwood Mansion.
Visit the Mississippi River Overlook: The Mississippi River Overlook provides stunning views of the river and the surrounding area.
Try some southern cuisine: Natchez is known for its delicious southern food, such as fried chicken, cornbread, and sweet potato pie.
Explore Natchez
After orienting yourself, it’s time to explore what Natchez is most famous for: the beautiful and majestic antebellum homes that dot the city. There are over 1,000 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. Approximately a dozen of those buildings are National Historic Landmarks. Tour the last mansion to be build before the Civil War, Magnolia House. It features a costume museum and is famed for it’s Greek Revival Architecture. The Monmouth Plantation, built in 1818, is one of the grandest homes in the region and features beautiful gardens and much of the original furniture. Dunleith House, a National Historic Landmark, is the only house in Mississippi surrounded by colonnades.
Magnolia Hall 215 S Pearl St (601) 442-6672
http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com/
Monmouth Plantation 36 Melrose Ave (601) 442-5852
http://www.monmouthhistoricinn.com/
Dunleith House 84 Homochitto St (800) 433-2445
Dining
After a long morning touring stately homes, you will have no doubt worked up a serious appetite. The Rolling River Bistro, in the heart of downtown offers healthy soup and salad combinations as well as local favorites like shrimp and grits or vegetable po-boy sandwiches.
Rolling River Bistro 406 Main St (601) 442-6601
http://rrbistro.com/index.php/menu/
Natchez is named after the local Indian tribes who inhabited the region prior to French settlement in the 1700’s. Their original base was the Grand Village, where the homes of great chiefs and sacred burial mounds were located. As the French settlers continued to arrive in greater numbers, the Indians were forced to abandon their territory to avoid persecution and possible slavery. Today, to recognize the difficulties of the native populations and honor their culture, the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians stands as a museum and cultural center to teach about the complicated history of the region. The museum houses artifacts from the ancient village. There are reconstructions of Natchez Indian homes and the three prehistoric burial mounds that were so important to Natchez Indian culture.
Grand Village of the Natchez 400 Jeff Davis Blvd (601) 446-6502
http://www.mississippi.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Night Life
Designed to look like an old saw mill, the Magnolia Bluffs Casino, perched along the Mississippi river, is the only site in town where you can try your luck at poker, roulette or the slot machines. If you’re looking to check out the more exciting side of Natchez culture, this casino should do the trick. If gambling isn’t your thing, the deck overlooking the river is the perfect location to have a drink while watching the sun set on the delta.
Magnolia Bluffs Casino 7 Roth Hill Road (601) 235-0045
After a full day of sightseeing, dinner is likely first and foremost on your mind. Get a true taste of the south at The Castle Restaurant, located on the grounds of Dunleith House. Sample traditional cajun and creole cuisine, such as crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, or gumbo while dining in the historic original carriage house. It has been built to look like a mini-castle.
The Castle Dunleith Historic Inn, 84 Homochitto St (601) 446-8500
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