Southern Relaxation Method - Bed & Breakfast

Click here to go to the NatchezMS.com Bed & Breakfast page.

Stress relief should be about relaxation, right?  How about sleeping in a soft bed, surrounded by beautiful furnishings, waking to the smell of bacon, biscuits and coffee, with a view of beautiful gardens out the window.  Fantasy?  No, that's a typical guest being pampered in a Natchez Bed & Breakfast.  What sets them apart from the rest?

First thing is, Historical Setting.  Practically every Natchez Bed & Breakfast is an antebellum home (built before the Civil War) or a Victorian home.  Checking into one is like stepping back in time.  The architecture historic, the furnishings authentic, so your bed may be a large, comfy, beautifully canopied, four-poster Tester.  A stay almost always includes a tour of the home, but you can ALWAYS figure on Southern Hospitality, and that brings me to the second thing...

The Second thing is - you guessed it, Southern Hospitality.  We're just naturally friendly and welcoming.  Guests don't stay strangers for long; after all, you are sleeping in our beds and eating at our tables.  You've got a question or request?  Just ask.  We consider it our privilege and pleasure, as well as a social obligation to help you feel comfortable and enjoy your time in Natchez to its fullest.  That's just the way our Mamas raised us.

So comfort and hospitality are tops, but nobody makes breakfast like Natchez.  Full Southern Breakfast, with eggs, sausage, bacon, or ham, grits, and those fine biscuits.  You've got a full day ahead of you, touring the homes, shopping, seeing the historical sites, and strolling along the bluff. You're gonna need your energy.

And that's Natchez Bed and Breakfast in a nutshell.  Stress relief?  I haven't even mentioned cocktails on the porch, coffee in the garden, or the innkeeper who becomes more of a friend than a service provider.  Spending time in one of Natchez' bed & breakfasts gets you to slow down, gives you the chance to catch your breath, and leaves you feeling a lot more relaxed.

And isn't that why you took time off in the first place?

Click here to go to the NatchezMS.com Bed & Breakfast page.

Stress Reliever No. 2, Horse-drawn Carriage Ride Through Downtown Natchez

Stressed out at work? Too much pressure from deadlines, quotas, and the like? I can show you a way to relieve that stress without:

• Spending tons of money
• Reading a boring self-help book

Oh Look Mommy, Horses!

Once you're in the downtown area of Natchez, you're sure to arrive at Canal Street, which runs north and south just one block from the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.  On the corner of Canal and State Street you'll see a line of carriages, drawn by horses of good stock.  Riding around the town in one of them automatically sounds like a good idea, but then you think of how expensive they must be, and don't you have better things to do?

Well, they're not - expensive that is.  And there's really no better way to see the downtown area.  For just Fifteen bucks, not only do you get to ride around town, pretending you're antebellum royalty, but you get a great spiel, too.  Each driver is an experienced story-teller and knows each building and location's history like the back of his (or sometimes her) hand.   You'll laugh, you'll be amazed, and you'll wonder at the beauty and charm of Natchez, all while relaxing in the best seat in the house.

It's an easy-going ride that could just as easily lull you into a nap, except that you'd miss all the good stories.  And you'll be sorry when it's all over, especially when you realize that now you'll have to walk on your own, or worse yet, get back into an automobile and drive yourself.  But you're refreshed, and I guarantee you'll thank your driver/guide prodigiously.  Be generous - he really was a nice guy.

And that, my friends, is Stress Reliever No. 2.  Oh, there's more to come, but you'll just have to wait to hear the rest of them - or you could save the suspense and come on down to Natchez.  I'll bet any Natchez local has his or her own way of relieving stress that they'll gladly share with you.

Find Out More

Oh, I almost forgot!  When you want to find out more about Natchez, just log onto NatchezMS.com, the Travel and Tourism directory.

Natchez' Under-The-Hill Saloon, Stress Reliever No. 1

Stressed out at work? Too much pressure from deadlines, quotas, and the like? I can show you a way to relieve that stress without:

• Spending tons of money
• Reading a boring self-help book

Stress Reliever No. 1 - Under-The-Hill Saloon

(Find out more about Natchez at NatchezMS.com.)

Along that very historical section of town below the bluff called Natchez Under The Hill is an oasis for the work world weary. It's the Under-The-Hill Saloon. Offering respite for visitors and locals alike, the Saloon is a rustic old building containing one of the coolest, most storied bars in the U.S.A. Old pictures and relics of times past line the back-bar, or are tacked to the ancient brick walls. Initials carved into the heavy wooden tables testify to the frequent good times had in this bar.

But more than being just a bar, it's a place where greatly diverse people have gathered for decades. Bikers and farmers mingle with business people and tourists, all forgetting their troubles and remembering the good times. Rub elbows with the regulars at the bar, listen to some live music at one of those carved up tables, or grab a seat on the porch and watch the world go by.

If sipping a cool libation in a big, comfortable rocking chair while watching the mightiest of rivers roll down toward New Orleans won't help you forget your troubles, nothing will.

But the Under-The-Hill Saloon is just one of the many "Stress Relievers" we could tell you about in Natchez. There's more to come, but you'll have to keep watching this Blog to find them all out! (how's THAT for a tease?)

Life is too short! Take that trip you've been wanting to take. Relax and have some fun instead of working yourself to an early grave.

That way, when the Grim Reaper walks by and sneers at you, you can sneer back. "Take that, you skeletal cronie!" I had FUN in life. I've seen NATCHEZ!"

"That's right, I feasted sumptuously, shopped for the finest antiques, watched the mighty river roll by, read the freedman's diary, slept where Aaron Burr, Henry Clay, and Jefferson Davis slept. Walked where Indians, flatboatmen, lawyers and other robbers traveled, and saw the place where Mark Twain's steamboat tied up for the night."

"And it was FUN!"

To see more ways to cure stress in Natchez, see NatchezMS.com.

Hoopskirts, Greek Columns, and Antiques, Oh My!

It would be great if I could just describe some of the historical wonders you'll see during Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez, and have you convinced that immediate reservations were in order.  For most of you, however, those descriptions would just make your eyes glaze over.

Looking up at Longwood

Until you're standing next to the gigantic Greek columns of Stanton Hall feeling small and completely awed, or looking up 4 floors into the unfinished rafters of Longwood, or trying to figure out how the wondrously unsupported spiral staircase of Auburn holds weight...until you're actually there, it's hard to understand.  Most historic places of any significance are like that, I think.
But history is only a part of the reason folks travel by the hundreds to Natchez during this season.  Yes, the gardens are beautiful, and the townfolk hospitable, but there's even more.

Downtown Shopping

Like to eat?  Step out the door of your B&B or hotel room and you're probably just a few steps away from rich cuisine of some sort.  And what do you want?  Barbecue?  Fried Catfish?  Sure, we've got plenty and you're welcome to it.  How about some fine, white-tablecloth dining with a great wine list?  Yes, we have that, too.  Surprised?  You shouldn't be.  If you're in a group of 20 Natchezians, most likely one or two of them are world class chefs.  No brag, just fact.
Like to shop?  Natchez has been voted one of the very best places to shop in Mississippi, even in the South.  You may never have seen so many really great antiques shops in one place.  I'm not talking curios and flea markets, but yes, we have those, too.  There are book stores, coffee shops, gift shops, clothing, and fine art shops lining Main Street, Franklin Street, and most of the cross streets between the two.

Kids take part in the Natchez Pageant

Want to see a show?  Take your choice; a Gospel choir freeing you from the chains of slavery; a Pageant that dances and sings its way through the different eras of Natchez history; or stage comedians spoofing Pilgrimage itself.  Something about the folks here, we just love to entertain.
But the part you may enjoy the most?  Simply walking to the edge of the bluff, looking out over the magnificent Mississippi River some 150 feet below, and catching sight of one of the most breathtaking sunsets imaginable.

Sunset on the Mississippi

So, did my descriptions get you thinking about it, at least?  Check out NatchezMS.com's pages full of Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Hotels, and Bed & Breakfasts, then come on down and spend a few days with us, especially during Spring Pilgrimage.  Chances are, you'll find a lot more to excite you than just a few historical wonders.

The Colorful Costumes of Pow-Wow

For centuries before the first white man laid eyes on the land that is now part of the Natchez area, the Natchez Indians lived, and celebrated, and worshipped "The Great Sun." The Natchez are all but extinct now, but several village, burial and ceremonial sites have been found here. One of those is now called "The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians." It is here that the singers, dancers, and peoples of other tribes gather to celebrate a culture that will never come again.
It's a made-for-camera weekend. The dancers flail in their bright costumes, drummers beat out their heartbeat rhythm, singers chant the ancient songs, calling the people to celebrate life the old way.

This past March I was able to be there, trusty camera in hand, to take a few photos.  Enjoy the photography, but come on down yourself next year and experience this event for yourself.  Besides the music and dancing, there's also food and Native American arts and crafts for sale.  It's a fun - and maybe educating - afternoon outing that the whole family can enjoy.
It's just one more of many reasons to come to Natchez for a weekend or so.
If you'd like to see more of my Natchez Pow-Wow photos, Go to my Flickr.com Page!
And to see more about Natchez, Mississippi, click on NatchezMS.Com, The Travel and Tourism Guide to Natchez, Mississippi.

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage

It's Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez, a time when many of the antebellum homes open their doors to tours. Visitors come from all around the world to step inside these architectural and historical wonders, and hear stories about the people who built and lived in them; stories full of humor, drama, and pathos, of great riches brought by king cotton, the devastating ravages of war and the preservation of history.

I've just spent the last 3 days taking photographs at many of those historic homes, and it was a thrill.

Taking pictures was a special treat for those 3 days. The weather was beautiful, camellias were in bloom everywhere (there's one in the first picture), hostesses wearing hoopskirts and antebellum gowns graced each home, and throngs of tourists - we like to call them 'visitors' - roamed the homes and grounds.

The antebellum home Richmond was one I'd never seen before. The mansion was built in different stages and with three distinct architectural types. The front is Greek Revival, the middle is Federal, and the back, the newest portion, is 3 stories of brick.

Elms Court was another I had not seen before, though I happen to know the owners. The massive amounts of wrought iron bordering the frame of the house set it apart from all the others.

Natchez offers morning and afternoon tours, with plenty of time in between for lunch. There's time afterward for shopping and dining, too. Dining in Natchez, like most Southern towns, is a real treat, and there are plenty of restaurants to suit just about any taste.

Evenings can be spent being entertained at the Natchez Pageant, Southern Road to Freedom, or Southern Exposure.

The Natchez Pageant is a series of tableaux, or 'pictures brought to life' representing the different periods of Natchez history, beginning with the Natchez Indians and ending with the Civil War.

Southern Road to Freedom is the story of slavery - and freedom, told with music.

Southern Exposure is a theatrical spoof of Pilgrimage. Yes, we like to make fun, even of ourselves.

Combine all that with some of the most magnificent antiques shopping in the South, a panoramic view of the Mississippi River, and the kind of hospitality that makes one wish he could live here forever, and you've got what we think is the perfect vacation.

So we'd like to know, have you been to Natchez, especially for Spring or Fall Pilgrimage? What did you think? And how can we improve your experience?

What did you like best? Is there anything you didn't like?

And personally, I'd like to know what websites you looked at before you came to Natchez.

That's a lot of questions, but if you'd like to just make a comment about your experience, that's ok, too. But please, make a comment - let us know something about your experience. Better yet, take another look at the questions and answer a few of them.

You'll be helping us make Natchez a better, more fun, more interesting place to visit. And that's what it's all about!

Thanks!

Sam

See more photos of Spring Pilgrimage

>NatchezMS.com, Travel & Tourism Guide to Natchez, Mississippi

Ghosts in Natchez? Plenty and How!

Do you believe in ghosts? Soon it will be the season for them whether you believe or not, what with Halloween and all, and Natchez certainly has its share.
For instance, there's an article about the ghosts of Historic Jefferson College in the local paper today. It seems they're inviting "ghost hunters" to bring their paranormal-seeking equipment to look for evidence of the spirits seen and heard in the buildings and on the grounds around the old school. Here's a link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/ljubbh. I've seen the photo of the 9-year old boy and it's pretty convincing.
Natchez has a lot of antebellum homes (for you yankees, that's homes built before the Civil War) and you can bet nearly every one has a few stories about the doors shutting when no one's around, ghostly figures walking the halls, and other fairly domestic stuff. Haller Nutt is seen wandering the gardens of Longwood and his wife, Julia, climbs the unfinished stairs. The man with the top hat floats through the guest rooms of Linden, and Madeline plays tricks on the guests of King's Tavern. It's said that the woman was murdered and bricked into an old fireplace. They found her skeleton and the bones of two men. We don't know who the guys were, but you can bet there's lots of speculation about how they died. Ooh scary, very scary.
Walt Grayson of "Mississippi Roads" made a video of the walking ghost tour that existed a few years ago, but only caught a few globes of light on film.
Now the ghost tour is aboard a bus, with some stops along the way to see if you can scare up a spirit or two.
Ghost Tales Around the Campfire takes place at Jefferson College the 29th of October. Bring your blanket and/or lawn chair and sit around the bonfire while story-tellers try to scare the bejeesus out of you. Now that's fun, especially if you're the scarer not the scaree.
Intentionally made un-scary, is Angels on the Bluff. This event, held at the City Cemetery the first weekend of November, has local actors portraying the folks who reside in the graves. We've got Revolutionary War soldiers, Confederate generals, gypsies, artists, and every other kind of interesting folk, all with their own stories to tell. See more here: http://tinyurl.com/mguy7y.
So if you're a ghost hunter or just a curious visitor with a hankering to meet someone from the great beyond, come on down. Whether you see spirits or not, you're bound to have some fun trying. Visit www.natchezms.com to see lists of the hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, attractions, and lots more!

Cool Down During Southern Summer

The temperature quickly warms here in the South, but we-all have lots of ways to cool down. If you're thinking about sitting on the porch, watching life go by while fanning yourself with one of those "church fans," well, that's one way. Another way is to have a large glass filled with ice and your favorite libation. We like a tall glass of iced tea, sweet of course, but there are other favorites as well. That brings me to the source of my post.
"Jeff" emailed me asking about some Mint Julep mix that he had purchased somewhere in Natchez. Could they ship more to him, and how much would it cost, he asked. While I was happy to ask the local merchant about this, I also gave Jeff a recipe - one of many I know of - so he could make his own. It's not particularly difficult, but depending on your geographical area you may not have a ready supply of mint leaves. If you can get those, here's the recipe as I told it to him:

-Take a few leaves of mint (it grows like crazy here) and put them in the bottom of a tall glass. A really good julep goes in a pewter cup to keep it cold.
-Muddle the leaves with some simple syrup. Simple syrup is just sugar water cooked down a bit to make it concentrated - syrupy.
-FILL the glass with crushed, or better yet - shaved, ice.
-Pour at least 2 ounces of good whiskey over the ice.
-Stir gently so you mix the ingredients without melting too much ice.
-Sip like a gentleman (or a lady).
Of course, you can play with the amounts of the different ingredients to suit your own taste. Some like more mint, some like more sugar. I like more whiskey.
In the way of background, allow me to offer a few explanations of the procedure:

• "Muddling" is just kind of crushing the leaves and mixing them so the flavor comes out without leaving too many tiny green specks all in your drink.


• Before the days of refrigerators, you can imagine that ice was precious. The pewter cup kept your drink cold and let the ice slowly dilute the drink.


• Some have made the julep with Southern Comfort. I prefer the taste of good whiskey instead.


• Some cheat and make their julep with Creme de Menthe. I suppose that in a pinch I'd understand that, but my first response would be "Yechhhhh!"

Be aware that some folks take such a liking to mint juleps that they find themselves spending a lot of time sipping one under the oak tree, watching other people work, making their womenfolk wear big hats and dresses, and calling their dog "Beauregard."

You've been warned.

Cabins, The Other Accommodation

I'm finding that one of the best sources of topics for my blog comes from emails sent to my travel guide, NatchezMS.com. These emails contain the many questions from folks who are planning trips to Natchez.

Recently, Keith asked about cabins in the area. He wants to do some fishing, but he wants to be close enough to tour Natchez' attractions as well.

The Natchez State Park was the first place I mentioned. The lake is a great place to fish. Mississippi's record largemouth bass was caught here several years ago - more than 18 pounds! The MS Wildlife & Fisheries site is being worked on apparently - not very informative and with some misleading photos on the Natchez page. I sent him to the ReserveAmerica page instead.

Giles Island is the premier spot to hunt and fish in the Miss-Lou. The advantages to this sportsman's paradise are too numerous to mention in this blog. Go see the website!

Sportsman's Lodge is located on Lake Concordia, about 12 miles northwest of Natchez in Louisiana. Concordia is chock full of largemouth, crappie, bream, catfish, and even some stripers or striper hybrid. The Lodge has numerous cabins, a great pier with boat slots, outdoor grills, and a store with gas, bait and snacks.

Lakeview Lodge, on the southern tip of Lake Concordia, is one I don't know a lot about yet, but looks good from the site, and appears to be a good place for groups of fishermen.

If you're looking for something more upscale, try Cypress Shore. It's a two-story house on Lake St. John, just one lake up from Concordia, with a multi-faceted private pier, full kitchen and nice living area. Great for family vacations in the Great Outdoors!

Keith had one caveat; he wants to bring his dog. This isn't always a problem, but it's a good idea to check with the proprietor before bringing a pet to any accommodations.

I hope this proves helpful to those planning vacations in our area. Hotels here can be convenient, comfortable places to stay, but sometimes you want something just a little different.
If I've missed anybody I apologize and I welcome your reply to tell me about your place or your favorite place to stay and fish!

Singin' in the Rain

Looks like the weathermen aren't even having a hard time out there. CNN is rotating views and opinions of all the guys they stuck out in the weather around the New Orleans area. Yes, some of them are getting hit by 45mph winds, but overall, the weather is not nearly as bad as most expected it to be. There is so little weather news that earlier they were giving a tour of the weather cubicles inside CNN.
Here in Natchez, we've had a few sprinkles and the wind is picking up a bit. I'm sure we'll get more rain this afternoon, but it looks like the hurricane is going to be well west of us by the time it reaches our latitude.
Meanwhile, the local newspaper, The Natchez Democrat, had photos of locals preparing evacuee shelters. The pictures evoked memories of three years ago when scores of those we were not allowed to call "refugees" filled to the brim every church gymnasium and warehouse we could supply with water and electricity. Those poor people were here for months trying to figure out whether they could try to return to their homes, or start again somewhere else.
It doesn't look like they'll have that problem this time.

Hurricane's A-Comin'

We're just a few days away from another hurricane. While the eye of the hurricane is predicted to miss New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, that area will most likely bear a forceful storm, perhaps the brunt of the rains and winds this monster is bringing.
Even this far inland we as a community are preparing. The local stores have run out of supplies several times. Water, batteries, flashlights, rechargeable lanterns and radios, canned goods; all are being hoarded by our locals - including myself. We remember just a few years ago, when Katrina and Rita brought such destruction, not only devastating the coastal regions, but mauling Hattiesburg, Pearl, Brandon, Meridian and other cities and communities well inland of the Gulf.
And preparations are being made to help those who will flee from the coast, many of whom are already headed this way.
We had planned a day trip to Baton Rouge with friends for this weekend, but cancelled after we spoke with another friend who lives there.
"The town is crazy. Traffic is nuts. People are flooding in," he said, explaining that he was coming to Natchez not to avoid the storm, but to flee from Baton Rouge and the insanity that has already ensued days before the hurricane is expected to strike.
Weather stations don't agree on the date of landfall, but the majority agrees on where it will strike - Morgan City appears to be its bulls-eye. They also commonly predicted that it would be a Category 3 by the time it made landfall in the U.S., and I think that's an underestimation.
As I check the weather this morning I find that Gustav, centered just southeast of western Cuba, is already at 3 and expected to gain more strength before it actually passes over the island.
Then it will hit that warm, shallow, Gulf.
God, have mercy on us all.
If you read this post, please comment to let me know. Unless power runs out I'll keep tabs on what's going on in the Natchez-Vidalia area. If you don't see my posts here, it's because it's bad enough here that updates are impossible.
I fear that a strong enough storm could find its way to our area this time, before its power can be greatly abated. And I hope I'm wrong.
So how's that for a pessimistic post? Here's the good news. When I stocked up on water, canned goods, batteries, and dog food, I also made sure I had a good supply of Heineken. No one can say I didn't pay attention to the essentials.

The Ritz Theatre

I think the Ritz Theatre has been closed ever since I moved here in 1977, though there had been a kind of jewelry store there for several years. The facade was in terrible shape, the roof had already been damaged when a tornado struck Natchez in 1998 and tore it up even more.
You can see the old Ritz in the Tom Hanks movie "The Lady Killers," as the old woman walks by it several times during the movie. It was also featured in "My Dog Skip" as the kids go in to see a John Wayne movie. I was told by movie construction people that they had to build a platform for the kids to stand on because the floor was so damaged.
Now the Ritz is coming back, as you can see on the right. I don't know what they're going to do with it, but the restored Art Deco facade looks great. They are currently working on the neon, some of which you can see has been replaced already. Clicking on the thumbnail at right will show you a larger view. I took this photo and several others today (August 16, 2008).

Busy Natchez

You'd think that in the dog days of summer things would slow down around here, but Natchez and the surrounding area are about to get very busy. Coming up are a number of festivals and events that will appeal to just about every sort of visitor.
For lovers of fine cuisine, The Natchez Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner (August 1 - 3, 2008). The weekend is full of events, including the Martha White Biscuit Cook-off, Brews on the Bluff - complete with bocce ball contest, and Saturday night's Invitation to the Natchez Table, which features celebrity chefs and antebellum homes.
The last weekend of September brings the Jim Bowie Festival and Bowie BBQ Duel to Vidalia, LA just across the river. There's live music, food, arts & crafts, and a re-enactment of the Sandbar Duel, which made the Bowie Knife famous. The festival is also the Official Louisiana State BBQ Championship.
October brings lots of fun in the air, on the bluff and in the water! The Phatwater Kayak Race takes place October 11. See the website, check out the Natchez Democrat, or watch CNN and you'll see plenty about this race down the Mississippi River.
The third weekend of October brings one of Natchez' biggest celebrations ever, The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race. Pilots race their hot air balloons in contests like "Hare & Hounds" and "The Barge Drop," the latter a contest to try to hit a target by dropping a bean bag from your ballon onto a floating barge in the middle of the Mississippi. Meanwhile, there's a festival taking place on the bluff high above the river. The grounds of Rosalie antebellum home is filled with food, drink, carnival
rides for kids, and great music for the adults. Past performers include Edgar Winter, Eddie Money, Irma Thomas, Better Than Ezra, and lots more. This year they're starting up Country Sunday for the Country Music fans.
I haven't touched on everything going on in the next few months, but you get the idea. For a calendar of Natchez area events, you can always go to NatchezMS.com and check out their Calendar of Events.