DESERTS-TREES-SUVS
Near Mathiston, Mississippi, in Choctaw County we came upon MP 198.6 and the historic marker for The Old Natchez Trace. It's here where we learned how the trail became a road. In 1800 congress established a postal route from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi. In 1801 the US Army began clearing the trace trail between... Continue Reading →
As of this week the National Park Service has issued new guidance regarding permit requirements for filming inside National Parks. I won't go into the specifics of the court rulings that required the National Park Service to change their stance, but I will say that the little guy won for a change! To read the... Continue Reading →
Jeff Busby park was named after Mississippi Congressman Thomas Jefferson Busby who on February 15, 1934 introduced a bill authorizing a survey of the Natchez Trace. Thanks to his efforts the Natchez Trace Trail became part of the National Park Service four short years later. The campground at the park is one of the three... Continue Reading →
We had now driven 175 miles north on the Natchez Trace Parkway and seen some pretty cool things and as well as walked some beautiful little interpretive trails, but our next stop ended up being our favorite little nature trail of them all. During our stop at MP 122 we learned about the nature of... Continue Reading →
Our next stop continues to explain how water plays an important roll in the the composition of a landscape. Coming in at less than a 1/4 mile this was one of the quickest little interpretive trails along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Signage along the trail points out a variety of trees and how they are... Continue Reading →
Although I've lived in Florida my entire life, I have never seen a beaver. I've seen plenty of otters, but never a beaver. This is primarily because of two factors; 1.) they are mostly dispersed throughout the panhandle and I live in central Florida and 2.) they are generally nocturnal so a daytrip would likely... Continue Reading →
We finally figured out we weren't going to melt! After driving 50 miles from our campsite in the pouring rain, and passing a few stops along the trace we had wanted to see, we decided to throw on our Frogtoggs and make like a duck. Our first stop was at a Tupelo and Bald Cypress... Continue Reading →
Mother nature simply doesn't care about your vacation plans! Day two of our trip up the Natchez Trace began as a wet soggy mess. We drove north skipping several pull offs hoping to outrun the rain. We were not successful. So when we reached the Reservoir overlook at mile post 105.6, instead of being met... Continue Reading →
I've discovered a new way to incorporate my love for beads with my love for travel. I'm making beaded rocks to use as travel markers. A significant spot in each state will have it's own beaded rock. Will I leave them behind? Maybe. Can you guess where these are going?
Our first day traveling the scenic route of the Natchez Trade Parkway had been picture perfect. The weather was wonderful, the temperature mild, and the trees had just started to show their spring bloom. We started our day with the best Tamales we had ever had before hoping on the trace. Our first stop a... Continue Reading →
Four miles north of the popular Sunken Trace we pulled off at Grindstone Ford. The history of Grindstone Ford is more interesting than what you will actually be able to see here. Once home to the Burnett stand, all that remains today is the Burnett family cemetery. We took the easy .4 mile loop trail... Continue Reading →
At mile post 41.5 on the Natchez Trace Parkway you will find what is probably one of the most photographed places on our journey along this historic scenic drive - the Sunken Trace. The Sunken Trace is a gentle but exaggerated reminder of the impact of humans as we interact with the land. When you... Continue Reading →
If you're traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway through Mississippi, Windsor Ruins is a side trip well worth your time. At the time of our visit there were 23 of the original 29 columns still standing, along with another five partial columns that unfortunately have not withstood the test of time. The History of Window Ruins... Continue Reading →
Our next stop on the NTP reminded me of the History Channel series Life After People! America looked much different before European settlers molded and reshaped the land with their hands, plows, and chainsaws. Once dense mature forests were turned into flat barren farmland. Loess soil, protected by heavy vegetation quickly eroded when exposed to... Continue Reading →
Five miles north of Emerald Mound, at Mile Post 15.5, we found our next planned stop along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Historic Mount Locust is the only remaining inn along the trace of over fifty inns that were spread within a day's walk of each other, or roughly 20 miles apart. Originally started in 1780... Continue Reading →
