Natchez, Mississippi is a hidden gem of the South that boasts breath-taking Mississippi River views, antebellum homes you can tour, and lots of history because it’s the oldest city in Mississippi. If you’ve been looking for the perfect place to take a day trip to, Natchez is the place for you.
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Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia, Louisiana, this city was named after the Natchez tribe of Native Americans who originally inhabited much of the area up until the French colonial period. Because Natchez is not far from Central Louisiana, Denis and I decided to take a little road trip and check out what the city has to offer. What we found was a place full of character and history and really good donuts. If you’re ever in this part of the South there are several reasons you should spend the day in Natchez. I’m hoping this post will give you some ideas and travel tips for visiting this part of Mississippi so if you get a chance to visit it you’ll already know what to do.
Stop by the Donut Shop
The Donut Shop is a local Natchez staple. Located at 501 John R Junkin Dr, Natchez, MS 39120, this little shop is open Monday – Thursday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Friday – Sunday from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. While this shop looks tiny from the outside they offer a large variety of unique and delicious donut flavors such as Oreo, Mardi Gras, Glazed, and so many more. I would suggest getting there early because a line starts to form pretty quickly. Trust me, though, it’s definitely worth the wait. Denis said his favorite donut was the Mardi Gras one, but I fell in love with the Oreo one.
Tour a Historical Home
With over 300 antebellum homes to visit and tour, there are plenty of options when it comes to step into history. And while there are several notable homes like Rosalie Mansion and Stanton Hall, Denis and I chose to check out Longwood Mansion. Located at 140 Lower Woodville Rd, Natchez, MS 39120, Longwood is the largest octagonal house in America. Built by the wealthy Nutt family, the house’s construction was halted when the Civil War began. To this day it is not finished and now that it’s an official National Historic Landmark it never will be. Open daily, visitors can tour the home and grounds from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for $25 per person (and while I thought that price was a little steep the fees collected go to the upkeep of the house).
Stroll Around Bluff Park
Definitely make time to take a leisurely stroll around Bluff Park. This walking/running area is very clean and easy to find and park at. Also, because it’s located at 107 S Broadway St, right next to the river, you have a gorgeous view of the Mighty Mississippi. There’s even a cute little gazebo that’ll totally make you feel like you’re in Stars Hollow. You better believe I channeled my inner Lorelai Gilmore and posed all over that gazebo.
Grab Some Lunch/Drinks Under-the-Hill
Known as one of the rowdiest ports on the Mississippi River, Under-the-Hill is now a small place where you’ll find restaurants like Magnolia Grill, the Camp, and the Under the Hill Saloon. Honestly, out of all of the things we did in Natchez this was the one thing that was kind of disappointing. We picked The Camp for lunch but waited over an hour before we got our food. I checked on our order twice and only got it after Denis asked for our money back. And while this may have been a one-time thing I’d caution you before going to The Camp. I’d recommend the Magnolia Grill if you want some riverside dining or any of the restaurants downtown. They also offer riverside views and delicious food that will hopefully get to you in less than an hour.
Check Out the Downtown Scene
Downtown has plenty to offer if you’re looking for a cute shop to step into or a quick coffee to grab. We checked out a indoor flea market and went thrifting, which I highly recommend because you’ll never know what you’ll find. Then we hit up Natchez Coffee Co. for an iced vanilla latte (my order) and a hot chocolate (Denis’s order). If thrifting is not your thing downtown Natchez also has a good amount of cute boutiques and other unique shops you can explore.
No matter how you spend the day in Natchez, Mississippi, this city is the perfect place to stop off if you’ve been looking for a place to relax and clear your mind.
Verse of the Day: And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34
