Adventures of SanTony: THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY

With 444 total miles between Natchez Mississippi (on the Louisiana boarder) and Nashville Tennessee, the Natchez Trace Parkway, while traveling through three states offers a unique look of life in the late 18th century.

But don't be in a hurry because there's over 100 wayside exhibits like Native American burial mounds, antebellum mansions and placid lakes to Civil War battle sites along the way as well as interesting small towns.

This is one of the restored dwellings (called Strands) along the Trace that was used to house travelers...probably one of the first "Bed and Breakfast"

Every roadside attraction had a nice sign like this to show the way...unfortunately the Dogwoods were not in bloom...just the bark.

The Trace a (National Park, National Scenic Byway and All-American Road) is closed to any commercial vehicle travel and there are no commercial signs. With a speed limit of only 50 mph this was one of the best drives we have ever ben on and you can easily exit to visit local attractions along the way.

For us Trace Parkway was a great place for us to spend part of the last week of this years journey. We were on and around it for 3 days and we could have spent 3 weeks.

When we came into Natchez, after a nice three night stay at the Paragon Casino RV and Golf Resort in Marksville Louisiana, we had one thing on our mind. As we travel along we follow our book "1,000 Things To Do Before You Die" and the publication had three unique choices for lunch. FAT MAMA'S TAMALES with Knock You Naked Margaritas, the COCK OF THE WALK with Catfish and Fried Dill Pickles, and MAMMY'S CUBARD...where we ate.

....So we did!

A delicious meal in an unabashedly politically incorrect 1940 building in the shape of a black "Mammy" figure. One of the best meals this trip.... and that's saying a mouth full!

The ride along the Trace was very nice with a laid back feel that took you back to when things were not as stressed and hectic.

We stayed one night each, at two different campgrounds along the Trace, one private and one state park, which is our preference as this pic shows.

As we crossed over into Alabama the decision was made to leave the Trace because of weather and time. So we didn't complete the full route to Nashville. ......That's one city "The Music City" we want to spend more time at, so maybe in a couple years we can do it right.

The lodge at Joe Wheeler State Park is on the banks of Wheeler Lake which runs into the Tennessee River, a very nice rustic building and not a bad place for lunch after golf.