Great little trip report, mah1980! We, too, love Natchez. Our favorite lodging is probably The Briars, http://www.thebriarsinn.com/, but there are so many good ones. We love touring the plantation homes and hearing about the history of the area.

Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. Hopefully we'll get to put them to use this fall!

Oops, forgot to ask you which you considered to be the best rooms at the Monmouth? Our favorite at the Briars is the room Jefferson Davis stayed in when he was there for his marriage to Varina Howell (it was her home). . . I think it is room 1 in the main house.

Sorry I lost this thread!

We stayed in one of the Antebellum rooms and it was great. The Briars is up on the bluff by the Ramada, isn't it? I think we're going to try Dunleith next.

We really liked Natchez, and at only 2 hours away from us it seems like a world away!

Yes, Briars is on the highest bluff on the river between N.O. and St. Louis. I have always wanted to stay at Dunleith. It just looks like the classic plantation home to me. The only reason I probably favor Briars over most others is that it is not open to tours . . . only guests get tours, so it seems much more private and personal to me. How did (if at all) the tours affect your stay at Monmouth?

They didn't affect them very much. The Monmouth tour is nice but it's kind of a waste of money. You only get to see the lobby of the main house, the dining room, and then the parlor and breakfast room. The grounds are magnificent.

I think Dunleith is more impressive from outside.

Does the Briars have views of the Mississippi?

I agree about Dunleith's exterior and I'd also LOVE to see ALL the rooms inside . . . maybe an off-season trip?!

I'm glad to hear the tours didn't affect your stay. I just couldn't imagine staying in a house while tours were going on. Guess it's not as bad as I thought.

Yes, the Briars yard/gardens run right up to the river bluff. The breakfast area overlooks the river. There is a map on their website that shows the location of everything if you're interested. You can't actually see the river from inside the main house because the house is situated on such a high bluff, but not at the bluff's edge. The first time we went there, the owners were building their house right on the bluff and they gave us a tour. Now they have quite a view!

Several years ago I took my mother and two aunts to Natchez for the Pilgrimage.

We had such a good time, and I have wonderful memories of the fun we all had together, since they are all three gone now.

We, too, went to the casino one evening before dinner, and my mother, who had never seen a slot machine before, won almost $100, putting in one quarter at a time.

She was delighted, and kept saying "We need one of these (casinos) at home." And I thought to myself "Oh no we don't!"

I'm glad to hear that Natzhez is still such a great place to visit.

Byrd

Bayou Gal-

I think we're going to go back to Natchez in the 2nd wk of December and stay at Dunleith when it's decorated for Christmas. Apparently the houses are very impressive for Christmas, and there will be low season rates. We'll probably eat at Dunleith's restaurant, The Castle.

You've got to post a detailed report when you get back!!!

We have been to Natchitoches for the pre-Christmas season when everything was decorated (another antebellum B & B location you should try one day), and we fell in love with the place. I'm sure Natchez is just as enchanting. As a matter of fact, we could possibly show up there at the very same time!

ttt for Willy123

We spent a few days in Natchez a while back. They have begun presenting an annual Food and Wine Festival, so we made the drive for it. We stayed at Linden, ate a fabulous meal at the Biscuits and Blues Cafe, and toured Longwood Plantation. I loved Longwood because of its historical significance. It's a huge, half-completed mansion. Work had to stop in the middle of construction due to the Civil War. It's an amazing comment on the time period, and most of the furnishings in the completed section of the house (the basement) are original.

Shopping is still great in the little downtown area, too! I found a divine long red wool coat for $100. Can't wait to wear it!

bookmarking

to mah1980, et al:

Happy to see that you've experienced The Monmouth. We were lucky to be invited two years ago, and we had the owner's suite for three delightful nights. I, too, highly recommend a stay at The magnficent Monmouth.

Oh, by the way, the owners(Lani and Ron) are our lovely next-door neighbors here in L.A.

stu t.

...and perhaps I should mention that the neighbor on the other side of our home is Raquel Welch.

stu

What airport is the closest to fly into if going to Natchez?

Jackson, Mississippi

ttt