Highlights of a road trip from northeast Iowa to Natchez, MS and back:

Sikeston, MO: Lambert's, home of the throwed rolls, for lunch. My god, what delicious food...and it never stops coming.

Memphis: 1) National Civil Rights Museum. I didn't know this was attached to the Lorraine Motel where MLK was assassinated. Very moving. 2) Peabody Hotel is nice; room was small but both room and bath recently redecorated and with heavenly mattresses, and location is great, just two blocks to 3)Beale Street for people-watching. Blues City Cafe has great ribs and slaw.

Natchez: 1) Monmouth Plantation is a wonderful place to stay; we were in the main house but the garden cottages looked beautiful as well. Owner is sincerely friendly and obviously takes great pride in the property. 2) Stanton Hall is the primo antebellum home, with rooms of such grand proportion it takes your breath away. Rosalie and Melrose also rate highly. 3) Eat dinner in Monmouth's dining room at the gleaming mahogany table replete with sterling epergne and massive bouquets. A magical evening. 4) Dinner at Dunleith equally delicious, but it is not in the mansion.

Natchez Trace Parkway: Serenely lovely. 1) Stop at Emerald Mound and climb up. 2)Walk the Sunken Trace. 3)Detour at the ruins of Windsor. All these were eerily beautiful glimpses into history.

Vicksburg: 1)USS Cairo exhibit at the National Civil War Military park. 2)Cedar Grove Mansion Inn wonderfully restored, our room included.

Clarksdale, MS: Abe's BBQ -- unchanged since the 1940's -- for lunch. I am loathe to admit we didn't have time for the blues museum.

Southern MO: Who designates scenic routes? Hwy. 63 up to Columbia definitely merits a dotted line.

Worst experience: Though Cedar Grove Mansion Inn in V'burg is lovely, dinner there was very bad and very overpriced. Breakfast was chaotic. Big employee problem.

Thanks so much again to Gardyloo, ejcrowe, buongiorno, et. al!