Driving Natchez Trace in winter ( corrected post)
 

I am in Nashville and have a few days to spare before going to New Orleans. I would like to drive down the Natchez Trace, but wonder if I'd truly appeciate it at this time of year. Also I love driving through, and visiting small towns. SO I have two questions.

1. If I drive the Natchez Trace where are good places to get off the Trace to visit small towns ?

2. What other route could I take that might be more interesting at this time of year?

I am in no hurry and so don't mind going out our my way. I'm travelling with my small dog, so touring inside the Mansions or staying at any of them is probably out of the question,

I'd appreciate any advice.

Here's some nice places to stop and visit for dining and sightseeing. I'm not a fan of the NT. I would drive 4 hours W to Memphis. Stay downtown and walk or take the trolley to Beales Street. Enjoy the BBQ and blues. Take 3 61 S to Clarksdale and have lunch at Ground Zero Blues Club. Visit the Blues Museum. Head S to Greenwood, MS and stay at the 4 * Alluvian Hotel owned by Viking Range. Head S to Vicksburg, MS and visit the National Military Park. Head S to historic Natchez, MS and visit the antebellum homes. Then on to NOLA.

VISIT THE DELTA..........
http://www.visitthedelta.com/

Natchez, MS is a great town. There are some fine B&B's to stay at. Monmouth is one of the best. Visit Stanton Hall and have lunch at Carriage House Restaurant. Visit Dunleith and dine at The Castle Restaurant.
Monmouth Plantation @ 36 Melrose Avenue, Natchez, MS 601 - 442 - 5852.
http://monmouthplantation.com/
Carriage House Restaurant @ 401 High St., Natchez, MS. 601 - 445 - 5151.
http://www.stantonhall.com/
The Castle Restaurant and Pub @ 84 Homochitto St., Natchez, MS. 601 - 446 - 8500.
http://www.dunleith.com/castle-overview.html
Rosswood is a great B&B between Vicksburg and Natchez. Have lunch at Old Country Store.
Rosswood Plantation @ 2513 Red Lick Road, Lorman, MS 601 - 437 - 4215.
http://www.rosswood.net/
Old Country Store @ 18801 Hwy 61, Lorman, MS 601 - 437 - 3661.
Detour to Vicksburg and tour the old antebellum homes and the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Have lunch/dinner @ Rusty's River Front Grill @ 901 South Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 -2030.
or @ Walnut Hills @ 1214 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 - 4910 for southern cooking.
http://www.walnuthillsms.net/
Stop in Jackson at Hickory Pit BBQ for good road food.
Hickory Pit @ 1491 Canton Mart Road, Jackson, MS 601 - 956 - 7079.
http://jackson.metromix.com/restaura...653901/content
Stop in Kosciusko for good road food at Cafe on the Square, Old Trace Grill or Rib Alley.
Cafe on the Square @ 115 West Jefferson St., Kosciusko, MS. 662 - 289 - 5888.
Old Trace Grill @ 719 Veterans Memorial Dr., Kosciusko, MS. 662 - 289 - 2652.
Rib Alley @ 201 N. Madison St., Kosciusko, MS. 601 - 289 - 9800.
Go to Sonny’s in Ackerman for good BBQ.
Sonny’s Smokehouse @ 8936 Highway 15, Ackerman, MS 662 – 285 – 8074.
Go to Little Dooey’s in Starkville.
The Little Dooey @ 100 Fellowship St., Starkville, MS 662 – 323 – 6094.
http://www.littledooey.com/
There's a small country cafe at French Camp.
Go to T’s for good BBQ in Houston.
T’s BBQ Pit @ 693 N. Jackson St., Houston, MS 662 – 456 – 0045.
Go to Bishop’s or Forty Five in Saltillo for good BBQ.
Bishops BBQ @ 2546 Highway 145, Saltillo, MS 662 – 869 -8351.
Forty Five BBQ @ 2125 Highway 145, Saltillo, MS 662 – 869 – 5928.
Go to Café Memories or Homer’s in Iuka.
Café Memories @ 127 S. Fulton Street, Iuka, MS 662 – 423 – 1050.
Homer’s BBQ and Ribs @ 1209 W. Quitman Street, Iuka, MS 662 – 424 – 0268.
Go to Fish Hut, Hickory Pit or Sweet Peas in Savannah.
Fish Hut @ 95 Water Street, Savannah, TN 731 – 925 – 6571.
Hickory Pit BBQ @ 555 Main Street, Savannah, TN 731 – 925 – 2268.
Sweet Pea’s Family Restaurant @ 869 Pickwick Street, Savannah, TN 731 – 925 – 8780.
Go to Shaffer Farms for good BBQ in Summertown.
Shaffer Farms Texas BBQ @ 4 Vaughn Staggs Rd., Summertown, TN. 931 - 964 - 6328.
Go to Columbia Square Market or Marcy Jo's in Columbia for good road food.
Columbia Square Market and Cafe @ 36 Public Square, Columbia, TN 931 - 840 - 3636.
http://squaremarketcafe.com/
Marcy Jo's Meal House @ 4205 U.S. 431, Columbia, TN 931 - 380 - 0968.
Go to Puckett's in Franklin for good country food, cold drinks and good music.
Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant @ 120 4th Avenue S., Franklin, TN. 615 - 794 - 5527.
http://www.puckettsgrocery.com/

Wow!!

The Natchez Trace Parkway is boring, and though it looks like a nice direct way to get from Nashville to Jackson, low speed limits make it very slow.

If littleman's information is overwhelming, why don't you go to Oxford, Mississippi? Lots of great food, good places to shop, literary and historical associations, and one of the best bookstores in the US.

I second Ackislander. The NT is boring. I would drive S to Oxford, MS and spend a night at 512 Van Buren a neat B&B and visit the historic Square. Drive W to Clarksdale home of the blues and enjoy good music and BBQ. Head S to historic Vicksburg, MS and visit the National Military Park and antebellum homes. Head S to Natchez for a night or two and then on to NOLA.

Wow ! Thank you so much. I really appreciate all the great advice. Thank you for confirming what I already thought about travelling down the NT , especially in winter. I will skip it and look forward to some of the great towns... and great eating places!