Natchez Trace Parkway
National Park that no one really has heard of
Trace runs from Natchez to Nashville and is 450 plus-mile foot trail that was a lifeline through the Old Southwest in the nation’s early decades.
We joined the Trace just south of Nashville after visiting Smoky Mountains and driving west few hundred miles. The Trace is an amazing drive with great smooth road, no stop signs, traffic lights, big rigs zooming by. There are small villages few miles off the road and specially on the northern section there are lot of historic sights to see and explore. We had great short hikes with “the kids” and picnics on route. There were quite a few people riding their bikes on the road as well !
Our first campsite on the Trace was Tishomingo State Park and we ran the trails around for few days with Rhona. Just amazing nature, welcome to Mississippi !
State Parks are great in Mississippi ! They all have full hook up options with well spaced spots. Clean and very friendly staff. We were very surprised to find this out and as they are State Parks dogs are very welcome !! WE LIKE!! North Mississippi has been very positive surprise to us in all, weather in October is perfect, quiet and outdoors are great! We were in Tishomingo for 3 days and could have stayed a lot longer!
From here Ian jumped on his bike in the morning and rode the Trace down to Tupelo, about 65 miles. We packed up the show with the kids and drove down to do some shopping for the next week. I was told by Rachel that Elvis was born in Tupelo… who knew??? ups!!! so we headed for quick tour around The King’s birthplace.
Elvis was 13 years old when the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee
The kids paying their respects to the King
The King’s home for his first 13 years in Tupelo, Mississippi
Beginning and the End
We stayed in Tombigbee State Park in Tupelo. On the way there from Tishomingo SP Ian got chased by bunch of dogs on the road and he was pretty “cooked” when he got to the campground after sprinting for his life trying to out speed the dogs…. We had some great but short trails to run with Rhona and got Acorn “rained” at our camper every time wind gust went by!!! ha Nearly got our bike helmets on while sitting by the fire pit. Kaya was not very happy about the noice of the acorns bouncing off the roof but we all survived.
One of the The Natchez Trace historic site marker on the road.
Both the State Parks that we stayed are literally ON THE Park Way and after a week it was time to do the south end of the Trace and head to Louisiana and towards west.
Mississippian Mound on Natchez Trail
The Mississippian culture was a North American Native American civilization that thrived from approximately 800 to 1600 CE, primarily along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. They were known for building large earthen mounds, sophisticated agriculture (especially maize), and organized chiefdoms with elite rulers. Their descendants include several modern-day American Indian nations, such as the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Muscogee Creek
To put is shortly… Mississippian culture was a collection of Native American societies.
The Culture experienced decline around 1600 CE, one reason being Europeans bringing disease from the modern world…. and all “the stuff” that we learned in the school!
Rhona enjoying some pre historic Indian culture!!!
To me looks like Mayan but.. apparently not related!!
Well the Trace ended to Natchez and we turned West… after huge list of “google” questions… we headed to Louisiana and crossing the Mississippi River..
It was a huge treat to find out about this Trace in Nova Scotia from fellow campers.. we left with more questions than answers…. and truly enjoyed the scenic history Trace!
PS.. if you did not get enough questions into your head… Lewis from Lewis and Clark expedition who explored the land west of the Mississippi River and route to Pacific Ocean died on Natchez trail on his way from Upper Louisiana to Washington DC shortly after their expedition.
We have been bumping into his travels from the first months of our trip this year.
