Jackson, Natchez Trace Parkway and Port Gibson

After a late start, Ron and I traveled to Jackson, MS about 45 miles east to find a Freightliner dealer.  Ron is forever leaving our gas caps at gas stations.  He just loves to leave caps for others who may have forgotten theirs.  After purchasing two (a spare, just in case), we drove around Jackson, but were not impressed with what we saw so started back toward Vicksburg getting off at an entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway just east of Jackson.

What is the Natchez Trace Parkway?  It is 444 miles across Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee which commemorates the Old Natchez Trace which began as a Native American footpath leading between the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.  Later the path became a postal road and pioneer trail.  Today it is a beautiful two lane highway with limited access through thick wooded areas and open farmland with numerous wayside exhibits, natural trails and interpretive signs which tell the history of the Parkway.

Despite a torrential downpour along the way to Port Gibson (about 40 miles southwest of Jackson), we really enjoyed the slower pace and the beautiful scenery.  We left the Parkway in Port Gibson driving around the small town taking in the old buildings and Victorian homes.  These small towns are always so interesting and this one did not disappoint us.

This old bank building was built in 1901.

Return to Vicksburg stopping by the local Elks Lodge for a drink and conversation with some of the locals.