Natchez Trace Parkway - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 786

Drive 84
Natchez Trace Parkway
On this journey from Natchez to Nashville, you'll relive the days when riverboat
men and backwoods adventurers braved the perils of America's frontier. Today
this 8,000-year-old pathway is roughly paralleled by a national parkway admin-
istered by the National Park Service, whose low speed limit and lack of commer-
cial traffic make for a wonderfully lazy Southern sojourn.
Length: About 450 miles, plus side trips
When to go: Spring and fall are prime, but the Trace makes a good journey any time of
year.
Lodging: Available in nearby towns and cities. During pilgrimage seasons (spring and
fall), make reservations well in advance.
Words to the wise: Observe the 50m.p.h.speed limit, which isstrictly enforced. When
driving, be on the lookout for bicyclists and deer; when hiking, beware of ticks, snakes,
and poison ivy.
Nearby attractions: Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS; Mississippi
Petrified Forest, near Flora, MS; Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN; Helen
Keller Home, Tuscumbia, AL
Further information: Natchez Trace Parkway
www.nps.gov/natt/