We're getting ready for our annual extended winter trip. This year we are headed to Mississippi, Louisiana, with just a little slice of southeast Texas. Many of you on our Facebook FanPage indicated that you would like to see our itinerary and, as we travel, to provide our impressions and reviews of the places that we visit.
This blog is the place for both. Legends of America is our fact and information website, while Legends' Blog is where we post information as we travel, updates for our readers, and any personal thoughts. When we're on the road, most nights we will review our photos and the information on the places that we've visited, then begin to share it with you here. While we have not always, in the past, provided our first impression and reviews, we will begin to do so on this trip.
So, you see everything on the blog first, sometimes months before it ever appears on Legends of America. Those tales often take a lot of research and tend to take off on many other paths.
Plans are to leave sometime next week. We've got to ensure that all is good with the "mobile motel" and also tie up some loose ends on the business side. We plan to take two days to get to Mississippi, over-nighting at a campground in southeast Missouri. Our first destination is Corinth. From there, we head across the Magnolia State via the Natchez Trace then to New Orleans, southern Louisiana, and a small slice of southeast Texas before heading north and making our way home via Arkansas.
That's all assuming that the weather cooperates. Dave, the resident weatherman in the family, is saying that while Mississippi and Louisiana had higher than average temperatures for January, there is an expected change in the gulf stream for the month of February, making it colder than average. Depending on how cold it gets and other weather conditions, such as rain, ice or snow, it would not be unlike us to abandon plans on a few hours notice and head in another direction. But, until and if, here are the plans for the trip.
When we travel for weeks at a time, we operate on what we call a "hub and spoke" schedule. That means, we find a campground, drop the travel trailer, and make day trips to surrounding areas for several days. The schedule is aggressive -- I load it up in order not to miss anything; but, depending on how time goes, can't guarantee we will make every stop.
Corinth, Mississippi Area:
Jackson, Mississippi Area:
Southeast Louisiana:
Mississippi/Louisiana Coast:
Southwest Lousiana and Southeast Texas:
Natchitoches, LA and East Texas:
Nacogdoches, Texas Area:
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| Legends' Mobile Motel |
This blog is the place for both. Legends of America is our fact and information website, while Legends' Blog is where we post information as we travel, updates for our readers, and any personal thoughts. When we're on the road, most nights we will review our photos and the information on the places that we've visited, then begin to share it with you here. While we have not always, in the past, provided our first impression and reviews, we will begin to do so on this trip.
So, you see everything on the blog first, sometimes months before it ever appears on Legends of America. Those tales often take a lot of research and tend to take off on many other paths.
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| Planned Route |
That's all assuming that the weather cooperates. Dave, the resident weatherman in the family, is saying that while Mississippi and Louisiana had higher than average temperatures for January, there is an expected change in the gulf stream for the month of February, making it colder than average. Depending on how cold it gets and other weather conditions, such as rain, ice or snow, it would not be unlike us to abandon plans on a few hours notice and head in another direction. But, until and if, here are the plans for the trip.
When we travel for weeks at a time, we operate on what we call a "hub and spoke" schedule. That means, we find a campground, drop the travel trailer, and make day trips to surrounding areas for several days. The schedule is aggressive -- I load it up in order not to miss anything; but, depending on how time goes, can't guarantee we will make every stop.
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| Battle of Corinth |
- Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
- Historic Downtown Corinth, including the Coca-Cola Museum, Borroums Drug Store, Biggers Hardware, Waits Jewelry
- Natchez Trace from Mississippi border to Collinwood, Tennessee
- Natchez Trace from Mississippi State Line to Tupelo, MS
- Mississippi Final Stands Civil WarInterpretive Center - Brices Crossroads National Battlefield and Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg
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| Natchez Trace |
- Natchez Trace - Tupelo to Jackson
- Natchez Trace from Jackson to Natchez
- City Bus Tour
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| Tchefuncte River Light House |
- Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum & Tchefuncte River Light House, Madisonville, LA
- Camp Moore Confederate Museum & Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA
- Longwood (ghost town), East Baton Rouge Parish
- Burtville (ghost town) - South of Baton Rouge
- Bayou Goula Ghost Town, White Castle, LA
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| Mississippi Coast Line |
- Phantom Harp of Hawes Mansion Ruins – Pass Christian, Mississippi
- Biloxi Historical Walking Tour
- French Quarter, New Orleans, LA - Including Jackson Square, Bourbon St, Voodoo Spiritual Temple, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Spirit Tour, City Sites Bus Tour
Lafayette, Louisiana Area:
- Chitimacha Museum, Charenton, LA
- Acadian Village, Lafayette, LA
- Bayou Vermilion District, Lafayette, LA
- Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site, Lafayette, LA
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| Sabine Pass Battleground |
- Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA
- Old Spanish Trail - Westlake, Lake Charles, Sulphur, Vinton, LA
- Sabine Pass Battleground State Park and Historic Site, TX
Central Louisiana:
- Battle of Yellow Bayou, Simmesport, LA
- Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville, LA
- Fort DeRussy, Marksville, LA
- Fort Randolph and Fort Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville, LA
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| Natchitoches |
- Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches, LA
- Mansfield State Historic Site, Mansfield, LA
- Adai Indian Nation Cultural Center, Robeline, LA
- Los Adaes State Historic Site, Robeline, LA
- Fort Jesup State Historic Site - Many, LA
- Pleasant Hill Battlefield, Pleasant Hill Battlefield Park Road, Pleasant Hill, TX
- El Camino Real from Natchitoches, LA to Nacogdoches, TX
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| Nacogdoches |
- Geneva, TX – Ghostown - The oldest continuously occupied town in East Texas
- St. Augustine, TX Driving Tour
- Nacogdoches Historic Town Center, Nacogdoches, TX
- Ghosts of Nacogdoches Historical Trail
- Millard's Crossing Historic Village, Nacogdoches, TX
- Old University Building, Nacogdoches, TX
- Stone Fort Museum, Nacogdoches, TX
The remainder of route will be determined by time available. Choices are to continue through Texas for a family visit near Sherman, checking out several ghost towns along the way, and heading northeast Arkansas through Little Rock and Scenic 7 Byway to Missouri . Alternatively, we'll skip the rest of Texas and head home -- hopefully along the same Arkansas route.
Whew!!! I'm tired just writing all this down. It's gonna be a whirlwind trip - estimating about 6 weeks. If I've missed important historical sites and you're familiar with the area, please let me know.
Otherwise, we'll "see" ya on the road.
Kathy Weiser-Alexander
