Sunset Over the Mississippi & Pig Out Inn-Natchez, MS

We had an incredible, full day in Mississippi. We had already visited the Vicksburg National Military Park including the U.S.S. Cairo and Vicksburg National Cemetery, driven the Natchez Trace Parkway, admired two lovely churches in Port Gibson, reveled in the serene beauty of the Windsor Ruins and explored the Emerald Mound. We were tired and hungry! As we arrived in Natchez, MS at dinnertime we passed by this gorgeous fountain. We circled around the block so I could take a few photos of it. The little ones were anxious to check the fountain out themselves so we all got out.

There were a bunch of fish in the fountain's pond and the kids nervously put their fingers in the water to see if they would nip their fingertips.

I loved watching them with their fingers in the water and then hearing them squeal when a fish did give them a nip. So sweet!

It was worth the extra time to sit and enjoy this lovely fountain.

Plus everyone loves pretending to be fish!

Natchez, MS is a gorgeous southern town that sits upon a bluff above the magnificent Mississippi River. It is ideally located 90 miles southwest of Jackson, the capitol of Mississippi, and 85 miles north of Baton Rouge, the capitol of Louisiana. Natchez is the oldest city in Mississippi which was founded first by the Natchez Indians and later French explorers along with their African slaves. During the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant made Natchez his temporary headquarters. Thankfully, the Union Army did not burn the town as it passed through so Natchez has the largest collection of antebellum homes in the South.

(Rosalie Mansion-Headquarters of Ulysses S. Grant during Civil War)

(Magnolia Hall)

(William Johnson House-free African American barber of Natchez)

We arrived at the perfect time to take in the most glorious sunset casting a warm orange glow upon everything. The light was glorious!

Look at that sky high above the Mississippi River!

These children make my heart burst with love. They are my true treasures!

Natchez has one of four bridges that crosses the Mississippi River.
Its bridge is quite beautiful above the river.

As I took quite a few pictures of my family with the sunset as the background a sweet older couple commented on how beautiful my children are. They were kind enough to come down from the gazebo and take a family photo. We don't have very many of those so it was a real treat to have a picture with all of us next to the Mighty Mississippi. Too bad Delaney wasn't smiling.

This sunset was a great blessing! It was so beautiful to watch the bright gold sun slide down into the peach sherbet sky and slip into the horizon.

To end our amazing day on a high we went to The Pig Out Inn Barbeque for dinner. I read a review online and knew we just had to come here to eat. 

It was the perfect place to eat as a family!

The Pig Out Inn Barbeque has the coolest set-up. The tables are made of old doors and the eclectic decor make this a really cool barbeque place.

But the smell as we walked through the doors was mesmerizing!

 These two were so patient and charming as we waited for our food.

Undoubtedly this was the best BBQ we've ever had!

Caught everyone off guard or with a mouthful accept Delaney.
Man, we had the best dinner ever!

Eating here was the perfect end to the perfect day spent as a family!

After dinner we had a short hour and a half drive from Natchez, MS to Baton Rouge, LA. Our drive was brief and uneventful. We all collapsed into bed that night. We had a long drive beginning early in the morning.

Emerald Mound - Natchez Trace Parkway, MS

After visiting the Windsor Ruins we headed back out along the Natchez Trace Parkway. We love visiting ancient burial mounds so we made a point to check out the Emerald Mound. It is the second largest temple mound in the United States. The Plaquemine Mississipians built and used this massive mound from around 1300AD to 1600AD. The Plaquemines predate the Natchez Native Americans. Emerald Mound was used as a ceremonial center where religious and social events occurred. Starting as a natural hill this mound transformed as earth was deposited by the Plaquemine people. 

There is a paved path that leads to the plateau of the Emerald Mound and the base of the secondary mound. The path is quite steep and after a long day it took some effort getting up it. At least we had some beautiful wildflowers to admire along the way.

Seriously, the path was so steep!

When we got to the top on the path (30 ft above the parking lot) we were rewarded with the sight of an immense plateau and the secondary mound in the distance. It is believed that the primary mound which was built upon a natural hill once had six smaller mounds that flanked its edges and two secondary mounds on the ends. Over time erosion and plowing leveled the six smaller mounds and one of the secondary mounds.

 (It might have looked something like this. Photo from Wikipedia.)

We also had some other rewards along the way. "Is that for me?"

The secondary mound was once the site of a temple and/or where the chiefs resided. The kids were anxious to climb the steps and reach the top. 

I had to ask them to come down the stairs because they hauled up them faster than I could get there to take a photo. They were anxious to explore!

My feet and ankles were so swollen that they felt like they would burst. I was in extreme pain with each step but decided to power through so I could experience the view at the top of the secondary mound with my children.

It took a while to climb those stairs, but I am so glad that I made myself do it. The second I arrived the kids were anxious to take photos and go back down. I had to ask them to give me a moment since I was so winded and my feet were in agony. They obliged. After catching my breath I was able to enjoy the breathtaking view from atop the secondary mound. We were now 30 feet above the primary mound and 60 feet above the parking lot.

 Hotch had no intention to climb those stairs. Look how far he is below us. In the distance you can see the other secondary mound which has eroded. 

The stairs were steep and I was really nervous one of the kids would fall. They thought I was being silly, but appeased me by moving down slowly. 

This boy melts my heart! He has always been a flower picker.  

We really had fun exploring the Emerald Mound! It is perfect for kids because they can run and play outside. Plus an added bonus it the knowledge they receive about an ancient civilization.