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Enjoy the Mississippi’s River Cities

Natchez, Mississippi

The Mississippi River is the “heart and soul” of Natchez, Mississippi, said Jennifer Ogden Combs, executive director of Visit Natchez. Natchez is the oldest city on the river, predating New Orleans by two years, “which people can’t believe.”

Part of the reason for the city’s longevity is that Natchez doesn’t sit on the river so much as it sits above it — 200 feet above it. When the river floods, locals are high and dry on the towering bluffs. That, combined with the fact that the Mississippi has never shifted its course at Natchez, has made the city a continuous river hub since its founding in 1716.

“There’s something about this little town; it’s little in size, but mighty in terms of offerings and sophistication and history,” Combs said.

With over 300 years of history, Natchez is a mecca for history buffs. Twice-annual pilgrimages in the spring and fall open the doors of dozens of antebellum homes for public tours.

While the upper-crust and merchant class called the top of the bluff home, Natchez’s Under-the-Hill historic riverfront district at the base of the bluff was notorious for ruffians, gamblers and ladies of the night. Today, groups can get a taste of that history at the famed Under the Hill Saloon, one of the oldest bars on the river and one that Mark Twain patronized. Guests can also sit at the outdoor bar at the Camp or eat on the glass-enclosed deck at Magnolia Grill to watch the passing boats.

The Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel sits on the river, and the Natchez Grand Hotel sits on the bluffs overlooking the river in the heart of historic downtown.

Redneck Adventures will take groups out on pontoon boats or motorboats to go catfish-grabbing, bird-watching, alligator-spotting and even skeet-shooting, and owner Jimmy Allgood “is a character,” Combs said. “He is a great storyteller.”

During a kayak or canoe excursion with Quapaw Canoe Co., a guide can lead paddlers past towering bluffs and dense forests to a sandbar for lunch or dinner.

www.visitnatchez.org

New Orleans

New Orleans is where the mighty Mississippi finishes its marathon run to the Gulf of Mexico. One of the city’s many nicknames, Crescent City, is thought to come from the river’s dramatic crescent-shaped bend where the French Quarter fronts the river. Groups can ride the riverfront streetcar from Crescent Park or stroll along the Moonwalk Riverfront Park for views of the river on one side and Washington Artillery Park, Jackson Square and the iconic St. Louis Cathedral on the other.

Just off the riverbanks, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is housed in the Old U.S. Mint, and the nearby French Market is an open-air market with handmade crafts and local products that’s popular for groups to peruse, said Rachel Funel, an account executive with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Visitors can follow the Moonwalk to the dock where the Creole Queen paddle wheeler and Steamboat Natchez launch for narrated tours and dinner cruises. The Creole Queen includes a stop at Chalmette Battlefield, where rangers lead daily talks about the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans.

At Woldenberg Park, groups have a shorter, less expensive option to get on the river. The Canal Street Ferry takes passengers across to Algiers Point, where they’ll find preserved historic cottages and 19th-century charm. Visitors can stop at cafes and pubs, stroll the Jazz Walk of Fame along the levee and take a self-guided walking tour.

South of Woldenberg Park, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas includes an exhibit about the river just outside its doors. The Mississippi River exhibit includes an overlook of the river itself and features native wildlife such as catfish, sturgeon, paddlefish and a rare white alligator.

The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk follows along the Mississippi River, and both the shopping and the views “are phenomenal,” Funel said. Along with big-brand outlets, the food court balconies overlook the river, and “a lot of people go there just to sit and watch the boats go by,” she said.

In the Warehouse District, Mardi Gras World is a popular spot for groups; the complex sits on the riverfront. The company builds and houses elaborate Mardi Gras parade floats, and visitors can see them “up close and personal if you can’t make it during Mardi Gras,” Funel said. They can also meet the artists who create the floats.

www.neworleans.com

Rachel Carter

Rachel Carter worked as a newspaper reporter for eight years and spent two years as an online news editor before launching her freelance career. She now writes for national meetings magazines and travel trade publications.