Aug15

Mississippi road trip!

Posted in: family, Inspiration, The South

Our family of four recently embarked on a seven day road trip to Mississippi in search of good art, good food, good books, and good times with our boys! Yes, you heard correctly… we drove from Texas to Oxford, MS with a five year old and 13 month old.  We visited Vicksburg, Clarksdale, Oxford, Natchez and all points in between.  It was quite an experience as you can imagine.  We saw lots of kudzu and much more.

{kudzu growing near Natchez}

Not sure where to start in highlighting this trip, but from a cultural and historic preservation standpoint, Mississippi, like much of the South, is rich in history and architecture.  It all moves me deeply, everything from the grand views of Dunleith Plantation to the cotton fields, and life in the Delta pictured below.

It’s an interesting place Mississippi… not just Southern, but totally American and real, and we loved it!  Here is a glimpse of Drew pretending to be a lion at Dunleith Plantation, where we spent the last night in the Dairy Barn.   I wonder why they wouldn’t want our boys in the big house?   Ha!

We have many “statue” photos of Drew from the trip… I guess that is what happens to a child after you take them through the military park at Vicksburg (he. loved. it.) In fact, Drew had a great time the entire trip.  Henry, not so much.  He was more interested in keeping cool and snatching crackers!

Here is another “statue” photo below of big brother with Mr. Faulkner in Oxford.

And leave it to me to drive into blues town Clarksdale and instantly step out of the car and sniff out the coolest little store…

 and buy this apron…

If you are from the area, you know Clarksdale really isn’t a “cute apron” sort of town. It’s quite different from Oxford and Ole Miss which I will have to save for another post. But let me just says it’s very hip to be SQUARE in Oxford.   We had a blast exploring the bookstores, old homes, campus and quaint shops! Oh, and I saw the best looking man in all Mississippi while hanging out in the Grove at Ole Miss.  He sends his love!

Texans are friendly, but I have to say that the people of Mississippi were so nice and wonderful to our family, they made the trip better than any beautiful home or yummy food… thanks y’all!

Related Posts with Thumbnails

22 Comments

  • Comment by Marion — August 16, 2010 @ 7:34 am

    As a lifetime Mississippian (until 3 yrs ago when I moved to Houston), it’s wonderful to hear such glowing comments about my home state! Thanks, and I’m glad you had such a wonderful trip! Did you get to Jackson?

  • Comment by Tessa — August 16, 2010 @ 7:40 am

    Mississippi in August with kids and they aren’t running around naked from the heat – impressive! Sounds like you had a wonderful time & make some sweet family memories! Henry looks like a little version of you. Does everyone say that?! The pictures of Drew with the statues cracked me up! Did he take his Army men along to reenact what he saw? Now you need a vacation for you and the hubs. :) Have a great week! Tessa

  • Comment by elz — August 16, 2010 @ 8:23 am

    I hope you picked up an extra apron for me! Cute. I’m amazed you made it through the Mississippi heat with both boys intact.

  • Comment by Holly — August 16, 2010 @ 9:03 am

    well we live near Houston so it really wasnt any hotter than home..we figured we would have heat and rowdy kids at home anyway so we might as well load up and go see something new and interesting! But it wasnt all aprons and bbq the entire time..Henry had a tough time at night.

    We didn’t really explore Jackson but we had lunch in nearby Canton on the square and you better know i hit up the Linen Shoppe which has moved out on the intersate between canton and jackson..Glockstadt/madison area..i will be blogging more about the fabric later..we DID take the natchez trace parkway from Jackson to Natchez and it was beautiful..it even softly rained while we were driving it..the opposite of hot and repressive..it was actually quite beautiful and refreshing..especially because Henry was napping that leg of the drive!;;;

  • Comment by melissa @ the inspired room — August 16, 2010 @ 10:08 am

    Great family memories, glad you had a refreshing trip!! You are making me want to squeeze in a little road trip before summer is over here!!!

  • Comment by Melisse — August 16, 2010 @ 10:24 am

    LOVE Fat Elvis!

    And I love Oxford, my second home :)

    It gets in the blood and stays!

  • Comment by Cat Moore — August 16, 2010 @ 1:15 pm

    Ha! Love it! What about the hair????? and the polos??? ;) Wish we could have met….hate my kiddos got sick. :( Oh, and perhaps you should explain to people that Elvis just doesn’t walk around in Oxford normally. It was because of the festival in Memphis for Elvis that week. right?

  • Comment by Carol — August 16, 2010 @ 7:30 pm

    We visited Mississippi in May. We saw Natchez and Jackson, had such a fun time!!Beautiful !
    Carol in GA

  • Comment by Shellaine — August 16, 2010 @ 10:03 pm

    I wish you could have made it over to Starkville! I think I left my heart there when the Army moved us to New York. I need some good BBQ!!!

  • Comment by Rachael Burnett — August 16, 2010 @ 10:55 pm

    First, I just recently found your blog and absolutely LOVE your style! Secondly, until last year when I got married (and moved to TN), I was a lifelong Mississippi girl, so it absolutely made my day to hear how much y’all enjoyed your time here! Although, I have to say, as a Mississippi State University grad, I am partial to Starkville rather than Oxford! :) Glad y’all had a wonderful visit!

  • Comment by Holly — August 17, 2010 @ 8:53 am

    I knew there would be some Starkville v. Oxford tension…i love it and i am a little fascinated by it I must say;;; the hair that Cat mentioned was fascinating as well..the frat shag or whatever with the bangs very full and combed forward, i noticed something similar even on older men..lots of hair..must be something in the Oxford water!

  • Comment by Stacie — August 17, 2010 @ 11:26 am

    You are a brave momma to roadtrip with 2 little guys! Glad yall had a great time!

  • Comment by janice Ratliff — August 17, 2010 @ 2:10 pm

    The statue shots of Drew are a SCREAM!!!!!! So precious!!!!!! You are one brave Mom!!!

  • Comment by Chanda — August 17, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

    Oh I am so glad your family enjoyed your visit to my beloved Mississippi! I live about a hour from Oxford in Tupelo but have never shopped there so I look forward to your post. Makes me want to take a drive up after I drop the kids off a school tomorrow to take a looksie myself! If you ever come again drive over to Tupelo. We have a really cool Buffalo Park that the giraffes will come over and let you feed them.

  • Comment by Katie — August 17, 2010 @ 7:07 pm

    I so love it when we get to see what your boys are up to! Especially Drew and his little hilarious self….statues….hahahahahahahahahaha! Goodness, that rivals the coonskin cap and the rifle. And Henry is just about the most beautiful thing, with his gorgeous eyes! ;o) Elvis…well, I just have no words…

  • Comment by Betty — August 18, 2010 @ 8:44 am

    I have never commented on your blog,however I’ve enjoyed reading and looking at it for awhile. After seeing that you have been in my “neck of the woods” I had to write to say “welome” and hope you enjoyed your visit! I live in Grenada which is 50 miles S.of Oxford down I-55. My husband and I also own a condo in Oxford;a place that we dearly love. ~hope you enjoyed your time in the Magnolia State and come back any time.

  • Comment by Betty — August 18, 2010 @ 8:45 am

    ~meant to say “welcome” not “welome”!! ~didn’t want you to think that this was some sort of Mississippi speak. :-)

  • Comment by Stacy of KSW — August 22, 2010 @ 12:51 pm

    The more I read the more I am in love – I’m in Texas too – San Antonio and we are about to embark on a road trip from TX to SC, then SC to FL, the FL back to TX with a 4 year old, a 3 year old and a 15 month old …. YIKES!!

  • Comment by Michelle — August 27, 2010 @ 9:52 pm

    We are in California, but lived just outside Memphis for a few years when my son was little. I have the same shot of him sitting on that bench in Oxford…it was so weird to see this photo on your blog. My boy is coming up on 16 years old now, and I can’t believe how quickly the years have gone by.

    Thanks for the little flashback!

  • Comment by The Urban Market Houston Antique Show - Jackie Sharbrough — August 28, 2010 @ 4:02 pm

    yay! So happy you had such fun in my home state! And in my home town of Vicksburg!
    Melisse emailed me to get recommendations to send you – hope you were able to try out a few of the restaurants in Vicksburg. My kids love the National Military Park as well.
    Hope to see you around again soon.
    Jackie Sharbrough

  • Comment by Angela — December 1, 2010 @ 2:41 am

    I’ve been a Mississipian for the past 13 years. Thanks for the wonderful remarks about our state!

  • Comment by Mary Melinda — July 11, 2011 @ 3:53 pm

    I’m from Jackson and live in Oxford now. SO glad you liked it! It’s hot right now, but a wonderful place to call home. Thank you for posting about it!

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Return to the Homepage