Plantations, Magnolias, and Natchez

Stanton died in 1859, not too long after his house was finished. The house remained in his family until 1894. Later, Stanton Hall was purchased by the Pilgrimage Garden Club in 1938, where elegant social functions take place. On the grounds, members enjoy a swimming pool shaded by centuries-old ancient oaks. Across the patio is the Carriage House Restaurant and Lounge, which specializes in Southern fried chicken and mint juleps.

Tours from the visitor center will drive you past here. The spring or fall pilgrimages offer a view of this site, along with other plantations.

In Natchez, there's two "pilgrimages" where guests can see the beautiful and ancient mansions during two times of the year with costumed tour guides. During both of these Pilgrimages, there's other events such as drinking mint julep and listening to jazz at Stanton Hall's Carriage House Restaurant, and a variety of plays performed at the Natchez Theater.

The Spring Pilgrimage
The Spring will take place from March 12-April 16, 2011. You can go onto the Natchez's pilgrimage website and order your tickets. There's about twenty-five to thirty homes opened for the occasion. For a three house tour, it will cost thirty for adults, and eighteen dollars for kids between the ages of six to eighteen. You can also see the three house tour plus your choice of one more home: Longwood, Rosalie, or Staton Hall for $42.00 for adults, and $26.00 for youth.

The Fall Pilgrimage
The Fall is from September 30-October 14, 2011. There are about nineteen homes open for the Fall. In the Fall, you can choose from two homes for twenty for adults, and twelve dollars for the kids. You are also given the option of three homes for the same price as the Spring: $30.00 for adults and $18.00 for kids. What's best about the Fall Pilgrimage is that it's often followed by the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race where hot air balloons take flight, fireworks are on display at night, and live bands perform. Read Less

The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race is one of the special events that happens in Natchez. At the end of the Fall Pilgrimages, guests may want to stay longer for this weekend in October. The Race takes place on Friday with a firework presentation sponsored by the City of Vidalia (Louisiana), and ends on a Sunday with an array of performing musical artists. The festival grounds take place at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens on South Broadway and South Canal Streets. However, no tents, pets, or ice chests are permitted on the festival grounds.

Some of the best places for the fireworks are on the fairgrounds itself, sitting in a comfortable chair at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Vidalia, or at one of the closest hotels. There are a few hotels or inns that are closer to the fairgrounds if you don't feel like driving to Louisisana and back everyday. Across from the Convention Center is the Country Inn and Suites on North Broadway. The only hotel listed on the National Historic Register is southern gem, the Natchez Eola Hotel that has its own ballroom, two restaurants, and a courtyard on North Pearl. Further down South Canal near the bridge that connects Mississippi and Louisiana are the Hampton Inn and Suites, and the Isle of Capri Hotel.

There are tickets sold for the event. You can purchase a single day or a weekend pass. The day passes range between $5 - $15 dollars a day for an adult (ages 13 and up), and for kids (ages 7-12) it is $3 - $5. Children six and under get in for free. Weekend passes are $25 for adults, and $8 for kids 7-12 ages.

The 2011 Great Balloon Race is on October 14 - 16th, so hope to see you there!