A TRAIL MUCH LESS FOLLOWED
By Jim Foster
After a short walk from my B&B I found myself across the street from the house where the movie “Steel Magnolias” was filmed, called the Steel Magnolias House. The house is now a bed and breakfast. I was told the entire movie was filmed in and around Natchitoches. (Pronounced like "Natch a tish") not the Texas version.
Natchitoches is Louisiana's oldest town, established 1714. Described as a quaint and historic town. Visitors will feel the charm of the original French colony in Louisiana.
Strolling through the Natchitoches Historic District visitors will find shopping, dining, and attractions plus historic fort sites, museums, and year around cultural events and festivals. One of my favorites was the old Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store hardware store, Louisiana’s oldest general store. The stock and the antique cash register are worth a walk through the store.
Natchitoches is also recognized as the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Louisiana and home to the Cane River Creole National Historical Park at Oakland & Magnolia Plantations. The National Trust named our town one of the 2005 "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" for Historic Preservation.
Returning to my B&B at the spacious The Jefferson House, I was met by the owners Arleen and Herman Mayeux. With my coffee cup refilled I sat with them on the patio overlooking the river. The sounds of birds filled the air as well as a plethora of spring pollen that seemed to settle on everything including my northern sinuses. My room, just off the patio was not only very comfortable but also handy to all the amenities.
Shortly after my arrival I was greeted by “Rue”, a very friendly dashhound who guards the outer areas and is the reason for the “Weine Dog Crossing” sign on the driveway.
From Natchitoches the road led to Forest Hill, LA and the 24th Louisiana Nursery Festival. We had time to wander around the 50 some odd booths and venders selling plants, bushes, and other festival sellers including rides and plenty of food establishments.
It was easy to see that some were having a hard time deciding from all the beautiful plants that strategically line the outer perimeter of the grounds. All types of shrubs and trees, most abundant with blooms, are available in a variety of sizes. Rose bushes, especially the new disease resistant Knock-Out Rose, are offered in a host of colors. It was an interesting couple of hours. Then it was off to another location where the plants were much larger, the long leaf pine.
The sign on the post office said Long Leaf, LA. This was the town where for several decades the logging and lumber industry thrived. When the available timber became harder to access the company closed the plant and just walked away leaving buildings, railroad side tracks, saws, machinery, and hand tools right where the workers laid them when they left. The plant now is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum.
Our last stop for the evening was the Loyd Hall Plantation and Bed and Breakfast. The grand old house has been restored and I was given a verbal history of the still working plantation and was advised of a specter that has been seen walking the halls. It was a restful evening and with the morning the trip through northern Louisiana was complete. I departed with a new insight of the trail much less traveled.
For more information go to; http://www.natchitoches.net
http://www.forestheritagemuseum.org/
http://www.jeffersonhousebandb.com/
http://www.louisiananurseryfestival.com/
http://www.loydhall.com/
And for general Louisiana travel information go to; http://www.louisianatravel.com/
If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com
