Small Town Charm: A Weekend in Historic Vicksburg
Over the summer I had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Vicksburg, Mississippi. This historic town offered the best weekend getaway and if you are looking for a lovely place to stay in the South, I highly recommend a brief trip. Nestled along the Mississippi River there is plenty to see and do for a few days. I loved how much history took place here to include the European exploration and Civil War events. There is so much culture to soak in while you stay and overall one of my top cities to travel to in the past few years. Below you will find a few of my favorite spots including where to stay, what to eat, and things to see while you are there.
Where to Stay
I was just lucky enough to get a room at the historic Anchuca Bed and Breakfast which is an antebellum home dating backing to the mid-1800s. President Jefferson’s brother owned the home and once the president was released from being in prison he gave a speech on the balcony of this hotel. The city is nestled in the deep South and there are tons of spots all over town with landmarks from Civil War events. The home features a classical pool (which you can check out more details in this post), garden, and a beautiful restaurant where breakfast is included with your stay. I met a few locals who said this is the gem of the city and if you book dinner reservations it’s one of the top places in town to eat. There are two parts to the hotel, the main house and the carriage inn (where I had my room). The hotel does not charge for pets and the beds are extremely comfortable. I would give the property a 10/10 for service, hospitality, and cleanliness. You also get a video tour of the home and a history lesson included with your stay.
What to Do
After checking into my hotel I decided it was time to go exploring and I took a walk down the hill to the shore of the river where the Mississippi ship is docked at the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum. The ship is no longer in use but serves as a memoir and landmark to the edge of historic downtown. From there you will find a fantastic park with huge water and art installations for kids to play! The air was filled with little giggles as the sunset and lots of splashing around. Although I took a solo trip, you can easily make this a family weekend. There’s a beautiful park that overlooks the Railroad Station where you will find the Old Depot Museum. I sat on the top of the hill with many others watching the sunset and admiring the view. As you go south along the river you will quickly reach boutique shops and restaurants in Historic Downtown Vicksburg. The town was hopping with music that billowed into the street all evening. Another option is to head over to the Vicksburg National Military Park where you can make a few laps while taking in the scenic view. There’s also a ton of other beautiful places like the Old Courthouse.
Where to Eat
Let’s talk about the food because it was really something special. I stopped at a few restaurants to include Relish Bistro (featured directly below). It’s a smaller venue where two brothers own it locally. I ordered their goat cheese and arugula salad with a virgin Moscow mule. Everything is made fresh and from scratch in-house! According to one of the locals, this (along with the restaurant at Anchuca Bed and Breakfast) are the top two restaurants for a fine meal in the city. After I finished I was recommended to head over to 10 South Rooftop. I hopped into a tiny elevator and when I arrived on the roof there was so much energy and joy here! I ended up eating a salted caramel bread pudding dessert while getting the final glimpse of the sun going down over the horizon. You can check out my view if you scroll to the top of this blog post. Be prepared for a wait here! I don’t think they take reservations so it’s first-come, first-serve.
Things to Note
If you are traveling over the warmer months (the climate is similar to Texas) you’ll want to bring lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes. I wore one of my favorite Hill House dresses since it’s 100% cotton and perfect for dinner or just viewing the city. I felt like the Caroline dress was the perfect style of sweet mixed with southern. I paired it with a pair of bow sandals. There are a lot of hills so be prepared to walk. Even if you park downtown, you’ll still go a few blocks if you plan on sightseeing. It’s a beautiful walking city if you elect to leave your car at your hotel. The nearby neighborhoods are filled with historic houses and if you prefer to take a scenic drive there’s a beautiful one that starts near downtown and travels North alongside the Mississippi River. The city also features many gardens and smaller parks. The architecture is a sight in itself and don’t forget to visit the cemetery on the way out. I highly recommend stopping here even if it’s just for a night! It’s about halfway between Dallas, TX, and Birmingham, AL. It’s also within a day’s drive of Houston, TX and Destin, FL.
