Ahern's Belle of the Bends Bed & Breakfast Inn
Vicksburg, MS
February 17-19th, 2014
Leaving Jackson, MS, the Red Chair drove right to the Mississippi River overlook. It was amazing to see Ole Man River so up close and personal. The Mississippi River Bridges were also beautiful to gaze at and they provided great photo ops too. Next on the itinerary was a trip to visit a monument in the Vicksburg National Military Park, actually there are a lot of areas in and around Vicksburg that are designated as a part of the military park but there was just not enough time for them all.
Finally, after hearing all kinds of exciting things about the Inn from Innkeeper Mary, it was time to head to Ahern's Belle of the Bends Bed & Breakfast Inn. The gardens were absolutely breathtaking and sitting beneath the 170 year old crepe myrtle was quite enchanting!
The next morning Red awoke to a delicious breakfast of bacon, onion and green pepper quiche, fresh fruit, biscuits, sausage and bacon and this wonderful pico de gallo salsa that was an accompaniment to the quiche. The Red Chair had the pleasure of dining with new friends (other guests) who were from Memphis, TN and Atlanta ,GA. There was an attorney, a judge, a banker and piano teacher and a young man who just got of the Peace Corps and was heading to Beijing to teach English in a private school.
The Red Chair loved learning all about the history of the area and the Inn. Check out the blog to hear all about the tales from the local furniture!
Finally, after hearing all kinds of exciting things about the Inn from Innkeeper Mary, it was time to head to Ahern's Belle of the Bends Bed & Breakfast Inn. The gardens were absolutely breathtaking and sitting beneath the 170 year old crepe myrtle was quite enchanting!
The next morning Red awoke to a delicious breakfast of bacon, onion and green pepper quiche, fresh fruit, biscuits, sausage and bacon and this wonderful pico de gallo salsa that was an accompaniment to the quiche. The Red Chair had the pleasure of dining with new friends (other guests) who were from Memphis, TN and Atlanta ,GA. There was an attorney, a judge, a banker and piano teacher and a young man who just got of the Peace Corps and was heading to Beijing to teach English in a private school.
The Red Chair loved learning all about the history of the area and the Inn. Check out the blog to hear all about the tales from the local furniture!
Fairview Inn Bed & Breakfast
Jackson, MS
February 14-16th, 2014
The Red Chair had quite an eventful weekend in at the historic Fairview Inn Bed and Breakfast of Jackson, MS. The chairs' bold red color was appropriate while visiting because it was Valentine's Day weekend!
The Red Chair was first taken on a tour of the Fairview's property. It got to see the front of the house, the courtyard, the gazebo, and even made friends with the owners pup, Fluff! This beautiful 1908 Colonial Revival B&B is listed on the National Register of Historic places and is also the only AAA four-diamond small luxury hotel in the city.
Next, the chair stopped by the home of one of the most acclaimed writers of the twentieth century, Eudora Welty. The Red Chair then proceeded around town to Hal n Mal's restaurant, the Old Capitol Building, and the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Roaming around a new place with some great new friends was a fantastic way for the Red Chair to spend its Valentine's Day weekend and would love to come back again in the future!
The Red Chair was first taken on a tour of the Fairview's property. It got to see the front of the house, the courtyard, the gazebo, and even made friends with the owners pup, Fluff! This beautiful 1908 Colonial Revival B&B is listed on the National Register of Historic places and is also the only AAA four-diamond small luxury hotel in the city.
Next, the chair stopped by the home of one of the most acclaimed writers of the twentieth century, Eudora Welty. The Red Chair then proceeded around town to Hal n Mal's restaurant, the Old Capitol Building, and the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Roaming around a new place with some great new friends was a fantastic way for the Red Chair to spend its Valentine's Day weekend and would love to come back again in the future!
Bisland House Bed and Breakfast
Natchez, MS
February 11-13th, 2014
From Baton Rouge, LA to the Bisland House Bed and Breakfast in Natchez, MS the Red Chair has been quite the traveler! Although the first two days were cold and rainy, Innkeeper Christine was well prepared. Spending time by the warm fire hearing the tales behind this beautiful B&B, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes, filled the first night. The next day it was off to learn about the history of Natchez, MS at the Natchez Visitors Center. Red learned Natchez, the birthplace of Mississippi, is known internationally as a quaint, Southern town with a rich culture and heritage shaped by people of African, French, British and Spanish descent. It's first inhabitants, however, were the Natchez Indians and it was French explorers who first came to the area and made it their home in peace with the tribe. It is the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River and the self proclaimed Bed and Breakfast Capital of the South with over 40 Bed and Breakfast and the official Biscuit Capital of the World. (The perfect place for the Red Chair to visit!) Natchez will celebrate her Tricentennial Birthday in 2016, maybe the Red Chair will be able to come back and celebrate! Red enjoyed the driving tour of Natchez, since it was so cold, as well as the Historic photo exhibit. Some of the historical homes and National parks were closed due to the weather, but Red went to the Historic Marker for the Rhythm Night Club Fire.
Red went to the Mississippi River bluffs for a spectacular view of the Mississippi River and some photo ops with the Natchez Democrat newspaper photographer. The Red Chair then visited Stanton Hall, Rosalie and went down Under the Hill to the Under the Hill Saloon. Once the place that thieves and undesirables hung out in the 1800's at the time of Riverboats, it's a unique, historic place in Natchez enjoyed by tourist and locals alike. The closest views of the Mississippi River at Natchez can be found right outside the doors.
It was then back to Bisland House Bed and Breakfast to relax and wait for its ride to the next stop on its journey!
Red went to the Mississippi River bluffs for a spectacular view of the Mississippi River and some photo ops with the Natchez Democrat newspaper photographer. The Red Chair then visited Stanton Hall, Rosalie and went down Under the Hill to the Under the Hill Saloon. Once the place that thieves and undesirables hung out in the 1800's at the time of Riverboats, it's a unique, historic place in Natchez enjoyed by tourist and locals alike. The closest views of the Mississippi River at Natchez can be found right outside the doors.
It was then back to Bisland House Bed and Breakfast to relax and wait for its ride to the next stop on its journey!
Front Beach Cottages
Ocean Springs, MS
January 30th - February 1st
First thing the Red Chair Travels wanted to do (after a tour of the Front Beach Cottages of course) was to go to the harbor and see the nice view from the docks and introduce himself to the huge shrimp boats. Then Red decided that it wanted to get some sun and went to the beach, the inn’s namesake - Front Beach. Soon after getting some nice color and the tan Red was looking for (liberal sunscreen applied) with new friend Camille, Red wanted to play hide and go seek at Fort Maurepas park. This is an awesome park, with an incredible splash pad. Red especially enjoyed the slides and the Seaman’s Memorial which pays tribute to all of the seaman of Ocean Springs who have lost their lives on the ocean.
The Red Chair wanted to frolic in the splash pad’s fountains, but since it is January and the faucet is turned “off”, Red’ll need to come back in the spring to enjoy the wet stuff. Then it was time to head downtown and take in the sights of the historic downtown shopping and dining corridors of Washington Ave and Government Street. Red connected with a piece of Ocean Springs history at Lovelace Drug Store and Soda fountain and then wandered down to the train depot.
It’s Mardi Gras season on the Gulf Coast and Red easily got into the swing of things and was rather successful in its “throw me something Mister” schtick. Red had a great time and loved this cross country stopover at Front Beach Cottages! What a different world than the Red Chairs hometown of Woods Hole on Cape Cod!
The Red Chair wanted to frolic in the splash pad’s fountains, but since it is January and the faucet is turned “off”, Red’ll need to come back in the spring to enjoy the wet stuff. Then it was time to head downtown and take in the sights of the historic downtown shopping and dining corridors of Washington Ave and Government Street. Red connected with a piece of Ocean Springs history at Lovelace Drug Store and Soda fountain and then wandered down to the train depot.
It’s Mardi Gras season on the Gulf Coast and Red easily got into the swing of things and was rather successful in its “throw me something Mister” schtick. Red had a great time and loved this cross country stopover at Front Beach Cottages! What a different world than the Red Chairs hometown of Woods Hole on Cape Cod!
Grand Magnolia Ballroom and Suites
Pascagoula, MS
January 27-29th, 2014
The Red Chair, of course, had Innkeeper Amy snap a couple of shots showcasing the arrival of Red to the beautiful Grand Magnolia Ballroom and Suites and first stop as it entered Mississippi. After a quick tour of the property Red was ready to start exploring!
The Old Spanish Fort was one of the first stops on the itinerary, also known as Old French Fort and LaPointe-Krebs House. The fort was constructed in 1721 on the shore of Lake Catahoula (Krebs Lake) by French Canadian Joseph Simon de la Pointe. This building is often described as the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley, a must see stopping point when staying or driving through the area. The Red Chair was really interested in the Old Spanish Fort overlooking Krebs Lake where numerous families can be observed fishing, crabbing, boating, kayaking and bird watching on the pier and shore front at the Old Spanish Fort. Right around the corner and down the road from the Old Spanish Fort the Red Chair stopped at “Lovers Lane” for a few quick pics. This is an amazing drive in north Pascagoula where the Live Oak Trees seem to be hugging and framing the road. The Magnolia Birding Pier was a quick stop on our way to the Inner Harbor. For the locals, the inner harbor is a peaceful place to come and watch the sun rise and set, listen to the rocking of the sailboats, feed the ducks and take beautiful pictures over the smooth water protected by the surrounding marsh and land.
The Pascagoula Inner Harbor also holds a great view of one of Pascagoula’s many successful industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding. With 800 acres and 11,000 employees, Ingalls is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi and a major contributor to the economic growth of the state. Viewing the large ships being built right at port and the large cranes and other machinery viewable just right off the west side of town, the Red Chair found this fascinating! On its last stop, the Red Chair insisted on sinking all four feet into the sands of the Mississippi Sound looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico and a beautiful sunset. What a beautiful place!
The Old Spanish Fort was one of the first stops on the itinerary, also known as Old French Fort and LaPointe-Krebs House. The fort was constructed in 1721 on the shore of Lake Catahoula (Krebs Lake) by French Canadian Joseph Simon de la Pointe. This building is often described as the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley, a must see stopping point when staying or driving through the area. The Red Chair was really interested in the Old Spanish Fort overlooking Krebs Lake where numerous families can be observed fishing, crabbing, boating, kayaking and bird watching on the pier and shore front at the Old Spanish Fort. Right around the corner and down the road from the Old Spanish Fort the Red Chair stopped at “Lovers Lane” for a few quick pics. This is an amazing drive in north Pascagoula where the Live Oak Trees seem to be hugging and framing the road. The Magnolia Birding Pier was a quick stop on our way to the Inner Harbor. For the locals, the inner harbor is a peaceful place to come and watch the sun rise and set, listen to the rocking of the sailboats, feed the ducks and take beautiful pictures over the smooth water protected by the surrounding marsh and land.
The Pascagoula Inner Harbor also holds a great view of one of Pascagoula’s many successful industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding. With 800 acres and 11,000 employees, Ingalls is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi and a major contributor to the economic growth of the state. Viewing the large ships being built right at port and the large cranes and other machinery viewable just right off the west side of town, the Red Chair found this fascinating! On its last stop, the Red Chair insisted on sinking all four feet into the sands of the Mississippi Sound looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico and a beautiful sunset. What a beautiful place!
