Hello and welcome to Travel + Explore & Play with Sallee Jay, where I’m typically your host. Today, we have something truly special in store for you! I’m thrilled to introduce our very first guest blogger, Rachel Nava, who will be sharing her recent adventure in Natchitoches, LA.

As I mentioned last year, I’ve been working on expanding the site to highlight the solo travel experiences of women—especially women of color. This aligns with the mission of salleejay.com to inspire and empower women to heal and embark on a journey of self-discovery through solo travel exploration.

Let’s give Rachel a warm welcome as she takes us through her travel experience!

Hello again 😀 and welcome to Travel + Explore & Play with Sallee Jay, I am your guest host, Rachel Nava.

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve had a love affair with New Orleans, LA for the past 20+ years. I’ve never really given any other city in Louisiana much thought—until this year. This year, I decided to visit the charming little town of Natchitoches, LA (pronounced NACK-atish). As someone who loves both Christmas and small towns, I stumbled upon this gem while Googling “Best small-town Christmases” a few years ago.

I’ll be honest, my decision to visit was made for one reason and one reason only—this is where the iconic film Steel Magnolias was filmed. I absolutely LOVE that movie. So, the search began to find the perfect place to stay. I was originally planning to visit last Christmas, but due to work commitments and limited vacation time, I had to push the trip back a year. Let me just say this: I wish I’d gone years ago, and I wish I were here talking about it for the umpteenth time already!

Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement of Europeans and Africans in the Louisiana Purchase. Established as a French trading post on the Red River in 1713, it played a significant role in both Louisiana and Texas history. The city was not only a vital trading post but also served as a gateway for explorers and settlers heading toward Texas.

Legend has it that Natchitoches, LA, and Nacogdoches, TX, were named after twins who founded their respective tribes, just 100 miles apart. This charming city boasts a variety of Bed and Breakfasts, and I truly believe I found the absolute best one to stay in.

The Andrew Morris House Bed & Breakfast is one of four properties in the Natchitoches Bed & Breakfast family. Located just a five-minute walk from the River Walk, restaurants, shops, and bars, it offers a perfect blend of convenience and charm. The drive from San Antonio to Natchitoches took about 8 hours, but you can also fly into Shreveport, LA, and rent a car, as it’s just an hour away.

The innkeeper’s instructions were crystal clear, and I found the keys to my room exactly where she said they’d be. As I walked in, it felt like stepping into the ultimate Christmas movie home! Christmas trees adorned the front parlor and dining area, with decorations on the mantels and staircase railings. It was absolutely beautiful!

I booked the Tucker Suite, one of four rooms available at the property. It’s a two-bedroom suite with a private bathroom (all the rooms here offer private bathrooms). Located on the second floor, the suite was spacious, with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. Since it was late in the day, I didn’t see or hear any other guests at the time.

Breakfast is served at 8:00 am every morning. Normally, I’m not one to jump out of bed early on vacation, so I was initially feeling a bit ‘meh’ about having to be up and at ‘em if I wanted to make breakfast. That quickly changed after my first experience.

Our innkeeper, Kelly, let us know what we’d be having each day, and we kicked things off with Red Raspberry Croissant Bread Pudding. There were also different juice options, along with water, coffee, and tea available. Our main course that day was Southwestern eggs with Julienne Au Gratin potatoes and an English muffin. It was delicious! Each day’s breakfast seemed to get better and better—Parfait, French Toast, Pineapple Cherry Crumble, Baked Ham and Egg Crisps with Southwestern grits, Fresh Fruit Cups, and Apple Spiced Belgian Waffles. I literally couldn’t wait to get up each morning for breakfast! It also helped that Kelly and Sherry were incredible hosts—friendly, kind, and just lovely to chat with.

Two houses down from the B&B is the Chaplin House. While it’s a private residence, I discovered it was used as Aunt Fern’s home in Steel Magnolias (remember the armadillo cake scene?). Just a five-minute walk away is the Steel Magnolia House, which served as the Eatonton home in the movie. It’s still operating as a Bed & Breakfast today.

Another five-minute walk will take you to American Cemetery, where “Shelby” is buried. This cemetery is considered the oldest in the Louisiana Purchase, and it’s absolutely beautiful—well worth a stroll. The cemetery is filled with large, ancient trees that offer plenty of shade. While there are some graves that need attention, it’s fascinating to read the inscriptions and try to spot the oldest ones.

One evening, I took a little drive to Dark Woods Adventure Park, which features over 300,000 lights to walk through. The entry fee was just $8.00 per person. They have a few spots with campfires where you can purchase S’mores kits, or you can visit the hot chocolate shop. It was cute, but I found I enjoyed walking along the Riverwalk and seeing all the lights there even more (and for free!). They also have a couple of spots along the way where you can grab hot chocolate and other treats.

The downside of being there when I was is that the city pretty much shuts down on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and some places were even closed the day after Christmas. One evening, I stopped by Papa’s Bar & Grill on Front Street to enjoy a drink. The atmosphere was cozy, and the food that I saw being served looked great. On Christmas Day, there were only a handful of restaurants open, so I decided to try Hana Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill. Despite being super busy, the staff was friendly, prompt, and the food was delicious.

Later that evening, I took a riverboat tour on the Cane River Queen to see the lights again. It was a fun experience, and the captain was very entertaining. The ride was $20 and lasted about an hour. You can purchase sodas or hot chocolate on the boat, too.

Before heading home, I stopped by The Loft @ 5:30, located above The Landing Restaurant. They had live entertainment that evening, and the place seemed to be a favorite among the locals. I immediately met the owner of another B&B in the area, and we chatted for a while. Shortly after, the captain of the riverboat showed up as well. The Loft has a pool table, a sizable bar, and plenty of tables and sofas to enjoy the entertainment. It was the perfect spot to end my evening!

I was supposed to leave the day after Christmas, but I decided to extend my trip by an extra day in hopes of experiencing more of the shops and local sights. On my last day, I walked around downtown and picked up some souvenirs. I really wanted to visit Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile—Louisiana’s oldest general store—but unfortunately, it was still closed.

Instead, I grabbed a cup of coffee and a cookie at Cane River Kitchenware, picked up a bag of saltwater taffy at Cane River Candy Company, and bought a Christmas decoration at the Natchitoches Art Guild-Gallery, which showcases local artists.

I got caught in a rainstorm and had to take shelter under the library awning until it passed. Once it cleared up, I headed to the Melrose Plantation in Natchez, LA. This plantation is one of the largest in the United States and was built by and for free people of color. The history of the plantation fascinated me, particularly the story of Clementine Hunter, who was a cook for one of the owners, Cammie Henry, at the time.

Cammie Henry hosted artists' retreats and was known for her efforts as a preservationist. Clementine started as a field hand, then became a housekeeper and cook. During her time as a cook, she discovered discarded paints left behind by the artists and began painting. Despite never receiving formal education or learning to read or write, she became a self-taught, primitive artist. Her work documented plantation life, the community of workers, and the social aspects of her life. She told her story and expressed herself through her paintings.

In 1986, Clementine received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. There was even an investigation into whether hundreds of her paintings, sold in the 1990s and 2000s, were forgeries. Turns out, many were! Some consider this the case that legitimized folk art. The tour was $20 and absolutely worth it! The grounds were beautiful, the tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, and the history was truly fascinating.

For my last evening, I headed back to Natchez for dinner at the Cane River Commissary. It’s a lovely restaurant with a bar and plenty of seating. To start, I ordered the Artichoke Wontons—crispy wontons filled with spinach and artichoke dip. They were absolutely amazing, and I ate them all.

For my entrée, I chose the Creole Sampler, which included Fatty’s Meat Pie, Jambalaya, and Creamy Creole Pasta. I had never had a meat pie before, and let me tell you—if they all taste like this one, I’ll definitely be back for more! It was delicious. The jambalaya and creole pasta weren’t quite to my taste, though. They had a strong seafood flavor, even though there was no seafood in the dishes. To be fair, I’ve been experiencing taste bud issues this past year due to medications and quitting smoking, so they could have been fantastic and I just couldn’t tell. The prices were reasonable, the staff was friendly, and the place had a great vibe. I would definitely recommend trying it out!

All in all, this trip was one of my favorites. Ever. I’ve already booked the same trip for my husband and me next Christmas!

Pro tip for anyone who’s never stayed at a Bed & Breakfast: you are typically asked to tip when you check out and pay. I had absolutely no issue with this—it’s well deserved since your room is refreshed, and fresh towels and bathroom supplies are provided while you enjoy breakfast. I just wasn’t aware of it ahead of time, so the bill was a little bit of a sticker shock at the end!