Leo dropped us an email the other day...

Hi, we are first time visitors in the Southern States of the US. We are planning a trip from NYC to Miami, visiting the Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Pwy. On our way to Jackson/New Orleans we planned to stay in Tupelo overnight and driving down the NTP. We will be there mid-September. Will the leaves be changing colors then? Or is this too early? Do you have some tips which are a must cruising down the NTP? Thank you

-- Leo from the Netherlands

My answer below...

Located in Wayne County, Tennessee, the Glenrock Picnic Area is near milemarker 364 on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

The Glenrock Picnic Area will be closed to the public until October 2007. Travel along the Parkway itself should not be affected.

Following are details about the renovations...

Ever wonder what it's like to hike on the Old Trace? (That historic stretch of roadway that today is merely a worn down foot and horse path in the few places that remain.)

Here are highlights, plus photos, of our favorite place to hike on the Natchez Trace Parkway: The Old Trace at milemarker 426.3.

I already wrote about my favorite roadtrip to take on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

My second favorite stretch of roadway along the Natchez Trace Parkway is the part that goes from Highway 96 in Franklin to just past Highway 46 exit in Leiper's Fork -- heading South.

A popular turnaround spot is the Garrison Creek rest area, about a mile past the Leiper's Fork exit.

The Natchez Trace Parkway map is nice, but it doesn't show all of the stops along the way. It only shows the largest and most pertinent ones -- in the eyes of the National Park Service.

I thought I'd share with you some of the "hidden gems" that can be found along the Trace, most of which are not included on the official map.

The following Natchez Trace Parkway sightseeing locations are numbered in order, as if you're entering the Trace at Highway 100 (Nashville/Bellevue, TN), then heading north and exiting at Highway 96 (Franklin, TN). This route spans just over 5 miles (one way).

Just as it's hard to find gasoline when driving along the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's nearly as difficult to find a restroom -- when you need one!

Here are all of the public restrooms located on the Natchez Trace Parkway -- from the Alabama state line (milemarker 340.1) through Tennessee, all the way to Nashville (milemarker 444).

The very first (or very last, depending on which direction you're heading) gas station on the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Shell Station near the intersection of Highway 100 and the Natchez Trace Parkway.

There is also a cut-through to/from Bellevue using McCrory Lane, which intersects Highway 100 right next to the Shell Station.

Jim and I have driven the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway -- from Tupelo Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee -- several times. (We have a friend who lives in Starkeville, Mississippi... enough said.)

In total, the Natchez Trace Parkway covers 101 miles in the state of Tennessee, and passes through 7 Tennessee counties: Davidson, Williamson, Maury, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, and Wayne (from north to south, respectively). It spans from mileposts 341 to 444.

Plus, I've biked the northernmost end of the Trace more times than I can count. Mostly I ride from the Garrison Creek parking area just past the Leiper's Fork exit (Hwy 46) -- all the way to the very end of the Parkway at Highway 100 in Nashville (near the Lovelace Cafe).

That's my favorite out & back biking route along the Natchez Trace -- roughly, from mileposts 427 to 440.

Did you know?... The Natchez Trace Parkway is rated one of the Top 10 Biking Routes in the country!

Mostly, these days we like to hop in the Jeep and ride. We turn around whenever the mood strikes us. And we stop & see whatever we feel like stopping and seeing. It's such a relaxing and leisurely drive.

Here are my tips if you want to see the Natchez Trace, but you only have a very short time to do so...