The Trace
It probably started with animals trekking from one area to another, followed by Indians and then French and Spanish explorers. Soon traders were carrying their goods from Ohio to the Mississippi. We're on the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail, following in the footsteps of thousands.
The Trace Parkway goes from Nashville TN to Natchez MS but we only drove about 30 miles of it south of Jackson MS. It is a lovely scenic two-lane highway that tracks closely the original trace. In places you can walk the actual path, overgrown and trod down. Several "stands" or inns are restored along the way and markers commemorate Civil War battles and Indian settlements.
The Trace was abandoned as steamships became affordable on the Ohio and Mississippi so goods could travel back and forth quickly and economically. The National Park Service has taken over restoring and maintaining this magical piece of history.