NATCHEZ — The lure of hoopskirts, historic houses and Southern hospitality was enough to entice a few ladies from Texas and Louisiana to pack their bags for a road trip to Natchez this weekend.

Billie Rivers, Ginger Gregory and Janice Pruitt, all of Texas, made a stop at Green Leaves Friday on their first day of Fall Pilgrimage.

It was the first trip to Natchez for Rivers and Gregory, who came at Pruitt’s recommendation.

“She came in the spring and said it was so beautiful,” Rivers said.

The landscape of Natchez and the grandeur of its homes has been the main attraction for Rivers.

“These trees are amazing, and the homes are to die for,” she said. “It’s a funny feeling to be in the presence of such wealth back then.”

The ladies are on a road trip from Memphis to Natchez and finally Natchitoches, La. Gregory said she is happy they made Natchez a stop on the trip.

“I love it,” she said. “I’d love to live here.”

Green Leaves was also host to another group on a girls’ trip Friday. Sisters Debby Gennusa, Barbara Brouillette, Gail Champagne and their daughters Nicole Reilly, Rhonda Barcelona and Dannell Rome were visiting from New Orleans.

Gennusa said the group has found Natchez to be a unique place.

“We’ve found the history so interesting,” she said. “It’s very unique.”

The vacation was a reprieve for the sisters, who recently lost their mother.

“It really is nice to have a vacation” Brouillette said.

And Natchez is the perfect place to spend it, Barcelona said, and a nice change of pace from New Orleans.

“It’s a leisurely place,” she said. “It’s nice.”

Fall Pilgrimage goes through Oct. 14 with 16 historic houses on tour throughout the event.

Most tours feature three houses each — with a tour in the morning, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and in the afternoon, 1:30 to 5 p.m. Two tours include two houses.

Six other historic mansions and properties will be on tour throughout Pilgrimage for an additional charge.

The tours are as follows:

• Red tour: Auburn, House on Ellicott Hill and Ravenna from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 6, 9 and 12.

• Pink tour: Glenfield, Green Leaves and J.N. Stone House from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 6, 9 and 12.

• Orange tour: Brandon Hall and Sweet Auburn from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 4, 7,  10 and 13.

• Yellow tour: The Gardens and The Towers from 1:30 to 5 p.m. today, Tuesday Oct. 1, 4, 7, 10 and 13.

• Blue tour: The Briars, The Coyle House and Magnolia Hall from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14.

• Green tour: Oak Hill, Pleasant Hill and Rip Rap from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14.

Tickets are $30 per person for the three-house tour. A two-house tour is available for $20. Tickets for children ages 6 to 13 traveling with their families are $18 and $12, respectively. Tour tickets are available only at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center, located at 640 S. Canal St. Individual full-price tickets for Longwood, Rosalie and Stanton Hall can also be purchased at the visitors’ center or at the houses.