While some Natchezians pack their bags and head out of town for their Labor Day holiday, a few visitors picked Natchez as their Labor Day destination.

In the true spirit of Labor Day, some individuals kicked back and relaxed at home while others took advantage of their days off to be more adventurous.

Gabbie Gauthreaux said she and her circle of friends from Morgan City, Louisiana, used their day off to take a spontaneous three-hour trip to visit some of Natchez’s hot spots.

After touring Longwood, Gauthreaux, Ethan Whittington, Kimberly Babin and William Morrison stopped for a spicy lunch at Fat Mama’s Tamales before walking to the Natchez Bluff, Gauthreaux said.

Gauthreaux said she normally spends her Mondays working at a furniture store but decided to take an educational tour of the city.

“I like it here,” Gauthreaux said. “It’s cool and its old. I like the history. … I work a lot, so normally on my days off I just chill at home.” Whittington said he was happy to take a day off with his friends after working long hours at Amelia Shipyard.

“I work seven-days-a-week, ten-hours a day,” Whittington said.

A couple from Ville Platte, Louisiana — which is roughly a two-hour drive from Natchez — said their trip to the city was a little less spontaneous. Marcus and Deana Launey said they had been trying to find time off to visit Natchez, and Labor Day opened up a window for them to make their routine trip.

“(Natchez) is such a pretty town,” Deana said. “We’d been trying to get a day off to come here this year, but our days just never lined up until now.”

Deana said she teaches high school special education and her husband, Marcus, works as a black jack dealer.  The two of them started their day early and enjoyed the Southern Carriage Tours and a stop at the Fort Rosalie site before taking a stroll down the bluff, Deana said. 

“We come once or twice a year because we just really like it here,” she said. “This morning, we ate at the Natchez Coffee Co. — every year we go there for breakfast. We like to get here early before it’s too hot, and then we just do whatever. … I’ve enjoyed the long weekend for sure.”