Mississippi

Some roads are made for hurrying. The Natchez Trace Parkway isn't one of them. It runs 444 miles, and it was built for touring by car, so the drive itself is the point.

The Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo, at milepost 266, is a good place to start. Inside, exhibits trace the parkway's natural and cultural history, and a theater shows the park movie before you head back out.

From there, let the mileposts set the pace. Pull over when something catches your eye, roll the window down, and take the next stretch a little slower than the last. Cell service is spotty along the way, which might be the best part.

We've started with this one stop in Mississippi, and we'll add more as we check them.