PRESS RELEASE / PHOTO AVAILABLE Of interest to editors and journalists covering: Travel/Tourism, Architecture, Real Estate, Historical Homes, MS News Bus Tax Repealed in Time for the 73rd Annual Natchez Spring Pilgrimage NATCHEZ, MS - Feb. 14, 2005 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Natchez Pilgrimage Tours (www.natchezpilgrimage.com) announces that The $1 per passenger Bus Tax has been repealed by the City of Natchez just in time for this year's Spring Pilgrimage which occurs March 12 thru April 16. Since 1998 the City has required all incoming tour groups to pay $1 per passenger. * (Photo: http://www.Send2Press.com/mediadrome/natchez_72dpi.jpg) * (Caption: Longwood, the most visited house in the Southeast.) This great news for tourism during the oldest visited annual festival in the Southeast is only the beginning of the visitor friendly changes the Pilgrimage offers this year. The 2005 Pilgrimage is planned to take full advantage of the most pleasant Spring weather and peak blooming season. Longwood, the most visited antebellum house in the deep South will be offered every morning as part of the regular Pilgrimage schedule. The Spring Pilgrimage offers visitors the choice of a three house tour for $21 or a four house tour for $28 each morning and afternoon. Many are private homes open only during Pilgrimage, and at each you will be greeted by hostesses in period costume. 29 of the country's most outstanding antebellum homes are offered on the four day cycle, four homes each morning ,including Longwood, and four different ones each afternoon. Nightly entertainment including the world famous "Historic Natchez Pageant" featuring hundreds of local participants, "Southern Road to Freedom" an inspiring Gospel Choir presentation, and "Southern Exposure" a rollicking spoof of the Pilgrimage and its participants offer evening entertainment on alternate nights. Pilgrimage is only the highlight of the many appealing things to experience in one of the most charming, interesting, and historic places in America. Natchez, the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River, has more than 500 antebellum structures and more than 300 wonderful Victorian houses and is probably the best preserved and restored city in the Country. "Walking down the streets you are transported into another time," observed a visitor. Of additional interest this year's Fall Pilgrimage has been rescheduled to October 22nd to November the 5th to avoid the crowds during the annual Mississippi Balloon Race and give visitors better weather to enjoy the Pilgrimage Natchez offers a wide array of good dining including the classic Carriage House Restaurant famous for its fried chicken and tiny buttered biscuits, fascinating shopping, and wonderful lodging choices. For information and a brochure call Natchez Pilgrimage Tours at 800-647-6742 or go to http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com for pictures and further information. Copr. (c) 2005 Send2Press(tm) Newswire. # # # NEWS SOURCE: Natchez Pilgrimage Tours WEBSITE: http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com MEDIA CONTACT: John Saleeby of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours +1-601-446-6631 FAX +1-601-446-8687 visit @ natchezpilgrimage.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- TXT: http://www.Send2Press.com/mediadrome/2005-02-0214-003.txt PDF: http://www.Send2Press.com/mediadrome/news_2005-02-0214-003.pdf Anti-Spam Policy Note for this Archive Copy: if you have received spam email or faxes related to this news story, it did not come from us. View the email headers or fax number where the abuse originated. Send2Press NEVER sends news to the public or to businesses of any kind, only the working MEDIA. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------- English (lang=en) / Content Copr. (c) 2005 Send2Press Newswire. This release was issued on behalf of the above organization, who is solely responsible for accuracy of content, by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com Web sites may only reproduce this release verbatim if the originating news source and Copr. (c) 'Send2Press Newswire' is included. [ related: http://www.eNewsChannels.com ]