This home was built in the late 1960's from what we learned, so just don't expect a "historic accommodation" like other B&B's here. There is room for 5 vehicles to park closely together in the back, lower level of the property (the house has the first street level and a basement level rooms.) The back of the house has a couple of decks with chairs for sitting to enjoy the river view, plus the balcony overlooking all. There are grass areas back here for walking your pet. You can walk downtown to restaurants like the Landing, Mama's Oyster House, etc. and you can enjoy reading about many historic homes and buildings along the walk in the neighborhood. Note there are very limited options for dining and shopping on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and many stores are closed for a month or so. We knew this from the previous year's stay in town.

I was very nervous about being the last one to park as I had my new car. Parking was tighter than I would like. Most everyone left for NYEve festivities including the hosts, so I had to park in a different place near some shrubs when we returned. Our host offered to help carry our bags to our room upstairs (on the street level floor). We're used to taking care of our own stuff, but it was nice. Upstairs we found three pets: 2 doxies and one cat. We had our doxie, so that was great as we love dogs and dachshunds very much. The house is very clean and was decorated very nicely for the Christmas holiday. Very festive. Our room was across from our host and hostess and we had a nice private bathroom and a ceiling fan in the room. The bed was beautiful. We were worried the heat would be turned up too much but it was nice and cool. Our host gave us a glass of water (we had been driving all day). He even offered to chill beer for us though we didn't have anything to chill. Though we had indicated on the phone we would likely leave by 9:00 am to begin a long drive home, we were told after arriving that the other guests were sleeping in until later (post NYeve) and breakfast would be at 9:30. We said that was fine and that we just wouldn't need the breakfast. He offered to knock some off of the price. We're early risers and with my blood sugar I have to eat soon after getting up in the morning.

We changed clothes and drove downtown with our doxie in the car to meet another couple for dinner at Mamma's. Parking was easy to find at 6 pm. Tables at the restaurant were full by 6:30 p.m. After dinner we drove back to the B&B. We grabbed umbrellas and walked with our doxie downtown to look at the lights. We were back at the B&B and in bed by 10 p.m. What we didn't realize were two important things: 1)Fireworks are very big here for New Years Eve and this location is prime for hearing them 2) our room would be so close to busy street traffic. Also the pups got scared from the fireworks neighbors were setting off so very 15-20 minutes they were running through the house barking. It was after 1:00 a.m. before traffic quieted, the neighborhood quieted and fireworks ceased. We only had about 5 hours of solid sleep when we got up at 6. (we were going to sleep until 8 but our kind host thought we were leaving -we were just letting our doxie go potty- so we just decided to go ahead and get around and head out. Our host provided us with some sliced melon, coffee and sliced fruit bread. There is no milk in the house (we brought our own cereal). It was about 7:30 or so when we packed the car. Again our host helped us out. I noticed cat prints on the window and mud on the windshield which I washed off, but I was sooooo tired. I didn't realize until we got home that the cat or a cat had tracked mud all over my new and newly detailed car...up one side and down the other. It doesn't help that I do not like cats.

So here are a few things to know: smoking goes on on the back balcony though the home is thankfully smoke-free. There is a cat that goes inside and outside the house. There are two sweet dogs. Parking is tight when they are booked. The upper bedrooms are close to noisy street traffic. The home isn't historic. During holidays like NYEve the fireworks are loud at this location. We don't know how much noise you hear down below. We walked with socks very quietly on the wood floors to try and reduce noise to our neighbors below. These things should help you make your decision. Oh, the home is for sale. The owners are super nice and have a great collection of cookbooks in the kitchen. And they take credit cards for your payment before you leave. I think during normal times of the year, those who love B&B's will love the Jefferson House in Natchitoches.