“I’d rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special…” ~ Shelby, Steel Magnolias. It’s one of the best movie lines of all time, right?! The girls on our panel all agree, this is in their top 10 favorite movies ever. Now you and your girlfriends can have way more than “30 minutes of wonderful” by planning a girls’ trip to the actual Steel Magnolias Bed and Breakfast! Or, you can gift a trip to your girlfriend, daughter, wife, mom, grandmother, etc. (Gift certificates are available.) Read on for memorable movie moments, tips and hints to make it a trip you’ll always remember!
Some of Our Fave Steel Magnolia Quotes
As women, it’s easy to see little glimpse of ourselves in the hilarious and lovable characters from the small Chinquapin Parrish town:
M’Lynn – Family matriarch with helmet hair. Unwavering love for her family, friends, and daughter. “If he’s trying to drive me crazy, it’s too late.” ~M’lynn.
Shelby – Beautiful, fun, vivacious daughter of M’Lynn’s, with a health condition that threatens her future. “You can’t screw up her hair. You just tease it and make it look like a brown football helmet.” ~Shelby
Clairee – Wealthy and hilarious southern widow who buys football teams and pokes fun at their prickly friend, Ouiser. “Half the people in Chinquapin Parrish would give their eye teeth to take a whack at Ouiser!” ~ Clairee
Ouiser – Another well-to-do southern widow who’s “been in a very bad mood for forty years”, but who has a tender side deep down. “Don’t try to get on my good side, I no longer have one.” ~ Ouiser
Truvy – The larger than life hairdresser to the girls and to the town, who is never at a loss for words. “Honey, time marches on, and eventually you realize it’s marching across your face.” ~ Truvy
Annelle – The quiet wallflower with a past who soon finds her voice and emerges as a butterfly. “I don’t know if you would hire someone who may or may not be married to a dangerous criminal.” ~ Annelle
Steel Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast
Stay in the B&B where scenes from the actual movie were filmed! The gorgeous, expansive house is located in historic Natchitoches, Louisiana, and boasts a “full breakfast”, along with the chance to sleep in rooms named for each of the movie’s main characters – so cool.
Fun fact – the Shelby room is the perfect shade of blush and bashful! You can check out the different rooms, availability, and room rates by the visiting the Steel Magnolia House website at steelmagnoliahouse.net.
Natchitoches at Christmas
Anytime of year is great for this girlfriend’s getaway, but the Christmas season is extra special. According to the official Natchitoches website, the town is lit up with over 300,000 lights and 100 riverbank set pieces to create a Christmas wonderland. Everything is magical and even stores stay open later.
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival (like the one in the movie) happens each year, beginning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ending in January. Most activities happen on Saturdays, and include live music, fireworks, and more – what a blast it would be to visit when the festival is in progress!
Shopping in Natchitoches
There’s no shortage of stuff to do in this southern town. According to one TripAdvisor review, the town is filled with “pocket parks” – anywhere there’s some space, a tiny park has been made for everyone’s enjoyment. And there are quaint little shops around town for souvenir shopping. (Be sure to visit the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce website for a list of shopping areas.)
Yelp lists Georgia’s Gift Shop as a great little place to find everything Cajun and Creole. It’s located on Front Street, amongst the other shops in the historic shopping district. There’s also a good variety of fun eateries, as well. In warmer weather, stroll down by the river for a lazy boat ride.
Carriage Tours through Historic District
Your trip wouldn’t be complete without a guided carriage tour! Learn about the city & see the beautiful old historic houses and side streets, gardens, and more. Check with Cane River Carriage Company for schedules and availability!
Steel Magnolias Tour
And last, but certainly not least, be sure to book a Steel Magnolias movie tour! See the site of Truvy’s beauty shop, the Steel Magnolias house, the church where the wedding took place and much more. Try checking out Tour Natchitoches with Barbara for availability and to book your tour.
Be sure to check out our Steel Magnolia Gifts post before you go & make a little goody bag of memorabilia for your girlfriends!
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