We’ve often said the Natchez area is an undiscovered jewel. We can’t help it; we’re just in love with the place. It’s home.

From the historic sites and scenic views of the majestic Mississippi River to the awe-inspiring natural resources and even more amazing people who call this place home, our area is truly special.

That’s why visitors from around the globe come here to visit. They come to see the antebellum houses and Natchez Under-the-Hill, to see the historic churches and the downtown shops.

These visitors are most evident during the annual spring and fall pilgrimages. But those visitors are here all the time.

That’s why this week’s events to promote National Tourism Week are so important. The aim of the local weeklong event, “Discovering Natchez Treasures,” is to educate locals on all that our area has to offer visitors.

Events vary each day this week, but all are free and open to the public. For more information and a schedule of the events, head down to the Natchez Visitor Reception Center at Canal Street and John R. Junkin Drive.

You might learn something new about your community and in doing so you’ll become a more informed ambassador for our city the next time a visitor stops and asks you a question or seeks directions to some landmark.

Natchez’s treasures are all around us and this week we expect a few more will be unveiled to the treasure hunters who seek them out.