Mississippi Vacation and Trip Information

From the long country roads that wind past cotton fields and antebellum plantations to small-town restaurants with soul-food staples like catfish and pig’s feet, Mississippi is the manifestation of Southern culture. While everyone may know how to spell it, Mississippi is one of the most misunderstood states in the Union. Long-dismissed as backwards and unsophisticated, it may surprise travelers to learn about all of the culture that the Magnolia State has to offer.

The state is most well-known for its musical and literary traditions. Blues music was born in the Mississippi Delta region and notable musicians such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Bo Diddley call Mississippi home. Elvis Presley had his humble beginnings in a two-room shotgun house in Tupelo. The Mississippi Delta has also been home to some of the country’s most famous authors, such as: William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty and Alice Walker. Authors like Mark Twain often used the Mississippi Delta region as the setting for novels. Still not classy enough for you? Every four years, Jackson, the state’s capital and largest city, hosts the Olympics of ballet, the USA International Ballet Competition, which returns to the city in 2010.

If you want a taste for life in the antebellum South, look no further than Natchez, home to more than 600 antebellum homes, many of which are open year-round to visitors. Manmouth, Rosalie and Dunleith are some of the most popular plantations to visit in the area.

After Hurricane Katrina, much of Mississippi’s coastline was severely affected. However, progress has been made and much of the state’s coastal playground has recovered. Biloxi, the state’s most popular coastal getaway, is almost back to normal with the majority of the city’s characteristic casinos and beaches repaired and reopened.