Mississippi

Mississippi is a southern U.S. state situated with the Mississippi River to its west, Alabama to its east and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its Delta region is considered the birthplace of blues music, and the state is recognised for its preservation of historic places, natural wonders, and creative arts. Not to mention its food – you’ll find delicious freshly caught shrimp as well as barbecued ribs and fried river catfish on the menu. 

Here are our top five things you can’t miss during a visit to Mississippi:     

Museums in Mississippi 

Mississippi has a number of museums that are hard to choose between! Located on Highway 61, the Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitor Center is usually the first place people see when they drive into Tunica. This rustic train depot, circa 1895, is a must-stop for travellers before and after a visit to Tunica. Here, you can seek useful information for your stay, but it’s also home to the Gateway to the Blues Museum, which all music lovers must check out. 

Make sure you visit the Grammy Museum Mississippi – music fan or not, you are bound to enjoy this interactive experience in Cleveland that explores the past, present and future of music and celebrates the technology and creativity of the recording process.  

To learn about the state’s important history, visit The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History in Jackson. Both of these explore how the past has influenced our future and celebrate the influential people behind the movements that led us today.  

Cypress Swamp, Natchez Trace Parkway 

Located 30 minutes northeast of Jackson, Mississippi, Cypress Swamp – at milepost 122 on the Natchez Trace Parkway – has a boardwalk trail that leads you through the swamp and amongst the tupelo and cypress trees, where you can see frogs, snakes and alligators. 

Plan to spend about 30 minutes as you walk the trail, imagine the travellers who once passed by this site on their way home, and explore the natural beauty of the swamp and its wildlife.

Visit the Birthplace of Elvis, Tupelo

The Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo is a modest two-room house where Elvis Presley was born. The house is part of the six-hectare Elvis Presley Park, including a statue, museum, and church. The bronze statue of 13-year-old Elvis is life-sized and displayed at ground level so fans can be closer.  

The Mississippi Blues Trail  

Throughout the state, the Mississippi Blues Trail has nearly 200 trail markers that tell stories of well-known blues artists and famous sites. Find them in train depots, cemeteries, cotton fields, clubs and churches, and learn how people, places, and culture influenced music.  You’ll gain facts you never knew, see places for the first time, and you’ll gain a new appreciation for the area that gave birth to the blues. 

Coastal Mississippi  

Come and enjoy the 99 kilometres of coast that Mississippi has to offer! Otherwise known as the Mississippi Gulf Coast region and situated along the Gulf of Mexico, there is something for everyone: whether it’s relaxing or adrenaline that you’re after – all while mixing with friendly, unique coastal communities along the way. 

You can head to one of the fascinating art museums, paddle the day away along the blueways or book a charter to catch dinner. Check out the boutique shops, cash in at the casinos, or hit a local juke joint to enjoy the local music scene. If travelling with kids, there are endless options for family fun, including attractions, fun centres, and nature tours.

In buzzing Mississippi metropolitan downtowns, you will find traditional accommodation as well as some not-so-traditional places to stay. From breakfast inns in historic homes to repurposed sharecropper houses, the vast range of accommodation options in Mississippi showcases the state’s character and spirit, and you’ll also meet eclectic characters along the way – you’re sure to have a time you’ll never forget! 

Here is our roundup of some of the more ‘unique’ accommodation options in Mississippi:

For the Curious: Shack-Up Inn 

“The Ritz We Ain’t” is the slogan at The Shack Up Inn. Located three miles from the legendary Crossroads of Highways 49 and 61, guests can take a walk back in time while staying in refurbished sharecropper shacks. The original cotton gin is now the bar and lobby, and you can find one of the first mechanised cotton pickers on the grounds. 

For the History Buffs: Monmouth Historic Inn 

Monmouth Historic Inn is an early 19th-century antebellum mansion located on 26 acres of beautiful gardens. Situated in Natchez and named a National Historic Landmark, the property provides generous Southern hospitality, luxury lodging, delicious culinary offerings, historical tours of the house, and a lovingly manicured garden.

For those That Love Peace and Quiet: The Forest Retreat

The Forest Retreat is a secluded adults-only getaway open all year-round, just 45 minutes south-east of Natchez, and was designed in the Adirondack style by Louisiana antiquarian Don Didier. The property is on the edge of the Homochitto National Forest, approximately 10 miles North East of Gloster, Mississippi, two hours from New Orleans or ninety minutes from Baton Rouge – well worth checking out if you’d love some time to yourselves.

For the Colourful: The Main Street Hotel

The Mains Hotel is located on Yazoo City’s very colourful historic Main Street. The Main Street Hotel’s rooms are uniquely decorated with antique furniture, eclectic art, claw-foot tubs, and modern conveniences. 

For the Nature-Lover: Tara Wildlife Lodge

With 9,000 acres of oxbow lakes and 12 kilometres of Mississippi River, plus bottomland hardwood forests, Tara Wildlife is the ideal outdoor getaway for families or groups, just 40 minutes drive from Vicksburg. Activities include nature trail walks, fishing, canoeing, birdwatching, or opportunities to relax by the campfire. There are three different choices of accommodation, with various amenities and rooms.   

Clark House Inn is one of Clarksdale’s only Bed and Breakfasts. The 185 historic home once belonged to John Clark, founder of the city, and is among the oldest around. There are eight guest rooms, all named after Tennessee Williams characters and elements of the Delta, spread between the main house and carriage house.