Places to Visit in Mississippi

Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and this metropolitan area has much to offer its visitors. It is part of the Mississippi Freedom Trail, which memorializes locations and people that impacted the Civil Rights Movement, and there are markers throughout the city, including at the Mississippi State Capitol Building. As far as attractions are concerned, Jackson has a zoo, the Natural Science Museum, which features an aquarium, and a Civil Rights Museum. The city also boasts over 300 restaurants where visitors can relax and enjoy some delicious Southern comfort food.

Biloxi is a coastal Mississippi city that attracts thousands of people each year to its numerous top-rated casinos. There are also many other fun and interesting attractions in this Gulf Coast city, including Biloxi Beach and the nearby Biloxi Lighthouse, the Beauvoir Estate, and the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. Biloxi has been called the Seafood Capital of the World, so visitors to the area would be remiss if they didn't try some of the fresh shrimp, oysters, and other amazing seafood found at any of Biloxi's fantastic restaurants and eateries.

The city of Gulfport is, as the name suggests, located on the Gulf of Mexico. It's a beautiful part of the state, with a long beach that stretches along the coast and offers easy access by boat to some of the nearby barrier islands. In the city of Gulfport, visitors can check out the TrainTastic Interactive Model Railroad Museum or spend a day playing at the Discovery Center among other attractions. For a more natural experience, Jones Park has some beautiful access to the waterfront, a quick ride to Ship Island brings access to the historic Fort Massachusetts, and the waters surrounding the island are known to be home to dolphins and seals.

Like the city of Oxford in England, this Oxford in Mississippi is also home to a well-known educational institution. The University of Mississippi, more commonly known as "Ole Miss," makes its home in Oxford. History lovers will enjoy strolling through the Confederate cemetery, hikers will love the trails in Bailey's Wood, and all visitors owe it to themselves to take a tour of the massive and historic campus of Ole Miss. Other Oxford attractions include a farmers market, live music at the Lyric Theater, and more of that delicious Southern cooking.

Located on the Mississippi River, right across from Vidalia, Louisiana, Natchez was the original capital of Mississippi due to its location. It was named for the Natchez Native American tribe, and today is well known for its gorgeous and well-preserved antebellum architecture, including the Longwood estate, with its ornate domed top, and the Dunleith mansion, with tall white pillars on the veranda that will make visitors feel like they are in a scene from Gone with the Wind. Visitors can also check out the Grand Village of the Natchez to learn how the local Native Americans lived in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Arkabutla Lake, located in northern Mississippi, only about a 30-minute drive from Memphis, Tennessee, is a beautiful and remote lake perfect for a relaxing getaway into nature. This reservoir, part of the Coldwater River and created by a dam in 1943, has trails around its shores for hiking and biking, a beach for sunbathing, swimming, and picnics, and a fishing pier for those who want to try their luck catching catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie. There are also playgrounds for kids, and some beautiful campgrounds where guests can park their RVs or pitch a tent to stay overnight and wake up to the sounds of nature.

The city of Bay St Louis is located on the Mississippi coast of the Gulf of Mexico and bears the kind of coastal charm that is perfect for a vacation. Sandy beaches provide a welcoming environment for a day of sunbathing or playing in the sand, and the many piers in Bay St. Louis are great for those traveling by water to the city as well as for those who want to spend their days out on the water fishing, swimming, or water skiing. In the city itself, visitors will find a charming old town area with plenty of shops and businesses and some delicious restaurants.

Canton is a beautifully historic town located just a short drive from Jackson, the state capital which makes it an ideal weekend getaway. On Canton's Main Street, visitors will find a row of historical businesses with the classic tall facades, painted in a rainbow of bright and cheery pastel colors. Many of the buildings in Canton are on the National Registry of Historic Places, so wandering the streets of this small town is like stepping into history itself. It was a major hub in the Civil War, so there is a large Confederate cemetery and the historic Canton Courthouse. It is also a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail, and there are several notable music venues in Canton's bars.

Clarksdale, in the Mississippi Delta, it a major stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail. From the 1920s through the 1950s, the culture of music and the blues blossomed in Clarksdale, with a radio station devoted to it and many great artists, including Charlie Patton, Bukka White, and Ike Turner, who called the city home. Today, visitors to Clarkson can check out the Delta Blues Museum for a look at this colorful history, and if they time their visit right, even stay for the Sunflower River Blues Festival. But no matter the time of year, there's sure to be some great live music in Clarksdale's blues bars, such as the Ground Zero Blues Club.

Cleveland, Mississippi, was named for former U.S. President Grover Cleveland. It is a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail, with two markers in town: One on Christmas Street, and one for the noted blues musician W. C. Handy. Music lovers should also check out the GRAMMY Museum in Cleveland, which celebrates artists and musicians from the state of Mississippi. Cleveland is a charming small town with a history in the railroad industry, and today it boasts a friendly atmosphere, great traditional Southern cuisine, and brick-paved sidewalks lined with quaint shopping options and local businesses.