Nearly two centuries ago, Mississippi became the 20th state of the union. Here are six reasons to head south for a visit to The Magnolia State.
Mississippi-style fried chicken (Image: KLGreenNYC used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
Southern comfort…food, that is. Mississippi is where you can chow down on good old fashioned Southern food — the kind where the dishes are hearty and flavor trumps calorie count every time. Fried catfish, crawfish boils, fried chicken, barbecued baby back ribs, collared greens and hush puppies are just a few of the Southern comforts you’ll find. Hungry yet?
They’ve got the Blues. Blues music is alive and well in Mississippi, as is its history. You can experience the genre’s back story through sites like the Delta Blues Museum, the Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum and Gallery and the Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi, where tens of thousands of song recordings are preserved.
Antebellum homes. The sheer size of these gorgeous mansions can transport you back to the 1800s, and it’s all too easy to imagine a group of Southern belles sipping lemonade on the column-lined porches. The architecture is uniquely Southern in style, unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in the U.S. Head to the city of Natchez to check out these historic homes.
The Mississippi River. The country’s longest river was once the heart and soul of the country. Today, you can cruise along Great River Road to get a glimpse of the state’s agricultural center, historic battlefields and Mississippi’s modern luxuries, including casinos, resorts and spas. Of course, the most traditional way to experience the Mississippi River would be to take a riverboat cruise down this historic waterway.
The beauty of the Gulf Coast. Beaches might not be the first thing that come to mind when you think of Mississippi, but Mississippi’s Gulf Coast offers 62 miles of shoreline dotted with beaches, casinos, seafood restaurants and museums. You can head out on the water by jet ski or fishing boat, or soak up the sights from the back nine on one of the region’s golf courses.
Top-notch golf courses. With courses designed by the likes of golf architect greats Pete Dye and Arnold Palmer, how could you possibly pass up a round of golf in Mississippi? Catering to novices and PGA pros alike, Mississippi’s arsenal of courses will satisfy even the most seasoned of golfers.
(Main image: edgrawes)
