Mississippi Travel Guide
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Overview
The state of Mississippi, tucked between Alabama, Louisiana
(separated by the mighty river from which the state gets its name)
and Tennessee, with a tiny stretch of Gulf Coast right in the
south, is often overlooked by tourists seeking a taste of the
American Deep South. Those who opt for Mississippi's neighbours and
ignore her charms lose out on a memorable experience in a state
full of quaint towns, where wide-open spaces and porch swings
combine with down home hospitality to yield many rewards for
visitors.
The 'Magnolia State' has plenty of scenic beauty, and rich
history, particularly associated with the Native American tribes
that pre-dated European occupation and the battles of the American
Civil War - the key battle of the war was fought at Vicksburg in
1863. Culturally the state has generated a wealth of talent,
spawning such greats as Tennessee Williams, Elvis Presley, Jimmy
Rodgers and B B King, not to mention the Blues, the music style
that was born in the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta. The
state also has more than its fair share of architectural treasures,
particularly the huge concentration of magnificent antebellum
mansions in Natchez.
When exploring all the attractions associated with this heritage
jades, there is always the lure of the white sandy beaches of
Biloxi and Gulfport down in the south, where the lights are bright
and the pace upbeat among pulsing casinos and clubs in the Gulf
Coast's fastest growing tourist Mecca.
The state's capital city is Jackson, sophisticated and
well-ordered, filling the needs of city slickers more than
adequately, while visitors yearning for the great outdoors have
more than 150 campgrounds and six national forests to choose from,
offering opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, cycling and
boating.