Only in Mississippi

“Max”imize your fun.

Telling the stories of such Mississippi legends as Oprah Winfrey, B.B. King, William Faulkner, Charley Pride and Morgan Freeman, the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience—also known as The MAX—is located in Meridian and features more than 58,000 square feet of immersive, interactive exhibits, galleries, recording studios and more.

Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience

Meridian

Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

Starkville

Tupelo Hardware Store

Tupelo

Travel back in time

and delve into U.S. history in Starkville, the home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. Located on the campus of Mississippi State University, the library includes documents, photographs and memorabilia from the 18th president’s life.

Lace up your blue suede shoes

and dance on over to Tupelo, birthplace of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Elvis Presley himself. Visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum, as well as the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Presley’s mother bought Elvis his first guitar.

Explore Mississippi’s most famous “Home Town.”

Make plans to visit Laurel, home to the hugely successful HGTV series Home Town, and witness the charming town’s revitalization firsthand.

Have a “reel” good time.

Calling all anglers! The 35,000-acre Grenada Lake in Grenada has a reputation for having the best crappie fishing in the country.

Grenada Lake

Grenada

GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi

Cleveland

Natchez Balloon Festival

Natchez

Test your musical knowledge.

At the GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi in Cleveland, visitors celebrate Mississippi’s enduring impact on the music industry and the legacy of all music genres, as well as the history of the top recognition of excellence in recorded music—the GRAMMY® Award.

Broaden your horizons at Mississippi’s two hot-air balloon races.

The Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Fest is held each July in Canton. Be prepared to get swept away again in October at the Natchez Balloon Festival.

Honor our servicemen

at the National Military Park in Vicksburg, known as the “largest outdoor art gallery in the world” because of its immense collection of monuments, arches, tablets and markers.

Raise the stakes.

With more than three dozen casinos spread across the state, Mississippi has no shortage of opportunities to roll the dice. Whether you’re looking for sports betting or blackjack, there is something for everyone, including Magnolia Bluffs, where visitors can stay, play and dine in historic Natchez. On the beautiful Gulf Coast, Beau Rivage ups the ante with its poolside cabanas and upscale restaurants, while the Palace Casino, Harrah’s and Island View Casino feature a stunning assortment of boutiques, spas and restaurants to accompany their slots. In the Pines Region, Pearl River Resort in Choctaw offers visitors the convenience of two casinos in one location and boasts an incredible fusion of casino thrills and family-style entertainment. The good times roll in the Delta, where Tunica’s six casinos boast an impressive selection of table games.

Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg

Beau Rivage

Biloxi

Follow the trails.

A multitude of cultural, literary and historical trails wind themselves through the Magnolia State. The Mississippi Blues Trail and the Mississippi Country Music Trail recount Mississippi’s musical narrative. The Mississippi Freedom Trail is another must-visit series of places that document Mississippi’s civil rights journey and describe the people and places that played a crucial role in the fight for justice and equality. Likewise, the self-guided driving tour along the Mississippi Mound Trail illustrates the state’s Native American ancestry, and the Mississippi Writers Trail recounts the state’s illustrious literary heritage and thus far includes markers for Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Ida B. Wells and Margaret Walker, to name a few.

Fun for kids

Coastal

Mississippi Aquarium

Gulfport

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg

Mississippi Children’s Museum

Meridian

Take a walk on the wild side.

From jaguars to pythons, zebras to peacocks and tigers to golden eagles, the Hattiesburg Zoo is home to more than 100 species of animals and also now features an interactive sloth encounter.

Enjoy a family-friendly getaway.

Pack your bags and head to Biloxi, where the Margaritaville Resort awaits. The arcade and ropes course, boutique bowling alley, ice cream shop, array of family-oriented restaurants, rooftop water playground and lazy river overlooking the Gulf of Mexico are just the beginning.

Splash around in Gulfport.

Extend your stay at the beach and explore Centennial Plaza, “the crown jewel of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” Directly across from Gulfport’s sandy beaches, this 48-acre campus features a 152-room Oasis Resort, a three-acre water playground, an on-site full-service restaurant and endless opportunities for fun.

Dive deeper into marine life

at the all-new Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. Touch and feed a dolphin. Scuba dive with rays, sharks and fish. Get up close and personal with otters, crocodiles, turtles and more. Mississippi’s only aquarium offers something for every underwater adventurer.

Capital/River

Come out to play.

Within a quarter-mile stretch are four distinct, family-oriented museums–part of the Lefleur Museum District in Jackson–that offer hands-on, educational visitor experiences. You can even purchase a LeFleur Museum District Pass, at lefleurmuseumdistrict.com, which grants you admission to all four museums at a discounted price. Step back in time at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, where you can stroll through Small Town and shop the General Store, learn about our country’s agricultural aviation history and visit the Children’s Barnyard petting zoo. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science offers visitors another slice of our state’s history–this time, in the form of its natural landscape and inhabitants. Here you can also see a two-headed snake, snap a selfie with a sloth, and see a SCUBA diver feed the fish. Next door is the ever-popular Mississippi Children’s Museum, where the state’s youngest visitors discover a lifelong love of learning through educational and hands-on playtime. Score points with your kids at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which showcases Mississippi’s incredible lineup of Olympic, Super Bowl and World Series-winning athletes. Interactive games and exhibits make this museum a fan favorite.

Uncover ancient secrets

when you visit the 36-million-year-old Mississippi Petrified Forest in Flora. Stroll the nature trail, which offers a glimpse into prehistoric times, and admire the 100-foot tall trees. Step inside the Earth Science Museum and examine dinosaur footprints, whale bones and other prehistoric fossils. Gem mining and camping are also available.

Pines

Let your inner kid out.

Adults and children alike will enjoy the brand-new Mississippi Children’s Museum in Meridian. Climb through the brain, pilot a life-size jet, discover the secret seashore and the only Goodnight Moon real-life adaptation in the country—and the list goes on. With over 9,500 square feet of interactive indoor exhibits and 25,000 feet of interactive outdoor exhibits, endless fun abounds around every corner.

Delta

Hop on over to Leland,

the childhood home of Muppets® creator Jim Henson. The Birthplace of Kermit the Frog exhibit under-scores the magic and inspiration behind one of the most iconic children’s television shows of all time. 

Hills

Go on a safari.

Come face to face with buffalo, zebra, cattle, yak and more at the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, home to one of the largest herds of buffalo in the South. Pack a picnic and enjoy guided tours, fun on the playground and ziplines, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Unique Lodging

Coastal

The Alluvian

Greenwood

The Mason

Louisville

Dunleith Historic Inn

Natchez

Partake in an adventure-lover’s

dream when you escape to enchanting Ocean Springs for the weekend and retreat to your cabin at The Beatnik. All four of the chalets are outfitted with wet bars, lush outdoor showers and modern amenities, as well as private screened porches with rocking chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the plunge pool and the outdoor oasis that beckons.

Delta

Discover luxurious Delta lodging.

Whether staying at The Alluvian in Greenwood or The Cotton House in Cleveland, one thing is for certain: You are guaranteed to relish the lavish accommodations and have a truly memorable, one- of-a-kind Delta experience. In Greenwood, hotel guests can take a cooking class at the Viking Cooking School, dine at the sumptuous Giardina’s or spend the day getting the ultimate spa treatment. Likewise, while Cleveland pays homage to the area’s rich blues heritage, there is nothing old fashioned about the energetic, impeccably designed 95-room boutique hotel located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

Hills

Fall in love with Holly Springs.

For the discerning traveler interested in escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and discovering quintessential Southern hospitality, The Wynne House and its adjacent Hummingbird Cottage in Holly Springs provide the ultimate breath of fresh air. The charm of this bed and breakfast is second only to its proximity to the beautiful historic district and the town’s collection of museums, unique shops and appetizing restaurants.

Pines

Venture off the beaten path.

Venture off the beaten path. When seeking a slower pace without sacrificing luxury, The Mason in Louisville is worth the trip. Each room in this historic boutique hotel, built in 1922, has been thoughtfully appointed with modern conveniences while maintaining the elegance and allure associated with the Roaring Twenties. A little farther up the road in West Point is the renowned Old Waverly Golf Club and Mossy Oak Golf Club, two of the best golf resorts in the Southeast. Here you can take advantage of a “stay and play” package that permits use of the award-winning courses while resting your head in one of the spacious and well-appointed Mossy Oak Cottages, nestled scenically among the tenth fairway greens.

 

Capital/River

Admire the view

from the wraparound porch of the grand Dunleith Historic Inn in charming Natchez. This National Historic Landmark, built in 1855, has been meticulously maintained and updated to include 22 of the most beautiful suites, as well as an onsite restaurant, bar and pool.

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