A Travel Guide to Mississippi
The state of Mississippi is named after the longest river that flows through the USA. It is a southern state that lies on the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana lies on its southwest border with Arkansas making up the northern stretch. Alabama forms its eastern border and the state of Tennessee tops it on the north. Its capital is Jackson which is also its largest city.
Jackson has many distinguished buildings including museums and art galleries with one of its most significant museums dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement. The other important museum is The Old Mississippi State Capitol House which now serves as its memory of a once font of political power.
From Civil Rights to the war that founded the independence of the United States tourists have to go to Vicksburg which lies on the Louisiana border. The Civil War museum there details the heroic siege that General Grant fought over. His victory there among others helped him secure the primary position of becoming the 18th President of the United States. There are also regular boats that cruise the Mississippi helping visitors to trace the historical steps of Union and Confederate fought for territories.
Going further southwards visitors travel to one of the other most significant cities that recalls the historical foundations of the indigenous Indians that this city is named after – Natchez. The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians lies on the banks of St. Catherine Creek. It hosts a visitor centre with detailed recollection of their culture with nature trails and other activities including child friendly touch screens. It also has a gift shop that sells a range of Native American crafts.
For sheer luxury, leisure and sun worship, you cannot easily beat the beaches of Biloxi that lie along the Gulf shoreline. It has very good temperatures nearly all the year round. It is very well maintained with amenities and bars to cool visitors from the searing sun. Being on the coast it is also well provisioned with equipment for water activities such as water skiing, jet skiing and parasailing. There are also boats for charter for touring the area or dropping a rod to haul in the local seawater harvest. There are also plenty of shops for souvenirs and restaurants for fine or simple dining and in the evening when the hot sun dips below the horizon the lights of the streetlamps, bars and clubs welcome the visitor. There are also amusement parks and for the grown-ups an opportunity to test the wits with casinos eager to entertain.
Besides the beach, the Mississippi itself alongside its other tributaries offers excellent freshwater fishing and there are numerous parks and state managed areas including eighteen hole golf courses for sporting relaxation. These also give excellent trails for hiking, biking and not forgetting horseback riding.
There is plenty of self-catering vacation rental accommodation from rural log cabins in or around the parkland areas to townhouses, condos and apartments in the towns and cities. There are also excellent opportunities to rent a beachside vacation holiday home.
