Mississippi Travel Guide

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 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.

The appeal of white sandy beaches at Biloxi and Gulfport down on the southern Gulf Coast has been put temporarily on hold due to the utter devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, but the building efforts and determination of its people to bring back the bright lights, pulsing casinos and upbeat clubs hopes to return the area to the status it previously enjoyed as the Gulf Coast's tourist Mecca and favourite vacation destination.