The Mississippi Bucket List
While I have driven through Mississippi, I have never explored it. Below is my bucket list of things to explore:
BILOXI
Kind of visit: Beach getaway, historical - great for a weekend! President Jefferson Davis was born and raised there.
WHERE to stay
WHERE to dine & drink
Aunt Jenny's Catfish Restaurant - Elvis Presley and Billie Holiday both performed at The Juelp Room there. Make sure to also catch the sunset over the bayou.
Mary Mahoney's Old French House - The house dates back to the 1730s.
Sycamore House - Go for the cocktails in the 19th century house!
The Rack House Steak & Spirits - The bar has more than 30 wines by the glass and over 100 bourbons, ryes, whiskeys and scotches!
The Wilbur Bar - A speakeasy inside The Roost Ocean Springs was named “The Most Beautiful Bar in Mississippi” by Architectural Digest.
Things to see & do
Beauvoir - Jefferson Davis’ estate and Presidential library
Spend the day at Beau Rivage Resort
Jackson
Kind of visit: Historical and educational - a great place to explore for a weekend - especially if you’re into extinct underground volcanoes.
WHERE to stay
where to dine & drink
The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs - Named one of the best cocktail bars in the south
Things to see & do
Fountainhead House - Developed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Jackson Volcano - The volcano has been extinct for 66 million years but generates pure carbon dioxide used in oil production. You can climb of the top of the dome for viewing.
NATCHEZ
Kind of visit: Historical (Indian tribes are a large part of the history there) and great for foodies!
where to stay
Choctaw Hall (Perfect 10 rating)
where to dine & drink:
Under-the-Hill Saloon - A 200 year-old bar with a rough past
Things to see & do
Grave of Florence Irene Ford - Her mother not only asked for a small window in her daughter’s coffin, but a staircase to it so she could comfort her during storms.
Longwood - The largest octagonal house in the U.S. It was never actually finished on the inside, the top floors lay bare of how the home was constructed, while the bottom displays a typical family’s furniture and arrangements.
The Emerald Mound - Between the 1200s and 1700s the Plaquemine Native American culture built this mound for ceremonial purposes.
Oxford
Type of visit: Historical and educational - great for a weekend, especially if you love college sports!
wHERE to stay
Where to dine & drink
Things to see & do
Neilson's Department Store - Launched in 1839, it is one of the oldest retail outlets in the south.
Rowan Oak - William Faulkner’s former home.
Take a day trip to Clarksdale or Memphis
University of Mississippi - There’s so much more to this university than football!
TUPELO
Type of visit: Historical - after all, Elvis was born here.
where to stay
NOTE: You can stay in Natchez and take a day trip to Tupelo, as good hotels are limited.
The Cabin at Brookwood - Is short drive from Tupelo (It was featured on Amazing Vacation Rentals)
where to dine & drink
Johnnie's Drive In - One of Elvis’ favorite restaurants
Things to see & do
Tupelo Hardware Co - It’s where Elvis bought his first guitar
Take a trip to Natchez for the day
