Travel would have to rank at the top of my hobbies, whether it’s a flight to the rocky cliffs of the Pacific Coast or just a short drive to some remarkable American history, I love to always be going somewhere. I’m constantly getting emails and promos through various means of the best places to visit all over the world, but you don’t have to go that far to find a great adventure.
I would suggest everyone make the short drive to Oxford and take the time to go visit Rowan Oak – the home of the great William Falkner. He is widely considered not just one of the greatest Mississippi writers, which is quite the list, but one of the greatest in the history of the world.
I’ll never forget as a teenager when the Soviet Union was crumbling, Ted Koppel hosted one of his late night Nightline episodes in Moscow where he asked a room full of Russian citizens now that they had the freedom for the first time in their lives to go anywhere in the world, where would they go. A man stood up in the back of the audience and in a deep Russian accent said he wanted to go to Oxford, Mississippi to see the home of the greatest writer in the world.
I was stunned. At that time, I had never been to Rowan Oak. I’ve been dozens of times since, never taking it for granted.
Other easy Mississippi getaways include traveling up to Tishomingo State Park and go hiking on their many trails and take a dip in the clear creeks (might want to wait for warmer weather).
Drive down to Vicksburg and drive through the Military park. Several years ago Brad Logan and I were in the River City for a Miss Mississippi pageant and took an afternoon to ride through the park and read every monument. It was an exhilarating afternoon. We also cruised down to Natchez for some Fat Mama’s tamales, which I encourage you to do as well.
While in Natchez take a visit to Dunleith, Stanton Hall, Monmouth and do the tour at Longwood.
Visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast and enjoy some seafood at The Blind Tiger, Felix’s or Mary Mahoney’s as you look out at the Gulf. At some point everyone should take the boat ride out to Ship Island and see the Gulf waters on the south side that rival anything you would see in the Carribbean.
Go canoe the Okatoma, visit the 70-foot Dunn’s Falls off the Chunky River near Meridian, step in the old church at Rocky Springs south of Jackson off the Natchez Trace, and take lots of pictures at Cypress Swamp – one of the more popular Trace rest stops near the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
There is the remarkable Windsor Ruins in Port Gibson; fantastic museums in Jackson including the Civil Rights, Museum of Art and Old Capitol; take in a Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale and enjoy some tamales with the good music; go bike the Long Leaf Trace in Hattiesburg; eat a giant piece of pie at the Crystal Grill in Greenwood; or take a walk through Mynelle Gardens in Jackson.
There’s always something fun to do in our beautiful state. Take advantage of it.