Mississippi
Here are 10 bucket list trips you should take in Mississippi this year
Mississippi’s food, culture, outdoors and architecture are waiting for you to experience them this year.
Mississippi has a lot to offer. From the state’s vast amount of land and water to explore, to islands, culturally rich towns and deep roots in American history, there is a lot to experience.
Architecture and the arts flourish in Mississippi and the food is second-to-none.
That could leave some people asking, where do you start to experience Mississippi and take it all in? Well, there is no definitive answer to that question, but below are 10 places where you can’t go wrong, and they will likely leave you hungry to experience more of the Magnolia State.
Visit Longwood mansion, an unfinished architectural wonder of a by-gone era
A millionaire, a celebrity architect and a team of master craftsmen set out to build what may have been one of the grandest homes in Mississippi, but the Civil War halted construction.
Today, Longwood in Natchez stands unfinished much as it did in 1862.
Construction of the home began in 1860 for millionaires Haller and Julia Nutt. Designed by celebrity architect Howard Sloan, the octagonal home consisted of six levels and had 32,000 square feet of living space. It would have been the largest home in Mississippi at the time and would cost around $35 million to build today.
The Civil War halted construction and only one floor was completely finished. Tourists can see it today much as it was in 1862.
For information about tours of Longwood, visit www.natchezpilgrimage.com/year-round/longwood-circa-1860-1861 or call 601-446-6631.
Eat at the Blue and White Restaurant where homestyle meals have been served for 100 years
As the name suggests, it’s blue and white and it sits along one of the main arteries in the Mississippi Delta. The Blue and White Restaurant has offered homestyle goodness for 100 years and served generation after generation of guests.
The Blue and White Cafe and Service Station was opened in 1924. It was a time known as the Roaring Twenties and Calvin Coolidge was President. It was located in downtown Tunica and in addition to offering food and gasoline, there was a news and tobacco stand and a Greyhound bus terminal.
An icon of the Delta, the restaurant was later moved to its current location on US 61. Guests enjoy fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, steaks, burgers and a wide selection of breakfast options just like generations of customers before them.
For more information, visit www.blueandwhiterestaurant.com.
Take a swim with dolphins at Ocean Adventures
Have you ever wanted to touch, feed or swim with a dolphin? Ocean Adventures Marine Park is the place for you.
The marine park offers several packages that allow you to play with dolphins. The Dolphin Interaction package gives visitors a chance to get in the water with dolphins and make a new finned friend. Other opportunities allow visitors to touch and feed dolphins while staying dry on land.
However, it’s not all about dolphins. Guests can swim with rays, bamboo sharks and even get a kiss from a sea lion. Dolphins and sea lions also perform for guests multiple times daily.
For more information, visit www.oceanadventures.us.
Experience the charm of historic Ocean Springs
The Mississippi coast is the state’s playground with too many attractions to list, but no trip to the coast is complete without enjoying the beauty and charm of Ocean Springs.
Founded in 1699, the small town has created an identity through the centuries as a premier location for small shops and dining. Its ancient live oaks offer shade and beauty as people make their way through downtown.
It’s home to the famed Shearwater Pottery as well as the Walter Anderson Museum of Art where guests can learn about the town’s celebrated eccentric artist.
It’s also home to the annual Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival and was chosen as one of “12 Cutest Small Towns in the Southern United States” by World Atlas in 2023.
For more information on Ocean Springs, visit www.gulfcoast.org/coastal-communities/ocean-springs.
Take a canoe trip on the mighty Mississippi River with Quapaw Canoe Company
If you’re looking for a wild adventure in Mississippi, look no further than Quapaw Canoe Company based in Clarksdale.
The company was established in 1998 and offers canoe, kayak and paddleboard trips on the Mississippi River ranging from Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf of Mexico.
The river is the largest in North America and can be more than a mile wide. Its floodplain is home to hundreds of species of animals such as deer, black bears and others. Paddlers can stop on sand bars where they may find artifacts of long-ago people or fossils of extinct animals such as the American lion.
Trips are led by highly trained guides and range from day trips to seven days. Adventures are also offered on tributaries such as the Big Black and Sunflower rivers.
For more information, visit www.island63.com.
Visit Sciple’s Mill and get stone-ground grits and corn meal made the same since the 1700s
Visit the small town of DeKalb and step back in time at one of the state’s oldest hidden gems, Sciple’s Mill.
Established around 1790, Sciple’s Mill is a family-owned business that has spanned seven generations, and you can bring your own corn to be ground or see the mill in operation as it is powered by the flowing water of Tiger Creek.
Stone-ground grits, cornmeal and fish fry are available for purchase and are made the same as they were almost 250 years ago.
For more information, visit MadeinMississippi.com.
Learn about the world around you at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Exploring the wonders of nature will excite both young and old at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson.
Visitors can enjoy large aquariums where they can watch freshwater and saltwater fish. There are aquariums with alligators and a huge alligator snapping turtle, too. Other displays feature unusual animals found in Mississippi such as a two-headed gray ratsnake and a blond timber rattlesnake.
The museum has a large display of fossils and replica skeletons of extinct animals such as a giant ground sloth and ancient whales as well as special events and displays.
For more information, visit www.mdwfp.com/museum.
Tour Mont Helena, an 1800s home built on a Native American mound
The Mississippi Delta is rich in culture and history and a shining example is Mont Helena in Rolling Fork.
Built in 1896 atop a ceremonial Native American mound, Mont Helena is the design of famous architect George Barber. He was known for Queen Anne Victorian style house plans and Mont Helena was a premier Delta home at the time.
It was the home of Helen and George Harris and featured parlors, seven bedrooms, a formal dining room, library and massive heart pine staircase leading to the second floor.
The home now serves as a museum of Delta wealth and history. Tours are offered and it also functions as a wedding venue.
For more information, visit www.monthelena.com.
Spend a day on Ship Island, home of the historic Fort Massachusetts
Located due south of Biloxi, Ship Island is home to Fort Massachusetts, which according to the National Park Service Gulf Islands National Seashore, was completed in 1886. Its purpose was to protect commerce and serve as a fuel and supply depot for small coal-fueled gunboats and the ocean-going fleet.
It’s now a destination for tourists to explore the the historic military structure and enjoy miles of beaches.
Ship Island Excursions offers boat rides from Jones Park in Gulfport to the island and guests are treated by dolphins that play in the boat’s wake. The island also offers beautiful beaches where visitors can relax, swim in emerald green water and hike around the island.
For more information, visit www.msshipisland.com.
Take a bite of Mr. D’s fried chicken at the Lorman Country Store and then another, and another and…
Fried chicken and The South go together like peas and carrots and there is likely no fried chicken in Mississippi more famous than Mr. D’s at the Old Country Store in Lorman.
Built around 1875, the Old Country Store has served many roles, but now it’s the place where Arthur Davis, more commonly known as Mr. D, serves his famous fried chicken. Davis often jokes that if Col. Sanders had his recipe, Sanders would have been a 5-star general.
Others agree. Alton Brown of the Food Network visited the restaurant in 2011 and said it was the best fried chicken he had ever eaten. It has been featured in Southern Living Magazine and many others.
But people don’t just come for the chicken. There’s a buffet that tempts with mustard greens, collard greens, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pork chops, smoked ribs and more.
Guests also come to enjoy his cornbread, which he’s credited to his grandmother in a song he often sings for guests.
For more information on the Old Country Store in Lorman, visit www.mrdsfriedchicken.com.
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
Jackson State football coach TC Taylor addresses fans at signing day event
Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor addresses fans at JSU’s recruit reveal event on Feb. 4.
Mississippi leaders and educators are remembering Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony as a trailblazing journalist, educator and public servant following news of her death Thursday, March 5.
Hayes-Anthony, a longtime professor and chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University and former acting president of the university, spent decades mentoring students and shaping communications education throughout Mississippi.
Jackson State University officials announced her passing in a statement Thursday morning. She was 72. A cause of death was not provided.
Hayes-Anthony served as interim president for eight months in 2023, between former President Thomas Hudson and Marcus Thompson. She became the first Black woman to work as an anchor, producer and reporter at WJTV in Jackson and later spent 17 years as chair of the communications department at Belhaven University. Hayes-Anthony also served as assistant superintendent of communications for Jackson Public Schools and served as the first Black woman and journalism educator to become president of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn praised Hayes-Anthony in a statement as a “proud daughter of Jackson and a distinguished graduate of Jackson State University who returned home to pour her knowledge back into this community.” Horhn also extended condolences to Hayes-Anthony’s husband, family, colleagues and former students.
“Our city mourns the loss of a trailblazer whose life’s work helped shape generations of communicators, educators, and leaders,” Horhn said in a statement. “As a pioneering journalist and the first African American woman to serve as anchor, producer, and reporter at WJTV-12, she broke barriers in Mississippi media and opened doors for countless Black journalists. Her leadership at Jackson State, from the classroom to the president’s office, reflected her commitment to excellence. Jackson is better because she chose to live, work, and lead here. We honor her legacy, celebrate her remarkable life, and pray for comfort and strength for all who are grieving this tremendous loss.”
Ward 4 Councilman and Jackson City Council President Brian Grizzell, a long time educator and alumnus of JSU, said he remembered Hayes-Anthony from several points in her life and career.
“I remember Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony from several stages of her remarkable journey,” Grizzell said. “I first knew her as a student in Jackson Public Schools, later as a student at Jackson State University, and we reconnected years later during her time serving as acting president of Jackson State University.”
Grizzell called Hayes-Anthony a pioneer in education whose work helped shape the lives of many students across the community.
Longtime Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson, also a JSU alum, honored Hayes-Anthony as a “a trailblazer in every sense of the word.”
See his post on Facebook below:
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also offered condolences Thursday via X, formerly known as Twitter.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker also shared the following statement on Hayes-Anthony passing:
“Mississippi has lost a leader and pioneer, my friend Dr. Elayne Anthony. Jackson State benefited from her steady hand during a time of transition. She was revered by its students. The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters recognized her leadership by electing her chair. Elayne’s legacy of kindness, servant-leadership, and community service will impact generations to come.”
Investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell reflected on Hayes-Anthony’s impact on journalism in Mississippi.
“What a loss. Dr. Anthony was truly a champion for journalism. Her work produced so many talented journalists we have today in Mississippi and beyond,” Mitchell said.
State Rep. Zakiya Summers and Sen. David Blount, both of whom represent parts of Jackson in the Mississippi Legislature, also paid tribute to Hayes-Anthony.
Officials with the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi State Board of Health also shared condolences, noting Hayes-Anthony served on the Board of Health for nearly two decades.
“I personally grieve the loss of a very important Mississippian who cared deeply about education at all levels, public health, and very importantly the need for the health of our population to improve,” said Dan Edney, state health officer and executive director of the Mississippi State Department of Health. “She was a strong supporter of MSDH and for my work as State Health Officer and was one of our greatest cheerleaders. Her passing is a loss to public health and higher education leadership, but her service has helped to make our state a better place.”
Lucius Lampton, chairman of the Board of Health, said Hayes-Anthony’s service on the board began in 2007.
“Dr. Elayne Anthony’s long service on the Board of Health, which began in 2007, was exceptional and benefited the public’s health in countless ways. She led always with intellect, creativity and integrity. The Board of Health and our agency will so miss her gracious presence. I also will miss her dear friendship.”
Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at cdrape@gannett.com.
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — Gas prices along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have jumped to nearly $3 a gallon, up from $2.41 just two days ago, according to AAA.
AAA said the increase is driven by two factors: the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has shut down a key Middle East oil route and prompted attacks on refineries, and a seasonal fuel blend switch that adds up to 15 cents a gallon on its own.
Uber Eats driver James Adams said he noticed the increase immediately.
“It actually jumped like 50 to 60 cents in one day,” Adams said.
Adams said the higher cost to fill his tank cuts directly into his delivery earnings.
“We’re working basically for pennies on the dollar already — and once you factor that in with traffic and the mileage you have to go — the gas is outrageous,” Adams said.
DoorDash driver Daniel Yelle said the spike will strain his weekly budget.
“I fill up about twice a week going to and from work and DoorDash — and that’s going to hurt my budget,” Yelle said.
FedEx driver Cecil Banks said there is little that workers can do about the rise in prices.
“As long as there is wars — the price of gas is going to go up for everybody — so it’s just an unfortunate situation,” Banks said.
Banks noted that even though Mississippi’s prices remain below the national average, not driving is not an option for working families.
“What can you do? A lot of people have families — they have to go get their kids — they have to go back and forth to work,” Banks said.
Yelle echoed that sentiment.
“They don’t pay us enough for the higher gas prices,” Yelle said.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Mississippi
It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife
The Mississippi River flows for around 2,350 miles through the heart of the US. It drains an area of 1.2 million square miles – that’s roughly 40% of the country – and at certain points is 11 miles wide. It is North America’s second longest river, behind the Missouri River.
Rising from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi winds southwards through a range of environments, draining water from 31 US states before reaching its delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.
The sheer size of the river and the diversity of habitats it passes through make it a refuge for a huge range of animal species, including more than 260 fish, 326 birds, 50 mammals and at least 145 amphibians and reptiles, according to the National Park Service.
There are many weird and wonderful animals living within the Mississippi’s vast waters, but surely one of the strangest is the alligator snapping turtle.
This prehistoric-looking reptile is massive. It can weigh up to 100kg and males can grow well over half a metre long, making it the largest freshwater turtle in North America.
And as if its size wasn’t enough, the alligator snapper has a host of other characteristics that make it one of the Mississippi’s most striking creatures, including a dark, spiky shell (known as carapace), a brick-like head and a sharp, hooked beak. With such a formidable appearance, it’s easy to see how the turtle got its ‘alligator’ name.
But perhaps the turtle’s most curious feature is a worm-like appendage found on its tongue, which it uses as a lure to catch prey, such as fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Alligator snappers are also quite happy scavenging for food.
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
No matter what happens at the Oscars, Delroy Lindo embraces ‘the joy of this moment’
Amazon.com says things are fixed after some issues with logging in and checking out
Private flights account for 30% of departures from Oman airport as wealthy evacuate Middle East
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Ozempic-style drugs could slash complication risks after heart attacks, research suggests
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
Iran’s fight for survival / The widening war / Trump’s nebulous goals : Sources & Methods
Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Louisiana
Paxton vows he’s ‘staying in this race’ even if Trump backs Cornyn in Texas GOP clash
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon6 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling