Take a tour through Mississippi, from The Great River to the Gulf Shore, Elvis’ birthplace, Beaver Dam, Natchez Trace Parkway and so much more. Add a few days to your conference experience, and “Find Your True South”.

Take a tour through Mississippi, from The Great River to the Gulf Shore, Elvis’ birthplace, Beaver Dam, Natchez Trace Parkway and so much more. Add a few days to your conference experience, and “Find Your True South”.

Mississippi State Calendar for events on either side of conference

Online Mississippi Travel Guide

 

 

 

For planning assistance, contact Michael Jones, Mississippi State Tourism

MICHAEL JONES

Program Manager
Outdoor & Sports Marketing
Office: 601-359-3603
E-mail: mjones@mississippi.org

Quick Links

Suggestions from Mississippi Tourism

Bass Fishing at Pickwick

Bass fishing in Mississippi can be a real treat, especially if you are fishing the right lake. One of the best lakes in the Southeast to visit in hopes of catching a nice bass is in the sparkling waters of Pickwick Lake at J.P. Coleman State Park. This freshwater lake covers more than 47,000 acres of water in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. The lake is not only brimming with bass, but also with crappie, bream, and catfish. As a Tennessee River impoundment, the lake is made up of lots of rock and gravel, which is very unique to the state. Pickwick Lake is known nationally for having quality smallmouth bass, attracting anglers from across the country. While Pickwick Lake is a popular choice for trophy smallmouth bass, any avid angler should also take advantage of the lake’s largemouth bass fishing opportunities. If you plan your fishing trip to be at Pickwick Lake this summer, prepare yourself for a true delight and an unforgettable experience.

Marine Fishery Resources (Gulf Coast)

Complimenting the myriad freshwater fishing opportunities in the state is the lucrative coastal saltwater fishery. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is truly a fisherman’s paradise for the sports fisherman seeking excitement and variety of species. Whether you’re looking for charter boat action, spear fishing, saltwater fly fishing, pier fishing, surf fishing, or trying your luck on one of our many artificial reef sites from the comfort of your own boat, fishing is always in season here. Mississippi invites you, your family, and friends to come and test your fishing skills and enjoy our beautiful Gulf Coast waters. Common Gulf species

  • Red Drum
  • Striped Bass
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Flounder
  • Speckled Trout
  • Cobia
  • Red Snapper
  • Wahoo
  • White Trout
  • Jack Crevalle
  • Bluefish
  • Sailfish
  • Blue Marlin
  • White Marlin
  • Tarpon
  • Sharks
  • Black Drum
  • Sheepshead
  • Bonito
  • Dolphin
  • Pompano
  • Tripletail
  • Blue Runner
Mississippi National Forests

Mississippi offers 1.2 million acres of public lands located in six very diverse forests.  Explore the Bienville, Delta, De Soto, Holly Springs, Homochitto, and Tombigbee National Forests. Our lands contain over 2,000 acres of lakes and ponds and 600 miles of streams that are open to the public for fishing. We have 14 wildlife management areas; operated by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. In these areas we emphasize intensive management of game species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and bobwhite quail.

 

Natchez Trace Parkway

Stretching 444 miles, the Natchez Trace Parkway is one of America’s most fascinating National Scenic Byways. Its history is older than the nation’s, for its origins date to the days when buffalo roamed the region. The pathway eventually became the main land route for inland traders to reach the lower Mississippi. Andrew Jackson frequently traveled the Trace, as did American Indians, explorers such as Meriwether Lewis and infamous bandits. Today’s paved road is historic itself, as it was a civilian labor project during the New Deal. Stop at the Visitor’s Center in Tupelo and note the small frame houses behind it. These were one of the nation’s first federal housing projects, built for the workers constructing the Trace. To learn more, click www.VisitMississippi.org and Find Your True South in Mississippi.

Agri-Tourism

Attractions from catfish feeding, sorghum making, dairy farming, alligator viewing, cheese making, cotton farming and vegetable gardening are charming visitors to the True South. It’s all a part of the Mississippi Agri-Tourism Trail. The trail is divided by the state’s five regions: Hills Region, Delta Region, Pines Region, Capital/River Region and Gulf Coast Region. Farms, each unique in their adventurous offerings, old country stores from the 1800s, farm life history museums, pottery shops, farmers’ markets offering the best in fresh produce, old historic plantations – many now bed & breakfast inns, old operating gristmills and old country bakeries highlight attractions that may be off the beaten path and bring visitors to a variety of unique communities offering their own distinct heritage. To learn more, click www.VisitMississippi.org and Find Your True South in Mississippi.

Canoeing & Kayaking

Freshwater fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and canoeing are all popular outdoors activities across Mississippi. For example in the Pines Region, the Okatoma Creek and Strong River are great places for canoers and kayakers to explore. Kayaking the Pascagoula River or to the barrier islands off the mainland is a peaceful way to experience the Mississippi Gulf Coast firsthand. The 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir, on the northeast side of Jackson, provides a huge area for fishing, boating and water sports in the Capital/River Region. In the Delta, canoeing and kayaking are popular on the Little Sunflower. And the rolling hills of northeast Mississippi offer some of the best outdoor recreation at sites in the Holly Springs and Tombigbee National Forests. To learn more, click www.VisitMississippi.org and Find Your True South in Mississippi.

Nature Tours

In the True South, you can learn something new about nature or seek a new thrill by joining a nature tour or attending an outdoor event. Mississippi’s diverse landscape and geographical regions offer a variety of outdoor experiences from shrimping tours  and nature tours on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to excursions along the storied Mississippi River. Birding and eco-tours are available at Tunica’s RiverPark and Leroy Percy State Park. With more than 50 waterfalls, the Clark Creek Natural Area near Natchez is a unique place in the state for hiking and exploring. Events like the Great Bear Affair in Rolling Fork and the Hummingbird Migration Festival in Holly Springs celebrate the state’s distinct wildlife population. To learn more, click www.VisitMississippi.org and Find Your True South in Mississippi.

Beauvoir – Home of Jefferson Davis

Rich in history, Beauvoir is the stunning home of the only President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, and the place where he penned his memoirs. The 51-acre estate in Biloxi, fronting the Gulf of Mexico, was also once the site of the Mississippi Confederate soldier’s home, which cared for hundreds of Southern veterans and their wives. The beautifully restored Beauvoir house, dominates the sprawling complex that includes a gift shop, historic cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and the magnificent view of the Mississippi Sound! Beauvoir truly lives up to her name – French for beautiful view or beautiful to see!