Mississippi

• 🌍 Jackson – the state capital
• 🌍 Biloxi
• 🌍 Clarksdale – birthplace of the blues
• 🌍 Gulfport
• 🌍 Hattiesburg
• 🌍 Natchez – over 600 antebellum homes, (first capital of MS)
• 🌍 Oxford
• 🌍 Tupelo
• 🌍 Vicksburg

• 🌍 Gulf Islands National Seashore
• 🌍 Natchez Trace Parkway – This 444 mile long parkway is administered by the National Park Service and follows a route from Natchez to Nashville that dates back hundreds of years. Hiking, Indian mounds, natural history exhibits, and interpretive exhibits make this is leisurely and enjoyable route for motorists.

Most of Mississippi's western border (with Arkansas and Louisiana) is the mighty Mississippi River. Tennessee lies to the north and Alabama to the east, and it has a small coastline on the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

The southern part of the state was significantly affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, particularly the Gulf Coast, and tropical storms and hurricanes periodically impact the state. Once time has passed following a storm, visitor facilities become abundant again.

The easiest method of getting around Mississippi is by automobile (and, in most cases, it’s the only method of getting around the state). Greyhound bus lines are very inconvenient. Be prepared for long waits, uncomfortable rides to remote locations (typically the bus stops are at a gas station on the outskirts of the city) and unannounced cancellations. The hassle is not worth the money you would save compared to renting a car; you may have to rent a car anyway due to the limited bus routes.

Visitors to Mississippi should seriously consider renting a car (usually, most auto rental locations are at airports: just be sure to make reservations far in advance), as there is not a well-established public transportation system in this state. Be prepared to seek alternate transportation if you do not have the following: a valid driver's license accepted by the United States, be at least 25 years in age (some rental companies may allow 21 year old adults to rent their vehicles), and a major credit card issued by such companies as: Visa, Diner's Club, American Express, Discover Card, or MasterCard. The lack of such items or being 25 or less will make renting a car very difficult, if not impossible.

You could also consider riding a horse in certain parts of Mississippi, as the low traffic and high amounts of dirt roads make it an ideal place for riding.

• The casinos of Biloxi, Gulfport, Vicksburg, Tunica, Greenville, Natchez, and Philadelphia (Choctaw Indian Reservation) are fun to visit. Be aware that you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid government issued ID to enter a casino (a government issued ID with your picture that is written in English, such as a passport (which is strongly recommended for foreign nationals) or a driver's license), otherwise, you will be refused entry into the casino. Expect to have your ID checked upon entry (and sometimes rechecked while you are in the casino too: if you have a youthful appearance) as most casinos are so cautious, almost to the point of being paranoid, in their efforts in preventing underage patrons from sneaking into their establishments.
• The Civil War Park in Vicksburg is interesting to visit, and the entire park can easily be visited in a day using either a car or by bicycle. The cost is $8 to enter, and it's a bargain. Be sure to allow yourself at least 2 to 3 hours for the Cairo battleship exhibit alone. Tourist pamphlets in multiple languages (Spanish, German, French, and Japanese) are available at the Cairo exhibit.
• Mississippi is the home of the blues, and the Blues Museum in Clarksdale is interesting for the blues music enthusiast. In addition, live blues is still fairly easy to find in the Delta and in Jackson (where the former Subway Lounge blues bands play on Saturday nights at Schimmel's Restaurant).
• Although B.B. King was born in Itta Bena, the city of Indianola will have a B.B. King Homecoming Festival on the first week of June every year at Fletcher Park. Children under 12 are free from paying admission to the event.
• Be sure to visit the antebellum houses in city of Natchez. The tours offered during the pilgrimages are a good way to see a wide selection of the houses and buildings. Also in mid October Natchez has The Great Mississippi River Balloon Races. This event is a three day weekend of races, food, and music. Bring a blanket or chairs for the music fest.
• For those who enjoy nature, a journey along the Natchez Trace Parkway (which starts in Natchez, MS, and ends in Nashville, TN) is a good bet. Be aware that the speed limit is strictly enforced (by the US Park Police) at 50 mph (80 km/h), and that wild animals such as deer and turkeys will often run across the road suddenly. Also keep in mind that you will have to share the road with bicyclists and those camping along the Natchez Trace. Also, the roadway does not have streetlights, so beware: it is very dark at night. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the Natchez Trace, so the traffic is light and easy-going.
• The International Ballet Competition takes place once every four years in Jackson. The competition takes place at Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson on Pearl Street, and some of the best ballet dancers from around the world come to Jackson to compete 1-601-355-9853 (157 E Pearl St).

Outdoor activities are a favorite of Mississippians, given the state's low population density and natural resources. Hunting, fishing, water sports, camping, and hiking all have their devotees. Take tours through antebellum mansions. There are horse-drawn carriage tours in Natchez.

The larger cities and towns in Mississippi provide major retail stores. Some major malls in Mississippi include Barnes Crossing Mall in Tupelo, Northpark Mall in Ridgeland (Jackson Metro area), Dogwood Festival Market in Flowood (Jackson Metro area), Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, and Edgewater Mall in Biloxi. Other great shopping malls that you would find very interesting and good clothes is the Edgewood Mall in McComb, and the Bonita Lakes Mall in Meridian.

Most smaller towns still offer your typical nationwide and regional stores, but local antique and furniture stores abound. If you go looking for antiques, you will likely find one near the old town centers. Natchez has Franklin St., which is known as "antiques row". Canton, located north of Jackson on I-55, is well known for its biannual flea market, and antique stores surrounding its historic town square. Canton is also the county seat of Madison County. The flea market is held each May and October.

The state is largely rural. Outside of large towns and away from major interstates and state highways, dining options are fairly limited, but even the smallest of towns will have a local diner. However, if you enjoy country cooking, there is no shortage of good to excellent places to eat. Fried chicken, country-fried steak, fresh vegetables, and cornbread are favorites, although barbecue is also widely available. Mississippi barbecue tends to pork ribs and pulled pork or chopped beef sandwiches with tomato-based sauces, usually slightly sweet.

Fried catfish is one meal that Mississippians pride themselves on. If you want to visit the world catfish festival, go to Belzoni (pronounced by the locals as: bell-zone-uh). There's not much to see there, but it's interesting if you're in that area. One treat often served with catfish is fried dill pickles, a strange sounding but delicious side dish.

Generally, one can't go wrong with Mississippi staples of biscuits, corn bread, fried chicken, catfish or steak, collards and other greens, and fresh vegetables.

In Indianola, you can visit the Indianola Pecan House where you won't find a shortage of ways to consume pecans, which are found in abundance in the local area.

Laws regarding alcohol are a frequent source of confusion to outsiders. Mississippi continues to practice "local option" with regard to sale of alcohol. Under this system, local jurisdictions may choose whether or not to allow the sale or consumption of alcohol. Beer, where sold, may be purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets, while wine and spirits may only be purchased from licensed liquor stores. Alcohol-by-the-drink is yet another area of local option; some permit purchase of alcoholic beverages at restaurants but do not permit liquor stores. Where they are allowed, liquor stores are limited to the hours of 10AM-10PM; hours during which beer sales are permitted are at the discretion of the county or municipality. The only reliable way to determine the regulations is to ask a local. There are still numerous counties where alcohol is forbidden; enforcement is typically lax regarding alcohol purchased elsewhere for personal consumption, but may not be if an officer of the law decides to make it an issue.

Try Lazy Magnolia beer, brewed in Kiln, MS. Its most popular brew is Southern Pecan Ale. Lazy Magnolia beers can be found on tap in many bars and restaurants throughout the state.

In the event of an emergency, you can dial 911 (for police, fire, and medical assistance) from any cell phone or landline free of charge. If you use a cellphone, it is important to let the operator know exactly where you are located at, as it takes time to find out your location if you do not give that information (time that you should not waste). For non-emergency calls, do not dial 911, but rather contact the specific organization directly from their non-emergency phone number listed in the respective local phone book.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol may be contacted (in the state) on your cell phone by dialing *HP (*47). This is only for emergency calls on the highways or Interstate routes from cell phones only.

• During the warmer months of the year, you should seriously consider using mosquito repellent with a high DEET concentration. This may help reduce the opportunity of becoming infected with the West Nile virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. In the Delta region, mosquitoes are awful during the summer months.
• Occasionally throughout the year, you'll read or hear about boil water alerts (usually as a result of a water treatment center that had lost its water pressure for one reason or another). Although it is safe to shower and bathe with the water, it is not advisable to cook, drink, or brush your teeth using untreated tap water during an alert notice. Check with the Mississippi State department of Health for current notice alerts.
• During the summer months, the humidity and high temperatures can be very intense for those who have never lived in hot muggy environments before. Be sure to drink adequate amounts of water or sports/electrolyte drinks (such as Gatorade) if you are going to work or play outdoors during the summer.
• The larger cities in Mississippi have sufficient levels of hospital care that can handle most serious and critical illnesses or life-threatening injuries (IE world class medical care). Most of the smaller cities (usually those with populations of at least a few thousand citizens) have a nearby county hospital, which is sufficient for minor non-life threatening injuries or illnesses, but you may have to be transported via medical helicopter to the larger regional medical facilities (sometimes out of state if necessary) if you are facing a critical injury or illness when time is of the utmost of the essence. Smaller cities of less than a few thousand people in population generally do not have a hospital, and you will have to travel to the nearest county hospital for care. Be aware there is not a national health care system, and you are expected to be fully insured to pay for all medical services rendered. Otherwise, expect a huge medical bill that you will be expected to pay in full upon your discharge from the hospital (which can very easily run into the thousands of dollars for even minor emergency medical care).
• An alternative to the emergency room (typically in the larger cities in Mississippi) for non-life threatening care only and minor illnesses are "urgent care clinics." An appointment is not required, but you can expect to wait for sometimes an hour or two before seeing the doctor. Again, you must be insured for medical treatment, or expect a moderately high bill (not nearly as expensive as an emergency room visit, but its still not inexpensive either). Hours of operation vary, but generally are open from noon till 6PM, and are usually closed on weekends. When checking in for services and you do not have insurance but you do have the means to pay, be sure to let the receptionist know, or you may be subjected to expensive tests which are not needed.
• Roughly 1 in every 3 people in Mississippi has received the full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in early August 2021. This is at the low end of vaccine rates in the country.

Mississippi is generally considered to be more socially and religiously conservative than much of the United States.

Most Mississippians are highly religious and attend church services regularly. You might (emphasis on might) even be invited to attend church services. Keep that in mind when interacting with the locals; some might be puzzled or shocked if you tell them you do not believe in God.

The state flag contained the Confederate flag in its upper left corner until 2020, when the state government decided to change the flag. Since the Confederate flag is considered by many to be an extremely emotional and sensitive image on both sides of the political spectrum, it is wise, as an outsider of the state, to avoid discussing the state flag (either positively or negatively).

Do not make strong statements about the state's history; yes, Mississippi has had a particularly troubled, colourful history, but that should not tarnish your perception of an entire state. Things have changed for the better, although there are still some remnants of racism in the state.

As in other Southern states, when addressing people you have met for the first time (particularly those who are older than you) be sure to say either "Yes, sir / No, sir" or "Yes, ma'am / No, ma'am". Do not use first names until the other person uses yours, as it is considered rude to do as such without permission. Also, in many areas, saying "Mr./Ms./Mrs. (First name) is common, example: Mr. John, Mrs. Jane, etc.

Many Mississippians are serving or have served in the military, or have relatives who are active or reserve members of either the US Military or the Mississippi National Guard. Pride and respect in the military is very strong.

Cell phone coverage in Mississippi is generally better (especially with T-Mobile's networks) along the major Interstate routes. Coverage in the southern Mississippi region is sometimes spotty (particularly west of Hattiesburg). 4G coverage, though growing sporadically throughout the state near the college cities, is generally located in the Jackson metropolitan area; however, outside of the Jackson area, 3G service is typically available with parts of the Delta being the exception. Check with your cell phone provider for coverage maps. The regional cell phone provider C Spire Wireless has a large network established throughout Mississippi, and you might be able to roam on their towers if you are not a customer.

Consider purchasing a disposable cell phone from any major electronic department store in Mississippi during your visit. There are few fee pay telephones available outside of airports or shopping malls. The cost is about $25 a month as the average price for approximately 100 minutes of talk time without (in other words, its very expensive for what you pay for).

Be aware that pretty much any cell phone from either South Korea or Japan will typically not work anywhere in Mississippi, but some of the older European model cell phones (operating in the 3G UTMS frequencies of 850/1900/2100MHz) should work fine in the state.

There are no foreign consulates with citizen services within the state of Mississippi, only a few honorary consulates serving business functions. In the event you require the assistance of your government (loss of a passport, arrest, etc.), larger countries may have consulates in the much larger metropolitan cities outside of Mississippi (cities such as Atlanta GA, New Orleans LA, Houston TX, Dallas TX, and Memphis TN). Refer your specific countries' consular web page to learn where they are located in the southern part of the US.

• Alabama - East of Mississippi is Alabama, where Mobile is a historic port city and Gulf Shores is a popular resort.
• Tennessee - Located to the north of Mississippi, Tennessee offers the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, plus the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.
• Arkansas - Mississippi's northwestern neighbor, "The Natural State", is home to the Ozark Mountains in the northwest while the south and east of the state has flatter land and shows more of its agricultural heritage.
• Louisiana - Home to New Orleans, this state on Mississippi's western border offers a unique culture.