Top Things to do in Mississippi
10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Mississippi That You Shouldn't Miss
From 24-hour casinos, upscale shopping and luxurious spas in Tunica to the Civil War sites in Vicksburg to the lush golf courses, beaches and upscale casinos in Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi offers visitors a wide range of vacation experiences. Vacationers to Mississippi can choose from a diverse group of destinations and activities. On the Gulf Coast in Biloxi and Gulfport, casino gaming, big name entertainment shows, deep-sea fishing and golf, are popular pastimes. In Vicksburg, the Vicksburg National Cemetery and Civil War sites draw many visitors. In historic Natchez, you can take a scenic drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway or visit Frogmore Plantation, one of eight plantations originally owned by a wealthy Natchez planter. For an urban experience, Jackson, dubbed the “City with Soul” has over 50 nightclubs featuring Soul, Jazz, Blues, Rock and other musical genres. Tunica offers great casinos, golf and big name entertainers such as Bonnie Rait, Smokey Robinson and George Jones. Golfers, rejoice! Mississippi has more than 150 golf courses. Among the high-profile courses on everybody’s must play list are The Links at Cottonwoods and Tunica National Golf Tennis Club in Tunica and Grand Bear Golf Club in Saucier and The Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino. Families visiting Mississippi fall in love with the heaping portions of Southern hospitality. Family-oriented activities are plentiful in Mississippi whether it’s enjoying the beaches on the Gulf Coast, visiting the home of Elvis Presley in Tupelo or riding a huge paddlewheeler on the Mississippi River.
Restaurants in Mississippi
1. Pershing Square
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Laser engraved bricks honoring veterans who served in WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and mid-East wars preserving our freedom.
2. Mississippi State University
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 177 reviews
Reviewed By 42bettyh - Clinton, United States
My daughter and I visited the MSU campus and loved the architecture of the various buildings around campus. Students were coming and going to classes, dorms, and campus events. The event we attended was very well organized and everyone was so helpful with information about the various programs, activities, and locations on campus. A great visit!
3. The Lewis Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
The Lewis Ranch is unlike any other rock ’n’ roll attraction. It’s an active residence where Jerry Lee Lewis still spends time with his family and friends. Jerry Lee has always seen The Lewis Ranch as his private escape, but now he’s decided to open to the doors to fans. We have created small, intimate tours that take you behind the scenes and into the heart of the Killer’s life—past and present. We offer 4 guided tours through the day at 10:00AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, and 3:00PM.
Reviewed By AussieTribeTatura1 - Tatura, Australia
We enjoyed an amazing visit to the Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch! Passionately escorted by Jerry Lee Lewis III, a very proud son. I enjoyed this intimate tour more than Graceland, as it was less "processed", less "made up" to impress, it is simply organic! I was honoured to be in Jerry Lee Lewis's home and I felt welcome.
4. Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 42 reviews
Showcasing Mississippi's arts and entertainment legacy, honoring our creative legends, and inspiring tomorrow's artists.
Reviewed By maryf865 - Ocean Springs, United States
We had a lovely afternoon here today while taking a day trip from the Mississippi coast. We were impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the layout and presentation. Since it was a Thursday during the summer and a pandemic there were few other visitors. It was inspiring to me and especially to our teenager who is an aspiring musician. We spent about 2 hours there with no crowds or waiting. The cost was $22 for three with military, educators and student discounts. I recommend this place. It was so well done.
5. Vietnam Memorial Replica Wall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By KARENJ678 - Birmingham, United States
Great replica wall. Very clean and peaceful. The flags flying and wind blowing just added to the feeling of gratefulness.
6. Choctaw Hall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By WILLIAMS482
Natchez is a nice small town. Very quite. A buddy and I were riding our bikes on the Natchez Trace Parkway, and stayed one night at Choctaw Hall. It was a great place to stay! The best thing about our stay was the tour of the mansion by David Garner. He knew the history, was very interesting to listen to, and very funny. It was a great stay and I highly recommend for anyone. I plan to stay again someday.
7. Beauvoir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,170 reviews
Home of Ex-Confederate President of the Confederate States of America where he lived his remaining 12 years of his life (post-war) and where he wrote "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government." Golf Carts are now available to rent. Guided tour of the home showing how life was lived by the President and his family and self guided grounds (Varina's Garden, Cemetery, and nature trail), Museum, separated into 3 sections: Rotating Gallery, Soldier's Exhibit, and President Davis Exhibit. Research Library including reference books to accommodate most genealogy research focused on the Civil War.
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
Built around 1850 by James Brown, a wealthy planter, as a summer home on the Gulf of Mexico, Brown called his new estate "Orange Grove." Brown died in 1866, but it wasn't until 1873 that the property was sold to pay back taxes and settle his estate. It quickly changed hands a couple of times, ending up in the possession of Sarah Ann Dorsey, the daughter of a wealthy planter in Natchez. She bought the house along with 600 hundred surrounding acres, renaming it "Beauvoir" or "beautiful view." Dorsey was a childhood friend of Varina Howell, Jefferson Davis' second wife, and herself had known the Davis family all her life, often visiting the Confederate president's elder brother Joseph's family at his home, Hurricane Plantation, near Vicksburg. When Jefferson Davis came to the Gulf Coast in 1877 seeking a place to write his memoirs, Dorsey offered him the use of one of the cabins on the estate. Two years later Dorsey died, leaving the entire estate to Davis. Davis, his wife, and their youngest daughter, known as Winnie, lived here until his death in 1889. The remaining two women moved to New York City in 1891, although they retained ownership of Beauvoir. The Davis family finally sold it in 1902 to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for use as a veterans home. It served in this role until 1953. The main house was turned into a shrine to the late Confederate president in 1941 with a museum honoring Confederate soldiers in the basement. With the closure of the veterans home, the home's hospital became the soldier's museum and a Davis' family museum took up the exhibit space in the main house's basement. In the late 90s, the Jefferson Davis Library and Museum were opened on the grounds. Unfortunately, just a few short years later, Katrina hit devastating the ocean front property. The main house survived, but has required extensive restoration that is only now in its final stages. A number of artifacts were also damaged, and the Library was effectively destroyed. Overall damage estimates exceeded $25 million dollars. Fortunately, much of the restoration is now complete, as we discovered in our recent visit to the estate. The first stop for visitors is the gift shop where tickets ($12.50 for adults) for the hourly house tours can be purchased. The tour itself last about 30 minutes and covers all the rooms in the house (although some rooms, such as Jefferson Davis' bedroom, are only looked at through the glass doors/windows). The rooms are mostly furnished with pieces from the Davis' family. The docent provides a fairly fast paced overview of the estate's history with a particular emphasis on the time that the Davis family lived here. After the house tour, we went back into the main building to look at the museum exhibits that take up much of the second floor. Items from Jefferson Davis, including correspondence, as well as an extensive collection of Civil War military material (edged weapons, rifles, flags, etc.) are on display. Some damaged items are shown to illustrate the havoc caused by Katrina. We then walked the 50 or so acres of grounds including out to the soldiers cemetery, where we found the grave of the Confederate unknown soldier, before finally hitting the gift shop to buy some interesting books on the history of the estate, the Civil War, and Mississippi. Overall, we spent about two hours here and enjoyed every minute of it.
8. Chris LeDoux Trail Marker
9. Mississippi State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 255 reviews
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR OUR VISITORS: Tours may be reserved for groups of 30 people or fewer. The unreserved, drop-in guided tours remain suspended, but guests are welcome to participate in self-guided tours. The gift shop remains closed. The building is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., should you wish to visit. We look forward to returning to a full tour schedule in the near future. Thank you. (Updated as of May 3, 2021) Patterned after the National Capitol, this has been the Capitol building for the state of Mississippi since 1903. Today it is major tourist attraction as well as the focus of Mississippi state government activities.
Reviewed By curtispat - Philadelphia, United States
The Mississippi State Capitol building is a very impressive building. The 1 hour guided tour (several times a day) is well worth your time.
10. Friendship Oak
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Over 500 years old, this oak tree is allegedly Mississippi's oldest and most beautiful tree.
Reviewed By rhondac396 - Memphis, United States
The Friendship Oak has chronicled the history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast for more than 500 years, sheltering generations through calm and storm. Located on the Gulf Park campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, it is a massive live oak tree with extraordinary girth and heavy branches that reach low and far. Take time to visit this tree and you will marvel at its age, its size, and its living history. Wow!
