From the birthplace of Elvis Presley, to soaking up blues music, to civil war history, exploring Mississippi is an experience that touches everyone.

A blend of quaint towns and wide–open fields of cotton, it’s like stepping back in time. There must be something magic in this land with its depth of cultural richness that few places in the world can rival.

Known as the “Birthplace of America’s Music”, Mississippi has literally shaped the course of modern music with its contributions to blues, jazz, rock, country and gospel.

Lined by sandy white beaches and the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Gulf Coast offers 62 miles of scenic shoreline for you to discover. Take an eco–tour or go kayaking among the barrier islands, cycle along the stunning coastline, board the ferry and go snorkelling at Ship Island. Taste the unique and mouth–watering cuisine including seafood and southern BBQ.

Mississippi is steeped in history and heritage. The Natchez Trace Parkway, which runs 444 miles from Natchez to Nashville, is more than 8,000 years old. Originally ‘traced out’ by buffalo, the road was then travelled by traders, missionaries, early settlers and Indians. Civil War and Civil Rights history comes alive in The Capital/River region. Stately antebellum homes celebrate the romance of a bygone era while Civil War battlefields remind us of the more than 80,000 Mississippians who served as Confederate soldiers.

Mississippi’s culinary heritage has food to please every palate. From catfish to comeback sauce, from tamales to traditional Southern sweets, from shrimp to slugburgers to sweet potatoes, the state is home to award–winning chefs and some of the best home cooks and out of the way diners to be found anywhere.

{youtube}icY2i9PuhpI{/youtube}