Al Capone, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield, and Marilyn Monroe are just a few of the rich and famous people who escaped the paparazzi (and the police) back in the 1950s and ’60s and found peace and relaxation in the small hamlet of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. They were very well-known but fortunate for them at the time; Ocean Springs was not. Coastal Mississippi still refers to its 62-mile stretch along the Gulf of Mexico as “The Secret Coast,” but savvy travelers discover its many attractions and spread the news. Ocean Springs is one of the most laidback communities along the coa ..read more

History and music entwine along Mississippi’s Great River Road. Driving the state and county roads beside the mighty river was one of the best experiences of my life. Someday, I intend to explore it again – and I hope “someday” is someday soon. The Father of Waters defines most of the state’s western border and mightily influences its culture. But unfortunately, driving the Great River Road has one major drawback. Exploring takes a long time. You can’t hurry. Or maybe that’s a feature. Take life easy and explore. I drove the national scenic byway from north to south, and this article will foll ..read more

“I’m on a seafood diet. I eat everything I see.”  Roxie Yonkey Visiting Coastal Mississippi, the Secret Coast, provides the perfect opportunity to use that familiar phrase to full advantage. Eat all the seafood you can see for the ideal see-food diet. I “shellfishly” binge on shellfish whenever I’m on the Secret Coast. Read on, and you’ll find plenty of options to be “shellfish,” too. So come with me to a world of deliciousness, touring the shellfish lovers’ paradise from Ocean Springs to Kiln. Coastal Mississippi hosted me, but all opinions are my own. Being “Shellfish” in Ocean Spring ..read more

A recent visit to see my daughter in Brandon, Mississippi left me longing for a delicious Sunday brunch. After searching the internet for one within an hour’s drive, I found what sounded like a perfect option. We drove to Meridian, Mississippi to visit Weidmann’s, established in 1870. The historic restaurant offers a jazz brunch (reservations suggested) with a killer menu. Weidmann’s, the oldest restaurant in Mississippi, is only a hop, skip, and jump off I-20. We found parking with no problem on a Sunday morning. The restaurant was warm and welcoming with exposed brick, local artwo ..read more

Mississippi is one of our favorite Southern states to eat in. From small town local bites to fine dining classic dishes, there are so many good choices in the Mississippi restaurant scene that you will be amazed. Check out this list of 20 great restaurants in Mississippi that are serving meals guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds. 1. The Reef, Biloxi The Reef is a casual, waterfront restaurant with delicious seafood dishes and affordable prices overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Biloxi. The Reef makes their Crab Dip by adding lump crabmeat to white queso, resulting in a liquid consisten ..read more

“We’re going to Jackson; ain’t never comin’ back.” — Johnny and June Carter Cash If you go to Jackson, beware. Like Johnny and June, you may not want to leave. Just to get you started on your Jackson jaunt, visit these top five things to do in Mississippi’s captivating capital. We’ll experience fascinating and sometimes controversial history, terrific food, a rich musical heritage, and a strange petrified forest, all in a long weekend. After you visit these places in the City of Soul, you’ll have to make a decision. Do I stay, or do I go? If you go, we know you’ll return. Confront the Past ..read more

Explore Meridian through a child’s eyes with these four fun-filled destinations: the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum, the Dentzel Carousel, and the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience. Don’t worry; adults will enjoy them, too. Meridian is easy to visit. Its founders believed that “meridian” meant “junction,” and the city does sit at the junction of Interstates 20 and 59. Amtrak’s Crescent Train stops in Meridian on its journey from New York City to New Orleans and back. Look for festivals near Union Station. Ride the Dentzel Carousel Who can re ..read more

The American Civil War can be a rather depressing subject matter. The war divided the country, pitched family members against each other, and produced the most casualties of any American war.  But, to National Park Ranger Andrew Miller, the Civil War offers lessons that are much more diverse than what we learn in school. He’s traveled the country working at national parks, but he’s been planted at Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi for the last two and a half years and his passion for the battlefield is evident.  “It really is an amazing place,” Miller says as he gives u ..read more

You know you’re in the right place as a music lover when your accommodations for the night include a record player and two hot blues albums. Welcome to Cleveland, Mississippi. We were traveling through the Mississippi Delta, stopping in Cleveland, home to the Grammy Museum, Dockery Plantation, Delta State University and other musical landmarks, but also to enjoy the newly opened Cotton House, a boutique hotel. Naturally, the Cotton House emphasizes its town’s musical heritage and we didn’t hesitate to turn that Victrola on. Once our souls were doused with the notes of the Mississippi Delta, we ..read more

I have a secret. I’m not much of a beach person. I love the sand, the sun and occasionally the refreshing waters but for the most part I’m not one to rush into the waves of a sloping water source, not knowing what lies beneath. Call me paranoid or a scaredy cat but I prefer the peaceful ambiance of coastal towns, dining on fresh seafood, visiting interesting places, and hikingthe beach searching for shore birds and treasures washed up from faraway places. So, when the waters along the Mississippi Coast closed due to an algae bloom from too much fresh water being diverted from the flooded Missi ..read more