Mississippi Vacation Ideas
Over 100 miles of coastline as well as the grand Mississippi River is only the start to this outdoor lovers state.
Numerous lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs allow plenty of opportunity to spend your vacation fishing, swimming, boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and waterskiing throughout Mississippi.
The Mississippi outdoors also offers more than 2 million acres of public hunting lands.
Mississippi has plenty of sites where you can sleeping under the stars, pitch a tent in a rustic primitive campground or back your RV into a beautiful and well equipped site.
No matter what flavor of camping you choose, Mississippi has a place for you to stay while exploring the state. It is a great opportunity to teach yourself and the children about the planets and the night sky.
One of my favorite things to do is look for constellations and for just a few dollars you can pick up a star finder. It's not hard to do and it is a lifetime of knowledge and fun for everyone.
RV's
Mississippi state and National Parks, private facilities and outfitters have campsites as secluded or as accessible as you like. Campers, recreational vehicles, big rigs, and motor homes are welcome in many places throughout the state.
RV parks feature a full array of quality facilities including electricity, cable, sewer, local phone services, cement pads, showers and laundry facilities.
There are excellent locations such as the Gulf Coast, Okatoma Creek, Ross Barnett Reservoir and the Tunica Resorts area that will serve as a great vacation.
Rv, Tent camping or sleeping under the stars, Mississippi is a camping paradise with opportunities for any family.
Canoe or Kayak
Paddle trips, along with canoe and kayak adventure trips abound in easily accessible locations throughout Mississippi and can be enjoyed year round.
The Gulf Island National Seashore Park is a federally designated wilderness area. Awesome adventures are awaiting a kayaker here. In fact, this trip is becoming rather popular.
Also enjoy the Black Creek Wilderness Trail. Mississippi paddle trips offer scenic high bluffs, large cypress trees and abundant wildlife to be seen.
Rock Climbing
A smattering of boulders found mostly in thick, dense pine plantation land can be found throughout the suthern and middle parts of the state.
Tishomingo State Park is rich with history and Rock Climbing adventures. The area is extremely popular for rock climbing and bouldering but be sure to get your free permit at the parks office.
Fishing
Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Mississippi. Oxbow lakes and coastal marshes are great spots to cast your line and wait for a nibble.
More than 175 species of freshwater game fish thrive here and the state's mild climate promotes a year-round season.
Bass (largemouth, smallmouth and striped), Bream (redear and bluegill), Crappie (white and black) and Catfish (channel, blue and flathead) all swim these waters.
Rich estuaries and marshes of the back bays and barrier islands as well as in the Gulf of Mexico make Mississippi a haven for light tackle anglers and deep-sea enthusiasts.
Hunting
Mississippi runs a tight ship in this area. Demanding and responsible wildlife management programs have provided for more than 2 million acres of wild game habitat that are teeming with healthy and productive game populations.
Whitetail deer, Eastern wild turkey and migratory waterfowl, as well as small game species such as mourning dove, quail, squirrel and rabbit are some of the most popular wild game species.
There is so much to Mississippi's 38 state Wildlife Management Areas, 14 National Wildlife Refuges and 6 National Forests. They give any hunter a variety of places and game to get a bead on.
Check for seasonal regulations.
Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
Mississippi is teaming with places to explore if you enjoy hiking, riding bicycles, horses or ATVs.
Hikers can enjoy places like the 13-mile Appalachian Trail system around Bear Creek in Tishomingo State Park or the Clark Creek Natural Area, in southwest Mississippi, with more than 50 waterfalls.
Pump up the tires on you bike and follow the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route to show your respect for the bravery of those who participated in the Underground Railroad.
There are hundreds of miles of cycling available on the beautiful, Natchez Trace Parkway in the De Soto National Forest.
If you want more of a challenge ride on the rugged terrain of the Clear Springs Trail System in the Homochitto National Forest. Also the Mississippi River Trail is a series of on-road, bike pathways.
The Longleaf Trace Trail is south Mississippi's premier equestrian trail. Bienville National Forest has some horseback riding trails including the outstanding Shockaloe National Recreation Horse Trail. The Natchez Trace Scenic Trail also offers riders many incomparable experiences.
Bird Watching
Mississippi has an overabundance (if you can have such a thing) of natural area for wildlife. Bird watching and wildlife viewing in Mississippi is a pastime full of excitement.
From the Gulf Coast to the hills of north Mississippi, hundreds of species of animals and birds make Mississippi their home.
Mississippi is located on the flyway for neotropical birds and waterfowl during their migration.
The 46 National Wildlife Management areas, 14 National Refuges, six National Forests, two National Parks including the Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Sandhill Crane National Refuge are not enough. The federally designated wilderness areas of Petite Bois and Horn Islands where added to the Pascagoula River Basin, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Accessible locations are available to view endangered birds like the red-cockaded woodpecker.
Each year, Mississippi hosts the Hummingbird Migration Celebration in Holly Springs, the Stork and Cork Birding Festival at Tara Wildlife Management near Vicksburg, and the Spring Migration Festival in Lucedale.
Mississippi is a great place to explore, Hunt, Fish or just kick back and relax. So get the keys and start the car!