Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues, a land of mighty rivers, antebellum mansions, and some of the most soulful cooking in America. From the cotton fields of the Delta where Elvis Presley was born and B.B. King learned to play, to the white-sand beaches of the Gulf Coast and the grand antebellum homes of Natchez, Mississippi offers visitors an authentic dive into Southern culture, music, and history.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Blues CDs from Ground Zero Blues Club gift shop (387 Delta Ave, Clarksdale)
Mississippi Delta hot tamales (canned from Doe's Eat Place or fresh from local tamale makers)
Ole Miss Rebels gear from Square Books (160 Courthouse Square, Oxford) or campus bookstore
Walter Anderson prints and ceramics from the Walter Anderson Museum of Art gift shop (Ocean Springs)
Mississippi pecans and pecan candy (Stuckey's and roadside stands along the Natchez Trace)
Civil War-era books and prints from Abraham's Gift (Natchez area antique dealers)
Mississippi hot sauce and spice blends from the Mississippi Farmers Market (Jackson)
Blue and White pottery (local ceramic tradition; available in Ocean Springs galleries)
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mississippi Farmers Market
Fresh local produce, jams, honey, pecans, Gulf seafood, and handmade crafts from Mississippi farmers and artisans
Where: Jackson
Hours: Tuesday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (April-November)
Oxford Farmers Market
Local produce, pastries, jams, Mississippi honey, artisan breads, and cut flowers
Where: Oxford
Hours: Tuesday 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM; Saturday 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM (May-October)
Hattiesburg Farmers Market
Local produce, plants, jams, honey, handmade crafts, and Gulf Coast food products
Where: Hattiesburg
Hours: Saturday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM (year-round)