7 Best Towns In Mississippi For A Two-Day Recharge

A weekend in Clarksdale means live Delta blues on Friday night and a slow catfish lunch before the drive home. That easy pace defines the Mississippi towns built for a two-day reset. Vicksburg trades its Civil War weight for rooftop river views and a morning in a mural-filled art park. Natchez sends visitors up to Bluff Park for a sunset over the water. Ocean Springs offers a quiet Gulf shoreline and galleries full of coastal watercolors.

Clarksdale

Clarksdale runs on the sound of the Delta Blues. To experience the authentic sound of the blues, Red's Lounge delivers with cold beer, neon musical notes glowing on the wall, and Delta bluesmen performing live. A deeper understanding of the blues can be achieved at the Delta Blues Museum, the oldest music museum in Mississippi. Visitors can view photographs and memorabilia and listen to recordings.

Shack Up Inn is a historic hotel where guests can stay in restored sharecroppers' cabins and rooms furnished with antiques. The Blues Crossroads is tied to the fictional blues folklore that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical talent. Today, a monument featuring three giant blue guitars marks one of the intersections where the legendary deal is said to have taken place. Last but not least, Ground Zero Blues Club adds another major stop to the town's blues circuit, with live music four nights a week and Southern food in a downtown venue co-owned by Morgan Freeman.

Cleveland

Cleveland is located in the middle of the Mississippi Delta, a region with a musical heritage. The Grammy Museum Mississippi takes visitors through immersive exhibits, programs, and hands-on learning activities related to the sounds and people who have been the most impactful in the music industry. Dockery Farms, a former cotton plantation, is considered by many to be the birthplace of the blues. The farm features a free museum on blues history, and visitors can explore restored buildings, including the original cotton gin and the commissary, which served as the gathering place for musicians and workers.

The rooms in the Cotton House are decorated with artwork depicting the Mississippi Delta landscape; the rooftop patio is reminiscent of a juke joint; and the lobby has comfortable chairs for lounging. Backdraft Restaurant and Bar is a firehouse-themed restaurant known for their steak and seafood.

Vicksburg

Vicksburg is more than the site of a pivotal Civil War battle. It is also a place to take in views of the Mississippi River, such as at Catfish Row Children's Art Park. The park features murals depicting the history of the Mississippi River and the steamboats that paddled it, a splash fountain, and playground equipment. 10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill provides bird's eye views of the Mississippi River while enjoying open-air dining on barbecue meats, seafood, and Southern staples.

Anchuca Historic Mansion and Inn was first constructed in the late 1820s, although it now operates as a bed and breakfast. It is furnished with antiques and art from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, but offers modern amenities such as a swimming pool. Attic Gallery is recognized as one of the oldest independent art galleries in Mississippi, featuring Southern folk art, contemporary fine art, and many blues-related items.

Natchez

Natchez is known for its preserved antebellum mansions overlooking the Mississippi River, like Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the United States. Although the outbreak of the Civil War prevented its completion, the house remains open year-round for tours. Monmouth Historic Inn is a 19th-century antebellum mansion decorated with period furnishings, although contrasted with modern amenities like a spa tub.

Bluff Park is perched on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, providing particularly appealing views at sunset. Under-the-Hill Saloon is one of the oldest buildings in town, which once served patrons of yesteryear, and today hosts live music on weekends and features rocking chairs on the front porch.

Oxford

There is a reason Oxford is regarded as the "Cultural Mecca of the South": its blend of literary history and a thriving food scene. Rowan Oak, the former home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, is open year-round and offers a glimpse into his life and creative endeavors. City Grocery has been a landmark staple of Oxford's culinary scene. It is housed inside a former livery stable and specializes in Southern and Creole fare.

The Oliver Hotel in Oxford is a boutique hotel overlooking the square. Guests can expect minute details like classic masonry and Juliet balconies. Lamar Park is an expansive green space at the edge of town, laced with walking trails and featuring a quiet lake. As many of the plants are in the early stages of development, the park is generally suited to more passive, peaceful recreation.

Tupelo

Instead of a two-day recharge to the sound of the blues, Tupelo gives two days to the sound of rock 'n' roll from Elvis Presley. Explore the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park, visiting historic sites like the two-room home where Elvis Presley was born, a museum, and the church where Elvis Presley first heard gospel. Hotel Tupelo embodies rock 'n' roll culture with sheet-music walls and floor coverings.

The Neon Pig Café is an old butcher shop and food bar, known for its salads, sandwiches, lettuce wraps, and burgers. Veterans Memorial Park features a lake, trails, and activities such as a splash pad and a disc golf course.

Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs is a coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico with an artistic vibe, thanks to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. The museum showcases watercolors, drawings, ceramics, and carvings depicting plants, animals, and people of the Gulf Coast. Front Beach is a quiet shoreline only a short distance away from downtown. Its sandy beaches are suitable for picnics and bike rides, and the calm waters make for easy wading.

Although Mosaic is a restaurant on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, its menu focuses on small plates from around the world, served on its outdoor patio to the sound of live music. The Springs Hotel is centrally located near both Front Beach and the Walter Anderson Museum. The hotel's grounds are inspired by local art, flora, and natural springs that helped shape Ocean Spring's identity.

Two Days in Hospitable Mississippi

Two days is enough time to catch live blues in Clarksdale, tour a Natchez mansion, and still leave room to do nothing at all. The mix changes with each town, whether the draw is Bluff Park at sunset or the oak-shaded sand at Front Beach. These are the Mississippi towns that make a short escape feel longer than the calendar says.