Known for its Southern charm and burgeoning music scene, Mississippi is a beautiful state. Also known as “The Magnolia State” and “The Hospitality State,” it offers some of the most beautiful sights and places to visit. While traveling around, visitors can come across a variety of sights, from verdant forests to beautiful beaches, to college towns, glitzy casinos, and Civil War battlefields.
Here are some of the most beautiful places in Mississippi worthy of a visit:
Biloxi
Located along the state’s scenic and sun-kissed shoreline in Garrison County, Biloxi is a famous city to visit in Mississippi due to its beautiful beaches and oceanfront casinos. At first sight, it may appear brash and blingy, but if you explore it, you can find delightful historical centers and other cultural attractions to visit.
Besides gambling and visiting museums, visitors can relax in its golden sands or enjoy watersports and sailing along its seafront. You can also find the Biloxi Lighthouse, which has guided the ships since 1848. Perfect for couples, the Biloxi Lighthouse offers a romantic feel and some breathtaking views of the sea and the city. Not to mention, this landmark also gives a sneak peek into the city’s history.
Natchez
A premier cultural tourism destination set in the southwest corner of the state, the city of Natchez lies atop a prominent bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The city was the oldest municipality in Mississippi, and it was named after the Natchez tribe of Native Americans. This small city is a beautiful historic center full of old antebellum homes that conjure up images of the Old South.
Before the Civil War, Natchez was an important center of trade, making wealth and riches pour into its scenic streets. Nowadays, you can ride horse-drawn carriages to take in its grand collection of elegant homes and historical landscapes.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Besides stopping by Natchez’s many museums, bars, and live music venues, make a stop at the Natchez Trace Parkway, which offers magnificent views of nature and scenery for visitors to enjoy. Encompassing everything from boggy bayous to steamy swamps to epic overlooks and even Indian burial mounds – the Natchez Trace Parkway is one of the most popular places to visit in the state. The parkway stretches from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, and it’s a fantastic place to hike, cycle, or drive along. You’ll have a memorable road trip if you drive along this popular sightseeing route.
While you’re there, try to stop by archaeological sites, picturesque lookouts, and prehistoric mountains. Check out the sparkling waterfalls and the sublime scenery you can admire. Also, there are numerous historical sights along the route, which makes for great photo opportunities.
Windsor Ruins
Unlike other historical sites in the nation, the Windsor Ruins are considered to be the most imposing ruins in the United States. Built in 1859, this attraction is a remnant of the state’s largest Greek Revival antebellum mansion ever made. With its eye-catching, towering Corinthian columns, this abandoned mansion will give you the urge to snap a few Instagram-worthy photographs.
The Windsor Ruins are off the beaten track, giving visitors a private window to the centuries that have passed. Destroyed by a fire in 1980, all that remains from the former grand mansion are the beautiful Greek columns and a deathly serenity.
Tishomingo State Park
Set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, this historic district is steeped in history and scenic beauty. Located northeast of Tupelo, this state park features massive rock formations, valleys, and sandstone outcroppings, making it a unique state park in Mississippi. Archeological studies have indicated that Paleo-Indians were active within the park’s boundaries as far back as 7,000 B.C.
Here, you can follow in the footsteps of the Native Americans and take in its natural wonders. You can go hiking, camping, fishing, and birdwatching. You can find some playing fields, cabins, swimming pools, and tent sites here, so you can do fun activities while admiring the moss-covered boulders and colorful wildflowers around.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Located just to the south of both Mississippi and Florida, the Gulf Islands National Park offers a series of beautiful barrier islands. It is home to many wonderful white-sand beaches, sparkling blue waters, and breathtaking scenery that narrates the untold history of America.
Due to its serene and secluded settings, the islands are unspoiled and undeveloped. You can find stunning sands lying next to the intriguing forests and wild wetlands. Due to the park’s protected nature, you can enjoy many excellent outdoor activities here, like hiking, cycling, and swimming. Visitors can also go snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico or take photos of diverse bird species they can find in the barrier islands.
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
The Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places to explore and wander in Nature in the state of Mississippi. The magnificent refuge is a designated wildlife preserve home to several endangered species and migratory birds that will impress any nature enthusiast. The area is brimming with upland forests and bottomlands, offering excellent recreational facilities like kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and wildlife observation.
While here, you can visit the boardwalk at Doyle Arm, as it offers some spectacular bird watching all year round. Adventurous explorers can also observe alligators in their natural habitat. The Bluff Lake is also a must-visit, as it combines the beauty of nature and the tranquility of solitude. Visiting the lake during the fall is a magical experience – the crunching of dried leaves underfoot as you take in the orange and yellow sights can envelop you into a peaceful trance-like state.
Vicksburg National Military Park
Situated in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Vicksburg National Military Park is a delight for history buffs. This park is filled with exhibits and remnants of the Battle of Vicksburg, an event pivotal to the American Civil War. The 47-day siege gave way to the surrender of the city, granting the Union complete control of the Mississippi River.
More than 1,300 historical monuments and markers are within the park’s bounds, and the Vicksburg National Cemetery, the resting place of more than 18,000 people – of which two-thirds were unidentified. Besides its unique heritage and history, it also offers well-preserved, beautiful old buildings, attractive streetscapes, and magnificent museums. Whether you wish to learn more about the Civil war or simply pay your respects to the heroes of the past, Vicksburg National Military Park is a great place to do both.
Red Bluff
Known as Mississippi’s Little Grand Canyon, this amazing rock formation in Marion County is the state’s hidden gem. The Red Bluff was formed millions of years ago by the natural erosion of the nearby Pearl River. The site is not something you’d expect to see in Mississippi, making it an impressive find. As the nickname suggests, the site looks like a bit of preview of the famous Grand Canyon, thanks to its vivid red and orange cliffs.
Visitors can hike along the top or camp on this unusual landscape, but it can be easily viewed from the highway. Besides the cliffs themselves, there’s a stream that acts as the source of the canyon’s erosion. That stream is accessible, and it takes you on a scenic walk through a forest, across a railroad, and into the Pearl River.