YEAR VISITED: 2013 & 2020

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: In 2nd grade Maddie selected Mississippi as the state she wished to do her state report on. While there is no doubt she selected it because it was fun to spell… Mi-ssi-ssi-ppi… for years she listed it as her favorite state. For this reason, plus the fact the family had never been, when planning our 10,000+ mile road trip in 2020 the Magnolia State was a must do destination. We zeroed in on Biloxi as a destination to set up shop, which is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico.

Our first day we decided to relax and explore the white sands of the Gulf Coast. We had been driving hard up until that point so a day with our feet in the sand was just what the doctor ordered. While we still enjoyed ourselves, Tropical Storm Cristobal had recently wrecked havoc on the area and subsequently the city was still in the process of cleaning up the beach. Therefore, as much as we enjoyed our day at the beach I don’t believe we fully experienced all the splendor this coastline normally has to offer. The cities work crew had piled up massive mounds of debris and there was still random sticks and garbage buried in the otherwise beautiful white sand. Nevertheless we greatly enjoyed the morning. We inflated the Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) and both girls were able to SUP in the Gulf.

Jill and I relaxed in our beach chairs until mid afternoon when the 90+ heat and 90+ humidity forced us to make a change as all four of us were sweating like never before. Following an afternoon nap in the air conditioned hotel, we headed a couple miles down the coast to the Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel.

We had an early dinner and then enjoyed exploring the grounds. If we were to return to Biloxi this is the area where we would want to stay as it felt like it was in the middle of everything. There were a number of hotels, casinos, and a park that crisscrossed both sides of the highway directly on the gulf. While it was in the process of being repaired, we explored the Lighthouse Pier which jetted over 500 feet out into the Gulf. Across the street we enjoyed examining the iconic Biloxi Lighthouse, which was erected in 1848. While it was decommissioned in 1968, it is still open to the public.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: We have not attended any athletic events.

ADVENTURE(S): Following our stay in Biloxi we drove the length of freeway 59. While our ultimate destination was Memphis, we stopped in Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

We of course explored the museum, toured toured Elvis’ childhood home, walked the grounds, and took pictures with the eternal flame and various statues of ‘The King’.

While the girls were good sports, Jill and I got a kick out of trying to describe who Elvis was, the impact he had on the world, and why they should pay attention on the tour. Because of this stop we downloaded a handful of Elvis’ hit songs and rocked out nearly the entire hour and 45 minute drive from Tupelo to Memphis.

Along highway 49 from Biloxi to Tupelo we stumbled upon the Dizzy Dean Rest Area, roughly 5 miles north of Wiggins. The St Louis Cardinals All-Star pitcher from the 1930’s was born in the area and subsequently the rest area is named for him. There is a plaque commemorating his career and a massive mural complete with his impressive career stats.

No Castro road trip would be complete without a notable roadside attraction. Outside of the town of Gulfport we stumbled upon the Dedeaux Clan Furniture store that advertised a 35-foot rocking chair in the parking lot. At the time of installation, it was the largest rocking chair in the world. Shockingly enough, it is no longer the worlds largest, but it didn’t stop us from pulling over and snapping a photo.

Personally, my first visit to Mississippi came in 2013 when my friend Rick and I boarded a tour bus filled with history teachers from all over the country. One of our first stops came at Vicksburg at the Vicksburg Military Park. It is located directly off the Mississippi River, along the border of Louisiana, off of Interstate 20. Arguably, this was the most influential battle of the Civil War since the victor would gain full control of the entire Mississippi River. The conflict took place in 1863 and the siege of the city lasted 47 days. Ultimately, the Union was triumphant and victory came on July 4th, 1863. Consequently, the Union gained full control of the Mississippi River. A little over a year and a half later the Union won the war and successfully reunited the country. Interestingly enough the city of Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July for the next 81 years.

In July 2013 the Gilder Lehrman history conference narrated the battle to us while we drove the roads through the main battle site. We also spent the afternoon exploring the museum. The biggest hit was exploring the only remaining Ironclad ship from the Civil War, the USS Cairo. While I still struggle imagining this thing actually floating I was in awe seeing it up close and personal.

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: Our first night in Biloxi we walked across the parking lot to a southern BBQ joint “Slap Ya Momma’s”. They specialize in various smoked meats and are located directly on the Coast. The inside is a fun colorfully decorated restaurant and the back deck comes with some amazing views of the Gulf Coast. We had a great night here and got a serious kick out of the name.

A couple blocks from our hotel was a souvenir store of all souvenir stores called, Sharkheads. The store is only one floor but because the building is built on piers and elevated, it appears absolutely massive. We had a great time perusing the store and taking pictures with the many fun tourist sharks.

Besides Slap Ya Momma’s we wanted to experience as many southern food establishments as possible. We ate at a Waffle House where we made sure to order grits and chicken and waffles. It was a fantastic experience. If you haven’t been to a Waffle House I can’t recommend it enough. We also ate at a Raising Cain’s, which is a relatively new southern style fast food that was founded out of Louisiana.

While I didn’t buy an admission ticket, I did stop and walk around the grounds of the Beauvoir – Jefferson Davis Presidential Museum. While I consider myself a Civil War buff, I am ashamed to admit I did not know this museum existed prior to our trip to Biloxi. The grounds are beautifully preserved and the family home has a view of the Gulf. I am imagining it would have been a spectacular residence in the late 19th century.

Knowing you will have to deal with excessive heat and humidity I would not suggest traveling to Mississippi in the summer months, but all in all we enjoyed the state. Without a doubt I heard more Sir and Ma’am during our stay than any other three day period in my life. Being from the Pacific Northwest the likelihood of us returning to Mississippi is low. However, if nothing else my daughter was able to experience first hand the state she chose to do her 2nd grade report on. Plus, there is just something about singing the spelling of Mi-ssi-ssi-ppi.

OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:

• Rodney Ghost Town
• Windsor Ruins
• Mammy’s Cupboard
• Ole Miss Baseball Game at Swayze Field
• The Grove football tailgate experience
• Mississippi State Baseball at Dudy Noble Field