Mississippi has a past as rich as the delta soil. Couples can find much to do together in the Magnolia State.
First, head down Hwy 61 to Robinsonville in Tunica County and get ready to hit the jackpot. This Vegas on the Delta is now the third-largest gaming market in the country. Ten casinos offer world-class gaming, restaurants aplenty and clubs with live music. Just 40 minutes south of Memphis, Tunica affords many opportunities for romance, player-style. Play the slots together. Have dinner at one of many well-known buffets or steakhouses. Dance the night away at one of many clubs or try your luck at video poker while you jam to a live band. Sam's Town, Horseshoe, and Gold Strike offer shows with big name entertainers every weekend. Sweep your one-and-only off their feet with a whirlwind night of wagers and hopefully, winning.
Grab your fishing poles and tackle boxes. Hitch the jet ski to the back of the truck and set off for one of many lakes or Mississippi State Parks. Make some memories while you commune with nature. Sardis Lake, northwest of Oxford, is the home of the world's largest Big Head Carp. It weighed in at a whopping 65 pounds. Fishing is fantastic here year round. Enid Lake, Arkabutla Lake and Tombigbee State Park are all teeming with crappie, bream and catfish just begging to be caught. Swimming, camping, hiking, skiing and boating are options for active couples. Picnic tables and barbeque grills are great for cooking out under a clear blue sky. Hike one of the trails together. Many parks offer beginner, intermediate and advanced trails for different levels of experience. Bike trails are often available, as well. Embrace your wild side and spend some time with Mother Nature.
The Magnolia State is steeped in history and heritage. Civil War battles left their mark from the Delta to the Gulf of Mexico. Antebellum homes still stand in the oldest cities from Holly Springs to Natchez. They are lavish"¦grand"¦. and sure to invite dreamy images of mint juleps, hoop dresses and old money. The city of Natchez offers a Spring and Fall Antebellum Home Pilgrimage each year. Take a trip back in time and whisk your better half away from modern day stress for a while. Monmouth Plantation, also located in Natchez, was voted one of the top ten romantic places in the country and with good reason. The original owner built the home for his wife, in 1818. Gorgeous gardens, Southern cuisine, and authentic antiques contribute to the Old South atmosphere. Monmouth is a relaxing retreat for a weekend romance.
The Gulf Coast of the state offers twenty-six miles of sand, waves and sun. Long piers are perfect for walking hand in hand out over the water. You can have a moonlight picnic and listen to the waves lap against the shore. Biloxi schedules unique events year round. At Christmastime, there is a "Christmas on the Water" Boat Parade. The month of May hosts the Great Biloxi Schooner Races and the Blessing of the Fleet. If the beach is not your thing, but you're still looking to get wet, head for Gulfport. The Gulf Island Water Park opens in the summer of 2005. The main attraction is set to be the Master Blaster Water Slide. It pushes you along just like a real roller coaster. Share an inner tube and have some fun in the sun in the "Playground of the South."
Mississippi provides couples a chance to add some culture to their next date. The state has been home to many award-winning writers, musicians poets and playwrights. William Faulkner owned an antebellum home in Oxford. Rowan Oak has been closed, since December of 2001, but it recently reopened to visitors in July of 2004. Eudora Welty had a passion for gardening. Evidence of that passion adorns the grounds at her estate in Jackson. The tour of the gardens is free but by appointment only, so be sure to call in advance. After relaxing in the garden, take in a performance by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Take a romantic carriage tour of downtown Vicksburg. This Civil War city also has riverboat tours and a year-round ghost walk on Friday and Saturday nights. Experience the Magnolia State together and embrace a culture with a past as rich as the delta soil.
