From Bayou to Beach to the Blues, Mississippi’s Got Your Jam
Known as the catfish capital of the U.S., famous for its long stretches of beach along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi is also the place to come face to face with alligators foraging in swamplands, a place to discover unlimited road biking opportunities, and a place packed with tranquil stretches of river for paddling. The birthplace of Oprah Winfrey, Elvis Presley, and B.B. King is also home to business owners who have turned this Deep South state into an emerging outdoor adventure destination. From canoe companies offering dugout trips down the Mississippi River to tiny home communities nestled against historic running and biking trails, there is a bit of everything for the hardcore outdoor enthusiast and the curious nature traveler.
Being an adventurer at heart, I made sure our north-to-south itinerary was packed with nature-based activities that ranged from kayaking to road biking.
My older cousin and I landed in Memphis, crossed the Tennessee-Mississippi border, and began our trip in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a small town with a population of fewer than 19,000 residents and known as the “Birthplace of Blues” for having spawned so many musical legends, from Muddy Waters to Sam Cooke. Filled with historic buildings housing juke joints, record shops, and blues clubs, Clarksdale was also unexpectedly home to the Quapaw Canoe Company, an outfitter that leads expeditions down the Mississippi River.