{"id":13657,"date":"2022-08-04T10:37:07","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T15:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/?post_type=landing&p=13657"},"modified":"2023-10-17T14:36:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T19:36:57","slug":"outdoor-adventure","status":"publish","type":"landing","link":"https:\/\/visitmississippi.org\/go\/outdoor-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Go All Out<\/h1>\n

Mississippi is the perfect place for all those who love to explore the great outdoors. We’re one of America’s most densely forested states (about 60 percent of the state covered by tree canopies) with numerous national and state forests offering hiking trails and other outdoor recreation opportunities. There are plentiful lakes, rivers, and Gulf Coast barrier islands to explore, too! <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n MERIT WATER PARK, MENDENHALL <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Wonderful Waterfalls<\/h2>\n

Merit Water Park is located on Rials Creek, a tributary of the Strong River. The park features a small, but surprisingly mighty, waterfall and an old-fashioned swimming hole. Since the creek is spring-fed, you\u2019ll find the water to be refreshing even in the summer months. Be sure to visit D\u2019Lo Water Park, while you\u2019re there, too. It\u2019s just a few miles away.<\/p>\n

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\n Mynelle Gardens, Jackson <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Room to Bloom<\/h2>\n

Located in the heart of Jackson, Mynelle Gardens features seven acres of beautifully landscaped gardens with shaded trails bounded by plants and flowers including azalea, camellias, daylilies, and other Southern favorites. The garden’s trails cross over an idyllic bridge and past bronze sculptures, with several sitting areas for admiring the view. <\/p>\n

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\n Dunn’s Falls, Enterprise <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Falling Waters<\/h2>\n

At the top of Dunn\u2019s Falls, you can see what remains of a 19th-century grist mill that was once powered by a wheel built over the site\u2019s 65-foot waterfall. You can walk through the old mill and even see some of the tools that were used by workers at the historic mill. A shallow stretch of the Chunky River lies at the bottom of the falls, offering opportunities for wading or tubing. <\/p>\n

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\n Cypress Swamp, Canton <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Wild Wetlands<\/h2>\n

At milepost 122 on the Natchez Trace, you’ll find the Cypress Swamp Loop Trail. The boardwalk trail passes through a half mile of cypress swamp wetlands shadowed by a canopy of bald cypress and water tupelo trees. The swamp is a trailhead for two longer trails \u2013\u00a0you can hike 14 miles south to the West Florida Boundary or nine miles north to the Yockanookany Trailhead.<\/p>\n

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\n Coastal Ridge Farms, Picayune <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Flower Power<\/h2>\n

Coastal Ridge Farms is a small family flower farm that grows sunflowers and zinnias that can be picked for purchase by the bucket. The farm is a popular spot for photographers who are welcome with paid admission. Because the farm is only open seasonally (twice a year when flowers are at their peak) and advance ticket are required, be sure to check their website before you travel. <\/p>\n

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\n Bayou Bernard, Gulfport <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Paddlers’ Paradise<\/h2>\n

Coastal Mississippi offers excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities along numerous scenic blueways (specially designated waterways that are protected and maintained for paddling, fishing, and related water activities). Bayou Bernard is a popular choice near Gulfport thanks to its natural beauty, excellent marina, and ADA-compliant boat ramps. <\/p>\n

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\n Sunken Trace, Port Gibson <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Tracing the Past<\/h2>\n

Stretching from Natchez to Nashville, the Natchez Trace is a 444-mile recreational road that\u2019s truly unlike any other scenic route in the country, thanks to its historic sites and numerous markers that tell the story of the Trace\u2019s 10,000-year history. The Sunken Trace, located at milepost 41.5 near Port Gibson, is one of the most often photographed stops.<\/p>\n

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\n VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Monumental History<\/h2>\n

The Vicksburg National Military Park features 1,325 historic monuments and markers along a 16-mile tour road on the site of the important Civil War battlefield. The Illinois Memorial is especially noteworthy. The memorial’s design was based on that of the Roman Pantheon, incorporating granite and marble from the state of Georgia, and containing\u00a0sixty bronze<\/a> tablets bearing the names of Illinois soldiers who participated in the Vicksburg campaign. The memorial was dedicated in 1906.<\/sup><\/p>\n

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\n Horn Island, Coastal Mississippi <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Wild Islands<\/h2>\n

Mississippi has six barrier islands, including four that are part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Horn Island, a local favorite, can be reached via private charters that operate along the coast. The undeveloped island is a local favorite that offers a “wild” island experience. Camping is permitted, but be aware that Horn Island is a wilderness area \u2013\u00a0there are no facilities or park staff on the island.<\/p>\n

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Plan Your Outdoor Adventure Today<\/p>\n Start Planning<\/a>\n<\/div>