From Presley and Faulkner to maritime and agriculture history, Mississippi is filled with creative, historic and scenic off-site options that groups won’t find anywhere else. With input from regional CVBs and state tourism experts, the following are some of the only-in Mississippi experiences that will ensure attendees have a memorable visit.
Gulf Coast Region
A great place to learn about Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Region is at the Biloxi-based Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, which was established in 1986 to showcase the history and heritage of the area.
Here, groups can take informative tours, book an off-site gathering amid nautical exhibits and take a ride on an authentic replica of a Biloxi oyster schooner, according to Janice Jefferson, director of destination sales at Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.
For groups in Hattiesburg, the Hattiesburg Zoo offers an intriguing place to explore and hold events, including on-site spaces such as the Asbury Discovery Center.
“The zoo provides an immersive environment with lush outdoor space and pavilions designed for groups of up to 1,000,” says Kristen Brock, sales manager for VisitHattiesburg. “No event is complete without up-close animal encounters and themed food and decor.”
In Kiln, the Lazy Magnolia is Mississippi’s oldest packaging brewery where groups can take a one-hour educational tour, according to Myrna Green, manager of Hancock County Tourism Bureau.
“A souvenir pint glass and samples of six different Lazy Magnolia beers are part of the tour,” she says.
Capital/River Region
One of the best ways to learn about the Jackson area is via a tour at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum.
According to Mary Current, group tours and family reunion sales manager for the Jackson CVB, tour participants will see history come to life as they interact with storytellers dressed in period clothing, watch demonstrations of tools from yesteryear and learn about the role agriculture has played in shaping Mississippi.
“Visit the on-site General Store for souvenirs, snacks and Mississippi-made food products,” Current says, adding groups can also arrange for live bluegrass and country music, and a catfish or barbecue lunch or dinner at the museum.
In Natchez, history is on display via 10 antebellum homes that groups can visit, according to Lynsey Smith, director of sales at Visit Natchez, and via outings with Miss-Lou Tours, a new tour company led by JimBob Allgood, host of the Redneck Adventures television show.
“JimBob has a mix of tours sure to please any group,” Smith says, citing fishing and kayaking along the Mississippi River or tasting some of the delicious cuisine in town.
Delta
The Mississippi Delta is home to Tunica, where groups can try their luck at a number of casino resorts, including the group-friendly Gold Strike and Sam’s Town.
For over 20 years, visiting meeting attendees have spent free time enjoying the area’s fast-paced gaming action, according to Bill Canter, director of marketing and sales for the Tunica CVB.
Hollywood Cafe, the circa-1969 Mississippi Delta landmark, is an oft-booked venue for off-site dinners and receptions for groups meeting in Tunica.
The cafe, known for its quaint, relaxed atmosphere and its unique setting, as it’s housed in a former farm commissary, was mentioned in both Marc Cohn’s song Walking in Memphis and in John Grisham’s novel A Time to Kill.
The Hills
In Tupelo, groups will find the Elvis Presley Birthplace, which offers them the unique opportunity of meeting where The King was born.
According to Jennie Bradford, public relations/international sales director for the Tupelo CVB, the attraction features tours of Presley’s first home as well as an event center with more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space, a 126-seat theater and a full catering kitchen.
“Groups should experience the Elvis Presley Birthplace because it’s the beginning of the story of perhaps the greatest entertainer the world has ever known,” Bradford says. “They can sit on his front porch swing and dream just like Elvis did.”
William Faulkner, another famed Mississippi resident, lived in Oxford for 40 years. Today, groups are welcome to visit Rowan Oak, the name of Faulkner’s home.
“His writing can be seen on the walls of a bedroom,” says Katie Kaiser, visitor services coordinator for Visit Oxford MS.
Groups can learn even more about Oxford via an outing with Double Decker Bus Rides around the University of Mississippi campus and Historic Downtown Square.
“Groups will learn of Oxford’s history as it relates to the present, and the relationship our charming city has with the most beautiful public university in America,” says Kinney Ferris, assistant director of Visit Oxford MS. “The city’s retired English street cars will bring your group together as you make memories of your time spent in Oxford.”
The Pines
The top two experiences for groups convening in Meridian involve beer and history, according to Dede Mogollon, executive director for Visit Meridian.
“For a truly tasteful experience visit the Brickhaus Brewtique, located in downtown Meridian,” she says, explaining this relatively small music hall and craft beer pub is special because it boasts the largest selection of craft beers on tap in Mississippi. “Live entertainment is featured nightly.”
Also available for groups are two separate outings, the Civil Rights Trail, with 18 markers, and the Civil War Trail, which has 10 markers.
Mogollon explains that along with descriptive text, each marker has a code affixed that those interested can scan with a smartphone to view a video for additional information.
“When we do heritage and cultural tourism right, we tell our story,” she says, adding the tour can be taken any time at no cost to the participant.
