Kara's Sights and Bites: Stay in Mississippi to enjoy March’s main events

By: Kara Kimbrough

Ship Island, located 12 miles from the Gulf Coast, is the perfect getaway due to its white sand beaches and clear blue water. (Photo courtesy of Coastal Mississippi.)

 I’m calling it now…March is going to a great month! Why would I make such a bold statement? For starters, it contains two of my favorite occurrences of the year: Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9 and spring is sprung on March 20. And for those that have children at home or work in education, spring break falls somewhere in the middle. Need I say more? Cool, balmy March is the best time to enjoy and explore all that Mississippi has to offer instead of jumping ship to another state.

I can’t list them all, but here are a few on my top places to enjoy March, spring break or simply take a leisurely day or weekend trip.

1. Take advantage of one of Mississippi’s 25 state parks extending from the Tennessee state line to Hancock County's waterfront. Camping, fishing, biking, hiking, bird-watching and a number of water sports are offered at scenic parks filled with natural beauty, all for a low cost. Tishomingo State Park, located in the northeast corner of the state is the largest, while Clark Creek in Woodville features over 50 waterfalls, some as high as 50 feet tall. For a complete list of state parks and amenities at each one, visit: mdwfp.com/parks-destinations

2. Our Capital City is filled with museums offering something for every age group and interest. A few that come to mind are, in no particular order: Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum; Two Museums: Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum; Children's Museum; Sports Hall of Fame/Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. As I’ve mentioned before (maybe more than once) my favorite is the Old Capitol Museum. Learn more about these and other museums around the city at: visitjackson.com and mdah.ms.gov.

  3. It’s one of those “places everyone should visit in their lifetime” spots. I’m referring to the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, which draws visitors from around the world to Tupelo nearly 50 years after the famed singer’s passing. The small white shack where Elvis was born is the first stop, but after touring the museum, chapel and church, a picnic in the 15-acre park is the perfect place to relax and reflect on the life of one of Mississippi’s most beloved natives. For hours of operation, admission prices and more, visit: elvispresleybirthplace.com.

4. Two more perfect picnic spots are often overlooked for busier areas, but hear me out of this. Nothing is more relaxing than enjoying the sight of the Mighty Mississippi as it rolls by. Both Natchez and Vicksburg offer scenic picnic areas overlooking the river and luckily, they’re usually not overrun with others with the same idea. In Natchez, relax and picnic in Bluff Park, while Riverfront Park is the place to visit in Vicksburg. Once you’ve enjoyed a meal and all the beauty you can handle, head out to explore these two bustling cities filled with hundreds of interesting things to see and do. Find out more at: visitvicksburg.com and visitnatchez.org.

 5. A trip to our greatest treasure - the beautiful Gulf Coast – is never a bad idea, especially when one is in need of sun, sand and soothing breezes. Harrison, Hancock and Jackson Counties are packed with thousands of opportunities for family fun. Just a few things to do include visiting the Mississippi Aquarium, taking a riverboat cruise or shrimp boat tour; visiting a museum, exploring the swamp (and gators) at the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch; enjoying fresh seafood or other cuisines at hundreds of area restaurants, shopping and much more. 

    Or, board a ferry in Gulfport for the short 12 mile trip out to Ship Island. A Ship Island excursion offers blue, Caribbean-like waters and white-sand beaches for visitors to relax and enjoy sunbathing or swimming. It's the perfect getaway and best of all, it can be enjoyed within a few hours without a long trip out of state. Visit Coastal Mississippi to learn about activities, lodging, dining and more at: coastalmississippi.com.

    All this talk about Mississippi’s iconic spots and natives made me remember a small recipe book in my collection created by Elvis’ favorite cook, Mary Jenkins. Contrary to popular belief, Elvis dined on much more than fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. He also loved spaghetti, as evidenced by the recipe’s inclusion in the booklet containing recipes for his favorite meals. I’m sharing the recipe so you, too, can dine like Elvis. Hopefully, you'll add a visit to Tupelo – and these other wonderful Mississippi sites – on your spring to-do list.

Elvis’ Favorite Spaghetti

1 pound spaghetti

1 cup each: chopped onion, bell pepper, celery

1 tablespoon garlic powder

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

1 bay leaf

2 cans tomato paste

1 bottle ketchup (small)

2-1/2 pound ground beef

     Mix all ingredients together except for ground beef and spaghetti. Cook sauce over low heat, stirring as needed. In a separate pan, brown ground beef and drain; then add to the sauce as it cooks. Boil noodles and drain. After simmering two hours, remove bay leaf and pour sauce over noodles.

                             Recipe adapted slightly from Mary Jenkins’ “The Favorite Recipes of Elvis Presley.”

Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.