Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find when you order your free copy of ‘439 must-sees, must-eats, must-haves, and must-dos for an authentic Mississippi experience’
 
1.  If you’re on Highway 45 near Brooksville, stop in for some premier baked goods at the Ole Country Bakery. Operated by Mennonites from the nearby community, this bakery serves pastries, pies, and breads, and even has a lunch menu. Their baked goods are sold at various locations, but if you want them fresh, make the drive to the original place. Brooksville; 662-738-5795.
 
2.  Situated at the famed crossroads where legendary blues man Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil is another famous Clarksdale landmark:  Abe’s Bar-B-Q. Since 1924, barbeque lovers have flocked to Abe’s to enjoy tender pulled pork sandwiches and splendid sides. Come hungry and order the “Big Abe.” Clarksdale; 662-624-9947.
 
3.  The one and only cactus plantation in the whole world is in Edwards. Can you imagine? John and Gwen Thomas grow 3,500 cactus varieties, and they love to show them off along with the other succulents they grow. Many varieties are available for purchase, so take something home with you. The pricklier the better! Edwards; 601-852-2705.
 
4.  Practically anything and everything that’s made in Mississippi—more than 1,200 of our best food and gift items to be precise—fills the shelves at The Mississippi Gift Company. From local pottery to the #1 seller, cheese straws, the most creative and most flavorful of Mississippi are here. Dispense with restraint and enjoy yourself. The store also creates custom gift baskets and takes catalog and Internet orders. Greenwood; 662-455-6961; 800-467-7763; www.msgifts.com.
 
5.  Susan Ford is one of just a few glass blowers in Mississippi, and she’s world-class. From delicate bowls and vases to beads, she’s known for creating unique shapes in extraordinary colors. Make it a point to visit her studio. Jackson; 601-353-0070.
 
6.  For years, you’ve seen Peavey’s angular logo on the gear of both garage bands and world famous musicians. Now visit this international and cutting-edge industry that began in Meridian when Hartley Peavey’s dad wouldn’t buy him a guitar. Meridian; 601-483-5365; www.peavey.com.
 
7.  Discover Bonne Terre—a 15-room country inn with a gourmet restaurant. Enjoy the spa, swimming pool, and beautiful grounds of this unique find just a stone’s throw from Memphis. The rooms are decorated with English and French antiques and the restaurant offers such delicacies as “Perigord Duck Ravioli with Black Truffle Cream, Pine Nuts, and Pumpkin Seed Oil.” Who says we only have catfish and barbeque in Mississippi? Nesbit; 662-781-5100; www.bonneterre.com.
 
8.  To fully realize and appreciate Ocean Springs’ artistic legacy, stop by the Walter Anderson Museum of Art honoring this eccentric and world-renowned artist’s distinctive work—vivid, colorful depictions of the plant and animal life of the Gulf Coast. See original paintings, block prints, and even brilliant murals he painted on the walls of his “cottage of solitude” where he often worked (they have been moved to the museum). Ocean Springs; 228-872-3164; www.walterandersonmuseum.org.
 
9.  L&M’s Kitchen and Salumeria is a hip, city-style bistro with an Italian flair just off the Square. They cure their own salted meats made with local, hand-selected pork. Owner and chef Dan Latham has created a unique little place. Oxford; 662-238-7780.
 
10.  Take a free tour of Mississippi’s oldest art museum at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. See the impressive collections of European and American art, English Georgian silver, Native American baskets, Japanese woodblock prints, and other exhibitions in this museum that opened in 1923. Laurel; 601-649-6374; www.lrma.org.
 
Want to find out more? Click here now to order your own free copy of ‘439 must-sees, must-eats, must-haves, and must-dos for an authentic Mississippi experience’