< Previous3. Southern Charm: From the Appalachian foothills in north Mississippi to the Gulf Coast, Mississippi off ers an extensive sampling of southern hospitality and charm. Popular cities to visit include Oxford, Bay St. Louis, Ocean Springs, Natchez, Tupelo and Hattiesburg. 4. Adventure Abounds: Mississippi’s outdoor amenities are extensive. For those who enjoy canoeing, kayaking, cycling, hiking, fi shing and hunting, Mississippi is a haven of outdoorsmanship and adventure. Mississippi is home to 24 state parks, eight national parks and three cultural heritage areas. Outside of the Delta area, the state is heavily forested with a number of national forests and wildlife refuges. 5. Secret Coast: The Mississippi Gulf Coast’s beautiful beaches off er a wealth of outdoor adventures, including paddling and deep-sea fi shing, with over 60 miles of gorgeous white sand beaches. The coastal region is also known as the “Playground of the South” because it boasts unlimited entertainment with casinos, restaurants and clubs. Kayakers on Crystal Lake in Flowood The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson The Blue Biscuit Restaurant in Indianola The Crown Restaurant in IndianolaCyclist competing in the Heatwave Classic6. Unique Culture: Known as the “Birthplace of America’s Music,” Mississippi’s artistic, cultural heritage and history are vast and storied. Several museums and historic marker trails across the state highlight diff erent aspects, including the Country Music and Blues Trails, Jackson Museum, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the GRAMMY Museum, and the Museum of Mississippi History. 7. Sports: From tailgating college football games at Mississippi State University, Ole Miss or Southern Miss, to enjoying the back nine at one of the state’s more than 140 golf courses, Mississippi off ers something for sports enthusiasts across the board. Live music playing at the Iron Horse in Jackson Cannons at the Vicksburg National Military ParkThe Noxubee National Forest in Starkville The Memorial Dome at the Vicksburg National Military Park M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE 7980 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E NT G U I DE I N D E X T O A D V E R T I S E R S BCBS Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 bcbsms.com Copiah-Lincoln Community College . . . . . . 25 colin.edu/workforce Cooperative Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 cooperativeenergy.com East Mississippi Community College . . . . . . 29 eastms.edu Entergy Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 mississippisiteselection.com Golden Development Triangle Link . . . . . . . 13 gtrlink.org Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport . . . . . . 39 fl ygpt.com Ingalls Shipbuilding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 HuntingtonIngalls.com Madison County Economic Development Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 madisoncountyeda.com Meridian Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 meridiancc.edu/workforce Mississippi Community College Board . . . IFC mccb.edu/Workforce Mississippi Department of Agriculture . . . . 67 mdac.ms.gov Mississippi Development Authority . . . . . . BC mississippi.org Mississippi Enterprise for Technology . . . . .50 mset.org Mississippi Export Railroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 railcentric.com Mississippi Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 mississippipowerED.com Mississippi State University. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 research.msstate.edu Northwest Mississippi Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 northwestms.edu Sanderson Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 sandersonfarms.com University of Mississippi, Insight Park . . . . . . 3 economicdevelopment.olemiss.edu PAGEPAGENext >