Posted in Mississippi
June 14, 2018
Take This Quirky Road Trip To Visit Mississippi’s Most Unique Roadside Attractions
Quirky may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Mississippi, but the state has its fair share of sites that could be classified as such. And if you want to bask in the oddities the Magnolia State has to offer, you’ve come to the right place because this road trip will lead you to some of the state’s most peculiar sites. At just over 1,000 miles, the route will take about 17 hours to complete, making it perfect for a weekend full of weirdness. Take a look:
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Click here to alter the route.
Start your quirky road trip off with a visit to this gigantic rocker. Located outside of Gulfport’s Dedeaux Clan Furniture, it’s allegedly the "world’s largest." The chair can be found at 11451 Canal Rd., Gulfport, MS 39503.
Since you’re bound to work up an appetite during the road trip, you might as well keep with the theme and grab a bite at what may be the state’s quirkiest restaurant — Mammy’s Cupboard. Completely unique, the longtime favorite is housed in a building that’s shaped like a 30’ tall woman. Aside from the appearance, it’s the tasty fare of home-cooked classics, gourmet sandwiches on freshly baked bread, and delicious homemade desserts that you’ll remember. Visit Mammy’s Cupboard at 555 US-61, Natchez, MS 39120.
A sculpture garden with a twist, this one-of-a-kind stop is full of life-sized, folk art frogs. Walk around the farm, and you’ll find the frogs, along with other critters, in a variety of fun scenes. Check out the Frog Farm at 186 Old Hwy. 61 1, Fayette, MS 39069.
"A Mississippi folk art treasure," Margaret’s Grocery can be found along Highway 61. Though it’s now abandoned and in a state of deterioration, it was once visited by people from all over the world. The quirky roadside stop has even been featured in notable publications, such as National Geographic. Efforts are now being made to save Margaret’s Grocery; click here to learn more. The iconic grocery is located at 4535 N. Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 39183.
One look at this welcome center and you’ll be asking yourself, "Is it a boat or a building?" Pond-bound, the welcome center, which has been named one of the "10 most unique welcome centers in the U.S.," looks just like an authentic paddle wheeler and is full of exhibits pertaining to the history of the Mississippi Delta. Visit the one-of-a-kind site at 1512 US-82, Greenville, MS 38701.
Standing 7’ tall with the ability to hold 1,500 gallons of water, this Oxford landmark earned the title of "world’s largest" when an even larger cedar bucket in Tennessee was destroyed. As of 2011, Tennessee has reclaimed the title but, nonetheless, this huge bucket is still an unusual sight. The larger-than-life bucket can be found at 979 Hwy 6 W., Oxford, MS 38655.
This one-of-a-kind attraction, which has been dubbed "the world’s only apron museum," is full of thousands of aprons, some of which date back centuries. There is no cost to tour the museum; however, donations are accepted. Visit the museum at 110 E. Eastport St., Iuka, MS 38852.
With a huge coffee pot out front, this café is hard to miss — and you’ll be glad because this is one eatery you don’t want to pass up. The "quaint little Enterprise restaurant with Louisiana flair" serves up a tasty variety — all of which is made from scratch. Visit the Coffee Pot Café at 120 West Bridge St., Enterprise, MS 39330.
Bringing the Bible to life, Palestine Gardens is a scaled replica of the Holy Land. The model encompasses a quarter-mile and includes intricate details, such as accurately represented topography. Truly a sight to see, the gardens attract people from all over the world. Palestine Gardens is located at 201 Palestine Garden Rd., Lucedale, MS 39452.
So, did you know about these quirky sites? Ever been to any of them? Think you’ll attempt this road trip? Tell us in the comments section.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “10 Unique Attractions You Can Only Find In Mississippi.“
