Things to Do in Mississippi

Author William Faulkner, satirist Stark Young, and art collector Mary Skipwith Buie share something in common—they've all lent their legacies to The University of Mississippi Museum. Originally opened in 1939, the complex encompasses the one-time home of Faulkner, Rowan Oak; registered Mississippi landmark Walton-Young Historic House, which housed famed satirist Stark; and a historic art museum built around Buie’s private collection. Today, the museum uses its three sites to preserve and showcase the artistic past and cultural heritage of the American South through exhibits, demonstrations, and education. Guides lead scheduled tours though the historic homes and the museum exhibitions to avoid waking napping sculptures.

Rotating exhibits center on genres such as Southern folk art by self-taught painters, ancient Chinese ceramics art, and mixed-media works by modern artists. The four permanent collections provide a home for lasting assemblages of 19th-century scientific instruments; Greek and Roman works of art; pieces by American modernists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Arthur Dove, and John Marin; and a range of Civil War relics, antique costumes, and letters penned by George Washington and John Adams. As part of the museum's focus on education, instructors lead adult studio workshops on topics such as outdoor nature photography, woodcut printmaking, and watercolors. They also let younger artists explore exhibits, use studio space, and question German expressionism's use of forced perspective in ArtZone and summer camp programs.

Since swinging its doors open in 2007, Strike Zone Bowling Lanes has served as a community-first, family-oriented polestar for pin-pummeling action. Sphere flingers collect strikes and spares seven days per week, including during dance-fueled Boogie Bowl on Friday and Saturday evenings, and on Dollar Day Wednesdays, when $1 bills can be used to purchase single games or pooled into a bifocal fund for poor-sighted balls. In addition to hosting pickup games between friends, Strike Zone lends its alleys to globular engagements during league-play and birthday parties. Players on a break between frames can also venture into the facility's onsite pro shop, to stock up on gear, or into the arcade area, where video games and air-hockey tables help eyes and hands communicate and avoid using walkie-talkies.

Located in Clinton, just minutes from Mississippi College, Comfort Inn & Suites offers guests a quiet retreat with access to a heated indoor pool and hot tub. In each room and suite, pillow-top mattresses and down pillows offer a soothing spot to unwind. Additionally, all rooms come with free WiFi and cable TV, both welcome alternatives to the sandman’s late-night standup routine. In the morning, guests can chow down on a hot breakfast buffet of eggs, meat, yogurt, fresh fruit, and waffles.

The hotel sits just outside Jackson in the suburb of Clinton. There's a distinct small-town vibe in downtown Clinton, where the brick-layered Main Street district is lined with art galleries, antique shops, and second-hand stores with colorful awnings. Outside of its old-fashioned charm, Clinton is also just a short drive from the casinos of Vicksburg, about 30 miles from the hotel.

At Hypnosis Delivers, certified hypnotist Mary Sammons helps people overcome their physical or emotional limitations with close to 30 years of experience in hypnosis, family-life education, and counseling. She uses a deeply relaxing process that allows clients to tap into their subconscious mind, addressing issues such as weight loss, addiction, or the inability to walk past a stop sign. Sammons is not only certified as a practitioner; she is also certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists to teach others how to perform hypnosis.

The 10-minute oil change requires no appointment. The drive-through service allows customers to remain in their vehicles during the speedy process. A skilled hood technician will replace the oil and filter, check and restore proper fluid levels, and scan the condition of belts and hoses. The appointment also includes drainage of old fluids, a maintenance check, and safety inspection of lights, signals, and horn. Get this deal to spring-clean engines for summertime road trips, create a safer hiding spot for Easter baskets, or as a passive-aggressive gift for a negligent friend.

The two-hour cruise is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m., depart at 7 p.m., and return at 9 p.m., affording passengers plenty of time to successfully saturate taste buds, ear buds, and dance buds. As you set off into the sunset backdrop on the Mississippi River, the wafting aromas of a feast prepared onboard will tempt a range of palates. Select from salads, hot entrees, carving stations, and sides; choices include prime rib, roasted turkey, red beans and rice, steamed seasonal vegetables, and seasoned potatoes. Complimentary coffee, soft drinks, and tea abound, and tipplers can head to the cash bar for a classic cocktail. Panoramic windows, two enclosed decks, and two outdoor decks showcase the historic waterfront unfolding in front of you as live music invites dance muscles to twitch rhythmically under the stars.