Highway 61 Itinerary

EXPERIENCE THE BLUES IN THE LAND WHERE THE BLUES WAS BORN TOUR MISSISSIPPI'S LEGENDARY HIGHWAY 61

Day 1

Traveling along Highway 61 opens the door to Mississippi's history. Often referred to as "Blues Alley," Highway 61 takes you south from Memphis into the Mississippi Delta. Here, centuries of Mississippi River floods have created some of the world's richest farmland.

Your first stop in Mississippi from Memphis should be Tunica, where you'll find a multitude of gaming casinos right in the midst of the Delta farmlands. Visit Bluesville's Legends Hall of Fame Museum and catch the evening entertainment by top name performers at their 1,500-seat club. Spend the night casino hopping because you are, after all, on world-famous "Casino Row", the country's third largest casino destination.

Day 2

Continue down Highway 61 into the flatlands of the Delta. Listen carefully as you cruise along. The thumping you hear is not the sound of your tires on the pavement. You've just entered the heart of Delta Blues country. In Clarksdale visit the Clarksdale Train Station for some specialty shopping, then explore the Blues at the Delta Blues Museum, a must see for the serious Blues enthusiast. Take the city's excellent Blues Driving Tour that will include the home sites and markers of Muddy Waters and W. C. Handy. At the end of the day, retreat to Madidi's, a restaurant co-owned by actor and Mississippi native, Morgan Freeman. After dinner, take in the Ground Zero Blues Club for a continuation of this day's most excellent Blues adventure. Make plans to stay a night at Hopson Plantation's Shack-Up Inn, renovated sharecropper cabins, for "bed and beer." Pick up some amazing pieces of clayware at Peter's Pottery near Mound Bayou.

Day 3

As you are driving through the Mississippi Delta, keep in mind that you are surrounded by croplands that, depending on the time of the year, are riot with agricultural activity. Here, uniquely structured ponds produce seventy-percent of the world's supply of farm-raised catfish. No trip through the Delta would be complete without a meal of fried catfish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a tall glass of iced tea.

Traveling along Highway 61, stop in Cleveland at Dockery Plantation. This was once the home base for many Blues musicians. Charlie Patton lived and worked here, and his style had a major influence on the music of Kid Bailey, Dick Bankston, Willie Brown, Son House, Howlin' Wolf, and many others. Students of the Blues culture will want to visit Delta State University, and look at their Delta Blues Education Program. For a Blues tour of the area, check with the local chamber of commerce.

In the afternoon, continue your journey south to Greenwood for a tour of the Delta Gallery Blues Museum, and the Blues Heritage Museum & Gallery, both celebrate old and new Blues artists. At nearby Leland tour Highway 61 Blues Museum to add to this day's incredible cultural experience. In Greenville are several great restaurants, casinos and clubs. Do your shopping on world-famous Cotton Row.

Day 4

Press on to Yazoo City and take their Yazoo City Blues Tour. Climb aboard the Yellow Dog Line and learn about the Bentonia Blues and the Skip James connection.

Further south takes you away from the flatlands of the Delta region into the rolling hills of Vicksburg. This famous old river city offers around the clock casino gaming and entertainment. Drive through the 1,800-acre Vicksburg National Military Park, tour Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum and beautiful antebellum mansions, many of which are bed and breakfast inns. Visit the new Vicksburg Blues Museum, featuring displays that honor the state's many blues artists, including Vicksburg's own Willie Dixon. In the evening, enjoy the music and entertainment found at the Bottleneck Blues Club.

If you're looking to extend your stay, in the morning continue along Highway 61 to Natchez, the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River. Here, you can tour mansions and sample the grandeur and elegance of the antebellum South. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through the scenic downtown area and spend some time browsing the many antique and specialty shops.