Make This Undiscovered Mississippi River Town Your Next Weekend Destination

A blend of history, art, dining, and the great outdoors makes Vicksburg, Mississippi ideal for your next trip.

Set on the Mississippi River, 45 minutes west of Jackson, Vicksburg is full of surprises. For a town of only around 20,000 people, the riverside community presents a big personality and offers plenty to do. From visiting historic sites and museums to the arts and the outdoors, a weekend spent in Vicksburg can be as busy or relaxed as you prefer. Stroll through the brick-paved downtown for shopping and dining at local restaurants, or spend a day canoeing on the Mighty Mississippi. No matter your speed, the “Key to the South” (as dubbed by President Abraham Lincoln) will find a way to deliver. Here’s how to spend a weekend in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The Best Things To Do In Vicksburg, Mississippi

Built up by French colonists in 1719, Vicksburg has a long history that it isn’t shy about sharing. The town hosts six different museums all within a one-mile radius of each other. Depending on your interests, you can visit the Vicksburg Civil War Museum or the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum that shares the iconic brand’s history in the place where the drink was first bottled. Other museums give insight into everything from transportation (Old Depot Museum) to the Mississippi River (Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum) to general information on Vicksburg (Old Court House Museum and Catfish Row Museum). For more history, head to the Vicksburg National Military Park or the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum, which each focus on a different aspect of the Civil War.

If you’re looking for another way to stretch your legs, the town hosts several self-guided walking tours that include both a Blues Trail Tour to see six Blues Trail markers and a Historic Walking Tour that brings visitors to 12 historic homes representing architecture dating back the 1700s. Otherwise, spend time moseying around downtown Vicksburg and be sure to go extra slow around Washington Street, a charming brick-paved stretch that’s home to local boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, and restaurants. Art lovers should be sure to check out The Attic Gallery and H.C. Porter Gallery.

Of course, you can’t visit Vicksburg without getting up close and personal with the Mississippi River. Head to the riverwalk to find beauty surrounding you on all sides from both the river and a floodwall covered in murals depicting different periods of history in Vicksburg. When you’re ready to take your waterfront adventures a step further, book a catfishing charter with Blue Cat Guide Services or a guided canoe or kayak tour with Quapaw Canoe Company. And if you’re hoping for river views with a side of entertainment, hop aboard the Ameristar, a 70,000-square-foot riverboat and casino parked permanently on the water.

The Best Places To Eat In Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg wears its Southern badge proudly, and nowhere is it more obvious than in their dining options. For a dining experience that feels like a late summer dinner on your grandma’s back porch, head to The Tomato Place. What started as a side-of-the-road fruit stand is now a beloved café specializing in comfort food ranging from po’boys and fried catfish to grits and pork skins. There’s also a healthy list of tomato sandwiches, of which we recommend the Fried Green Tomato BLT. Another great lunch spot is Main Street Market Café, owned by Sally Bullard, a Vicksburg native and her husband, Chris, who is a New Orleans transplant. Order a gourmet sandwich or one of Chef Chris’s New Orleans specialties like chicken and andouille sausage gumbo.   

For dinner, check out locally owned Italian restaurant Relish Bistro or 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, the only rooftop restaurant in the state that overlooks the Mississippi River. At Walnut Hills Restaurant, you’ll find a quintessential Southern dining experience inside a stately 1880 house with an expansive front porch and impressive columns. Order the famous Walnut Hills Fried Chicken and save room for a slice of customer-favorite Cream of Coconut Pie. Get a two-for-one at Key City Beer, where you can sip on a classic Mr. Sippi pilsner, then order from an eclectic menu of eats that includes everything from a classic patty melt to roasted pork collar with preserved strawberry glaze, coconut-stewed greens, and tamarind pork jus.

The Best Places To Stay In Vicksburg, Mississippi

One of Vicksburg’s best attributes is how welcoming the town is to visitors, and its many lodging options are a perfect example. For a lovely “home away from home” experience with a. flair for the past, book a room at Oak Hall Bed and Breakfast, Anchuca Historic Mansion, Duff Green Mansion, or the Inn at Cedar Grove. Each of these historic homes offers comfortable suites and rooms and more than their fair shares of Southern hospitality. More modern accommodations can be found at The Mulberry. Part apartment complex and part hotel, the all-in-one destination is known for its many amenities. Relax in a private cabana and unwind with a drink from the poolside bar. You can also visit the full-service restaurant, peruse art in the on-site gallery, and take advantage of a calendar of regular events.

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