Mississippi tourism can cover a wide range of things to see, from the Ghosts and Legends tour in Columbus to the “Candlelight Ghost Tour during Halloween Week in Vicksburg. Or you can go over to Noxubee County and visit the jail that was erected in 1907 and has operative gallows. Of course, there are things that are far less frightening to see in Mississippi such as the beautiful Magnolias mansion in Aberdeen with its antebellum architecture, exquisite mahogany staircase and beautiful furnishing. This home was built in 1850 and offers daily tours.

Another site you may enjoy while on your Mississippi tour is the Tom Bevill Visitors Center and Museum which is a replica of an 1830 - 1860 Greek revival antebellum plantation mansion built on the Tombrigbee River. This museum is located in Pickensville and would love to have you tour it and learn about the life on the river.

Your Mississippi tour can have some noise, dirt and fun at the Columbus Speedway just 7 miles east of Columbus. The 3/10 mile, high banked, clay oval track will offer you the opportunity to see some great racing and, of course, eat a hot dog or two. What can be better than a little hot dog, noise and dirt all mixed together?

Black History Month in Columbus shows off the African-American Heritage with driving tours from the different locations in town. There is a celebration downtown on the weekend with Friday being a night of music, food and stories on Catfish Alley. The driving tours are held at 9, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. On Saturdays the tour is free.

Magnolia is a small community that you will want to make sure you visit while on your Mississippi tourism vacation. This small town is home to three of Mississippi’s premier Queen Anne residences and an antebellum Greek Revival cottage as part of the Southtown Historic District. The Myrtle Street District is a typical neighborhood from the turn of the century and will transport you back in time by just looking at the simplicity of this area. Both of these districts are on the National Historic Register.

The town of Magnolia can be reached by Interstate 55, north or south, at exit 10, from the east on Highway 48 from Hattiesburg, Ms., and from the west on Highway 24 from Liberty, Ms.

We all like to get away from it all once in a while, but some of us feel like we can’t afford it. What with the price of airfare skyrocketing and gas prices getting ridiculous it is no wonder that most of us are putting off our vacations indefinitely. But what if there was a way for you to enjoy a nice vacation without breaking the bank? There is, as long as you are willing to do some research first.

The most important thing to remember when you are searching for a good deal on a hotel is that cheap does not have to mean poor quality. It really isn’t worth it to save money if you are staying in an uncomfortable bed inside a flea ridden hotel room in a dodgy part of town. What you want to find is a nice hotel that for one reason or another is offering a great deal.

Keep in mind that when you are searching for a cheap hotel you still want it to be in a desirable area, be comfortable and offer the amenities that you want like a pool or fitness facility. Otherwise you may not have as much of an enjoyable time, and then what’s the point of being on vacation? You want to save money, but not sacrifice quality at the same time.

Check out the hotels that are located in the area where you want to visit, and keep you sights high - you never know what kind of deals you can find once you start looking. Even the most luxurious hotels may offer spectacular savings if they are having trouble filling up.

The first thing you need to do is to decide where you are going, and approximately which area you plan to stay. Then make a list of hotels you like in the area. You may want to start by checking out the hotel’s website first to see if they offer any deals by booking online. If that doesn’t yield results then try calling the hotel’s reservation desk directly. With a small amount of polite inquiry, you may be able to unearth unadvertised deals, or even find a friendly reservation clerk who can find you a staff or company special.

Can You Say Google

If you would rather a one-stop shop for travel deals then check one of the online travel booking websites. Once you enter when you are planning to travel, along with the destination and number of people travelling with you, it will return all hotels in the area that they use and list them by number of stars, cost per night, or even proximity to a local attraction like the beach. You can sort through these hotels and look at pictures and even customer reviews to find one that fits your budget.

If you still aren’t having any luck try adjusting your dates to see if you can get a better deal. Occasionally the website will offer travel advisors at no charge, give them a call and see if they can help you out. After you book your trip all that’s left is to pack your bags and enjoy!