text:
Mirzapur

Mirzapur (Hindi: मिर्ज़ापुर, Urdu: مرزا پور) is a city in the heart of North India, nearly 650 km between Delhi and Kolkata and also equidistant from Allahabad and Varanasi. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur has a population of a little over 230,000 (2011 census) and is renowned for its famous carpet and brassware industry. It is a city with several spots around it including many hills such as Rajdari, Devdari, Lakhaniyadari, and Windom fall range and Sirshi. It is the headquarter of Mirzapur District. Indian Standard Time is calculated from the clock tower in Mirzapur which is nearly exactly on the reference longitude of Indian Standard Time at 82.5°, within 4 angular minutes, a property shared by Tuni, a town in Andhra Pradesh.

Get in
Best time to visit Mirzapur is during monsoons (July–August) or Navratris (in Oct-Nov).Mirzapur is situated at midway of New Delhi-Kolkata railway route; and if you are coming from outside India, it is best to land at New Delhi or Kolkata and take a train. You can catch New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express, Kalka Mail, Brahmaputra Mail from New Delhi or Howrah-Jodhpur Express, Kalka Mail from Howrah railway station. Nearest airports are Babatpur Airport, Varanasi (80 km) and Bamrauli Airport, Allahabad (110 km). Direct flights from New Delhi are available to both the airports.

Mirzapur is well connected from most of the major Indian cities through railways. You can get direct trains to Mirzapur from Agra, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Jammu, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Gaya, Surat, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

Get around
Cycle rikshaw is the best mode of transport inside the city. Autorikshaw is available for Vindhyachal temple. Mirzapur is a place to watch for its scenic and natural beauty, since it is situated at the feet of [Vindhyan Mountain Range]. The best season to enjoy it is during monsoon rains (July–August). Private taxis are the best way to visit various water falls (Vindham Fall, Sirsi Fall, Rajdari, Lakhiniya Dari) which are situated at 15 to 45 km from City Headquarter. Hire a private taxi from Varanasi (if you are coming from Varanasi) or Allahabad (if you are coming from Allahabad). In Mirzapur, it might be a bit difficult to get a private cab/taxi as the sector is not organized that much. Meanwhile, the hotel, where you stay can arrange a taxi for you.

See

 * Dargah of Kantit Shareef (The mausoleum of Khavaja Esmile Chisti) is in the way to Vindhyavasini Temple and is a holy place for Hindus and Muslims both.
 * Vindhyachal temple is a must visit place. It is a temple of Goddess Vindhyavasini. Near to it, there are two other temples; one of Goddess Kaali (called Kaali Khoh) and other is Goddess Ashtbujha (called Ashtbhuja Devi Temple). All the three temples are situated in Vindhya Mountain and the "Darshan" (visit) to all the three temples completes the "Maha Trikon" (Great Triangle). The view of scenic beauty from the top of Ashtbujha Temple is awesome. Autorikshaws are readily available from Mirzapur Railway Station or other places of cities to complete the "Trikone". They might charge around ₹100-₹150, if you reserve a single auto. At the time of Navratris (April and Oct-Nov) and Durga Puja festival, the temple attracts a great number of devotees from around the country.
 * Dargah of Kantit Shareef (The mausoleum of Khavaja Esmile Chisti) is in the way to Vindhyavasini Temple and is a holy place for Hindus and Muslims both.
 * Vindhyachal temple is a must visit place. It is a temple of Goddess Vindhyavasini. Near to it, there are two other temples; one of Goddess Kaali (called Kaali Khoh) and other is Goddess Ashtbujha (called Ashtbhuja Devi Temple). All the three temples are situated in Vindhya Mountain and the "Darshan" (visit) to all the three temples completes the "Maha Trikon" (Great Triangle). The view of scenic beauty from the top of Ashtbujha Temple is awesome. Autorikshaws are readily available from Mirzapur Railway Station or other places of cities to complete the "Trikone". They might charge around ₹100-₹150, if you reserve a single auto. At the time of Navratris (April and Oct-Nov) and Durga Puja festival, the temple attracts a great number of devotees from around the country.
 * Vindhyachal temple is a must visit place. It is a temple of Goddess Vindhyavasini. Near to it, there are two other temples; one of Goddess Kaali (called Kaali Khoh) and other is Goddess Ashtbujha (called Ashtbhuja Devi Temple). All the three temples are situated in Vindhya Mountain and the "Darshan" (visit) to all the three temples completes the "Maha Trikon" (Great Triangle). The view of scenic beauty from the top of Ashtbujha Temple is awesome. Autorikshaws are readily available from Mirzapur Railway Station or other places of cities to complete the "Trikone". They might charge around ₹100-₹150, if you reserve a single auto. At the time of Navratris (April and Oct-Nov) and Durga Puja festival, the temple attracts a great number of devotees from around the country.
 * Vindhyachal temple is a must visit place. It is a temple of Goddess Vindhyavasini. Near to it, there are two other temples; one of Goddess Kaali (called Kaali Khoh) and other is Goddess Ashtbujha (called Ashtbhuja Devi Temple). All the three temples are situated in Vindhya Mountain and the "Darshan" (visit) to all the three temples completes the "Maha Trikon" (Great Triangle). The view of scenic beauty from the top of Ashtbujha Temple is awesome. Autorikshaws are readily available from Mirzapur Railway Station or other places of cities to complete the "Trikone". They might charge around ₹100-₹150, if you reserve a single auto. At the time of Navratris (April and Oct-Nov) and Durga Puja festival, the temple attracts a great number of devotees from around the country.

Do
Try to be dressed as simple and Indian as possible. Mirzapur is a small city and you may attract various eyes if you are dressed western or other ways. Spend some time at Ganges Ghat (specially at Nar Ghat and Pakka Ghat). Watch age old stone carving at Budhenaath Temple (It is near to Pakka Ghat) and Pakka Ghat. Beware of Pandas (priests) at Vindyachal and other temples.Don't be trapped with them. They might tell you that they would provide you easy "Darshan" to Goddess idol; but try to avoid them and follow the queue for Darshans. Hindi is essential to communicate with natives. Avoid unnecessary interactions with people and enjoy the trip. Try to complete the "Holy Trikone" in the daytime only (Except the time of Navratri. In Navratri you can enjoy it whole night.).

Drink
A lot of water (in summer).

Go next

 * Jaunpur
 * Kanpur
 * Lucknow
 * Varanasi

title: Mirzapur


text:
Misato

There is more than one place called Misato:

Japan

 * Misato (Akita) - A town in Akita Prefecture.

 * Misato (Kumamoto) - A town in Kumamoto Prefecture.

 * Misato (Saitama) - A city in Saitama Prefecture.

 * Misato (Shimane) - A city in Shimane Prefecture.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Misato


text:
Misato (Akita)

Misato (美郷町) is a town in Akita prefecture.

Understand
There are three towns with the same name in Japan: the other two are in Shimane and Miyazaki. In addition, some other municipalities are named Misato with other kanjis (三郷, 美里, 三里).

Tourist information site

 * The town's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

Get in
Misato is east of Yokote and south of Daisen. It is bordered on the east by Iwate.

Go next

 * Kakunodate, with samurai houses and beautiful cherry blossoms, is an hour's drive away.
 * Daisen
 * Yokote
 * Nishiwaga
 * Senboku
 * Higashinaruse
 * Kitaakita
 * Kitakami
 * Hanamaki

title: Misato (Akita)


text:
Misato (Kumamoto)

Misato (美里) is a town in central Kumamoto Prefecture, in Japan.

Understand
Misato is a new town created through the combination of two other towns, Chuo and Tomochi. It takes about 40 minutes from Kumamoto City to reach Misato. The area is 144.03 square kilometers and forest covers three quarters of the town.

See

 * Town Hall - Misato Town Hall is designed like an old European castle of the Middle Ages.

Drink

 * Sanzen (山善) It's shochu made from only Misato's rice. You can buy it at Samata no yu.

title: Misato (Kumamoto)


text:
Misato (Saitama)

Misato  (三郷) is a city in Saitama prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Go next

 * Yashio
 * Soka
 * Yoshikawa
 * Koshigaya
 * Noda
 * Matsudo
 * Nagareyama
 * Kashiwa
 * Tokyo

title: Misato (Saitama)


text:
Misawa

Misawa (三沢) is a city in Aomori prefecture, Japan, best known for its airport/air base.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By plane
Towada Kanko Bus runs an hourly bus service from the airport to Misawa's train station.

By train
Misawa is a stop on the private Aoimori Railway. It is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Aomori.

The fastest way to get to Misawa from Tokyo is to take the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate service to Hachinohe (¥15350), where you can change to the Aoimori Railway for the run to Misawa (20 minutes, ¥550). With good connections the one-way trip will take about 3 hours, 45 minutes. Foreign tourists will find it cheaper to use the JR East Rail Pass or the national Japan Rail Pass, but note that the rail pass will not cover the Aoimori Railway.

By bus
An overnight bus service is offered from Tokyo to Hachinohe (9 hours, ¥9500), from which Misawa is a 20-minute ride on the Aoimori Railway.

Get around
The best way to get around is by car. If you don't have a car, taxis are available with a starting fare of about ¥600.

See
There are many places in and around Misawa that are worth seeing; for example, the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Miss Veedol Beach (July-Aug) and Swan Lake (Lake Ogawara). The airport itself is a popular destination for local aviation fans - spotting both civilian and military aircraft.

Do
There are a lot of small parks and such, and a small bar district, but not much to do if you don't like nature. It is close to Mt. Hakkoda (八甲田山) and the ocean, but that is about it.

In September, the joint USAF/JSDF air base opens to the public for its annual airshow.

Eat
Many local places here have English menus due to the large military population. Lots of food to eat, everything from Chinese to Japanese to Thai, all good.

All in all, Misawa is full of good restaurants, the smaller the better and avoid ones specifically geared towards the large foreign population, they're predictable.

Drink
Where you can, just don't get 'X'ed out of the Japanese bars, unless you are trying to.

There are lots of good Izakaya in Misawa, both chain and local, if you want a good place with cheap beer to start off the night and lots of good drinking food, try:

 * Paddy's: For a real pub with Guinness and other Irish brews, the Irish pub and only one far north Tohoku Irish experience, full of charm.
 * Holes in the wall, all over the place, the more Japanese you speak, the better the chance you'll enjoy them and more importantly get in.

Drinking in Misawa is more fun that many think, you can karaoke Enka one minute and get down in Nitrous the next, what you want is out there, you just have to have an open mind and find it.

Sleep
There are many hotels in the city center or spa.

Go next

 * Towada-Hachimantai National Park
 * Oirase
 * Rokunohe
 * Towada
 * Shichinohe
 * Rokkasho
 * Tohoku
 * Hachinohe
 * Gonohe

title: Misawa


text:
Mishawaka

Mishawaka is in Northern Indiana. The town is named after Princess Mishawaka of the Potowatomi tribe. Its adjacent twin city is South Bend, Indiana, which is west of the city. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown where a new riverwalk is still being constructed. Though South Bend has a great deal to offer in terms of tourist attractions, Mishawaka also has quite a few things to see and do. Notre Dame and South Bend are a short drive away if boredom begins to take over.

Between South Bend and Mishawaka, Mishawaka has more wealth and business despite a smaller population. AM General has a plant on the south side of town and there are many suburban-style strip malls and outlet malls along north Grape Rd. and Main St.

By car

 * I-80/90 (Toll Road) Connects to Toledo, Ohio in the east and Chicago, to the west.
 * US 31/S.R. 933 Connects to Indianapolis in the south and runs through downtown South Bend and then 3 miles north to the Michigan line, where it becomes M-51 North.
 * US 20 The bypass around the city which connects to SR 2 (west to Michigan City), US 12 in Michigan (to Sturgis and Detroit to the east and Michigan City and Chicago to the west), SR 23 (a main artery through the city and through St. Joseph County), the I-80/90 toll road, and all other major roads from Elkhart to South Bend and into Michigan.
 * S.R. 23 State Road 23 runs diagonally northeast-southwest through South Bend first, then through the north side of Mishawaka from the Kankakee area and turns into M-60 in Michigan (see above).

By plane

 * South Bend International Airport Just northwest of the city center., South Bend International is Indiana's second busiest airport and receives flights from Chicago Midway & O'Hare, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Orlando-Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. The airport has an eatery (Cafe SBN), a coffee shop, business center, Wi-Fi access, a candy store (Sugar and Spice), free air museum, Military Honor Park, travel agency, valet parking, a chapel, limousine and car rental services, freight service, bus terminal (Greyhound and Coach USA, see below) and a commuter rail line to downtown Chicago (see below).

For general aviation but no scheduled flights:
 * Elkhart Municipal Airport, 2246 Airport Dr., Elkhart, Indiana, +1 574-264-5217.
 * Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport, 508 E Main St., Niles, Michi.

By train
Neighboring South Bend is served by long-distance and commuter trains. Amtrak via its Capitol Limited, running between Chicago and Washington, D.C., as well as the Lake Shore Limited, linking Chicago with New York City and Boston. Slower commuter trains from Chicago via the South Shore Line are available too.

By bus

 * Coach USA Offers shuttle service between South Bend Regional Airport, Notre Dame and Chicago airports.
 * Greyhound Offers service to and from destinations around the country via Indianapolis and Chicago.

Public transportation

 * Transpo +1 574-234-1188. The local bus system that serves South Bend and Mishawaka.  A service called the "Transpo Trolley" makes stops at all of the tourist attractions.  Rides are $.75 each way and $.25 for a transfer.

Taxis

 * Shamrock Cab +1 574-243-5500.
 * Yellow Cab +1 574-233-9333.

By car

 * St. Joseph County Road System Driving around yourself is the best way to navigate the city. Luckily, St. Joseph County makes it easy to find your way around.  If you get lost or lose your bearings, remember that the main county roads running east-west are named after presidents and other famous figures (but mostly presidents) and begin, alphabetically, with Adams Rd. in the north near Michigan and end with Taylor in the south, near Marshall County.  North-south roads are named for trees and plants, beginning with Ash (called West County Line Rd. on the Elkhart County side of the road) in Eastern St. Joseph County and ending with Redwood in the west.  There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as Washington St. downtown, and Mishawaka has numbered streets.  Also, Lincoln Way is renamed LaSalle Ave. in downtown South Bend between Ironwood Dr. and Laffeyette Blvd.

Outdoors & landmarks

 * Kamm's Island An island park on the St. Joseph River near the 100 Center.
 * Lake Michigan Just under 40 miles from Mishawaka lie the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, popular locales for beachgoers. New Buffalo, MI is the closest waterfront (at under 30 miles away) and is home to Redemack's famous burgers. Michigan City is due west about 30 miles or so and features shopping, dining, and, of course, more beaches. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is also near Michigan City. New Buffalo and St. Joe/Benton Harbor are the best sunset viewing locations.
 * North/South Continental Divide Sure, it's not that exciting, but just driving down the US 20 bypass you can see a sign that alerts you to this fact. And it's true, South Bend lies on the North/South Continental Divide, which is why the St. Joseph River flows north into Lake Michigan while the White River in Indianapolis flows south.
 * Saint Joseph River Though still fairly polluted, the riverfront along South Bend is an interesting walk through the former dam system that used to power the city's electrical supply. This walk leads (or starts from) the Century Center, which is South Bend's convention center. The Mishawaka riverfront has also come a long way near its downtown.
 * Saint Joseph River Though still fairly polluted, the riverfront along South Bend is an interesting walk through the former dam system that used to power the city's electrical supply. This walk leads (or starts from) the Century Center, which is South Bend's convention center. The Mishawaka riverfront has also come a long way near its downtown.

Outdoor activities

 * Mishawaka River Walk and Trail, along the St. Joseph River offer more than five miles of paved and lighted walking/running paths along the scenic St. Joseph River.

Outlets and malls

 * Mishawaka Grape Rd. and Main St. are the main drags for shopping in the area. Several outlet plazas exist up and down both roads and most major retailers are represented, as are many national and regional restaurant chains (some from California).
 * Michigan City Many South Bend residents travel by train to Michigan City to visit their large array of outlet stores and malls. The South Shore Line has a designated station adjacent to this shopping area, and the fare is less than $6 each way.
 * South Bend Erskine Plaza on the South side is a hub for shopping in South Bend, and you can drive past the mansions of Twyckenham Hills on your way back through the city.
 * University of Notre Dame Shop the Notre Dame bookstore - the largest in the country - or shop the ND Varsity shop located in the Joyce Athletic Convention Center (JACC).
 * University of Notre Dame Shop the Notre Dame bookstore - the largest in the country - or shop the ND Varsity shop located in the Joyce Athletic Convention Center (JACC).

Coffee

 * Starbucks Multiple locations throughout the area.

Bars and clubs
Indiana State Law prohibits alcohol sales after 3AM Monday - Friday and after midnight on Saturday (though bars may stay open until 3AM on Saturday night into Sunday morning). No alcohol sales are permitted on Sunday (beginning at midnight until 7AM Monday morning) or on Christmas, Easter, or New Year's Day. Luckily, you opted to go to South Bend instead of Indianapolis, so you can easily cross the state line into Michigan in mere minutes and purchase alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Go next
South Bend is not too far away.

title: Mishawaka


text:
Mishima

Mishima (三島) is a city in Shizuoka in Japan.

Understand
Mishima city is locally called the “City of Water” due to its enviable position of being at the base of a peninsula, surrounded by the sea and also being directly south of Mt Fuji, historically collecting much of its annual meltwater runoff. In line with this claim, water features feature proiminantly around the station front area to symbolise it. However, the harsh reality is that throughout the modernisation of the country, more and more industrial facilities have been placed upstream and their insatiable need for water has resulted in less and less actually reaching Mishima. Today, Mishima's prized park with its beautiful landscaped lake, Rakujuen (楽寿園), is little more than a sad, dry bed of craggy basalt. Water does still flow throughout certain parts of town, but not without heavy application of the hand of mankind.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site for smartphone.
 * You may prefer the association's Japanese-only guide website. Its Pamphlet section has some materials in English and other languages.

By train
All services mentioned above are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Get around
The Izu-Hakone Sunzu Line travels further into the Izu Peninsula to Shuzenji, with several local stops in Mishima.

See
Mishima is near Suruga Bay, with Numazu as a nearby port city. Being close to Mt. Fuji, the view of it can be very good, depending on the weather.

Do
Many people visit Mishima Shrine on New Year's Day for hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the new year.

Eat

 * Cherry shrimp (桜海老 sakura ebi), a tiny variety caught in Suruga Bay.
 * Eel (鰻 unagi). Try the traditional bowl of rice and broiled eel.
 * Wasabi-zuke (わさび漬け), a mix of grated wasabi and sake lees.
 * Uogashi Zushi (魚がし鮨)　Shizuoka mishima city hagi 41-1　(静岡市三島市萩41-1) TEL:+81 55-987-9383 Uogashi is a very popular sushi shop that can get quite crowded at dinner time.

Drink

 * Green tea (緑茶 ryokucha). The first tea of the season is very good.

Go next
Mishima is located at the intersection between the Tokaido line and a private line running down the guts of the Izu Peninsula and thus acts as the natural gateway to the Izu interior and Izu via train and western Izu regions via road.

Other locations:
 * Izunokuni
 * Izu
 * Atami
 * Kannami
 * Mount Fuji
 * Numazu
 * Susono
 * Hakone
 * Odawara

title: Mishima


text:
Mishima Islands

The Mishima Islands (三島列島 Mishima-rettō) are a small archipelago in Japan, south of Kyushu and north of the Amami Islands.

Understand
The Mishima Islands are the northernmost bit of the Satsunan Islands chain that extends from Kagoshima down via the Amami Islands and Okinawa as far as Taiwan. Lightly inhabited, with a total population of only around 500 people, they're visited mostly by hot-spring fans coming down from the mainland. The name literally means "Three Islands", and the three are:

 * Takeshima (竹島) or "Bamboo Island", the closest to the mainland
 * Iōjima (硫黄島) or "Sulphur Island", highly volcanic with several hot springs; same name but not the same place as the Iwo Jima of World War II fame
 * Kuroshima (黒島) or "Black Island", better described as green and sometime dubbed Yakushima in miniature

The Mishima Islands are sometimes included in the nearby Tokara Islands chain.

Tourist information site
These islands are administered as one municipality, Mishima Village (三島村).
 * The village's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

Get in
There is only one practical way to get to the islands: the Mishima (みしま), tel. 099-222-3141, which sails between Kagoshima and the islands three times a week. The Kagoshima office and terminal are located near Kagoshima centre (Map)

Travel time from Kagoshima is 3 to 6 hours depending on the island, and the ferry overnights at Kuroshima before heading back. As of December 2011, the 3 departures per week from Kagoshima are M W and either F or Sa at 09:30, with returns at 08:00 the following day, but there are frequent scheduled changes and occasional weather-related cancellations. Contact the ticket office directly for an up-to-date schedule (Japanese only). Allow time in your schedule for an unplanned overstay on the islands due to the weather.

The ferry stops on both sides of Kuroshima, first at the village of Osato (大里) and then overnighting at Katadomari (片泊). Fares are fixed at ¥7000 (1st class), ¥3500 (2nd), one-way for any trip between the mainland and the islands, or ¥2200 (1st class), ¥1100 (2nd), for travel between any of the islands.

Get around
Since the Mishima is the only way to travel, island-hopping is time-consuming: once you get on an island, you're generally stuck there until it comes back.

Deciding how to get around that island is easy enough, since there are no buses, taxis, rental car, rental motorbike or even rental bicycle services: your only choice is to walk. However, most minshuku are located near the port, and those that aren't will usually pick up guests.

See
Most of Mishima's few sights are connected in one way or another to the epic clashes between the clans of Genji and Heike in the early 12th century, leading into the defeat of the Heike and their fleeing to — possibly — these islands. After the Heike defeat, some exiles were sent to an island called Kikai-ga-shima (鬼界ヶ島), which has been identified with Iojima (and several other places, including the island of Kikai much further away in the Amamis). An even more fanciful legend proclaims that six-year-old Emperor Antoku, generally believed to have drowned at sea in the Battle of Dannoura in 1185, in fact survived and drifted to Iojima, where his descendants (now in the 34th generation) still live!

Do
The islands are very volcanic and they all have public hot springs, although this mostly just means free, open-air, concrete tubs, but a couple have facilities and token entrance fees (¥200-300).

Scuba diving is one of the main draws for the few visitors in these parts.

The islands' big event is on the first Saturday of August, when the Mishima Yacht Race takes place. Plenty of spectators flock from the mainland, with parties after the race, and everything booked up well in advance.

Buy
There are no ATMs or banks on the islands, so bring enough cash to tide you over.

Eat & Drink
In addition to the obvious seafood, many islanders engage the cultivation of shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots (takenoko) and Kuroshima cattle.

On most islands, you'll be eating and drinking at your lodgings, but there is precisely one other option:

Sleep
All islands are equipped with a couple of minshuku, which are usually just spare rooms in fisherman's houses. Mishima Village maintains a complete lodging list. All prices here are per person and include three meals unless otherwise noted. Advance reservations are necessary.

Camping is possible on Iojima, which has a free, shower-equipped campground near one of the onsen.

title: Mishima Islands


text:
Misiones

Misiones is in the Mesopotamia region of Argentina.

Regions
Misiones belongs to the Mesopotamia region, the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina. The landscape and its characteristics are dominated by two rivers, the Paraná River and the Uruguay River. The region is part of the Brazilian central plateau. The whole region has high rainfall, particularly in August and September, up to 2,000 mm annually. Misiones is largely covered by subtropical forest, with caiman, toucans and monkeys. Fast decomposition of organic matter gives the area a red soil with only a thin fertile layer that can easily be washed away.

Cities

 * (capital of the province)
 * Eldorado
 * on the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls
 * Puerto Rico
 * (Mocona Falls along the Uruguay River)
 * on the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls
 * Puerto Rico
 * (Mocona Falls along the Uruguay River)
 * (Mocona Falls along the Uruguay River)
 * (Mocona Falls along the Uruguay River)

Other destinations

 * that includes the Iguazu Falls - stunning series of waterfalls on the border with Brazil

Get in
The province has 2 main roads, one that goes along the parana River (National Road 12) and the other one that goes along the center of the province (National Road 14). Most of the traffic occurs on the Road 12 and there are constant bus services that join all the cities. The 300 km between Puerto Iguazu and Posadas can be done in 6 hours in bus or 4 hours by car. The services to other points of the province are not so often.

Do

 * Visit the Iguazu Falls and take the boat ride that goes underneath the falls.
 * Visit the four world heritage listed Jesuit missions: San Ignacio Miní, Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa María la Mayor
 * Visit the Mocona Falls (a 3km fall along the Uruguay river, near El Soberbio.
 * Try yerba mate (see how it is made and taste it at least once).

Eat

 * River Fish: pacu, surubi, dorado, etc.
 * Corn flavour dishes: chipa, chipa guazu, sopa paraguaya, etc. (The "chipa" is usually sold in the streets and in most of the bakeries).
 * Papaya Jam (usually served with cheese)

Drink

 * Mate: is a tea-like beverage made from the dried leaves of the yerba mate shrub. It is usually druk with hot water (Mate) either bitter or sweet by adding sugar, but in summer there is the cold version of it called "terere" that uses iced water or juices and is very refreshing. Finally, you can try the yerba mate tea bags (mate cocido), to which milk is usually added.

Sleep

 * Eldorado, which is 100 km from the Iguazu Falls, has a good hotel called Hotel ACA Eldorado.
 * Eldorado, which is 100 km from the Iguazu Falls, has a good hotel called Hotel ACA Eldorado.

title: Misiones


text:
Miskolc

Miskolc, with population of about 157,000 (2017), is the third largest city in Hungary, located in the north-east of the country, east of Bükk mountains.

Understand
Miskolc used to be one of the centres of heavy industry in 20th century. Today Miskolc is the regional centre of Northern Hungary. The city is surrounded by the beautiful Bükk Mountains. The most famous tourist attractions are outside the city, but one can find things worth visiting in downtown, too.

A quiet suburb of Miskolctapolca, most famous for its cave bath, provides unique cave thermal spa. is a popular ski resort.

By plane
Miskolc doesn't have an international airport; the nearest ones are in Košice (Slovakia), Budapest and Debrecen.

By bus
Since Miskolc is well connected to the rest of the country by railway lines, there are fewer bus lines connecting Miskolc to other cities. Price list, Lines, some of them to Debrecen 05:30-20:00, 20 per day, to Eger 05:00-18:00, hourly, to Hajdúböszörmény 05:35-20:00, 12 per day, Kazincbarcika 5:30-22:00 every half hour, Mezőkövesd 05:00-18:40, hourly; Szerencs every 2 hours, 06:00-18:40; Tiszaújváros every half hour; Hódmezővásárhely, Nyíregyháza, Salgótarján, Sátoraljaújhely, Szeged one morning, one afternoon; Kecskemét and Szolnok daily.

By train
The trains going through Northern Hungary all stop in Miskolc, the city can be reached by train from all the major cities (although if you come from the Transdanubian region, you might have to change trains in Budapest which means you have to find your way through the city to the Keleti station.) See the website of Hungary State Railways for information on trains, travel time and prices. The site is available in Hungarian, English and German (this link leads to the English version.

International connection to Košice, in Slovakia (daily, one morning and one evening train, 3.5 hr, discounted RW tickets for €6.5) International travel tickets, seat reservation, travel card can be paid in euros. The returning will be paid in forints.

By car
Miskolc can be reached from the Budapest and further west on Highway M3, or from Debrecen to the south on M35. You have to pay a toll/fee if you want to drive on a highway, which consists of going into any gas or petrol station and purchasing a sticker for your car windshield before you drive on the road.

If you come by car you may expect some trouble with navigation. There is really only one way to get into the village, and it goes through Miskolc, which is not famous for having good road signs. If you are very careful and have at least 2 spare eyes to read the signs, you may well succeed. Or ask locals for directions if you feel lost. The spa is about 5 km (3 miles) south of Miskolc city center, west of the main road.

By bus
If you need info on bus lines, go to the mass transport company's site and click on "Menetrend". At "Viszonylat" choose the number of the bus to see the time tables. (1V and 2V are the tram lines.)

Bus lines important for tourists include:
 * Bus 1 connects the Tiszai railway station with the downtown and Diósgyőr district
 * Bus 2 starts at Búza tér and goes to Tapolca (30 min)
 * Bus 5 starts from Felső-Majláth and goes to Lillafüred
 * Bus 15 also starts from Felső-Majláth and goes to Ómassa.

Tickets
You can buy bus tickets on the station (or on the bus for a somewhat bigger price and the driver won't have change, you have to pay the exact amount. Generally it's not recommended), also can buy bus tickets at news stands. Bus tickets are Ft 300 (or Ft 400 if you buy it on the bus), ten tickets ("gyűjtőjegy") are Ft 2800 (Feb 2017).
 * General ticket, valid for all buses & trams for one day (napijegy): Ft 1600
 * Same for 3 days (tourist ticket): Ft 3000
 * same for 7 days (hetijegy): Ft 3900

You can buy Miskolc Pass Tourist Card online or at the hotels. If you have you can travel for free on local buses and trams, and one time on the forest train.

Tickets are the same for bus and tram. General & tourist tickets are not valid on Bus 7 after it leaves Miskolc (Bus 7 is the only city bus that leaves Miskolc; it goes to the nearby town Felsőzsolca.) Penalty if you don't have valid ticket: Ft 3000 if you pay immediately, Ft 6000 if you don't have money with you and have to pay later.

Buses usually open the first door only because it is part of the driver's job to check if everyone has tickets. They open the other doors only if someone wants to leave the bus at that door, and if you get on the bus through those doors, the driver might ask you through the loudspeaker to show your ticket.

By tram
There are only two tram lines, 1 & 2. The end station to both of them is at Tiszai station. Tram line 1 goes to Felső-Majláth. Tram no.1 is the good one to reach the castle of Diosgyor, take off when you can see it on your left hand side.

Tram line 2 goes to the metal factory. Be sure to leave Tram 2 at latest at Újgyőri főtér' and change trams if you want to go to Diósgyőr.

By narrow-gauge train
These trains run between and Lillafüred (in 10 km away from Miskolc) with open carriages, 40 min. Inside Miskolc it makes a few more stops, including the one close by to castle of Diosgyor. After Lillafüred it then continues its way up to Garadna village, takes another 20 min. Daily 10:00 - 19:00. Fixed price 800 Ft no matter how far you go.

By car
Foreigners sometimes find it hard to find their way in the city. City maps are sold in every bookstore and at some newsstands. There are some road signs, but not too many. In the individual parts of the city parking areas are divided to designated parking zones. The maximum parking time in Green/Yellow/Blue zone: 2/3/4 hours the fees are Ft 340/220/150 per hour. There is two underground car park is at Patak Street and at Európa Square (charge Ft 200 per hour, 2014).

By taxi
Moving around by taxi in Miskolc is an easy way to explore the city or get to your destination. Cabs are not hard to find, especially in the downtown area or around the busy tourist attractions. Prices are the same by all company, it averages US$1.00 per km and the basic fee of $1.50-2.00 per ride. Most dispatchers should speak English or German and possibly French, in addition to Hungarian. The main taxi companies are Bolt taxi and Best of Taxi.

On foot
Probably the best way to see the spa is on foot.

This is recommended for the downtown only. Many of the tourist attractions are quite far from the city centre.

Széchenyi Street is mostly a pedestrian precinct, the tram lines go along it, but cars use it only occasionally.

Downtown

 * Main Street (Széchenyi st.) and City Hall Square (Városház tér) with 19th-century houses and lots of shops

Miskolctapolca
Getting there: take bus #2 on weekdays (30 min by bus from 'Buza ter'), and bus #20 on weekends and go to the final destination, 200 m walk from there, you will reach the Cave Bath.
 * The Cave Bath is surrounded by a large park which has an artificial lake where you can row boats.
 * Rock chapel (a chapel in a small natural cave)
 * Akropolis is an adventure park for kids and grown up.
 * Akropolis is an adventure park for kids and grown up.

Do

 * Football: Diósgyőri VTK play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their DVTK Arena (capacity 15,300) is 5 km west of city centre.

Festivals and events

 * Queen Spring 22 May. Renaissance season opening in the castle of Diosgyor.
 * Bartók + in June is an international opera festival with opera and ballet performances at the theatre and additional localities presented by international guest artists and companies.
 * Medieval commonalty joust in the court of King Louis the Great. 14–15 August in the castle of Diosgyor.
 * CineFest is a week-long international film festival in September, organized for the 7th consecutive year in 2010. Expect somewhat obscure but very interesting feature and documentary films, rollercoaster sessions of half-amateur short films of inapprehensible quality, and a haphazard but invariably watchworthy selection of short animations, almost all with English subtitles; also workshops and talks with foreign guests.

Malls
Two smaller malls are Batóház and Metropol, opposite the Centrum.

Budget
There are many smaller shops, Chinese restaurants with cheap food.

All these are in the city centre:

Drink
Enjoy wine in some of the restaurants in Avas hill.

Wifi
There are free Wi-Fi hotspots at Heros Square and Szinva Terrace as well as at some other places like Szinvapark and Miskolc Plaza (Mall) You can use free Wi-Fi on the new trams, too.

Go next

 * Eger — famous for its baroque buildings, castle and wines, especially Bull's Blood (Bikavér)
 * Gyöngyös - city of Wines
 * Hollókő — a beautiful old preserved village. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * Lillafüred (W 15 km) — there's a narrow gauge train to this nice village in Bükk mountains sitting in a valley by Hámori lake, where you can visit several caves.
 * Mezőkövesd — spa with hot mineral water
 * Sárospatak — Rakoczi Castle, is the highlight here.
 * Sátoraljaújhely - the northeasternmost town of Hungary. A split town with the eastern half of it in Slovakia.
 * Szerencs — famous for its castle. Chocolate factory, guided tours and industrial history museum
 * Salgótarján — a modern mining town situated in the hills with two castle ruins
 * Tokaj — a famous wine town producing high quality white wines. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage List

title: Miskolc


text:
Mission

There is more than one place called Mission:

Canada

 * Mission (British Columbia) - A town in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia.

United States of America

 * Mission Viejo - A city in California.
 * Mission District - A district of San Francisco, California.
 * Mission Beach - A district of San Diego, California.
 * Mission Hill - A district of Boston, Massachusetts.
 * Mission (Kansas)
 * Mission (Oregon)
 * Mission (South Dakota)
 * Mission (Texas)

title: Mission


text:
Mission (British Columbia)

Mission is a town and district municipality of about 39,000 people (2016) in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia. It was founded in 1892 in the land of the Stó:lō First Nations people. It is home to early BC railway links and hydroelectric power, and a Benedictine monastery on a hilltop with stunning views.

Understand

Historically, forestry, hydroelectricity and agriculture were Mission's chief resource sectors and provided the basis for varied related retail and service activities. Transportation improvements have enabled the manufacturing sector to expand beyond sawmilling and food processing. Forest and wood related industries dominate the manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on red cedar shake and shingle mills.

Agriculture is mostly restricted to a narrow belt along the Fraser River. Dairy is the chief agricultural enterprise; other income sources include poultry, hogs, beef and vegetables.

History
The Town of Mission City began as a land promotion. The town's core commercial properties and residential streets were auctioned off at the "Great Land Sale" of 1891, with buyers brought in via the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) mainline from Vancouver and from Eastern Canada. Some of the early houses and commercial buildings were designed to be reminiscent of small towns in southern Ontario in order to encourage buyers. Hailed at the time as a new metropolis, the fledgling town's location at the junction of the CPR mainline with a northward extension of the Burlington Northern Railroad brought name suggestions that included East Vancouver and North Seattle. The name Mission City was chosen due to the site's proximity to the historic St. Mary's Mission of the Oblate order just east of town, which was founded in 1868 (now the Peckquaylis Indian Reserve).

At the time of founding, the swing-span Mission Railway Bridge (opened in 1891) was the only crossing of the Fraser River in the Fraser Valley below the Alexandra Bridge, and all rail traffic between Vancouver and the United States was necessarily routed through Mission until the New Westminster Bridge at New Westminster was built in 1904.

The western part of the district, the Stave Valley, is largely rural and forested but its watercourse is home to what was the largest hydroelectric project in British Columbia until the Bridge River Power Project opened in 1961. It was built by the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) to provide power to the electric street railway and interurban system in Vancouver.

The building of Highway 1 on the south side of the Fraser in the early 1960s brought huge population growth and large shopping malls to formerly rural Abbotsford, Matsqui, Sumas and Langley; as a result Mission lost its "anchor", the main Eaton's department store in the valley, and the town's Main Street businesses lost much of their business to the new shopping malls a few minutes away across the river.

Outside of the core "urban" area was a collection of distinct rural communities, each with their own history and sometimes distinct ethnic flavour. Silverdale, 7 km west of Mission on the east bank of the lower Stave River, was homesteaded in the 1880s by Italian immigrants; their descendents reside there to this day. Neighbouring Silverhill was founded by a Finnish Utopian sect who were superseded by Scandinavian and German settlers following a forest fire that virtually wiped out the Finns.

Other localities such as Ferndale, Cedar Valley and Hatzic were farming communities of mixed origin, with Europeans and anglicized French-Canadians alongside the usual British-Scottish Canadian mix typical of much of the Fraser Valley. Throughout the Mission area before World War II, there was a large Japanese-Canadian population involved in berry farming, logging and milling and in the fishery on the river.

One of Mission's major industries was logging, and the town's several mills were noted for being the world's largest suppliers of red cedar shakes and shingles. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a large cluster of productive mills on the waterfront in Mission, for many years world capital of red cedar shake production. Nearby Eddy Match Co., between Mission and Hatzic, was the largest matchstick-making plant in the world until it closed in the 1960s.

Mission is the home of a long-established professional dragstrip, Mission Raceway Park, which was moved outside the lower part of town to reduce noise in residential and commercial areas nearby.

In 1972 a large tract of land in central Mission's Ferndale area was developed by the federal government into two large penal facilities.

Get in
Drive on Hwy 11 from Abbotsford across the Abbotsford-Mission bridge or come on Hwy 7 from the east Hope or west Vancouver.

By train
There are two train stations in Mission and the train services described below do not stop at the same train station.

 * West Coast Express commuter trains travel between in Mission and Waterfront station in Vancouver. Trips operate Monday to Friday. Trains travel from Mission to Vancouver during the morning rush hour and travel from Vancouver to Mission during the afternoon rush hour. Fare prices for travel from Vancouver's Waterfront Station are: $10.25 one-way, $19.00 return (adult).
 * For westbound trips from Toronto to Vancouver, the train stops at in Abbotsford.
 * For eastbound trips from Vancouver to Toronto, the nearest station where train stops is north of the Fraser River at (at the west end of Harbour Avenue) in Mission.
 * For westbound trips from Toronto to Vancouver, the train stops at in Abbotsford.
 * For eastbound trips from Vancouver to Toronto, the nearest station where train stops is north of the Fraser River at (at the west end of Harbour Avenue) in Mission.

title: Mission (British Columbia)


text:
Mission (Texas)

Mission is a city in the South Texas Plains.

title: Mission (Texas)


text:
Mission Beach

Mission Beach is on the Cassowary Coast in Far North Queensland.

Understand
Mission Beach is a natural mid way point between Townsville and Cairns. Mission Beach is made up of four beach villages linked by 14 kilometres of wide golden beach, a perfect base to relax and explore this unspoilt natural environment. A blend of sophisticated eateries, boutiques and art galleries nestle against lush tropical rainforest. Mission Beach reminds us of how beautiful little beachside towns can be, blending vibrant art and culture with unique tourism attractions.

Get in
Getting to Mission Beach is easy and there are an abundance of choices for the traveller.

By car
If you are heading from the south, turn right off the Bruce Highway just north of Tully and it is approximately 26km to Mission Beach. If you are heading from the north then turn left off the Bruce Highway in El Arish and it is approximately 16km to Mission Beach. To see a map of our location click here.

By bus
Greyhound and Premier bus lines make regular stops in Mission Beach. The buses arrive at the Bus Terminal at the Cassowary Shopping Village at Wongaling Beach by the Big Cassowary. Exemplar Coaches and Limousines run an airport transfer twice a day from Cairns Airport to Mission Beach and once a day from Mission Beach to Cairns Airport - book 48 hours in advance.

By train
QRail passenger train services stop at the Tully Railway station. Your accommodation venue will be happy to organise transport to meet you or you can catch a taxi from the station.

By plane
Qantas, JetStar or Virgin Australia fly direct into Cairns, or Townsville.

See

 * Porter's Creek (Wongaling Creek)
 * Tam O'Shatner
 * Dunk Island
 * Family Islands

title: Mission Beach


text:
Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo is a town in Saddleback Valley, a region of Orange County, California.

Understand
Mission Viejo is about half way between Los Angeles and San Diego and is the best American embodiment of planned suburbia. Six-lane wide avenues and endless subdivisions of single-family houses surrounding pockets of strip malls are the norm.

The proper name in Spanish should be Misión Vieja, as 'mission' is a feminine noun. The masculine gender of "viejo" is a vestige from the original name of the area, "Rancho Mission Viejo"; "viejo" modified "rancho", a masculine noun. In light of the history of the area, the masculine adjective was preserved. The "Mission" of "Mission Viejo" is Mission San Juan Capistrano; Mission Viejo was a community of San Juan Capistrano until it became an independent city in 1988.

Get in

 * By air, (Mission Viejo is 15 miles south of John Wayne Airport.)
 * By car, I-5. Exit between El Toro Road (north end) and Crown Valley Parkway (south end).

By rail
Metrolink serves Mission Viejo via its Inland Empire and Orange County lines with direct connections from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and from San Bernardino.

Get around
OCTA operates bus lines throughout the city, but renting a car is preferable and convenient.

Buy

 * Also nearby is the Irvine Spectrum.
 * Also nearby is the Irvine Spectrum.

Eat
Most Mission Viejans shy away from their local restaurants for all but casual dining, and prefer nicer restaurants in adjacent communities. However, it has a few gems:

Drink
The local favorite is Patsies Irish Pub on the Corner of Los Alisos and Jeronimo. It is a typical American/Irish bar and is fun place with great drinks and karaoke.

title: Mission Viejo


text:
Mississauga

Mississauga is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's largest suburb and Canada's seventh largest city.

Visitor information

 * discovermississauga.ca

By air
Mississauga is home to Canada's largest airport. Located in Malton, Toronto Pearson International Airport primarily serves Canada's largest city, with two crowded terminals and flights from cities across Canada, many American cities and European, Asian, Latin American, African and Oceanian destinations.

The airport is a short taxi ride from anywhere in Mississauga and is served by local buses.

Alternatives to Mississauga's main airport are Hamilton and Buffalo, which both offer a much smaller selection of flights but are occasionally less expensive.

By car
Mississauga is served by 4 major expressways:
 * The 401 links Mississauga with Windsor-Detroit in the west, following the Windsor-Quebec corridor through Kingston and Montréal in the east, continuing as Québec Autoroute 20 to Rivière-du-Loup. The 401 in Toronto is the busiest highway in Canada if not all of North America.
 * The 403 links to Hamilton and Brantford to the west, rejoining the 401 before London (Ontario). It becomes Highway 410 at the 401, leading to Brampton in the North.
 * The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) links Mississauga with the Gardiner Expressway and downtown Toronto in the east, connects with the 403 in the west, and continues to St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Fort Erie/Buffalo.
 * The 407 is an east-west toll route running parallel with the 401; it is one of the most expensive toll roads in North America. As the tolls are billed to the registered owner of the vehicle, rental companies may refuse to authorize their vehicles to be taken on this privately-operated road.

By train

 * Operates a route daily between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga.
 * Operates a route daily between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga.

Get around
The city is very spread out, and it is difficult to traverse without a car.

By public transit
MiWay Local (orange/white bus livery) operate like the old Mississauga Transit using most of the same routes. Waiting times are typically 15 to 45 minutes on weekdays.

MiWay Express (blue/white livery) travel on expressways and major thoroughfares with a limited number of designated stops; the buses are equipped with reading lights and power outlets at each seat but most routes are weekday peak hours only. Routes 110 University Express, 103 Hurontario Express, 107 Malton Express and 109 Meadowvale Express operate 7 days/week. MiWay Express routes 100 Airport Express, 107 and 109 use the Mississauga Transitway, a 12-station busway in the form of bus rapid transit (BRT), running along Highway 403 from Winston Churchill Boulevard to Cawthra Road via the City Centre.

MiWay bus 23 runs between Long Branch GO Station and Clarkson GO Station stopping at Port Credit GO Station; it is useful for visiting sights along Lake Shore Road. It also connects with the 501 Queen, 507 Long Branch and 508 Lake Shore streetcars at Long Branch; however, GO Transit trains may make a faster connection to bus 23.

MiWay buses display a route number followed by a one-letter suffix (N, S, E, W) to indicate the direction of the bus. This can be useful for riders at bus terminals where a bus route may pass through in both directions.

Brampton Transit serves Pearson airport's Terminal 1 (route 115) and the Mississauga City Centre Transit Terminal (Züm route 502) near Square One mall.

Oakville Transit services Clarkson GO station and the South Common Centre near the Oakville boundary.

Milton Transit services Lisgar GO station at Argentina Road and Tenth Line.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has several bus routes terminating in Mississauga which can be divided into two groups:
 * Routes 900 Airport Express, 52A Lawrence West and 952 Lawrence West Express run from subway stations to Pearson Airport serving Malton east of the airport. Route 32A Eglinton West runs east from Eglinton subway station to Renforth Station with connections to the Mississauga Transitway. The TTC fare applies to these routes.
 * Routes 52B/52D Lawrence West serve Malton beyond Pearson Airport. Do not take buses 52B/52D to go to the airport as both routes bypass the airport. Routes 52B/52D cross the municipal boundary, and use MiWay fares in Mississauga and TTC fares in Toronto. If you pay the fare with a Presto, credit or debit card, you will pay only one fare to cross the municipal boundary; if you pay cash you must pay both the MiWay and TTC fares. Presto tickets are not valid beyond the airport. If crossing the municipal boundary on routes 52B/52D, you pay or validate your fare twice, once when boarding the bus in one municipality. and a second time when getting off in the other.

A fare allows for 2 hours of travel on MiWay including changing MiWay buses, or transferring to connecting buses run by Brampton Transit (including Züm express buses), Oakville Transit, Milton Transit and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). If paying by cash, ask for a "transfer" to use as a paper receipt, except for the TTC which does not accept a MiWay paper transfer. For Presto, credit and debit card users, transfer info is automatically tracked to your card when you tap on, including the TTC. The Presto ticket (as opposed to a Presto card) is not valid outside of Toronto.

If transferring from GO Transit to MiWay to complete a trip, the MiWay fare will be free when using a Presto, credit or debit card. Just tap your card on both transit systems to get the free MiWay fare. When using a Presto, credit or debit card to transfer from MiWay to GO Transit, the MiWay fare will be refunded to your card at the end of your trip.

By taxis
Mississauga taxis are metered, rates start at $4.25 plus $1.75/km ($2.85/mile) or $0.50/minute, billed in 25-cent increments. There are various taxi or limousine operators which serve just Pearson Airport; these are available from taxi stands at the terminals. A few operators of various colours are available city-wide.

Villages
Two communities have retained much of their village atmosphere.

Do

Airport hotels

There are a pair of hotels at Pearson Airport or on the airport grounds:

A series of large hotels on Toronto's Dixon Road serves Pearson Airport (Dixon Road, Toronto becomes Airport Road in Malton). See Etobicoke.

Stay safe
Mississauga is a fairly safe city, however, use common sense and vigilance at night like any other large city, as muggings can sometimes happen. The local police are friendly, trustworthy, and approachable, so any issues you have you can ask them for help.

On the weekend, clubs and bars in Mississauga can fill up with people fast. If you see a confrontation in a bar or club, it is best not to get involved, as these can escalate quickly.

For life-threatening emergencies, dial 9-1-1 to be connected to Police, Fire, or Ambulance. For non-emergency inquiries, you can dial the following:

On the whole, Mississauga is a safe city, and for the average tourist, you should have no problems.

title: Mississauga


text:
Mississippi

 * See also Mississippi River.

Mississippi, in the American South, is often overlooked by travelers, yet those who seek out the many things the state has to offer will not regret it. Mississippi is home to the blues, a notable literary tradition, and incredible food. Visit Mississippi to experience rich history and warm hospitality.

Cities

 * – the state capital
 * – birthplace of the blues
 * – over 600 antebellum homes, (first capital of MS)
 * – over 600 antebellum homes, (first capital of MS)
 * – over 600 antebellum homes, (first capital of MS)
 * – over 600 antebellum homes, (first capital of MS)

Other destinations

 * – This 444 mile long parkway is administered by the National Park Service and follows a route from Natchez to Nashville that dates back hundreds of years. Hiking, Indian mounds, natural history exhibits, and interpretive exhibits make this is leisurely and enjoyable route for motorists.
 * – This 444 mile long parkway is administered by the National Park Service and follows a route from Natchez to Nashville that dates back hundreds of years. Hiking, Indian mounds, natural history exhibits, and interpretive exhibits make this is leisurely and enjoyable route for motorists.

Understand
Most of Mississippi's western border (with Arkansas and Louisiana) is the mighty Mississippi River. Tennessee lies to the north and Alabama to the east, and it has a small coastline on the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

The southern part of the state was significantly affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, particularly the Gulf Coast, and tropical storms and hurricanes periodically impact the state. Once time has passed following a storm, visitor facilities become abundant again.

Culture
While Mississippi has been especially known for its music and literature, it has embraced other forms of art. Its strong religious traditions have inspired striking works by outsider artists which have been shown nationally. Mississippi was the last state to retain the Confederate flag in its state flag, though voters voted to change the state flag and remove the Confederate symbol in a 2020 referendum.

Tourist information

 * Visit Mississippi website

By car
Interstate 20 (east-west route along the lower middle half of the state), Interstate 10 (an east-west route along the Gulf Coast), Interstate 55 (north-south route passing through the middle of the state), and Interstate 59 (southeastern corner of the state). Highway 61 is known as the river highway. It goes through cities like Port Gibson, Vicksburg, and Natchez.

By plane
Jackson has the largest airport in the state,. The  is also of an adequate size. Smaller airports are found in Columbus (Golden Triangle Regional Airport), Greenville, Hattiesburg (Pine Belt Regional), Meridian, Natchez, and Tupelo.

By train
See Amtrak for the most current and active routes (several routes have permanently closed due to Hurricane Katrina or waning customer interest).

By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines (or the Delta Bus Lines for most routes within Mississippi) offers service to several cities in Mississippi; however, check Greyhound Bus Lines' webpage to see which cities are being served in the state. Several cities in Mississippi have very limited service, and do not have a ticketing agent, service center, or an enclosed bus stop. You may be just at the side of a highway of such a city. The following cities that have limited bus service in Mississippi are: Batesville, Belzoni, Itta Bena, Lorman, Mount Olive, Pascagoula, Tunica, and Winona.

Get around
The easiest method of getting around Mississippi is by automobile (and, in most cases, it’s the only method of getting around the state). Greyhound bus lines are very inconvenient. Be prepared for long waits, uncomfortable rides to remote locations (typically the bus stops are at a gas station on the outskirts of the city) and unannounced cancellations. The hassle is not worth the money you would save compared to renting a car; you may have to rent a car anyway due to the limited bus routes.

Visitors to Mississippi should seriously consider renting a car (usually, most auto rental locations are at airports: just be sure to make reservations far in advance), as there is not a well-established public transportation system in this state. Be prepared to seek alternate transportation if you do not have the following: a valid driver's license accepted by the United States, be at least 25 years in age (some rental companies may allow 21 year old adults to rent their vehicles), and a major credit card issued by such companies as: Visa, Diner's Club, American Express, Discover Card, or MasterCard. The lack of such items or being 25 or less will make renting a car very difficult, if not impossible.

You could also consider riding a horse in certain parts of Mississippi, as the low traffic and high amounts of dirt roads make it an ideal place for riding.

By car
Mississippi has four major interstate highways. I-55 runs North-South from New Orleans, McComb, to Memphis and runs through the state capitol of Jackson. I-20 runs East-West from Vicksburg to Meridian and crosses I-55 in Jackson. I-59 cuts across the southeast corner of the state connecting New Orleans to I-20 just west of Meridian. I-59 and I-20 merge into one interstate at that point and head east until they split in Birmingham, AL. I-10 runs the length of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There are several interstate spurs and loops in Mississippi, the two of note are I-220 connecting I-20 to I-55 around the northwest perimeter of Jackson and I-110 connecting I-10 to US-90 (aka Beach Blvd) in Biloxi.

Interstate speed limits are mostly 70 miles per hour in rural areas, and 60 mph in urban areas. State highways with 4 or more lanes are usually 65 miles per hour and slow down by 10 mph increments when they enter developed areas (usually no lower than 45 mph). Typically, two-lane highways have a speed limit of 55 mph in rural areas.

Like any other state, Mississippi has a mixture of four-lane divided highways and two-lane rural highways and state routes. However, Mississippi does provide a respectable number of multi-lane highways. Highway 49 is a 4-lane highway that connects the Gulf Coast to Jackson and crosses the Mississippi River at Helena. Highway 98 connects I-55 and I-59 across the lower half of the state. Highway 25 (state route) connects Jackson to Starkville (Mississippi State University). Highway 82 runs east-west in the upper half of the state. Pay attention to your maps and ask the workers on duty at the state welcome centers for help. You might find a shorter route than if you stay on the interstates. Most on-line mapping services assume the worst about state highways when compared to interstates.

Get off the road and enjoy slower pace. Highway 51 runs parallel to I-55 through the state. Except in urban areas, US 51 is fairly scenic. The Natchez Trace Parkway is also scenic and is operated by the National Park Service. Just obey the speed limits. US 80 parallels I-20 across the state, but makes for a more interesting drive by taking you through towns that were bypassed. US 90, also known as Beach Blvd, is about as far south you can get in Mississippi. US 90 along the coast line between St Louis Bay and the Back Bay of Biloxi.

Be aware that when refueling your car that if you intend to use your credit card (particularly credit card accounts issued from banks outside of the US), you may experience problems using the self-serve stations. Most self-serve gas stations may require the purchaser to input their home ZIP code (a five-digit mail routing address used in the US) as a means of identifying the purchaser, as smart credit cards are not widely used in the US. Also be aware that there are very few full-service gas stations in Mississippi (where a gas station attendant fuels the car for you), but you may find a few in small towns.

By train
You can travel by Amtrak along two routes providing daily service: City of New Orleans (north-south service between New Orleans and Memphis) and Crescent (the southeastern corner of the state, running between New Orleans and central Alabama). Formerly a third route, Sunset Limited, ran along the Gulf Coast and provided service to Biloxi. There are plans to reopen this route at some point in the future.

If you have plenty of time and you are not in a hurry to get to your final destination, this might be an interesting way to visit the state. The main disadvantages of rail travel in Mississippi are that only a few stations are still in use, travel times are relatively long, and the routes are limited so you cannot explore the state very well. Many of the destinations are car-dependent, although some are in walkable downtowns. The Crescent route allows for day trips from New Orleans, while the City of New Orleans route allows for day trips from Memphis.

Here are the stations that are in service as of Jan 2023:

 * City of New Orleans (north to south): Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, and McComb.
 * Crescent (southwest to northeast): Picayune, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Meridian.

By bus
Information on transit can be found here.

See

 * The casinos of Biloxi, Gulfport, Vicksburg, Tunica, Greenville, Natchez, and Philadelphia (Choctaw Indian Reservation) are fun to visit. Be aware that you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid government issued ID to enter a casino (a government issued ID with your picture that is written in English, such as a passport (which is strongly recommended for foreign nationals) or a driver's license), otherwise, you will be refused entry into the casino.  Expect to have your ID checked upon entry (and sometimes rechecked while you are in the casino too: if you have a youthful appearance) as most casinos are so cautious, almost to the point of being paranoid, in their efforts in preventing underage patrons from sneaking into their establishments.
 * The Civil War Park in Vicksburg is interesting to visit, and the entire park can easily be visited in a day using either a car or by bicycle. The cost is $8 to enter, and it's a bargain.  Be sure to allow yourself at least 2 to 3 hours for the Cairo battleship exhibit alone.  Tourist pamphlets in multiple languages (Spanish, German, French, and Japanese) are available at the Cairo exhibit.
 * Mississippi is the home of the blues, and the Blues Museum in Clarksdale is interesting for the blues music enthusiast. In addition, live blues is still fairly easy to find in the Delta and in Jackson (where the former Subway Lounge blues bands play on Saturday nights at Schimmel's Restaurant).
 * Although B.B. King was born in Itta Bena, the city of Indianola will have a B.B. King Homecoming Festival on the first week of June every year at Fletcher Park. Children under 12 are free from paying admission to the event.
 * Be sure to visit the antebellum houses in city of Natchez. The tours offered during the pilgrimages are a good way to see a wide selection of the houses and buildings. Also in mid October Natchez has The Great Mississippi River Balloon Races. This event is a three day weekend of races, food, and music. Bring a blanket or chairs for the music fest.
 * For those who enjoy nature, a journey along the Natchez Trace Parkway (which starts in Natchez, MS, and ends in Nashville, TN) is a good bet. Be aware that the speed limit is strictly enforced (by the US Park Police) at 50 mph (80 km/h), and that wild animals such as deer and turkeys will often run across the road suddenly.  Also keep in mind that you will have to share the road with bicyclists and those camping along the Natchez Trace.  Also, the roadway does not have streetlights, so beware: it is very dark at night. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the Natchez Trace, so the traffic is light and easy-going.
 * The International Ballet Competition takes place once every four years in Jackson. The competition takes place at Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson on Pearl Street, and some of the best ballet dancers from around the world come to Jackson to compete 1-601-355-9853  (157 E Pearl St).

Do
Outdoor activities are a favorite of Mississippians, given the state's low population density and natural resources. Hunting, fishing, water sports, camping, and hiking all have their devotees. Take tours through antebellum mansions. There are horse-drawn carriage tours in Natchez.

Buy
The larger cities and towns in Mississippi provide major retail stores. Some major malls in Mississippi include Barnes Crossing Mall in Tupelo, Northpark Mall in Ridgeland (Jackson Metro area), Dogwood Festival Market in Flowood (Jackson Metro area), Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, and Edgewater Mall in Biloxi. Other great shopping malls that you would find very interesting and good clothes is the Edgewood Mall in McComb, and the Bonita Lakes Mall in Meridian.

Most smaller towns still offer your typical nationwide and regional stores, but local antique and furniture stores abound. If you go looking for antiques, you will likely find one near the old town centers. Natchez has Franklin St., which is known as "antiques row". Canton, located north of Jackson on I-55, is well known for its biannual flea market, and antique stores surrounding its historic town square. Canton is also the county seat of Madison County. The flea market is held each May and October.

Eat
The state is largely rural. Outside of large towns and away from major interstates and state highways, dining options are fairly limited, but even the smallest of towns will have a local diner. However, if you enjoy country cooking, there is no shortage of good to excellent places to eat. Fried chicken, country-fried steak, fresh vegetables, and cornbread are favorites, although barbecue is also widely available. Mississippi barbecue tends to pork ribs and pulled pork or chopped beef sandwiches with tomato-based sauces, usually slightly sweet.

Fried catfish is one meal that Mississippians pride themselves on. If you want to visit the world catfish festival, go to Belzoni (pronounced by the locals as: bell-zone-uh). There's not much to see there, but it's interesting if you're in that area. One treat often served with catfish is fried dill pickles, a strange sounding but delicious side dish.

Generally, one can't go wrong with Mississippi staples of biscuits, corn bread, fried chicken, catfish or steak, collards and other greens, and fresh vegetables.

In Indianola, you can visit the Indianola Pecan House where you won't find a shortage of ways to consume pecans, which are found in abundance in the local area.

Drink
Laws regarding alcohol are a frequent source of confusion to outsiders. Mississippi continues to practice "local option" with regard to sale of alcohol. Under this system, local jurisdictions may choose whether or not to allow the sale or consumption of alcohol. Beer, where sold, may be purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets, while wine and spirits may only be purchased from licensed liquor stores. Alcohol-by-the-drink is yet another area of local option; some permit purchase of alcoholic beverages at restaurants but do not permit liquor stores. Where they are allowed, liquor stores are limited to the hours of 10AM-10PM; hours during which beer sales are permitted are at the discretion of the county or municipality. The only reliable way to determine the regulations is to ask a local. There are still numerous counties where alcohol is forbidden; enforcement is typically lax regarding alcohol purchased elsewhere for personal consumption, but may not be if an officer of the law decides to make it an issue.

Try Lazy Magnolia beer, brewed in Kiln, MS. Its most popular brew is Southern Pecan Ale. Lazy Magnolia beers can be found on tap in many bars and restaurants throughout the state.

Stay safe
In the event of an emergency, you can dial 911 (for police, fire, and medical assistance) from any cell phone or landline free of charge. If you use a cellphone, it is important to let the operator know exactly where you are located at, as it takes time to find out your location if you do not give that information (time that you should not waste). For non-emergency calls, do not dial 911, but rather contact the specific organization directly from their non-emergency phone number listed in the respective local phone book.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol may be contacted (in the state) on your cell phone by dialing *HP (*47). This is only for emergency calls on the highways or Interstate routes from cell phones only.

Driving at night
When driving at night, keep in mind that most highway roads and even a majority of the Interstate routes in Mississippi do not have lights posted on the sides of the roads, making the roads very dark at night. This can sometimes make driving a little more challenging, as you have to always anticipate wild animals (and sometimes wild drivers) darting out in front of you at a moments notice. Be aware that during the winter season when it gets dark, that it is not uncommon to have wild deer stray across roads with oncoming traffic, only to have motorist crash directly into them as there is rarely any time to avoid the deer.

Hunting season
If you intend to trek in the wooded areas of the state, exercise caution, especially during hunting seasons. It's common to hear about someone getting shot or even killed (accidentally) by a hunter. Always wear a bright "hunter's" orange vest to avoid being mistaken for something else. Just because a land owner has declared their land as off-limits for hunting doesn't mean that determined hunters will obey their request.

Panhandling
You might encounter panhandlers asking for a handout (asking to "borrow" $5-10), or claiming that they to want to sell you something for a huge bargain. Panhandlers aren't usually aggressive and will normally leave you alone if you ignore them or walk at a brisk pace.

Public behavior
There is little tolerance for public drunkenness or public displays of homosexual affection between partners. Public drunkenness is a crime that's punishable by up to 90 days in the city/county jail and/or a $1,000 penalty in most cities in Mississippi. Gay/lesbian couples should use their best judgment and err on the side of discretion to avoid any conflict or unwanted attention; however, in Gulfport and Biloxi, this is much less true.

Racism
In terms of race relations, much has changed for the better since the 1950s and 60s; This said, there are still some remnants of racism in the state. Younger Mississippians are generally more tolerant and progressive than their seniors.

Hurricanes
Being a part of the gulf coast, the state is prone to experiencing hurricanes. Some of the worst hurricanes (such as Hurricanes Camille and Katrina) have caused wide spread devastation, which have taken years to overcome. Whenever you hear in the news of a hurricane watch (conditions are favorable for a hurricane to strike land within 36 hours and you should plan to evacuate) or a warning (a hurricane strike is imminent within 24 hours and you should seek shelter immediately), do take them seriously and take appropriate precautions.

Tornadoes
Mississippi is located within a region that is known for experiencing tornadoes during the early spring and summer months. It is a good idea to maintain an awareness of current weather conditions during your travel to or through the state during these seasons to remain vigilant of any potentially dangerous weather situations. These conditions change very quickly, and if the forecast calls for severe storms, be sure to update yourself regularly throughout the day.

Refer to the tornado safety page if you are planning to visiting Mississippi during the spring/summer months.

Stay healthy

 * During the warmer months of the year, you should seriously consider using mosquito repellent with a high DEET concentration. This may help reduce the opportunity of becoming infected with the West Nile virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes.  In the Delta region, mosquitoes are awful during the summer months.
 * Occasionally throughout the year, you'll read or hear about boil water alerts (usually as a result of a water treatment center that had lost its water pressure for one reason or another). Although it is safe to shower and bathe with the water, it is not advisable to cook, drink, or brush your teeth using untreated tap water during an alert notice.  Check with the Mississippi State department of Health for current notice alerts.
 * During the summer months, the humidity and high temperatures can be very intense for those who have never lived in hot muggy environments before. Be sure to drink adequate amounts of water or sports/electrolyte drinks (such as Gatorade) if you are going to work or play outdoors during the summer.
 * The larger cities in Mississippi have sufficient levels of hospital care that can handle most serious and critical illnesses or life-threatening injuries (IE world class medical care). Most of the smaller cities (usually those with populations of at least a few thousand citizens) have a nearby county hospital, which is sufficient for minor non-life threatening injuries or illnesses, but you may have to be transported via medical helicopter to the larger regional medical facilities (sometimes out of state if necessary) if you are facing a critical injury or illness when time is of the utmost of the essence.  Smaller cities of less than a few thousand people in population generally do not have a hospital, and you will have to travel to the nearest county hospital for care.  Be aware there is not a national health care system, and you are expected to be fully insured to pay for all medical services rendered.  Otherwise, expect a huge medical bill that you will be expected to pay in full upon your discharge from the hospital (which can very easily run into the thousands of dollars for even minor emergency medical care).
 * An alternative to the emergency room (typically in the larger cities in Mississippi) for non-life threatening care only and minor illnesses are "urgent care clinics." An appointment is not required, but you can expect to wait for sometimes an hour or two before seeing the doctor.  Again, you must be insured for medical treatment, or expect a moderately high bill (not nearly as expensive as an emergency room visit, but its still not inexpensive either).  Hours of operation vary, but generally are open from noon till 6PM, and are usually closed on weekends.  When checking in for services and you do not have insurance but you do have the means to pay, be sure to let the receptionist know, or you may be subjected to expensive tests which are not needed.
 * Roughly 1 in every 3 people in Mississippi has received the full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in early August 2021. This is at the low end of vaccine rates in the country.

Respect
Mississippi is generally considered to be more socially and religiously conservative than much of the United States.

Most Mississippians are highly religious and attend church services regularly. You might (emphasis on might) even be invited to attend church services. Keep that in mind when interacting with the locals; some might be puzzled or shocked if you tell them you do not believe in God.

The state flag contained the Confederate flag in its upper left corner until 2020, when the state government decided to change the flag. Since the Confederate flag is considered by many to be an extremely emotional and sensitive image on both sides of the political spectrum, it is wise, as an outsider of the state, to avoid discussing the state flag (either positively or negatively).

Do not make strong statements about the state's history; yes, Mississippi has had a particularly troubled, colourful history, but that should not tarnish your perception of an entire state. Things have changed for the better, although there are still some remnants of racism in the state.

As in other Southern states, when addressing people you have met for the first time (particularly those who are older than you) be sure to say either "Yes, sir / No, sir" or "Yes, ma'am / No, ma'am". Do not use first names until the other person uses yours, as it is considered rude to do as such without permission. Also, in many areas, saying "Mr./Ms./Mrs. (First name) is common, example: Mr. John, Mrs. Jane, etc.

Many Mississippians are serving or have served in the military, or have relatives who are active or reserve members of either the US Military or the Mississippi National Guard. Pride and respect in the military is very strong.

Connect
Cell phone coverage in Mississippi is generally better (especially with T-Mobile's networks) along the major Interstate routes. Coverage in the southern Mississippi region is sometimes spotty (particularly west of Hattiesburg). 4G coverage, though growing sporadically throughout the state near the college cities, is generally located in the Jackson metropolitan area; however, outside of the Jackson area, 3G service is typically available with parts of the Delta being the exception. Check with your cell phone provider for coverage maps. The regional cell phone provider C Spire Wireless has a large network established throughout Mississippi, and you might be able to roam on their towers if you are not a customer.

Consider purchasing a disposable cell phone from any major electronic department store in Mississippi during your visit. There are few fee pay telephones available outside of airports or shopping malls. The cost is about $25 a month as the average price for approximately 100 minutes of talk time without (in other words, its very expensive for what you pay for).

Be aware that pretty much any cell phone from either South Korea or Japan will typically not work anywhere in Mississippi, but some of the older European model cell phones (operating in the 3G UTMS frequencies of 850/1900/2100MHz) should work fine in the state.

Cope
There are no foreign consulates with citizen services within the state of Mississippi, only a few honorary consulates serving business functions. In the event you require the assistance of your government (loss of a passport, arrest, etc.), larger countries may have consulates in the much larger metropolitan cities outside of Mississippi (cities such as Atlanta GA, New Orleans LA, Houston TX, Dallas TX, and Memphis TN). Refer your specific countries' consular web page to learn where they are located in the southern part of the US.

Go next

 * Alabama - East of Mississippi is Alabama, where Mobile is a historic port city and Gulf Shores is a popular resort.
 * Tennessee - Located to the north of Mississippi, Tennessee offers the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, plus the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.
 * Arkansas - Mississippi's northwestern neighbor, "The Natural State", is home to the Ozark Mountains in the northwest while the south and east of the state has flatter land and shows more of its agricultural heritage.
 * Louisiana - Home to New Orleans, this state on Mississippi's western border offers a unique culture.

title: Mississippi


text:
Mississippi Capital-River

The Mississippi Capital-River region is in the southwest of Mississippi.

Cities

 * – the state capital, with an attractive state capitol building and other attractions
 * – a beautiful antebellum city with many lovely southern mansions, especially beautiful in the evening and night
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.
 * – a beautiful antebellum city with many lovely southern mansions, especially beautiful in the evening and night
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.
 * – a beautiful antebellum city with many lovely southern mansions, especially beautiful in the evening and night
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.
 * – home of a national military park, as a very important civil war siege took place here, and there are many memorials in a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River.

Other destinations

 * - This 444 mile long parkway is administered by the National Park Service and follows a route dating back hundreds of years. Hiking, Indian mounds, natural history exhibits, and interpretive exhibits make this is leisurely and enjoyable route for motorists.

Eat
Places to eat in the region's cities and towns are in the city and town listings.

title: Mississippi Capital-River


text:
Mississippi Delta

Mississippi Delta is a region in western Mississippi, along the river of the same name.

Cities

 * — the mostly undisputed birthplace of the blues, and perhaps the one town that actively encourages the juke joints to stay open
 * — at one time home to endless juke joints throughout (supposedly) scary neighborhoods, albeit losing them fast to generational change and competition from the casinos
 * — at one time home to endless juke joints throughout (supposedly) scary neighborhoods, albeit losing them fast to generational change and competition from the casinos
 * — at one time home to endless juke joints throughout (supposedly) scary neighborhoods, albeit losing them fast to generational change and competition from the casinos

Understand
The blues; the famous Mississippi Delta juke joints. This section of the country is poor economically, but the birthplace of the blues has more culture than some entire U.S. states. Modern American music—and hence modern music the world over—traces its roots right back here, to the old juke joints of Mississippi. These rural bars, in cinder-block or wood structures just about as poor as their customers, were where black Mississipians would escape from their hard lives of hard work with a good dose of music, alcohol, back-room gambling, the occasional fight, and cavorting with some members of the opposite sex. The word juke is believed to come from the Gullah word joog for rowdy—and it was these rowdy run-down joints that bred the music that was the soul of black America and would become the inspiration to the world.

The juke joints are a living tradition right up to this day. But in the past ten years or so, they have been closing left and right, leaving only a handful of the old original rural juke joints, with closings common in the towns as well. The reasons? First is the economy—the state of things has been so bad, for a long enough time, where the Delta suffers from serious depopulation, and hence a decreasing base of customers. Second is the trend among the region's youth towards listening to rap from the big cities, casting off the tradition of guitars and harmonicas. Third are the new casinos, which lure away the old patrons with free music, free drinks, and legal venues for gambling. Unable to compete with that, the holdout juke joints have turned to "sexy nights" with strippers, less expensive live bands and more cheap DJs, and even a little tourism promotion with the help of blues lovers worldwide. Nonetheless, come with the full knowledge that this culture is critically endangered, and that the blues may find themselves relegated to the less authentic, more packaged version up on Beale Street in Memphis or the North Side blues clubs of Chicago.

Talk
The Delta accent is about as thick as an American accent gets. If you're from another country, good luck!

Get in
The closest useful airport is in Memphis. From there, the popular route is to avoid the dull I-55 highway, and to stick to the rural roads. US-61 is the beaten path, which goes through Clarksdale and then all the small towns and countryside that used to be blanketed with the old juke joints, and still hold a few. It keeps going to Leland, where you can take a right on US-82 for Greenville.

Get around
You'll need a car. There is no other option.

Eat
Hot Tamales are a regional specialty of the Delta. Similar to Mexican tamales, but adapted to local tastes and ingredients. Compared to the Mexican dish, Delta hot tamales are generally spicier, simmered in juices, and have a different texture from the use of cornmeal instead of corn flour or masa.

Drink
As music in the juke joints is harder and harder to find, Clarksdale is a good base of operations. The blues museum and the music store will have up-to-date information on where to go. Second best will be Greenville, but expect far less helpfulness down there.

When visiting, etiquette in the juke joints expects that you're friendly, not taking photos like you were in a zoo, and to try to acquaint yourself with the owner. Some lewd dancing is almost always welcome too. The beer is cheap and comes in single bottles big enough for a hangover.

Stay safe
The Mississippi Delta is generally known as a safe place to visit. It has a high poverty rate, which sometimes coincides with a high crime rate, but rarely are violent crimes perpetrated against visitors there. Although Mississippi, along with much of the “Deep South”, has a long history of racial inequality, the “Delta”, in particular, was known as an oasis of liberalism in the State throughout the civil rights movement. It is now known more for its numerous Blues Festivals, fine Southern Cuisine and overall hospitality. While the blues clubs in towns such as Clarksdale are certainly safe for people of all backgrounds and nationalities (and nowadays you'll find visitors from places like Japan and Norway mixing it up with the locals), the honky-tonks/country bars may not be the places to visit if you are looking for a multi cultural experience. One might want to avoid any establishment adorned with a Confederate Flag... a sure sign that, inside, you will most likely NOT encounter the most “enlightened” faction of the Mississippi population! Although poverty is rampant in the Delta, and while it may not be pleasant to look at, it is not a risk to your safety.

Go next
There are two natural destinations after the Delta: Memphis for blues in an urban setting, as well as some incredible rock n' roll and R&B history, or New Orleans for the birthplace of jazz. If you're more kin to explore Mississippi, though, Oxford would be a great idea for it's historic beauty and true Old South charm (without the bad elements).

title: Mississippi Delta


text:
Mississippi Hills

The Mississippi Hills are a region in the northeast of Mississippi.

Cities

 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley
 * – The birthplace of Elvis Presley

Understand
The Mississippi Hills region is quite a large expanse of hills and small towns in the north of Mississippi. As it is a region, it has no capital. However, Corinth and Tupelo are known throughout the region.

Stay safe
As this is a hilled region of the state, you must exercise extreme caution when hiking, bicycling, or even just driving a car. The unpredictability of the hill layouts in woods and even some roads, and the steepness of them, makes it hard to do any of these activities as you normally would.

In some places of the Mississippi Hills region, there may be small floods during the wet months. Be extra careful on the roads during this time as a slide on them can result in severe injury.

Finally, be wary of animals who may want to "investigate" your hiking camp, car, or even you yourself. Never feed a wild animal. If you're observing them, do not interrupt their normal activities. Also, some animals may run across the road at random times; usually there is no fine for most animals, but many deer and turtles and armadillos can cause damage to a vehicle, especially newer models.

Go next

 * Natchez Trace, a long trail that goes through Mississippi.

title: Mississippi Hills


text:
Mississippi Pines

The Mississippi Pines are a region in eastern Mississippi.

Get in
Golden Triangle Regional Airport

Do

 * - located in Choctaw

title: Mississippi Pines