Famous People | Lodging | Dining | Attractions

Delta Travel Diary

Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, celebrates the area's rich Blues heritage by featuring performances by local and national Blues bands.

"This is hot, Delta hot," I said to myself as I rolled into Clarksdale just in time for the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival. Held in August, the festival's music and accompanying summer weather seemed to be battling each other for supremacy. On this day, the music won.

Blues, Blues, Blues!

Known for its famous blues musicians & authentic Delta Blues lineup, this annual festival features local, regional, national and international musicians over two days. It's an unbelievably good time and just part of what Clarksdale has to offer.

Located in the heart of the Delta, Clarksdale has a rich Blues heritage. Names like W.C. Handy, Charley Patton and Robert Johnson dot the musical landscape here. Their legacies continue to inspire and entertain millions of people worldwide. In Clarksdale, that inspiration can be located in the town's authentic juke joints and clubs.

Clarksdale's historic Blues Alley is home to the Delta Blues Museum, dedicated to both the preservation and interpretation of the Blues. I thought I knew about the Blues until I came here and discovered more about its history and the musicians who gave it to the world. Displays include one of B.B. King's "Lucille" guitars, harmonicas once owned by Sonny Boy Williams II, and the log cabin that Muddy Waters lived in at the Stovall Plantation. This is Blues heaven.

famous blues musicians, ground zero blues club, clarksdale mississippi

The Belle Clark Bed & Breakfast was built in 1859 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Agriculture & Heritage

It's not all blue in Clarksdale. It's green as well, and the town showcases its agricultural roots at the Hopson Plantation, once one of the largest cotton farming operations in the South. It also bears the distinction of having the first cotton crop in the region produced entirely by machinery, from planting to baling. The plantation commissary is now a museum that houses farming memorabilia. After my visit, I actually spent the night on the plantation at Shack Up Inn, a collection of original tenant shacks that have been restored on the inside with eclectic décor - a real cultural icon!

International Dining

When it comes to food, Clarksdale is truly international. I had my pick of tasty regional favorites, as well as Italian, Lebanese, Chinese, Mexican American and French fare. Though I stayed at Hopson Plantation, Clarksdale has a great variety of accommodations from historic hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns to family friendly hotels and luxury suites.

The Isle of Capri Casino near Clarksdale offers exciting gaming and rich history of the Mississippi Delta.

Gaming Galore

After dinner, I headed over to the Isle of Capri Casino and Resort for some late night action. With its magnificent view of the Mississippi River, this place really topped off a great day.

Tennessee Williams Festival

On my next trip, I plan to take part in the Tennessee Williams Festival that's held each October. The festival honors the famed playwright who spent much of his childhood in Clarksdale. Sounds like another great time.

The highway's calling my name. Next stop: Cleveland, Mississippi.

www.clarksdaletourism.com
800-626-3764

Mississippi Delta Tourism Association
P.O. Box 68 - Greenville, Mississippi 38701
Toll Free: 877-DELTA MS