If you watch Mississippi Roads on MPB Television and listen to Next Stop, Mississippi on MPB Think Radio, you know there’s always lots to do and see in the state.
Whether you desire a bonafide vacation or a staycation only a few miles away, Mississippi attractions are endless. Each week these MPB programs cover it all – festivals, marathons, bed and breakfasts, museums, restaurants, Civil War sites, Native American mounds, state parks, freedom trails, music trails, wildlife management areas, historical landmarks and special people along the way.
“The economic impact of travel and tourism in Mississippi is important. More than 23 million visitors enjoy Mississippi’s culture, cuisine, outdoors and attractions each year, making a $6.343 billion impact on our state,” said Craig Ray, director of Visit Mississippi, the tourism office of the Mississippi Development Authority. “Travel and tourism make up Mississippi’s fourth-largest private, non-farm employment sector, with a direct payroll of $1.86 billion annually.
“In many ways, MPB is a content partner in helping promote the unique places, history and culture of Mississippi through multiple media platforms. Programming such as Mississippi Roads and Next Stop, Mississippi gives audiences a window into parts of our state’s culture they may not know and keeps them informed on exciting events around the state.”
Mississippi Roads airs Thursdays at 7 p.m. Since 1983, viewers have tuned in to learn about notable venues and isolated getaways to visit. Beloved host Walt Grayson leads viewers on these guided tours.
Mississippi Roads Executive Producer Katie Savage likes to show off Mississippi’s unique and competitive qualities. “We have some of the best science and technology programs in the country,” Savage said. This was quite evident on a program last season about drones at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.
Now in its fifth year, Next Stop, Mississippi airs Fridays at 10 a.m. “The program showcases everything that makes Mississippi great, including a musician of a different genre weekly,” said Executive Producer Michelle McAdoo. Kamel King and Mary Margaret Miller White are co-hosts.
Starting this month, listeners can recommend their favorite "hidden gem" by emailing nextstop@mpbonline.org. These gems could be an eatery, a venue or the town itself. Each week King and White will showcase a hidden gem on air.
“Travelers today are seeking authentic experiences. Fortunately, for Mississippi, our culture is incredibly authentic and influential,” Ray said.
Watch and listen to MPB programs, and start making plans today to tour Mississippi.
