How do you spell “Mississippi”? My mother used to put it: “Capital M-I- Hump-back, Hump-back I; Hump-back, Hump-back I; Crooked-letter, Crooked-letter-I.”

However you want to spell it, Mississippi is home to the Natchez Trace. From Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, the Trace is 444 miles of beauty. Roll past farms and creeks; forests and interesting historic sites. For the most part, motor traffic is light. The entire Trace, in fact, is a designated bike route.

Then there’s Tanglefoot Trail. Despite its name, don’t go getting tangled up in your bicycle chain! “TT” gives  you 43 miles of riding through farmland and small towns, with numerous opportunities to dismount and explore, or have a picnic lunch.

Is the history of the Civil War your thing? Visit the Vicksburg National Military Park. This ride is more challenging than the Tanglefoot Trail; but beautiful.

Fans of the paranormal might want to visit Windsor Ruins. These remains of an antebellum plantation house are said by locals to behaunted. It’s a hilly 10 miles to get there, so be sure you’ve got your climbing legs!

Now how do you spell “Mississippi”, again?