Are there outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi? (Natchez, Cleveland: fit in, home, casinos)

[Highpointer]

I may have to move to southern Mississippi for a job. However, I really would prefer to live in the western USA, so I can do the outdoor activities that I really enjoy, such as hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, backpacking, and skiing (both alpine and cross-country) on my days off. I also want to live among a community of physically fit people.

If I moved to Mississippi, how could I do those things? Are there outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi? I read somewhere once that people in Mississippi are the least likely of any state to participate in outdoor activities, so I am concerned that if I move to Mississippi I won't be able to find people who share my interests.

I also read that Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity of any state in the USA. That is one thing that concerns me, because I prefer to associate with people who are healthy and physically fit.

[Tama]

Mississippi Outdoor Guide

[Southlander]

Friend, change your skiing from snow to water. Instead of mountain biking, try cross-country biking. Climbing - there are probably some cliffs somewhere you can climb (just stay away from the loess). If you seek physically fit people, you'll find them. If you look for obese people, you'll find them. Just like where you're at now. There's plenty to do outdoors and people doing it.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

I may have to move to southern Mississippi for a job. However, I really would prefer to live in the western USA, so I can do the outdoor activities that I really enjoy, such as hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, backpacking, and skiing (both alpine and cross-country) on my days off. I also want to live among a community of physically fit people.

If I moved to Mississippi, how could I do those things? Are there outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi? I read somewhere once that people in Mississippi are the least likely of any state to participate in outdoor activities, so I am concerned that if I move to Mississippi I won't be able to find people who share my interests.

I also read that Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity of any state in the USA. That is one thing that concerns me, because I prefer to associate with people who are healthy and physically fit.

You are right on with your analysis. There are realtively few people who exercise there. The outdoorsman are stricktly into deer hunting, some fishing and drinking Budweisers.

Obviously you may/will find a few people who are into the same activities as you, but it will certainly be limited. You better head way west.

I am from MN, but lived in MS for 9 years ('94-'03).

[cncguy2000]

not all of us are fat rednecks that have beer cans to the ceiling.
but they are downhere...
take up water skiing, diving, saltwater fishing (my fav.) Geo-caching, or get fat at the casinos. we have it all!
the reason why people are not big outdoors types here in summer, is because it's too hot and humid!

[rebel_coyote]

Also, the obesity thing is b.s. just because you weigh more than 150 doesnt make you obese. almost every guy i know in ms is big with muscles from doing manual labor, like hauling logs out of the woods and such. get down there and see if you can hang dude!

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

I may have to move to southern Mississippi for a job. However, I really would prefer to live in the western USA, so I can do the outdoor activities that I really enjoy, such as hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, backpacking, and skiing (both alpine and cross-country) on my days off. I also want to live among a community of physically fit people.

If I moved to Mississippi, how could I do those things? Are there outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi? I read somewhere once that people in Mississippi are the least likely of any state to participate in outdoor activities, so I am concerned that if I move to Mississippi I won't be able to find people who share my interests.

I also read that Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity of any state in the USA. That is one thing that concerns me, because I prefer to associate with people who are healthy and physically fit.

While I noticed this original thread began well over six months ago, I really snickered to myself when I read it. I wonder if the OP has made a decision on where to move, yet? And if he/she did in fact, move to the Beautiful South, how's he/she getting along?

The highest point in MS is a mere 806' - Woodall Mountain up around Iuka, in NW MS. The lowest point, of course, is the Gulf Coast. So as far as cross-country or alpine skiing, I seriously doubt he/she will ever do that, unless of course, he/she follows the hoards out to Colorado and beyond. Course, the best ski season in MS is just before the cotton harvest. There's a "Ski Mississippi" pic out there somewhere. I'd post it here, but obviously I'm doing something wrong, and can't.

The state is abundant in parks and campgrounds. Hiking and camping, real camping with tents and sleeping bags are possible, but one may have to look for it. I'd say the best time to attempt these two feats would be in the winter, cause in the summer, the skeeters will make one wish they were back in civilization. Course, the winter skeeters aren't much different.

Someone else mentioned biking, but not mountain. I'd agree with that, but the OP should be aware of snakes, and ants, and spiders, and even a gator or two mixed in with other local varmints.

Does the OP hunt? Or fish? If not, then perhaps he/she should give that a go. Hang around some of the really local cafes during the week, listen in to the conversations among all those farmers and ranchers in their overalls, see what's goin' on. Heck, he/she might even be able to befriend one of the local, fat, tobacco-chewing, snuff-dippin' rednecks without offending them, get inside a community to hunt or fish in. He/she should remember, lots and lots of MS is rural in nature, but not necessarily ignernt as so many farners seem to think. Better to attempt to blend in than to confront, up front.

How do I know this, the OP may be asking? My ancestral home is Cleveland, MS, in the heart of the Delta. While there is nothing for me there, anymore, that fact doesn't make me agin it. Go try it, Man/Ma'am, you WILL be pleasantly surprised, as long as you keep an open mind.

[blueridgemama]

When we lived there, my husband and I wore the pages thin on our books "Canoeing Mississippi" and "Hiking Mississippi." The canoeing or kayaking is great and everywhere you turn. This is a very wet state. Hiking is available in any of the state or national parks, which are also abundant. There are 4 massive bodies of water in the northern part of the state for fishing, boating, water skiing, or swimming. The southern part has the coast. There is some minimal rock climbing available in the Tishomingo area (northeast). I knew a lot of physically fit people who joined us for hiking, biking, canoeing, and camping. I do believe that every state in this country has outdoor activity. You may just have to look for it. We now live in NC and really enjoy the outdoors here, but we are looking for an opportunity to get jobs back in MS. In MS, the cost of living is amazingly low and the hiking trails and campgrounds are less crowded than here.

[cmiss]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

because I prefer to associate with people who are healthy and physically fit.

I'm not sure if I should simply overlook this post as superficial and just plain strange. As a healthy and physically fit individual, I prefer to associate with people who are friendly and easy to get along with. I'm not in south Mississippi so I can tell my friends to get off their scales and put down their medications, since you're not moving to our part of the state.

There are, of course, many people in the STATE of Mississippi who are healthy and physically fit. People who "eat to live" rather than "live to eat". An earlier poster is correct, however. Hunting and fishing are really popular. In my neck of the woods, so are golf and tennis. In some areas cycling is really popular. Or, at least they sure seem to crowd the Natchez Trace during certain times of the year.

[tyeebeacon]

ok it is difficult to do the types of outdoor activities that you are looking for. I am living in the adirondacks of NY and of course MS does not compare in any way to this place for hiking, skiing,canoeing, etc. But, if you are into swimming, golfing, tennis, south MS is good. Walking on the beach, just be sure to walk in the sand to get a better work out, and when I lived on the coast I would do this at night time during the Summer because it is too hot during the day. There are many bike trails in Northen MS, for some odd reason which I never could figure out they were left out on the coast (this was very frustrating to me) because with the mild weather you could pretty much ride your bike anywhere but, local government never felt I guess that it was important and many people are impolite to bikers on the coast honking as if you are wrong for riding a bike. But, the coast is a lot less expensive than upstate NY and the people are awesome, not all are 500 poounds and eating at an all you can eat buffet. Plus, if you are into gardening, which I always found to be a great way to stay in shape and grow your own vegetables and catch your own fare, which can be a physical activity as well, you can stay in shape just keeping up with the daily work of that depending on the size of your garden. So, think outside the box. Good luck By the way, I will be moving back to the coast this month.