Highway 61 or? (Clarksdale, Greenwood, Oxford: travel, bars, art)

[fishbowl]

I am going to take a road trip this Fall. I want to go someplace I've never been, and I've never been to Mississippi.

I want to stay in Western Mississippi and go down hwy 61, and maybe even 1 part of the time.

My interests are in outsider and self-trained art, particularly yard art. I understand there is a lot of it in some areas along that route.

Can anyone tell me what towns to visit where I might see that type of art?

I realize there are juke joints along that route too with live blues music, but I'm a woman travelling alone and am not real comfortable going into bars alone, so will have to skip those, sadly enough.

Janet

[tennreb]

Janet, I would recommend going to Clarksdale and staying at the Shack-up Inn, which has a lot of yard art. Be sure to go to Merigold to Peter's Pottery (I think that is what it is called). Greenwood is definitely the best town in the Delta. Stay at the Alluvian. You shouldn't worry about going to most bars alone, since Mississippians are generally very respectful of women and don't tolerate people that aren't. One great place is Ground Zero in Clarksdale. You would be very safe there and well-treated. Morgan Freeman owns the place. While not in the Delta, Oxford is a really cool town. There is a little arts community about 15 minutes outside of Oxford called Taylor. There is a very popular Catfish restaurant there, and a few artists shops open up around dinner time Thurs-Sun. I'm sure the artists would love to talk with you. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about your trip.

[fishbowl]

Tennreb, thank you! I didn't expect to get so much info in one post and truly appreciate it. I'll print out your post and get out my map and decide what would be doable for my trip. I need to keep it relatively short, so want to pack in as much in a small area as I can.

Thanks again, Janet

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by fishbowl

Tennreb, thank you! I didn't expect to get so much info in one post and truly appreciate it. I'll print out your post and get out my map and decide what would be doable for my trip. I need to keep it relatively short, so want to pack in as much in a small area as I can.

Thanks again, Janet

You can cover Clarksdale, Greenwood, and Oxford with stops in between in two to three days if necessary. I would do a night or two in Clarksdale at the Shack-Up Inn, a night in Greewood at the Alluvian (expensive, but well worth it), and a night in Oxford (at a B&B or the Downtown Inn). Be aware that Highway 61 is now a four-lane highway that isn't very scenic. The two-lane highways in the Delta are more unique, in my opinion, and are very easy to drive. A good book to help you plan your trip is Mississippi: Off the Beaten Path. Keep me updated with your itinerary, and I can recommend some good sites, a few arts places, and some great places to eat along your route.

[fishbowl]

I will post again before I leave. It could be a couple of months. Thanks again so much!

Janet