Vicksburg, Mississippi to offer ecotourism

USA Today reports on Vicksburg, Mississippi's tourism diversity campaign including ecotourism offerings.

The town, mostly known for its Civil War battlefields, has suffered a decline in tourists in recent years. Tourism employs 16 percent of the town and county's workforce but brings in a significant portion of the area's income. Last year brought in $209 million.

New museums, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Mississippi river adventures are new offerings the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (VCVB) hope will draw tourists back.

"The Mississippi River is a huge draw, and we need to tap into that more," said Bill Seratt, VCVB executive director. "As you travel between Memphis and Vicksburg, you really don't have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Mississippi River. Here, you really get to understand what a power body of water it is."

Eco-tourism is one of just a few niche travel markets the VCVB is trying to tap into to diversify Vicksburg's image. A "soft adventure" tour guide focusing on camping, canoeing, hiking, biking and birding and is being developed. Another guide highlighting the artistry of the sculptures and monuments in the VNMP is also in the works.

Read the full story: Beyond battlefields

Photo by Chad Purser 2006

Slowly kayaking down the Mississippi

The New York Times reports on the father and son boat trip down the Mississippi.

Paul Schneider and his 15-year-old son took to the river near St. Louis and kayaked down its slow waters.

The truth is, my 15-year-old son and I didn’t have specific destinations in mind on this kayaking trip in June. We hadn’t come to the Mississippi to prove or conquer anything. We just came to see what the most storied river in America had to offer a couple of supplicants with plastic boats and a week and a half with which to play.

Read the full story: Peacefully adrift as the Mississippi rolls by

Photo by Evelyn Hockstein for The New York Times