The Secret Sauce I Discovered in Mississippi
Is not a sauce.
Greetings Y’all,
Starting things off with a friendly Southern hello, as I’m coming at you on the heels of a six-day golf trip in Mississippi.
Are you thinking… golf trip in Mississippi? What?
Well, if you’re a golfer, write this down… Mississippi is an amazing golf destination, thanks to its world-class golf courses and resorts and weather that allows for year-round golf.
Even if you’re not a golfer, Mississippi is an amazing destination. Period. It’s got beaches, trails and parks, delicious cuisine, and just happens to be “The Birthplace of America’s Music.” So if you love the blues and country music, you’ll feel right at home. And even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a blues lover before… come to Mississippi and go to a place like Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. I promise you’ll be a convert!
As a Wisconsinite, I was happy to escape the cold and dive into the Mississippi golf and music scene. Plus, this trip to Mississippi had all the feels for me because I’d been there as a kid to visit my Aunt Rosalie & Uncle Jack. This was my first time back as an adult, and traveling to Gulfport & Biloxi (their stomping grounds) brought up fun memories of travel in the 80s, like… taking a road trip from Wisconsin to Mississippi in a giant yellow Suburban.
Who was in that Suburban, you ask? My parents, plus my Aunt Betty, Uncle Lawrence, Grandma Lucy, and following 80’s safety protocols, my cousin Jessi and I were assigned to the “wayback.” Jessi was on a lawn chair strapped to the sides with bungee cords, and I was on a cushion on the floor beside her. We were happy as clams in our little area - I mean we were reclined the entire trip and had access to a giant cooler full of soda and Baby Ruth candy bars.
My trip through Mississippi this time was similar, but a bit safer.
I was in a van with eight fellow golf writers and our leader, Pam. Our van was equipped with the adult versions of the Baby Ruth’s and soda to keep us satisfied as we golfed our way from Coastal Mississippi all the way to the northernmost part of the state. We played golf like it was our job (which, technically, I guess it was), and in our downtime sampled delicious Southern cuisine, listened to the blues, and had a blast in some of Mississippi’s premiere casinos and hotels.
Along the way, our hosts from Visit Mississippi, Play Coastal Mississippi, the Chamber of Flowood, Tunica Travel, and Visit Clarksdale schooled our group on the golf, lodging, food, and music scene in the state.
Some highlights are shown below, and I’ll be writing more about my trip plus talking about it on the Real Food Traveler Podcast in the weeks to come.
Stay tuned!
After a whirlwind six days, I’m firmly sold on Mississippi as a golf, music, and general getaway destination.
But the real reason Mississippi captured my heart boils down to two words: Southern Hospitality.
To begin, our hosts made us feel welcome, and not just because it was their job. It was obvious that they truly loved Mississippi, and we soon saw why…
People are just plain NICE in Mississippi.
When people called me Ma’am, I didn’t feel old or offended like I do back home. I felt respected and acknowledged. Mississipians are courteous, and they show it everytime they meet someone new.
Ma’am has a nice ring to it in Mississippi.
Further, the people I met repeatedly went above and beyond…
Take for example, Laverne from the Gold Strike Resort & Casino. Laverne worked at the desk at the third hotel on our itinerary. She helped me out as I was headed to my room after dinner on our first night, and realized I had no frickin clue what room I was in…1107? 1109? Or was that our last hotel? I told Laverne, “I’m just so tired.” To which she said, “Girl, I’ve been there. Here you go,” and gave me a new key and my room number. A few hours later, I was again at the desk, looking for the fitness center. Laverne was still there and noticed my room card was in the same hand as my phone. She told me I’d surely de-magnetized my card, took it, and gave me a new one. Then, on the last morning, I couldn’t get back in my room after breakfast. Guess who helped me again? My gal Laverne.
Another superstar, Brittany from the Rise & Coffee Bakery - Now, to be clear. I feel sorry for any waitress or barista that takes my order. I’m always “that” person. I’d like a latte, but only with a half a cup of milk, but only if you have almond milk, made without guar gum or additives. Can’t do that? Then, just black coffee. My food sensitivities make breakfast ordering interesting. Well, when I asked if Brittany could adjust one of their beverages for my special dietary needs, she was more than happy to oblige. Brittany could’ve said no, but she went the extra mile to be sure I had something that worked for me.
Bill - As we set out to golf Tunica National on the last day, I realized I’d donated all of my balls to the bayous of Mississippi. In the pro shop, I asked Bill if they had a bin of $1 balls I could buy. He told me to follow him, and proceeded to take me out to his golf cart where he gave me his morning collection of found balls. Then, a few minutes later I was around the putting green waiting to tee off. Bill pulled me aside and gave me a putting lesson. Yes, it was obvious I needed it, but Bill didn’t have to do that. Just a nice man welcoming out-of-towners to his course.
And… wouldn’t you know it, the kindness of Laverne, Brittany, and Bill are What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week.
In this crazy world where we’ve all got a million things going on at once,
taking an extra minute to help someone out really isn’t that big of a deal.
It can totally make someone’s day.
And in return, you kind of make your day better too.
Little things like this remind us that
positive experiences and good people
leave the most lasting impressions.
Those are the things that make a destination memorable
and bring us back again and again.
I’ll let that sink in. (Meanwhile, I’ll be planning my next trip to Mississippi.)
And now… a collection of links to ease you into spring - spring home buying and selling, spring cleaning, spring sales… all of it.
Enjoy!
First, it’s April, so two things come to mind: buying or selling a home and spring cleaning.
Let’s talk.
Maybe you want to buy a new house, but hello, the market is freaking nuts. Familiar? Read how to make a house work for you when you can’t move.
Selling your home? First, 25 things you need to know if you’re selling your home in 2025 and also 11 things to make your house sell over asking.
Whether you’re selling your home or just getting set for spring cleaning, maybe go at it with a Japanese “concept cleaning” mindset.
Take care of yourself this spring:
Mel Robbins talks to Dr. Stacy Sims to find out How Women Should Eat & Exercise for Health, Fat Loss, and Energy. Inspired by the episode, try this coffee with 44 grams of protein. Also, try these five powerful foods to detox your body.
Maybe you’re wondering how to get enough protein each day. Here’s a clue.
Another way to get protein is to eat a Mediterranean diet. If this is your jam, here are some Mediterranean kitchen musts and omg I’d eat this Mediterranean Shaarma bowl on repeat.
I’m always telling my pals about