rofessor Laurence C. Jones founded his school in 1909, on forty acres and an abandoned sheep’s shed donated by a former slave.  The surroundings weren’t grand, but the mission was:  to provide much needed educational opportunities for African American youths in all subjects, including music. 

Jones’ dedication bore fruit, as Piney Woods alumni like bluesman Sam Myers, the original members of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, and the trail-blazing International Sweethearts of Rhythm, all went on to make great music and musical history.  The Piney Woods commemorative marker, part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, shares the remarkable stories of the musicians and their school through informative text and an assortment of historic images.

The Mississippi Blues Trail, a project of the Mississippi Blues Commission, extends throughout the state of Mississippi and to significant sites beyond, but for the Piney Woods marker, you won’t have to go far—it’s just outside the Braxton city limits.

http://www.msbluestrail.org/_webapp_1966422/Piney_Woods

5096 Highway 49 South, Piney Woods, MS 39148, 601.845.2214

ith soaring palms decorating the perimeter and candy-colored water slides criss-crossing each other three and four stories in the air, Grand Paradise spreads out over seven acres like an oasis crossed with a crazy concoction for fun, with the fun designed for all ages and temperaments.  Those looking for the slow lane will enjoy Paradise River, but the more adventurous can aim higher on slides like the Wipeout, Tropical Splash, Grand Falls and Blue Typhoon.  The small set can splash down at a kiddie playground and a water fort.

To get to Grand Paradise from Simpson County, just slide on down I-49 to Collins.

http://www.grandparadisewaterpark.com/index.htm

50 Grandview Dr., Collins, MS 39428, 601.765.8118

hile Lake Mike Conner has a reputation for large blue gill and shell crackers, those in the know say large mouth bass are well represented in this lake as well. Records are healthy—bass, 13 lbs., 2 ounces; red ear, 2 lbs., 14 ounces, while daily creel limits are generous—largemouth bass and catfish, 10 per day; bluegill and red ear, 100.  The lake’s two handicapped-accessible piers make bank fishing, particularly for the bream, a popular choice.  This 79-acre lake is also excellent for boating; skiing is allowed Wednesday through Sunday, noon until sunset.  The boat ramps here will accommodate any size boat.

Named for a popular Depression-era governor (who, as sports fans may know, served as the first ever commissioner of the Southeastern Conference), the lake is located 8 miles west of Collins.

http://home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/StateLakesTemplate.aspx?fac=Lake%20Mike%20Conner

8 mi. W of Collins off Hwy 84, 601.765.4024

t Lake Prentiss Walker, a black salty baitfish snagged the record bass at 13 pounds, 13 ounces.  Obviously, the bass fishing is fine here, but the blue gill, red ear and channel catfish are also plentiful in the lake, where sunken Christmas trees and other habitat enhancements make for good bream fishing.  And speaking of enhancements, a sandy beach has been created on one side of the lake for swimmers and sunbathers; between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the lake is open to swimming, with a life guard present, and skiing is allowed on Fridays and Sundays.

Located in Mize, the lake was formerly known as Lake Ross Barnett, but was renamed in 2010 for a former Congressman and board member for the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks.

http://home.mdwfp.com/Fisheries/StateLakesTemplate.aspx?fac=Prentiss%20Walker%20Lake

4 mi. SW of Mize off Hwy 35, 601.733.2611

t’s the ultimate reclamation:  abandoned railroad tracks replaced by a trail where bikers, hikers and equestrian enthusiasts can reclaim old-fashioned peace and serenity.  Named a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Longleaf Trace offers 41 gorgeous miles of trail through pastoral woodlands, from Prentiss all the way to Hattiesburg, with a 25-mile horse and mountain bike trail running alongside it for 25 miles, from Carson to Eply.

Longleaf offers just the right amount of modern amenities:  an asphalt surface, mile markers, maps, and restrooms along the way, with several B&Bs as well as a tent camping site.  But the abundantly natural beauty of the trail feels untouched— shaded by pines, and with embankments and cuts where scenic overlooks offer striking views.  One particular highlight:  Beaver Pond, where a multi-tiered deck takes you down to a water retreat overhung with trees and gilded with lily pads.

http://trailsfromrails.com/longleaf_trail.htm

Longleaf Trace Trail P.O. Box 15187 Hattiesburg, MS 39404, 601-450-2453

all it a Huck of a day, the kind Huck Finn would envy:  Lazy clouds floating above while you’re floating along on the Okatoma, meandering for miles over gentle waterfalls and past sandbars and shoals, with high banks around you canopied by birches and maples.  Take as much or a little time as you want; float trips can range from as short as a couple of hours to an entire day or more.

Located near Seminary, Ronnie and Lisa Robinson’s Okatoma Outdoor Post & Canoe Rental has been in operation for nearly 30 years, catering to nature lovers of all ages with facilities and services that include canoe and kayak rentals, and lodging options that range from RV hookup and primitive camping to cabins to a bunkhouse that can be reserved for groups from 20 to 50.  While there are novelties aplenty in the rustic gift shop festooned with old-timey décor, another novelty can be seen roaming the Robinsons’ 700-acre farm:  real Watusi cattle.

http://okatoma.com/

550 Walter Lott Road, Seminary, MS 39479, 1.888.OKATOMA

state park named after a famous American president and a national forest named after a French explorer.  Together, it’s a good combination for an experience visitors tend to remember long after they’ve gone.  And it isn’t just the views of Bienville National Forest that linger with campers and day-trippers to Roosevelt State Park.  It’s also the hospitality and easy mix of modern amenities and recreational attractions.

For water lovers, there’s the 150-acre Shadow Lake offering excellent boating, fishing and water skiing;  there’s also a large swimming pool with water slide.  Four nature trails give hikers plenty to enjoy, while tennis courts and rental disc golf are available for those who like games with their outdoor fun.  Overnight choices are equally diverse:  RV and tent camping, as well as heated and air-conditioned cabins, and even “group camping” in dormitory-style cabins housing as many as 128. 

The park is perched at the western edge of the Forest, in Morton.

http://mississippistateparks.reserveamerica.com/ms/Roosevelt_State_Park/Campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=MS&parkId=154848

2149 Highway 13 South, Morton MS 39117, 601.732.6316