This cemetery was absolutely beautiful with so many interesting characters within in. Wish we…read morecould've made it for a ghost tour!! Queen of the Mississippi Gypsys (I've taken a lot of pictures at different cemeteries. This is the first place that not only my camera but also my phone glitched multiple times) Queen Kelly Mitchell died during the birth of her 15th child on January 31, 1915 in Coatopa, Alabama. Her husband, King Emil, sought local medical assistance and offered $10,000 if doctors could save her, but the efforts were in vain. The couple were the leaders of the Mitchell clan of Romany people, one of the largest in America. It was decided that she would be buried at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Meridian, MS. Her body was placed in a frozen state for 12 days, to allow time for more people to come and pay tribute. 20,000 people attended her funeral with music and celebrations included. Legends suggest that Kelly was buried in a $15,000 gold casket and/or that 20-dollar gold pieces were tossed into her grave. Her grave has been damaged multiple times by grave robbers. You might notice random things atop her tombstone, local lore states, "If you go up there and leave her a trinket, she'll come to you in a dream and solve all your troubles."

I saw a sign for a haunted ghost tour in a rest stop when I first got into Mississippi that was…read morebeing held here. While I was only in Mississippi for business for a few days, I decided to stop and check out the cemetery anyway. The cemetery itself was a bit off the highway and as I drove to at the neighborhood got worse and worse. There was nothing overly spectacular about this graveyard.

There are some excellent cops who work here, however, this department just can't seem to find…read morecompetent leadership to sit and stay in the role of the Police Chief. Sadly, this instability is a theme that is rampant throughout the City of Meridian. Good luck to whomever is next in the hot seat.

Many years ago (when it was drivable) I used to drive across this bridge whenever I had a car load…read moreof kids or out of town visitors and pretend my car stalled mid-way.... all after telling them rumored stories of this Bridge's past. Boy oh boy was it fun to watch them all panic just a little. Or a lot ... sometimes screaming was involved. I still tell everyone the 'stories' associated with this bridge (who knows if they are true or how true) ... if you Google it some of the tales come up and even a 'Mississippi backroads' episode I think it was that included the bridge. One time after I drove across the bridge ... a few days later it apparently had some of its wooden slats collapse and it has been blocked and 'undrivable' ever since. This should not prevent you from visiting. It is a beautiful old iron bridge. Even the marrieds of graffitied names and vulgarities that visitors have littered on its bones does not distract from is lovely form and location. Somehow it may even add to its appeal. I would definitely recommend watching your feet as you cross (there are warning signs to try and prevent you from venturing over - for which I ignore) there are missing and rotting boards the entire length. The beautifully tree lined river rushes beneath and just the sheer quiet (other than the sound of the rushing water) is worth the cautious walk into the middle of the bridge. I still take any visitor I can drag back to Meridian, Mississippi to see this spot. I tell them the stories I had heard about the bridge from 'old timers' as we drive to its remote local. I make them walk the entire length and admire the bridge's bones and the view it affords. No one is ever disappointed. You should go check it out ... you will not be either.

all the usual stuff in a mildly overdone-to-impress-the-tourists sort of way which is exactly the…read morepoint except I don't really have any business in Alabama except the infrequent snack while driving because it occupies a significant chunk of time between my house and my non-Alabamish destination... but I'm kinda digging that the welcome center follows the Sweet Home Alabama motif and looks like a Navin Johnson inspired residence; very housey but built on a grander scale. on the plus side the bottles in the turkey out front have shrunk a bit and no longer occupy the entirety of the faux bird, on the minus side the outgassing and decomposition of plastic bottle plastics is killing us (ironically less quickly and possibly more painfully than consuming the original contents would have)

Sweet home Alabama the song always gets to mr ! Clean rest stop definitely for long journey!read more

A beautiful mansion with lots of Civil War history in Meridian, MS - it was headquarters for…read more Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston in 1863. It is especially charming at Christmas when various businesses and organizations around town decorate various trees and garland in the interior. There are various antiques and historic gowns that adorn the bedrooms. Even a dress from the 1940s designed by Christian Dior. I highly recommend checking out around the holidays if in Meridian.

I'm proud to accompany my father in law who is a retired full sergeant on the Navy base in…read moreMeridian, Mississippi!