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Craving a getaway? Mississippi might not be at the top of your list for a vacation… but it should be! The Magnolia State is full of charm and history, and our weather is pretty pleasant throughout the year. If you are wondering what the best place to stay in Mississippi is, look no further than the quaint town of Natchez. This community of about 16,000 dates back to the early 1700s, before French settlers ceded the territory to Great Britain following the French and Indian War....

The Orion’s Belt Constellation will only be visible from the Land of Lincoln for a short time longer. Get outside tonight and see if you can spot this well-known star pattern. Scroll on for more details. Stargazing is an old pastime that allowed our ancestors to make up stories from the shapes and images they saw in the stars. Nowadays, people marvel at the same constellations that people were talking about centuries ago....

We all know excessive heat is a regular summertime occurrence here in Arizona, and it’s already here in full force. From Yuma to Phoenix to Lake Havasu City and everywhere in between, cities all across the Grand Canyon State are under some form of heat advisory. Here’s what you need to know: For the past week or so, portions of Arizona have been under varying degrees of a heat advisory. This comes as Phoenix reached 112 degrees on May 29, tying with the previous record high set in 1910....

There are some restaurants that are just worth the extra effort. When the food, service, and atmosphere are so great that you’re willing to drive the extra little bit just to experience an all-around wonderful meal, SHUCKS! in Abbeville is the perfect place. Let’s take a closer look at why this rustic little eatery in the heart of Cajun Country has captured the heart and stomachs of Louisianians from every corner of the state:...

Coyote sightings are definitely not a rarity here in the Golden State, but there’s a certain blue-eyed coyote that’s ONLY been spotted a handful of times. Oh, and it’s only been sighted here in Northern California. The appearance of this rare “mutant” coyote has baffled scientists, and they expect that blue-eyed coyotes are truly “one in a million.” So far, only a handful of these rare coyote sightings have been documented, but keep your eye out the next time you’re in coyote territory and you may just spot one....

Two things that Vermont is world-renowned for are cheese and small picturesque towns, and with over 180 dairy farms in Vermont, there is plenty of competition to produce some of the best cheese in the United States. If you are looking for a fun outing in Vermont, make a trip to Hardwick for a day filled with amazing cheese and quaint villages to explore. With charming towns nearby that are lovely to drive through and two of the best dairy farms in Vermont in the surrounding area, Hardwick makes for an excellent place to visit....

The Sooner State is known to be religious. After all, we’re located in the Bible Belt, and more than a million members of our population of nearly four million are known to be religious practitioners. However, one probably wouldn’t expect to find a church-themed bar in Oklahoma. Nonetheless, there is one in Oklahoma City, and it’s truly one of a kind. Check it out: Blink and you’ll miss Sanctuary Barsilica, Oklahoma’s first and only church-themed bar....

Most of us have heard that old saying, life is about the journey, not the destination. Well, this picturesque restaurant in the middle of nowhere offers a new spin on that old saying, offering a delightful experience full of scrumptious food and stunning views. Take a road trip to Out of the Fire Cafe near Pittsburgh. This enchanting eatery belongs on your bucket list. Sure, you can shave a half an hour or more off of your drive to Out of the Fire Cafe in Donegal if you take the Pennsylvania Turnpike....

When it comes to tracking down the best cheesecake in Wyoming, you don’t have to look far! There’s an Irish pub in the heart of Laramie that serves up delicious homemade cheesecakes every single day, and there’s always something new on the menu. Stop in to indulge in one of Wyoming’s sweetest treats. O’Dwyers Public House is a Laramie landmark known for being home to a lively crowd. Facebook / O’Dwyers Public House...

Nevada is home to 23 state parks. Whereas each one is spectacular in its own right, there is one incredibly unique park right here in Nevada’s own backyard. Located in northwestern Nye County in the Shoshone Mountains is the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. This incredibly unique park contains and protects undisturbed ichthyosaur fossils as well as the mining camp ghost town of Berlin. The park covers 1,540 acres and its elevation ranges from 6,840 to 7,880 feet....

As the summer draws closer, you’ll want to start planning your weekends around getting outside and spending some time on the water. Luckily, Louisiana has no shortage of beautiful waterways to explore. There’s one particular reservoir that’s impressive, to say the least, and it should move to the top of your bucket list this year. Let’s take a closer look at the Toledo Bend Reservoir, the largest man-made body of water in the South....

The beauty of South Dakota radiates through its scenery, wildlife, and its people. When the perfect combination of scenery and photographer meet, you end up with what are arguably the 16 best photos of South Dakota. It is truly beauty like you have never seen before. Check out this stunning highway view near the Badlands. Jason Mrachina / Flickr If you think this South Dakota scenery is beautiful, you should check out the Badlands (242,756 acres of colorful buttes, pinnacles, and canyons) for yourself!...

As the Blue Ridge Parkway meanders through North Carolina, there are a number of can’t-miss sights. From overlooks that afford views down into deep gorges to passage through majestic tunnels cut through the earth, waterfalls galore, and even a look at the tallest mountain peak east of the Mississippi, it’s no wonder this National Park Service unit is one of the top two visited national parks in America. That being said, it can be difficult to prioritize what you can fit into one parkway excursion....

Here in Minnesota, there are delicious restaurants that cater to every type of cuisine imaginable. Each corner of the state is home to eateries that specialize in German, Mexican, Italian, and more. Among the most popular types of cuisine is Italian, with tasty restaurants scattered all across the Land of 10,000 Lakes. One of our favorites is up north, right on the shores of Lake Superior. This little-known Italian restaurant has amazing food and incredible lakefront views....

When the weather gets warm, Mainers head outside! Most of that time, that’s easy. There are so many parks, trails and areas to enjoy that we often have our go-to recreation areas that require very little thinking. Pack up the car, grab the bags and head out. But, rather than do the same things over and over again we’re trying to shake things up by trying new places. And this is a great option!...

Zion National Park is Utah’s finest gem. Its rugged, natural beauty draws more than 4.5 million visitors every year, many of whom just stop by for a day of exploration. For an especially magical trip to Zion, stay there overnight in its historic lodge. Zion National Park is Utah’s most treasured gem. Many people visit for the day, but you could spend weeks exploring this 229-square-mile park. Bill Young/flickr Zion was established as a national park in 1919, and the lodge was designed in 1924....

You will never believe that this fun, funky restaurant is actually located right inside of a working Mobil gas station. 4th Street Fillin Station in Florida is situated in Cocoa Beach and serves an impressive blend of Florida comfort food classics and beachside staples. But perhaps the coolest part about visiting this unique restaurant is that you would never expect a backyard like this to come from having a gas station as the front yard....

Winter in Vermont is a wonderful place to be, that is if you enjoy cold winter activities. From some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the East to snowshoeing and mounting hiking, we have plenty of awesome and exciting things to do in Vermont. But if you are looking for something different to try this winter, perhaps something that doesn’t quite get the mainstream attention that the other winter sports receive, plan a visit to Lajoie Stables in Jeffersonville, Vermont, where you can go horseback riding through the idyllic landscapes that surround this beautiful area....

Choosing where to relocate after retiring isn’t easy, but this list put together by MoneyRates should lessen the decision fatigue just a bit. Arizona tied with Indiana for the #8 spot out of 10, citing metrics such as healthcare conditions, crime, and personal security, affordability and economic strength, climate, and popularity with older residents. Not to mention our state has two communities just for retirees! Here’s what makes Arizona such a great place to settle down:...

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, this restaurant has closed since this article was written. Most fine-dining restaurants are pretty similar. White tablecloths, fancy finger bowls, and waiters who fill your glass after every sip. Dakota’s Steakhouse in Dallas sets itself apart in the neatest way possible: it’s underground! Descend 18 feet below the surface for a culinary experience unlike any other. Completely unassuming from street-level, this pillar is actually a canopied glass elevator....