It is now or-fishal, we's movin tah Missippi.
Mississippi is the maganolia state. The state bird is the mocking bird. As you ornithologists know, a mocking bird can pretty much whup a cardinal's ass. Hell, I once saw a mocking bird damn near kill a cat! The name "Mississippi" is derived from an old Indian word meaning, "I'm not sure, but I think my uncle is my brother-in-law." Here is some more of the straight dope on the home of the delta blues from my old buddy Keef Pickly:

As for Mississippi, you'll be quite close to Tuscaloosa, where they have the Kentuck Folk Art Festival in October. I can highly recommend the event. Loads of artists sellin' their wares, plus top rate entertainment for very low cost (Norman Blake one year, Roger McGuinn the next). You'll also be about six hours from the Angola Prison Rodeo. You'll also be close to Tupelo, home of Elvis and Greenville - where I believe they have a good blues festival. In any event, you'll be close to the delta, home of the blues.

You'll be 2.5 hours from Holly Springs, home of Graceland Too, a museum dedicated to the King. You'll also be close to Birmingham, home of Joe Mintner's Art Yard, a sculpture garden by a self taught artist with a civil rights theme. Alabama is also home to the Ave Maria Grotto (on the way to Nashville) at a Benedictine Monastery - it has miniature replicas of various famous buildings and some mythical ones (i.e., Hansel & Gretel). You'll also be close to Montgomery, where the late Reverend Rice has his "Garden of Crosses" - a yard full of fundamentalist signs, such as "hell is hot" "no ice water in hell" "sex kills" etc.... He's gone, but hopefully his scary signs carry on.

Yeah, you're headin' to some great country. Best of luck to you guys.