Just north of Cleveland on historic Highway 61 is Merigold, home of Mississippi artists Lee and Pup McCarty.

     From an old mule barn in the middle of one of America’s finest gardens, the McCartys developed their studio. Here, beautiful pieces of pottery are fashioned from Mississippi River mud. A short walk through a bamboo tunnel in the artists’ backyard reveals a flourishing maze of gardens, overgrown with rare herbs and indigenous plants and trees.

     The Gallery Restaurant in Merigold is open daily for lunch and serves exquisite cuisine on dinnerware created by the McCarty artists. Another great place for casual dining is Crawdad’s. Located near The Gallery, Crawdad’s casual lodge atmosphere serves only the best Louisiana fare, specializing in spicy crawfish and sizzling steaks.