My friend and I are planning a southern road trip for April 26-29, 2012. She is from Pennsylvania and I am from California, so the plan is to meet in Atlanta on the night of the 26th, sight-see in Atlanta on the 27th, rent a car early in the morning of the 28th and drive through Montgomery, AL and Biloxi/Gulfport, MS (not sure which city would be more interesting) to New Orleans, arriving around 9 pm on the 28th. We want to stay in Algiers and fly home from New Orleans on the evening of the 29th. The car would be returned at MSY on the night of the 28th, and New Orleans would be seen by foot/ferry.

My question is--what is there to see and do in Montgomery and Biloxi or Gulfport? We plan to eat lunch in Montgomery and dinner in Mississippi, and spend about 3 hours in each city. I'd like to see the Alabama State Capitol and the Rosa Parks Museum, but with the amount of time we have, I don't think both are possible. I would also like some recommendations for things to see or places to eat in Biloxi or Gulfport, MS--we aren't sure which would be better to visit, but both are on our route. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated since it is our first time visiting the south. Thank you!