10 Offbeat Towns To Visit In Mississippi
The United States’ 32nd-largest and 35th-most populous state Mississippi, situated in the American Southeast, is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico in the south, the states of Alabama in the east, Tennessee in the north, and Arkansas and Louisiana across the Mississippi River in the west. Having an impressive Gulf coastline and rolling evergreens, Mississippi is one of the nation’s most incredibly beautiful destinations. Although a majority of those who visit the Magnolia State, mostly tour the state capital Jackson, and bustling urban metropolises like Gulfport, Southhaven, and Hattiesburg; the innumerable offbeat towns that are peppered all over this picturesque state also appeal to vacationers with spectacular sceneries, historical landmarks, friendly locals, multiple recreations, and vibrant annual celebrations.
Natchez
The administrative center of Adams County, Natchez is one of the Lower Mississippi River Valley’s oldest and most significant European settlements, located roughly 90 miles southwest of Jackson, and 85 miles north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Named after the Natchez tribe of Indigenous Americans, this quaint town along the Mississippi River enchants holidayers with its carefully maintained antebellum residences and prominent museums like Auburn Museum & Historic Home, Rosalie Mansion, First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, Longwood, St. Mary Basilica, Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens, Stanton Hall, Natchez Museum of African American History & Culture, etc., which remain open for public viewing either throughout the year or during the biannual pilgrimage tours. Travelers can peruse the uncountable retail stores, microbrews, boutiques, and eateries at the site of Natchez Under-the-Hill, or take a bike ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway that immortalizes the historic Natchez Trace Trail. In addition to the fall and spring pilgrimages, some other events hosted by the town include the Natchez Balloon Festival, Mississippi Bluff Blues Heritage Festival, a pow-wow at the Emerald burial mounds by the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, and Natchez Biscuit Festival.
Vicksburg
Christened in honor of the Methodist minister Newitt Vick, this county seat of Warren County is placed on a high bluff overlooking the meeting of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers, about 44 miles west of Jackson. Tourists visiting this historic settlement must tour the Vicksburg National Military Park (which includes the U.S.S. Cairo Gunboat & Museum and Pemberton’s Headquarters), Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum & Interpretive Center, Old Court House Museum, Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, Gray & Blue Naval Museum, Old Depot Museum, and other notable landmark properties like the Anchuca Mansion, Balfour House, and the McRaven House. Stroll through the town’s brick-paved downtown and browse the various vintage shops, boutiques, art galleries like the H.C. Porter Gallery & Attic Gallery, restaurants like The Tomato Place, casinos, and the Riverfront Murals on Levee Street.
Oxford
This lively Southern college town named after the English city of Oxford, is located in Lafayette County in the state’s North Central Hills region, approx. 75 miles south-southeast of Memphis. Apart from being partially home to the principal campus of the University of Mississippi (often called “Ole Miss”), Oxford is well-known for the Lafayette County Courthouse and the buzzy Downtown Square that is packed with old departmental stores like J.E. Nielson Co., independent bookstores like Square Books, specialty shops like Cicada, entertainment venues like the Lyric Theater and the Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts, art galleries like the SouthSide Gallery, museums like the University of Mississippi Museum, and an array of classy restaurants like Big Bad Breakfast, Bottletree Bakery, and Taylor Grocery & Restaurant. Also, check out the community’s other landmark properties like Rowan Oak Mansion, Barnard Observatory, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and Ammadelle House. Oxford’s closeness to large cities such as Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans has led to the development of a varied music scene in the town over many years.
Bay St. Louis
A part of the Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area, this tiny seaside town is situated in the southeastern portion of Hancock County on the western side of Bay St. Louis (that drains into the Mississippi Sound), about 58 miles northeast of New Orleans. With its welcoming ambiance, amazing waterfront, ultra-clean beaches, stunning architecture, funky storefronts, and varied cultures, Bay St. Louis captivates the hearts of every vacationer. Walk down the Old Town area and window shop at the local shops, beach boutiques, art galleries, restaurants serving lip-smacking Gulf seafood, and antique stores, as well as partaking in a giant art walk with special events, live music, and native merchants on the second Saturday of every month. The Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum, Saint Rose de Lima Catholic Church, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, 100 Men Hall, Bay St. Louis Little Theater, and the Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center are some of the town’s other interesting landmarks. The adjacent Buccaneer State Park offers fishing, camping, and hiking activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Biloxi
Biloxi is located on the pretty Mississippi Gulf Coast in Harrison County’s southeastern portion, bounded partially by Biloxi Bay in the northeast and the Mississippi Sound in the south. This “playground of the South” is a perfect blend of scenic beauty, interesting attractions, eclectic eateries, and shining casinos that line the Beach Boulevard. Biloxi invites water lovers to spend a day riding the waves, take a shrimping trip on a Biloxi Schooner, jet-ski in the Gulf of Mexico, or relax in the immaculate white-sand beaches. Sightseers must tour the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Old Biloxi Cemetery, Biloxi Visitors Center & Biloxi Lighthouse, and Beauvoir – the final residence of Jefferson Davis – the former Confederate President. Additionally, vacationers can hang out at the town’s amusement parks and mini-golf courses, or participate in annual events like the Blessing of the Fleet, and Biloxi Mardi Gras.
Ocean Springs
About 2 miles east of Biloxi is the charming coastal town Of Ocean Springs which forms a part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area in Southeastern Mississippi’s Jackson County. The oak tree-lined streets of the town’s walkable downtown feature over 200 independent shops, boutiques, galleries, and ethnic eating joints serving mouthwatering seafood. Ocean Springs is especially popular for its colorful art scene at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, the family-owned Shearwater Pottery, and Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, as well as the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, Mississippi’s biggest fine arts festival drawing over 120,000 art lovers. Only a short walk from downtown, one can spend time digging one’s toes in Front Beach’s white sands, enjoy many water-side recreational activities at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and stop by the L&N Depot Plaza that houses the Ocean Springs Welcome Center.
Port Gibson
Port Gibson, Mississippi’s third-oldest European-American settlement and Claiborne County’s seat, is situated on a curve of the Bayou Pierre near the Mississippi River, about 28 miles south of Vicksburg. Aptly upholding its motto: “Too beautiful to burn,” the town is distinguished for its graceful antebellum mansions, stately churches, and commercial center, all of which were spared destruction following the 1863 Battle of Port Gibson. Sightseers must not miss the town’s famed attractions like Windsor’s standing Corinthian columns, A.K. Shaifer House, Collina Plantation Inn, Mississippi Blues Trail, Old Country Store Restaurant, Grand Gulf Military Park, Claiborne County Courthouse, Bethel Presbyterian Church, and Wintergreen Cemetery. Annually the town celebrates its rich history and culture through the Port Gibson Main Street Heritage Festival, where apart from arts, music, and the Mississippi Venison Cook-off, special guided tours to the town’s noted historic sites are also offered.
Cleveland
One of the two seats of government of Bolivar County, Cleveland lies along the 168.1-mile-long Mississippi Highway 8, around 19 miles southeast of Rosedale and the mighty Mississippi River. This 11,199-resident town at the heart of the Mississippi Delta region besides housing the main campus of Delta State University, is widely known for its musical heritage. Linked with several top-class Blues musicians, Cleveland is also the site of four Mississippi Blues Trail markers. The town’s notable attractions include the Bologna Performing Arts Center, Ellis Theater, Boo Ferriss Baseball Museum, Amzie Moore House, Grammy Museum Mississippi, Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum, Railroad Heritage Museum, Maring & Sue King Railroad Museum, and Dockery Farms. Every year, Cleveland’s downtown transforms into a stunning Christmas wonderland from mid-November until the New Year with the display of more than 1,000,000 Christmas lights during the 50 Nights of Lights celebration.
Corinth
Alcorn County’s administrative center, Corinth is situated in the state’s northeastern portion at the junction of U.S. Route 45 and U.S. Route 72, approximately 85 miles east of Memphis. Founded as Cross City in 1853 and later renamed Corinth after an ancient Greek city, the town allures heritage buffs to visit its many fascinating sites of interest such as the Siege & Battle of Corinth sites, Downtown & Midtown Corinth Historic Districts, Veranda House, Fort Williams, and Corinth National Cemetery. Museums like the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, Black History Museum, Museum of Southern Culture, and Northeast Mississippi Museum provide exclusive insights into the town’s glorious bygone days. Situated 20 miles northeast of Corinth, the Pickwick Landing State Park provides adventure enthusiasts with hiking, camping, and picnicking opportunities around the Pickwick Lake reservoir.
New Albany
Nicknamed, “The Fair and Friendly City,” the seat of government of Union County is placed between the rolling hills of Northern Mississippi and the shores of the Tallahatchie River. Originally settled in 1840 around a grist and sawmill site, the community served as a buzzing river port and a regional agricultural and commercial hub. Vacationers from worldwide come to visit this hometown of the celebrated Nobel Prize-winning American author William Faulkner, as well as tour its thriving downtown area, crammed with specialty shops, locally-owned boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, and restaurants where one can taste everything from delicious burgers, fried chickens, and pimento cheese sandwiches. Traverse the 43.6-mile-long Tanglefoot Trail – an asphalt-covered rail trail that runs within the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, and observe the different exhibits at the Union County Heritage Museum, the age-old Ingomar Indian Mounds, watch a live performance at the Magnolia Civic Center and Cine Theatre, and enjoy a walk along the Tallahatchie River at the Park Along the River & Mississippi Arboretum.
From the high-spirited college town of Oxford to the artistic vibe of Ocean Springs, the Magnolia State has no shortage of offbeat towns. Each of these towns tempts weekenders and holidaymakers to come either for a weekend trip or an extended vacation and experience their quintessential Southern charm. So, pack your bags, and embark on a journey to discover some of Mississippi’s offbeat destinations.
