6 Delightful Towns to Visit in Mississippi
Welcome to Mississippi, the Magnolia State, where delightful towns and rich cultural heritage warmly invite visitors to explore the heart of the South. Mississippi boasts a mix of lovely towns, each with its unique historical and cultural significance, like Bay St. Louis, a quaint beach town with a vibrant arts scene, Natchez’s Native American heritage and antebellum architecture, and Cleveland, known as the "soul of the state." Canton is celebrated for its picturesque film locations and historical architecture; New Albany invites visitors to explore the scenic Tanglefoot Trail and the Tallahatchie River, while Holly Springs may well be "Mississippi’s best-kept secret."
Bay St. Louis
With a population of just over 10,000, the artsy beach town of Bay St. Louis exudes old-fashioned Southern charm with its arts community and eclectic storefronts. Money Magazine recently recognized Bay St. Louis as one of the "50 Best Places to Live in the US" in 2024, and it’s easy to see why. It is an hour’s drive from the “Big Easy” over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway—the longest continuous bridge over water—but visitors don’t need to go anywhere with so much to do right in Bay St. Louis.
Venture to the trendy Old Town for shops, art galleries, and restaurants like the Thorny Oyster, the beach-friendly restaurant and bar, The Blind Tiger, or the Mockingbird Café, where visitors can also take a yoga class at Treehouse Yoga post-café. Located in the historic Bay St. Lous Train Depot, the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum is a tribute to the American folk artist renowned for very whimsical paintings of rural Southern life. Also in the depot, the Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum features elaborate Mardi Gras costumes. Explore the Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches by renting a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Bodega Adventure Rentals. Launch it from the beach to paddle around landmarks like the fishing pier, the railroad bridge, and the Bay St. Louis Bridge.
Natchez
Natchez, named after the Native Americans who once settled in the area, is historically significant for its contributions to Native American heritage, antebellum architecture, and its role in the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Key Native American sites to visit include the Grand Village in the 128-acre Natchez National Historical Park, which features three ceremonial mounds, a Natchez Indian house, and a museum; the Emerald Mound, one of the largest mounds in North America at nearly eight acres; and the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. Other important sites are the Fork of the Road slave market, one of the largest in the United States, Fort Rosalie, and Glenfield, once a thriving cotton plantation until Union troops occupied it during the Civil War.
Natchez is renowned for its historic antebellum homes with column-lined porches and towering oak trees draped heavily with Spanish moss, many of which are open for guided tours. Not-to-be-missed homes include Stanton Hall, Linden, the oldest surviving house in town, Longwood, famous for its octagonal design and unfinished interior as the Civil War interrupted construction, and the stunning Towers. Gourmands will love dining in Natchez at restaurants like the storied Magnolia Grill in historic Natchez Under-the-Hill, a district that once was home to a more eclectic crowd; The Camp, and Restaurant 1818 at the Monmouth Historic Inn.
Cleveland
Cleveland is a charming small Southern town in the Mississippi Delta region. At 200 miles long and 87 miles wide, the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta is the section of land between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers. With almost 7,000 square miles of alluvial floodplain, the area is one of the most fertile in the country. Cleveland is considered the soul of the state thanks to its deep ties to American music history and is only one of three towns outside of Los Angeles to have a Grammy Museum. Visit the museum to learn about the history of the Grammy Awards, listen to great performances, and stop by a producing pod to write and record a blues song.
In addition to music, the town loves its local artists and hosts the Crosstie Arts & Jazz Festival annually. Cotton Row in historic downtown Cleveland features a mix of specialty shops, boutiques, and art galleries. Look for one-of-a-kind antiques, vinyl, and clothing at Moonstruck Antique Flea Market, Studio 230, and nearby McCarty's Pottery, which has become famous for its delta clay pottery. Catch a show at the Bologna Performing Arts Center in Cleveland, and then have dinner at the Delta Meat Market, which features a butcher shop and a farm-to-table dining experience.
Canton
Twenty-five miles north of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, the town of Canton is so picturesque that it was used as the location in several well-known movies, including O Brother, Where Art Thou?, A Time to Kill, and Mississippi Burning. The Canton Cinema and museum contain artifacts from several movie shoots, and tours are available to visit some of the set locations.
Visitors to Canton can enjoy historic architecture, such as the Madison County Courthouse. While the 1855-built courthouse no longer operates, the courtyard is the town's centerpiece. The very popular annual Canton Flea Market Arts & Craft Show is held on the second Thursday in May and October every year. Other important architecturally significant sites include the Old Madison County Jail, built in 1870 and one of the most well-preserved 19th-century jailhouses in Mississippi, the home of Sister Thea Bowman, who was a prominent African American Roman Catholic religious sister considered for canonization, and the Hickory Street or “Hollow” area which the location of many of Madison County’s early black-owned businesses, and is a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
New Albany
One hour south of Memphis, the picturesque town of New Albany is a gateway to the 44-mile Tanglefoot Trail, a long hiking and biking trail that runs through downtown New Albany. The trail runs through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It passes through fields, forests, and wetlands following the route of the railroad built by the great-grandfather of award-winning author William Faulkner. Though he spent his childhood in nearby Oxford, Mississippi, William Faulkner was born in New Albany, and the writer honors his legacy at the Union County Historical Society and Heritage Museum with a William Faulkner Literary Garden.
The Tallahatchie River also runs through town and offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and enjoying the natural scenery. The Tallahatchie Riverfest is an annual event in September that features outdoor concerts, arts and crafts, food vendors, and family-friendly fun.
Holly Springs
The small town of Holly Springs, with a population of just over 6,600, is sometimes called "Mississippi’s best-kept secret” for the sheer number of its historical landmarks. Like many neighboring towns, Holly Springs is known for its gorgeous antebellum homes, many open for tours. The city has 175 historic homes and several more landmarks commemorating significant moments during the Civil War era.
The town is home to the Ida B Wells-Barnett Museum. She is known internationally for her travels, raising awareness of the oppression of African Americans and women. Phillips Grocery is a historic eatery renowned for its award-winning burgers. Built in 1892, this former saloon-turned-grocery store became a restaurant in 1948. It is steeped in nostalgia, with vintage memorabilia, old signage, and historic photos, creating a unique dining experience.
For outdoor lovers, the 519,943-acre Holly Springs National Forest is a must-do activity. The region is full of small lakes and ponds, like Puskus Lake and Baker’s Pond, and the popular Chewalla Lake Recreation Area, where visitors can swim, fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie, and launch a boat. The North Cypress Non-Motorized Trail is a three-mile loop where hikes, mountain bikers, and horseback riders can travel through lush green forests and cross a dam with spectacular views for bird watching.
Mississippi’s delightful Southern towns exude charm and warmth, reflecting the state's rich cultural and historical heritage. These towns offer a mix of vibrant arts scenes, historic architecture, and welcoming communities. Known for its Southern hospitality, Mississippi invites visitors to explore local traditions, festivals, and natural beauty. Mississippi showcases the very best of Southern living.
