11 Mississippi Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
Southern hospitality gets talked about a lot in Mississippi, and the small towns are where you actually see it. In Kosciusko, the whole county turns out for the summer fair. In Corinth, regulars have eaten at the same old drugstore lunch counter for generations. These are places built around knowing your neighbors, and eleven of them make an easy case for a weekend visit.
Bay St. Louis
A coastal town of about 11,000 residents, Bay St. Louis draws a crowd with its art galleries, cafes, and seafood. The town calls itself "a place for free spirits and curious travelers," and it makes good on that at casinos like the Hollywood Casino and the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel.
More color awaits at the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum, which celebrates the work of the folk artist. In the evenings, sample flavors at the Barracuda Taco Stand, then take in live music at Dan B. Murphy's downtown.
Biloxi
Biloxi, pronounced 'bih-LUK-see,' is a larger coastal spot with plenty to recommend it. The town has miles of white-sand beachfront, which makes it a natural choice for sun-seeking couples, families, and singles. Kids love Ocean Adventures Marine Park, about 20 miles west in Gulfport, which has dolphin shows and other ocean wildlife.
Reflecting its Civil War connections, Biloxi is also home to the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library & Museum. Davis is famous in U.S. history as the one and only president of the Confederate States of America, the group of states that separated from the Union during the Civil War. The site sits at nearby Beauvoir, a plantation-style manor that was Davis' home. Biloxi's other historical sites include the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, which covers the local legacies of fishing and other Gulf-based livelihoods.
Corinth
In the state's northeast corner, the small town of Corinth puts its own stamp on the Civil War's ties to the region. At the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, a U.S. National Park location, visitors can learn how this place functioned as a strategic rail hub in the conflict. The town is also home to the Corinth Contraband Camp site, where thousands of formerly enslaved people sought refuge and established a community under Union protection. Statues at the site illustrate this part of history.
The town also features more modern places of interest, including the Corinth Coke Museum. The local Coca-Cola bottling company has operated here since the early 1900s, and its museum across from the headquarters displays vintage machines and memorabilia. An old-school drugstore lunch counter still operates at Borroum's Drug Store, considered the oldest such site in Mississippi.
Diamondhead
Back on the Gulf Coast, Diamondhead is great for pleasure-seekers. Families appreciate the town's numerous pools, parks, and golf courses, including the Club Swimming Pool and Splash Pad, which help beat the summertime heat. More natural adventures are on offer at the Jourdan River Coastal Preserve, a sanctuary of over 6,400 acres that is home to various plants and animals, especially birds like the region's cormorants and pelicans.
Diamondhead offers its share of culture, too. The Camphouse, a restaurant specializing in local seafood, serves its meals with a seaside view. North of here, the Rotten Bayou Cemetery (its real name) has been a burial ground since the 1800s. Before the expansion of local roads, funeral processions traveled to and from Rotten Bayou by boat.
Hattiesburg
North of the Gulf, south-central Hattiesburg appeals to visitors in more subtle ways. Its motto, "Where life happens," suggests as much. The town of nearly 50,000 has a strong live music scene, along with local eateries and a family-friendly atmosphere. The Hattiesburg Zoo welcomes animal fans of all ages, while the Serengeti Springs Water Park, located inside the zoo, lets kids cool off on multi-story water slides.
Adults may take an interest in how the town combines historical elements. The African American Military History Museum, in a building from 1942, honors the contributions of African-American veterans from the Revolutionary War through today. For some lighter notes, try the Saenger Theater, a historic and much-loved music venue in town.
Kosciusko
Bearing the name of the Polish commander who helped secure victory in the U.S. Revolutionary War, Kosciusko, in central Mississippi, holds a wealth of history. The Kosciusko Information Center offers useful background on the Polish figure Tadeusz Kosciuszko, as well as the surrounding Natchez Trace area. The Trace, which runs right past town at milepost 160, is an ancient route once used as a Native American path. For more modern fun, Kosciusko hosts the Central Mississippi Fair every summer.
Hungry travelers should seek out Jason's Southern Table or Honey's Place, both in town. Kosciusko is also the birthplace of media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
Oxford
North-central Oxford may be Mississippi's most storied small town. Billed as "the cultural mecca of the South," this is the home of William Faulkner, one of America's foremost writers and the winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. A proud southerner, Faulkner helped define his region's identity, using the same fictional places, often based on nearby locations, across his many novels. Faulkner's historic home, Rowan Oak, welcomes visitors.
Oxford is also the quintessential southern college town. The University of Mississippi, also called Ole Miss, has stood here since 1848. For shopping and the spirit of this storied place, head to The Square, Oxford's main downtown and pedestrian area.
Pascagoula
In Mississippi's southeast corner, the town of Pascagoula wears its history with pride. The LaPointe-Krebs House and Museum, Mississippi's oldest scientifically confirmed structure, was built in 1757 and offers a look into the colonial tensions between Spanish, French, and English claims to this region. Families traveling with children will enjoy the Round Island Lighthouse, which shares stories of battles, pirates, and other seafaring histories.
For a taste of the truly local, Bozo's Seafood Market and Deli offers everything promised in its name. For a more upscale option, consider Brady's Steaks and Seafood. And to unwind after a long travel day, head to Jack's By the Tracks for live music.
Senatobia
Senatobia, in the state's northwest, lays claim to Mississippi's part in the blues. This onetime railroad town sits along the Mississippi Blues Trail, a driving route for music fans from all over the world. The town is known for the specific subgenre called hill country blues. For other music legacies, the legendary Beale Street, in the Tennessee city of Memphis, lies a half-hour's drive north. Nature fans will appreciate Senatobia's setting away from major development. The local lakes, such as Sardis, are good for boating, fishing, and waterside relaxation.
Tupelo
The town of Tupelo is famous among rock'n'roll fans as the birthplace and hometown of Elvis Presley. Since Presley rose to superstardom in the 1950s, fans have flocked to Tupelo to pay homage to his roots. Visitors can take in the Elvis Presley Birthplace, a small house that nurtured a great talent. Gladys Presley, the star's mother, is said to have bought her son his first guitar in town.
Kids not yet interested in "the King," as Presley was known, will enjoy the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. Spread across more than 200 acres, it is the largest zoo in Mississippi. For Civil War buffs, a memorial to the 1864 Battle of Tupelo, with historic cannons, stands in town.
Yazoo City
Its name may be unusual, but Yazoo City, in the west-central part of the state, makes for a pleasant visit. The downtown has brightly painted storefronts, a great place for a family photo. Like Oxford, Yazoo City has its own literary heritage. The writer Willie Morris wrote about this place in the 1971 book "Good Old Boy," recounting his mischievous boyhood here during the 1950s.
Downtown, the Bank of Yazoo City is a strong example of the Beaux Arts architectural style, built after a 1904 fire. Today's film fans may recognize the building from its appearance in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou." Spend an afternoon outdoors at popular Wolf Lake, a few miles northwest of here.
A Warm Southern Welcome
These towns show how much Mississippi has to offer visitors looking for a real Southern welcome. The coastal spots at Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, and Pascagoula have taken in newcomers for generations, while inland towns like Kosciusko and Yazoo City fold visitors into county fairs and Main Street life. Families find kid-friendly stops at the Serengeti Springs Water Park in Hattiesburg, the Gulf Coast beach towns, and Tupelo's Buffalo Park and Zoo. With a heritage combining literature, music, casinos, and seafood, Mississippi's smaller towns treat visitors as friends.
