7 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In Mississippi
Some places in Mississippi can make you feel like you have stepped into a storybook. The state is home to small towns with a quiet magic all their own. You can expect handsome town squares and towering canopy oaks. The pace is intimate and slow. Deep Southern hospitality drives all of it. Here are seven of the best fairy-tale towns in Mississippi to explore.
Ocean Springs
Located on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Ocean Springs is celebrated for its vibrant arts community, a top destination for dining, and is deeply rooted in history that dates all the way back to 1699 when the French landed at the site. To learn more about the history of the town, you can pay a visit to the Ocean Springs Museum of History, where you will find exhibits dedicated to the rich cultural heritage of the town with Native American artifacts, the Fort Maurepas site, and a walkthrough of the town's evolution into the seaside resort destination it is known for today. To satisfy your sweet tooth during your time at Ocean Springs, stop by Pop Brothers for a popsicle made with one of fifty flavors of fresh fruits, creams, and spices.
Bay St. Louis
In Bay St. Louis, you will be treated to a laid-back, walkable marina town with fishing boats lined up and ready to catch the day's fill for all of the seafood lovers out and about. Speaking of food, a place to grab a bite to eat for brunch or just a casual cup of coffee, stop by the Mockingbird Cafe for delicacies like chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, lattes, and other delicious platters. At Bay St. Louis Beach, you can enjoy a laid-back day on the sea and shore while swimming in the calm waters, enjoying water sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing, and enjoying the lively art and dining scene adjacent to the beach after a long day of splashing in the waves. The Angel Tree is a two-hundred-year-old oak tree that survived the harsh winds and rain of Hurricane Katrina. Now, its new purpose is to symbolize hope and survival, standing proud and tall to demonstrate the resilience Bay St. Louis has.
Natchez
Natchez is the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River, known for the immaculately preserved antebellum mansions that were spared from the destruction the Civil War caused. One way to explore these immaculate mansions is to visit the Rosalie Mansion & Gardens, a pre-Civil War estate home to various 19th-century antiques that served as a Union Army headquarters during the Civil War. Another historical, yet unusual, landmark to see in Natchez is the Forks of the Road. Why is it called Forks of the Road, you may ask? The site where these forks are was once a part of the second-largest domestic slave market in the Deep South that operated from 1833 until 1863. The forks represent the intersection of several early American frontier roads like Liberty and Washington Road. If you are coming to Natchez in October, then you will be able to witness the Natchez Balloon Race taking place. Every year, the Natchez skies come alive as colorful hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes take to the skies over the Mississippi River. The balloons are not the only reason that people come to the race; there are also food vendors, an arts and crafts festival, carnival games, and live music with a fireworks show to conclude the night.
Water Valley
When one comes to visit the town of Water Valley, you can expect to visit a town that is rich in railroad heritage, deep agricultural roots, and is home to its annual Watermelon Carnival. On the first weekend in August, Water Valley comes alive with everything and anything to do with watermelons. The two-day event consists of a grand parade, live musical entertainment, an antique car show, a 5K/10K run, arts and crafts vendors, and, of course, freshly grown watermelon as far as the eye can see. At the Violet Valley Bookstore, you will find different works that are published by inclusive and local writers and operates as an independent book hub right on Water Valley's North Main Street. It is a safe and welcoming place for everyone to sit down and read a good book. Sweet Mamas is a diner with a reimagined twist if you are looking for something truly unique for a Southern-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Instead of the standard dishes that you would find at any diner, you will find classic Southern and deli comfort foods like salads, Reuben sandwiches, after-church Sunday platters, griddle cakes, and biscuit platters. There is something for everyone on the menu.
Columbus
With its rich literary roots, deep Southern heritage, and antebellum architecture, Columbus, Mississippi, is full of interesting places to explore. One interesting fact about Columbus is that it is the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams, the author of classics like The Night of the Iguana, The Rose Tattoo, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. One way to learn about his legacy is to visit the Tennessee Williams Home & Welcome Center, where you can take a tour of the restored birthplace of the playwright himself, and it also serves as a welcome center for tourists and new residents to get familiar with Columbus and what the town has to offer. For a bite to eat, stop by the Old Hickory Steak House, where steak is the main attraction of the restaurant itself. Everything from sirloins, ribeyes, New York Strips, and T-Bones are served with side dishes of baked potatoes, salads, garlic toast, and bread, and endless mugs of beer are poured once the cup is emptied. The Bountiful Harvest Farms offer a wondrous collection of seasonal produce, heirloom vegetables, and microgreens for you to pick and choose from. The perfect time to visit is April through November when market season is riding high in the town.
Vicksburg
Dubbed "The Key Of The South" by President Abraham Lincoln, Vicksburg is celebrated for its deep roots connected to the Civil War and is where Coca-Cola was first bottled. Speaking of Coca-Cola, a way to learn about how Coca-Cola came to be is to visit the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum. The building is home to a large collection of vintage antique signs, delivery trucks, and early Coca-Cola artifacts from when the first bottle of Coca-Cola was bottled, and to satisfy your sweet tooth, the museum's 1890s-style candy shop and office has been repurposed to serve its patrons fountain Cokes, ice cream, and floats. Centered around its Civil War connections, specifically the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg, is the Vicksburg National Military Park, a protected historical site that commemorates the events that took place in 1863 and houses reconstructed forts, trenches, and a restored Union ironclad gunboat. For a night at the theater, the Strand Theater offers a cozy, intimate entertainment experience where documentaries, foreign films, and classics are shown, alongside live theatrical performances and musical acts. All of which are served with free popcorn and locally served beer and wine.
Oxford
The town of Oxford, Mississippi, is home to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and because of it, the town has been dubbed a "college town." However, just because Oxford is filled with college students out and about doesn't mean that there isn't anything exhilarating to do. In fact, Oxford has so many interesting things to do and see during your time there. For instance, the South Campus Rail Trail is the perfect place to take a quick hike in the woods that are adjacent to the main campus. The trail is also great for biking, walking your dogs, or just going for your morning jog. For some retail fun, visit Neilson's Department Store, the oldest department store in the South that sells men's, women's, and children's clothing, gifts, home goods, and even a bridal registry. Every time you shop, you are sure to find something with a unique Southern flair. For a bite to eat, grab a table at Ajax Diner, where Southern specialties like country-fried steak, fried catfish, meatloaf, and Mississippi pot roast, along with side dishes of squash casserole, fried okra, and cheese grits, are ready for you to delight your taste buds with. The menu also has burgers, classic po'boys, and daily plate lunch specials that have visitors coming back for more.
Visiting A Fairy-Tale Town Is A Wonderful Experience
A lot of these towns will have you feel as if you have stepped into the stories you have come to know and love for years. However, visiting one in Mississippi takes things to the next level, as aside from the storybook feel that these seven towns have, they are also home to rich Southern history, striking natural landscapes, and architectural wonders you cannot find anywhere else in the world. While many people associate this kind of charm with European villages, these Mississippi towns feature incredible discoveries that will make you feel like you are frozen in time.
