7 Of The Quietest Mississippi Towns
Tourists looking for quiet and solitary vacations in Mississippi will have little difficulty finding them in these small towns. Venturing into Flora’s Petrified Forest feels like stepping into another world, and visitors can even leave the forest with a piece of wood as a souvenir. New Albany’s William Faulkner Literary Garden is a public garden that is the perfect place to get lost in a great novel. These seven quiet Mississippi towns offer blues music history, downtown districts with annual events, and acres of natural wonders.
Water Valley
Once known as “Railroad Park,” Water Valley’s Main Street has stood at the heart of town since the Illinois Central Railroad arrived in 1857. It was the site of cotton trading and World War II send-offs, and is now the home of Watermelon Carnivals during the first weekend in August, which has an estimated 20,000 attendees every year. The Casey Jones Railroad Museum is another piece of Water Valley history, celebrating the legendary railroad engineer, Casey Jones, with artifacts and memorabilia.
Water Valley feels remote, but there are still lovely things to do. It exists in its own bubble with plenty of activities to participate in and natural landscapes to discover in and out of town. The Water Valley Landing, located west of town along the banks of Enid Lake, offers over 29 relaxing campsites and picnic areas with over 40,000 acres of forests surrounding the lake. Visitors will have difficulty finding a more peaceful environment in Mississippi.
Flora
Flora is a small town with a small community, welcoming newcomers to tour their town and the lands surrounding it. For as charming as Flora is, the must-see attractions sit just beyond its downtown district. The Mississippi Petrified Forest is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Flora, or the state of Mississippi in general. The Petrified Forest casts a “soothing spell” with scents of wildflowers and honeysuckle vines. Visitors can browse collections of petrified wood and minerals at the Earth Science Museum and purchase a piece of petrified wood from the gift shop to remember the trip.
The Resting-Place Retreat sits just outside Flora, with events including tours of their pumpkin patch and campsite and cabin rentals. Visitors can also book birthday, wedding, and reunion events around the site. This is just one of many outdoor excursions that visitors can encounter around Flora.
New Albany
New Albany is a charming town on the Tallahatchie River with plenty of events and attractions that honor the town’s previous residents and heritage. The Tallahatchie Riverfest is free to the community and visitors, with live outdoor music, vendors, and, of course, lots of community spirit.
New Albany tourists will find beautiful murals throughout the town, each celebrating local history, nature, and community pride, funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant for professional artists. William Faulkner Literary Garden is a public garden with private spaces for reading and events, honoring the Nobel Prize-winning writer the park was named after. Just outside of New Albany, visitors can start their journey along Tanglefoot Trail, north Mississippi’s longest “Rails to Trails” conversion for hiking and biking through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Raymond
The beauty of Raymond lies in its history and the town’s dedication to preserving that history and sharing it with others in the form of preserved landmarks and beautiful art pieces. Raymond’s town square houses multiple structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, such as the Hinds County Courthouse, built between 1857 and 1859, and the Gibbs-Von Seutter House, built around 1836.
The Friends of Raymond, a non-profit historic preservation organization, commissioned artist Albert Smathers to create “Raymond, Then and Now,” a mural that symbolizes his appreciation for Raymond and Mississippi’s values. The organization also contributed to the preservation of the Battle of Raymond historic spot, transforming it into the Raymond Military Park and opening its doors to interested tourists.
Port Gibson
Port Gibson is a small town, both geographically and in population, but it sits in a prime location at the intersection of several major highways and parkways, just east of the Mississippi River. The Port Gibson Visitor Center is a great place to start any visit to Port Gibson. They have all the information on where to go and what to see. They will likely recommend visiting the Windsor Ruins, located approximately 12 miles from the center. The Ruins were once the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion in Mississippi, used as a temporary hospital during the Civil War.
Just north of Port Gibson, the Sunken Trace is a historic roadside stop of the original Natchez Trace, presenting a preserved, eroded section of that old trail. This is a fantastic stop for tourists passing by, but it also offers a short walking trail towards the sunken corridor, inviting people to stay a while and immerse themselves in this unusual hike.
Holly Springs
Located within the rolling hills of northern Mississippi, Holly Springs offers the best of two worlds: an involved, collaborative community with historic landmarks dispersed across its main streets, and a plethora of natural excursions located just a short drive away.
Holly Springs suggests a driving tour that will take tourists to see more than 25 antebellum homes, including the Burton Place, built in 1848. The Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery displays 1,200 paintings by “Miss Kate” during her years studying at the Carnegie Institute. Just a short drive away, visitors can leave the downtown district and the sounds of traffic behind as they reach the Holly Springs National Forest. Be sure to check for road closures ahead of time, as downed trees can make them harder to navigate.
Tunica Resorts
Sitting right next to the Mississippi River, Tunica Resorts offers some of the most entertaining casinos in the state, including the nearby Gold Strike Casino Resort, and visitors will have no difficulty finding a casino to their liking. Outside of this, Tunica Resorts celebrates Mississippi’s blues music history.
The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center on Highway 61 was established in a rustic train depot, built in 1895. The museum and visitors center is a must-see stop for all music lovers, but it’s just the first part of the journey that stretches across Mississippi. Visitors can start their journey along the Mississippi Blues Trail, encountering 120 historical markers throughout the state, each holding their own significance and story pertaining to music.
In a state like Mississippi, with winding trails and endless natural wonders to explore, knowing where to look is so crucial to building a lasting, unforgettable experience. These quiet Mississippi towns move at their own paces and encourage newcomers to do the same. If you like learning about musical history while exploring the state, the Mississippi Blues Trail is the path to take. If you enjoy learning about structures on the National Register of Historic Places, then Raymond’s town square is the place to visit. Your trip, at your speed and volume.
