8 Overlooked Towns In Mississippi Worth Visiting

From music-filled downtowns to interesting Civil War history to tongue-tingling dining spots serving delicious catfish and hush puppies, Mississippi's towns have something for everyone. Although people troop to well-known vacation hot spots like Natchez, Bay St. Louis, and Oxford, widely regarded as the Literary Capital of the South, the Magnolia State has several other charming spots that often leave first-time visitors completely blown away. Starting with Port Gibson, discover overlooked towns in Mississippi worth visiting.

Port Gibson

Port Gibson is a small, historic town on the Natchez Trace Parkway about 60 miles southwest of Ridgeland and 40 miles northeast of Natchez. The parkway is considered one of the most enjoyable drives on the continent, meaning the journey to Port Gibson can just be as rewarding as the destination. Port Gibson is Mississippi’s third-oldest settlement and was a memorable theatre of action during Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. Because Grant believed the city was “too beautiful to burn,” several buildings in town survived the Civil War. Grand Gulf Military Park, which sits on a 450-acre landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the campgrounds to a museum with artifacts from the Civil War, to beautiful picnic areas and hiking trails, this place is often the star of the show. There is Blue Barn Theatre, which offers live theatre experiences, the Old Country Store, a nostalgic restaurant known for its fried chicken, scrumptious collard greens, and other Southern specialties, and the nearby Sunken Trace, a unique piece of history in itself.

Starkville

In the ecosystem of college towns, Oxford often gets a lot of attention. However, without diminishing what Oxford offers, Starkville is also an epic destination to visit by itself and can hold its own against some of the state's finest. Think of a thriving art scene with fun-filled events like the King Cotton Crawfish Boil, the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, which celebrates the life and work of the 18th president with eye-opening memorabilia and exhibits, a baseball game at Dudy Noble Field, a football game at Davis Wade Stadium, or a decadent brunch at one of the town's inviting restaurants. The campus of Mississippi State has buildings from the 19th century and beautifully kept landscaping, meaning you will want to explore the grounds on foot and take in the college feel.

Stop by Chadwick Lake to fish, enjoy a picnic, or just drift into bliss. History lovers have the deceivingly small Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, a nostalgic space filled with significant amounts of local history from Native American and the earliest days of life in the county to local sports celebrities and military artifacts.

Cleveland

With its music-centric downtown, vibrant cultural flair, and a historic university that has been a fixture of the town for about a century, Cleveland is always a fun place to explore. Delta State University, a stand-alone attraction by itself, has a large sculpture garden to mesmerize the senses and the Mississippi Chinese Heritage Museum, which preserves the heritage of a small but significant Chinese immigrant community. Dockery Farms, where Charley Patton learned the blues, is always a big hit with visitors.

Meanwhile, Cleveland hosts “Sip and Shop” events on the third Thursday of every month, when people stroll, shop, sip, and enjoy the downtown vibe. Additionally, Amzie Moore, a leader in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, resided in Cleveland. Today, his home is a museum where people come to learn more about his legacy as well as the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. Music lovers and historians have the Grammy Museum, a 28,000-square-foot space that explores the diversity and cultural impact of American music. Crown the day with refreshing smoothies and healthy acai bowls at Mississippi Juice Company.

Greenville

Greenville is a small town of just under 30,000 residents and is considered one of the Mississippi Delta’s best-kept secrets. Mississippi’s Washington County, where Greenville is, was once famous for blind tiger booze, craps shooting, and juke joints. Although a lot has changed, the casinos that today draw gamblers from every nook of the region keep one of Greenville's most well-known traditions alive. Tropicana Casino, smack in the heart of Greenville's Entertainment District, boasts beautiful views of Lake Ferguson and over 600 slot machines.

Don't miss out on the food. Doe's Eat Place, whose history goes back to the 1940s, is known for its legendary steaks, Delta-style hot tamales, and classic menu. Their Garlic bread makes for a delicious accompaniment to any dish. Update your travel diary with the fact that the Delta Hot Tamale Festival lights up the town every October. Greenville Cypress Preserve Trust offers a delightful breeze through beautiful evergreens and is a cute place for calm and clarity.

Corinth

You will be transported to Ancient Greece and to a historic namesake associated with the Temple of Aphrodite, but while this Mississippi jewel is thousands of miles away from what was once a Pan-Hellenic cultural hub, it is nearly as historic. You can start your adventure at the Veranda House, which served as the headquarters during the Civil War. Then, check out the iconic Borroum's Drug Store and Soda Fountain, one of the oldest continuously running drugstores and soda fountains in the state, with a history dating back to the 1860s.

Meanwhile, don't skip Shiloh National Military Park Corinth Interpretive Center, an expertly curated Civil War museum dedicated to the historic Battle of Corinth, which turned out to be a crucial Union victory that secured the vital railroad hub for the Union. For delicious ribs, briskets, or pulled pork, Rib Shack is the stand-out recommendation.

New Albany

New Albany is proud to be the birthplace of William Faulkner, considered by many critics to be America's greatest writer of the 20th century. His parents lived in a simple frame house on the corner of Jefferson and Cleveland Streets before moving to nearby Oxford, today considered the Literary Capital of the South. You will want to bike along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on the 44-mile-long Rails to Trails pathway, then check out the Ingomar Mounds, a Middle Woodland Mound Site dated to approximately 2,200 years ago.

Besides providing a rare opportunity to witness early Native American earthworks, the mounds are unique for combining meaningful cultural heritage with a quietly beautiful natural setting. Stop by The Vintage Market for an ice cream sundae, then turn back the wheels of time at Union County Heritage Museum, next to William Faulkner Literary Garden.

Brookhaven

Brookhaven is called “the Most Victorian Town in Mississippi” and has one of the most beautiful Main Streets in the South. You will admire beautiful red-brick storefronts tastefully interspersed with heart-warming flower planters, as you soak up the hypnotic charm that pervades the entire stretch.

You can grab a front-row seat for a live performance at the Little Haven Theater, which holds the distinction of being the longest continuously running community theatre in Mississippi (it was founded in 1968), or experience one of the most unique festivals in the state: the Brookhaven Exchange Club Fair. Typically held the last weekend of July and the first of August, this is the only stationary fair in Mississippi that is still operating. Pick something special at Lolli’s Gift Shop, then crown the day with Southern-style seafood at Poppa's Buffet & Grill.

Clarksdale

Although Mississippi has quite a number of wonderful small towns to visit, it is inconceivable that many still overlook a neat and lively community considered “the Birthplace of the Blues.” True to its heritage, Clarksdale boasts live music 365 days of the year. You can count on your fingers American towns where music is such an ever-present fixture.

You will want to see the legendary Crossroads, ostensibly the site where Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil to secure his genius-level guitar skills, mill around the Delta Blues Museum, the perfect spot for a crash course in blues history (it is the state’s oldest music museum), then paddle the Lower Mississippi River, preferably with the help of one of the town's outfitters. Quapaw Canoe Company, for instance, provides high-quality guided canoe adventures on the area’s turbulent beauties.

So, although there is some sense of assurance that comes with visiting big names and well-established vacation destinations, discovering some beautiful best-kept secrets and small hidden gems is the ultimate adventure. The experience is often more intimate, and you will contend with fewer crowds. Fortunately, the Magnolia State has them by the dozens. The trick is to know where to look.