Trademark Southern charm, alluring natural scenery, and an engrossing cultural landscape vividly depict what to expect from the Magnolia State. Mississippi has vibrant communities, history, and serene small towns that offer a perfect escape. Here, you can find picturesque landscapes, friendly locals, and a pace of living that encourages relaxation and reflection.

Whether you’re strolling through Civil War battle sites in Port Gibson or simply taking in the beauty of the coastal landscapes of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi’s most relaxing communities invite you to slow down and appreciate life’s simple pleasures. The following towns invite you to slow down and gravitate toward what truly matters.

Natchez

This quaint community on the Mississippi River exudes Southern charm. Natchez is famous for several antebellum mansions that transport guests through time. A tour of Melrose offers a window into the pre-Civil War period, with a chance to browse rare furnishings from the times and admire its Greek Revival architecture. Additionally, Stanton Hall represents an excellent example of Classical Revival structures in the town. Constructed in the mid-19th century, it has a palatial facade that compels first-timers to snap a photo.

While Natchez hosts a string of festivals throughout the year, visiting during the Natchez Food and Wine Festival puts you in the ideal setting to let loose and forget your troubles. This fun extravaganza incorporates everything from Southern dishes and fine wines to intimate art to ensure guests have a memorable experience.

Bay St. Louis

Visitors can relax and rejuvenate in the welcoming atmosphere of Bay St. Louis. This Gulf Coast community beckons: convenient, clean, and uncrowded.

Bay St. Louis Theatre offers family-friendly theatrical productions that promise to induce a laugh. Meanwhile, history lovers will enjoy a tour of the Bay St. Louis Historic L & N Train Depot, which tells the story of rail in town.

Hattiesburg

With its green parks, welcoming community, and family-friendly attractions, Hattiesburg endears itself to travelers of all preferences. It encourages them to embrace the beautiful outdoors at Paul B Johnson State Park and make the most of countless recreational activities. These range from picnicking and boating to swimming and fishing on the shores of Geiger Lake. Meanwhile, the Longleaf Trace offers the perfect avenue to let your hair down and feel the wind on your face during a remarkable biking excursion along the paved 44-mile route.

Vacationing families can expect to have a blast at the Hattiesburg Zoo. This 12-acre sanctuary promises rare encounters with exotic wildlife species from across the globe, including flamingoes, emus, wallabies, and alligators.

Laurel

An eclectic arts scene draws holidayers to this pleasant Jones County locality. Laurel is home to multiple art venues, highlighted by the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. The facility boasts a world-class collection of over 2,000 items, including rare Native Indian antiques. Meanwhile, theatergoers can get inspired by watching performances at the Laurel Little Theatre. Beyond the arts, military heritage is on display at the Veterans Memorial Museum.

Alternatively, you can blow off steam in the quiet environment of Mason Memorial Park. This 25-acre nature space allows holidayers to reconnect with nature through lazy strolls and nonchalant picnics under shady trees.

Greenville

Greenville has something for everyone. Guests are spoilt for choice whenever they want to experience the open spaces. However, you can’t go wrong at Warfield Point Park. The little sanctuary has a cool environment and grassy picnic areas with unprecedented panoramas of the Mississippi River. The downtown area boasts a cluster of taverns like Spectators Pub & Patio.

Finally, the Greenville History Museum has eye-opening exhibits, including one about the Jewish community in Greenville.

Cleveland

Cleveland stands out among relaxing Mississippi towns because of the variety of experiences offered to tourists. It is home to the Grammy Museum of Mississippi, a music-centered venue paying tribute to the contributions of Mississippi residents to the music industry and the evolution of the Grammy Awards. Cleveland is also home to the Bologna Performing Arts Center, where local talent and college groups perform. This world-class venue at Delta State University stages entertaining theatrical performances, such as concerts, plays, and musicals.

Elsewhere, historically inclined visitors can peruse rare memorabilia and listen to fascinating stories depicting Asian heritage at the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum. Additionally, the Martin & Sue King Railroad Museum has exhibits on the railroad history in the south.

Columbus

Travelers should expect positive vibes in Columbus, Mississippi. Its residents are delightfully welcoming, earning the nickname the “Friendly City.” The town is along the Tombigbee River and the Columbus Riverwalk & Trail. This 4.4-mile route is a great attraction. But if you don’t mind a little commotion, you can catch an adrenaline-filled spectacle at the Magnolia Motor Speedway. The dirt track treats natives and visitors to fun races in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Meanwhile, downtown Columbus has an exciting display of antebellum structures. In addition to admiring the architecture of the Tennessee Williams Home & Welcome Center, stepping inside exposes tourists to the inspiring life of the celebrated playwright.

Port Gibson

Home to less than 2,000 residents, Port Gibson has a quintessential, small-town feel. The Grand Gulf Military State Park is located in Port Gibson. This 400-acre site hosted the Battle of Port Gibson, preserving the town’s landmark role during the historic conflict. Unsurprisingly, several historic homes provide a window into the bygone eras. The A.K. Shaifer House is prominent among them and transports you back to the 1820s, where the first shot marking the start of the Battle of Port Gibson was fired.

After the immersive trip down the region’s war heritage, you can free your mind and relax with a low-key round of golf at the beautiful Mosswood Golf Course. Or explore the Windsor Ruins ten miles outside of town: 23 standing Corinthian columns of the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in the state

Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is a quiet town. A laid-back coastal atmosphere allows visitors to let their guard down and revel in the tranquility of Ocean Springs Beach. Its smooth sands are ideal for lazy lounging as you wait for the spectacular sunsets over the water. Alternatively, you can mingle with the hospitable townspeople while shopping for assorted goods at the Ocean Springs Fresh Market. This is also an opportunity to savor delicious Southern-style seafood.

On the other hand, the indoor inclined will have a great time watching intimate artistic creations at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Furthermore, a charming experience awaits at the Charnley-Norwood House, which dates back to the 1890s and was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan.

Clarksdale

The Clarksdale community honors the blues. The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale exhibits memorabilia and artifacts about blues music. Numerous entertainment venues throughout downtown welcome guests to partake in their musical culture, including Ground Zero Blues Club. You can find a quiet corner spot and order booze as you listen to the live band play sweet tunes.

Clarksdale is also home to the landmark Cutrer Mansion. Built in 1916 by Bayard Cairnes, the Italian Renaissance building portrays various aspects of culture and history in the Mississippi Delta area.

Meridian

This charming Lauderdale County village has a vibrant art scene. Expect an immersive cultural experience, starting with a tour of the Meridian Museum of Art. The venue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and supports local arts through exhibitions, programs, and classes. For a dose of local culture, those who prefer live performances can opt for a show at the MSU Riley Center.

When not engrossed in the arts, you can relax on the green grounds of Bonita Lakes Park. The 3,300-acre nature area is an outdoor lover’s playground, rewarding travelers with recreations like hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and paddling on the lake’s calm waters.

Final Thought

Every once in a while, escape to any of the above relaxing Mississippi towns for a deserved break from the everyday hustle in the United States. These charming destinations invite you to unwind, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich history, and welcoming communities. Between taking nonchalant strolls on the sandy beaches of Ocean Springs and exploring the captivating history of Natchez, it is an invitation to embrace the slower pace of life in Mississippi and discover the tranquility that awaits in these hidden gems.

South Carolina women’s basketball traveled to Starkville and defeated the Bulldogs 95-68. Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell spoke to the media following the matchup.

Here’s everything he had to say.

What went wrong for Mississippi State midway through the second and into the third?

“I think it started with, you know, sometimes the whistle goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. And I think we had zero whistle calls for us in the second quarter. They had several. So then the game started slowing down. They got to the line, and then you can’t have seven turnovers in one quarter. We talked about that. We value the ball. We know we’ve done so good, but we just had some dagger turnovers that allowed them to get some easy transition opportunities. And then the next thing you know, I think with three minutes or 330 if I can recall correctly, in the second quarter. Now, they got the lead for the first time, and then that’s where the momentum changed.”

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What do you think is missing from this team overall?

“I don’t think there’s really anything missing. I really think you showed in the first quarter, when you get 22 to 13 to me, on the number one team in the country that you have the pieces. Now, it’s just making sure that they handle it all right. And this was my thing. I was writing my, you know, I was doing radio is you got to, you got to make sure that, you know what, how we handle, we learn from this, you know, you know, defines our next mindset, who we can become as a team, just focusing on self-improvement. If I can make sure each one and I got the talent to self-improve of where I’m making the turnovers or not trusting that extra plus-one pass, if everybody can have that mindset, then our team gets better. So that’s my message to them, when we come back in two days.”

What’d you see from your post defense today?

“You know, South Carolina was more committed scoring on from the outside than the inside because of (Madina Okot’s) presence, you know. And when you asked me that question earlier, what do we miss? And that’s where I know I’ve got a guard play and a post play where if Madina alters shot, here comes ‘Nir, then here comes Kayla. So it gives us a fighter’s chance every single night. So, you know, she just, Madina, just does all the little things. She never complains for the ball. We talked about how she leads the country in field goal percentage. So if anything, can we get her more touches?”

“So just proud of her growth, proud of this one. You know, again, the teams that we’re playing on this first month have a lot of returned experience. You know, me and Destiny were just talking about just some of the tone we need in that second quarter, when you could feel them coming, that we’ve got to collectively understand, that we need to have a demeanor about us that we punch somebody in the face, not literally, but stay on their necks when you know you’ve got the lead that this team will have to learn from this game tonight.”

Do you feel like you got help from Jerkaila Jordan and Madina Okot early on?

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“Like we said, Jerk’s one of the best players in the country, and then she lives for this moment. I thought she just had a demeanor about her that, you know, she made some tough shots, but most important was playing on both ends. And then your question about Madina, what was that? Yeah, just presence. We had a great job in executing that’s something we worked on. We had a lot of pick and roll. Lot of pick and rolls. And then when Jerk, we sub Jerk. That’s where Destiny came in. And you saw some electric plays. You know, Jerk was really causing two on one drop passes. They changed their coverage. And then here comes Destiny, making some unbelievable pick and roll layups and getting downhill where, again, that’s a collective team effort. And we talked about this game that it was going to have to be multiple bodies.”

“They played several kids, 15, 16, I’m looking here at the box score. So we had to rotate, and we had to do it together as a team. And I thought we did that. But again, the 20 turnovers were the dagger, they scored off, they scored 23 points, y’all, off our turnovers. That’s game kid. Yes, there’s not much else to say. I thought the free throws wasn’t that big of a deal. The rebounding was phenomenal. But yeah, you can’t give the number two team in the country 23 points off turnovers.

What was your message to the team after the game before Oklahoma?

“I mean Destiny especially, and the rest of my young women, they came here for this, right? You got to just continue to focus on improving. And I mentioned it earlier, if you can focus on self improvement, all right, just like her, she’s done an unbelievable job for me this year. She’s continued to get better. You know, if each one of my individual players can have that mindset, that our team will get better, and when your team gets better in the SEC, then you’re ready for March Madness and you’re ready for deep runs. So that’s where I’m trying to help them understand. Just focus on the next game. Everybody talks about, you know, how we got five out of six out the gate. Who cares? The most important game is the next one. And so that’s the message to my team.”