With its scenic Gulf Coast, southern architecture, and delta river cities rich in blues, Mississippi offers some beautiful attractions for visitors. From Port Gibson, the city “too beautiful to burn”, to the idyllic coastal town
With its scenic Gulf Coast, southern architecture, and delta river cities rich in blues, Mississippi offers some beautiful attractions for visitors. From Port Gibson, the city “too beautiful to burn”, to the idyllic coastal town of Ocean Springs, we explore the state to find Mississippi’s 10 most beautiful cities.
Cleveland
Cleveland is a jewel of the Mississippi Delta. Known for its vibrant culture and history, bustling downtown, and good old-fashioned southern hospitality, it used to be a stop on the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad. The city grew from the late 1860s and later became synonymous with blues music. Today Cleveland is home to a variety of restaurants, antique shops, and vibrant cultural institutions such as the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the Delta State University campus.
Corinth
Corinth is a city full of history. Often referred to as the “Gateway City”, the city is at the junction of the old Memphis & Charleston and Mobile & Ohio railroad lines, making it a strategic center in the American Civil War. Its historical depot is now the Crossroads Museum, and houses exhibit that detail the area’s history. Today Corinth’s beautiful inner-city shows a modern city with respect for its past with well-kept historical architecture and versatile new shops and restaurants.
Oxford
Oxford is famous as a haven for writers and artists and is home to some interesting cultural attractions. Though full of small-town charm, it’s also the University of Mississippi’s location, which gives the city a vibrant college demographics. This, in turn, leads to a vibrant music scene and great, eclectic restaurants. Oxford also has one of the nation’s most famous independent bookstores, Square Books.
New Albany
New Albany is a small northern Mississippi town on the scenic Tallahatchie River. New Albany is the starting point of Mississippi’s longest Rails to Trails, also known as “the gateway to the Tanglefoot Trail”. Landmarks such as the Holly Springs National Forest and Wolf Howl Animal Reserve provide further connections with nature.
Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis is an idyllic seaside town full of history, beautiful sights, and a vibrant cultural scene just waiting to be explored. Bay St. Louis’s Old Town is the beach community’s beating heart and is home to a slew of boutiques, posh, and casual restaurants.
Natchez
Founded as a fort by the French in 1716, Natchez is one of the oldest European settlements on the Mississippi, although its history extends much further. While Natchez’s historic pre-war residences and essentially moss-covered trees in the south offer old-fashioned small-town charm, the city is also home to a vibrant and modern cultural scene.
Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs is one of Mississippi’s quaint Gulf Coast cities and sits on beautiful Biloxi Bay edges. It is a charming coastal town that combines history, culture, and nature in one. Ocean Springs is also home to part of the beautiful Gulf Coast Islands National Seashore, brimming with natural beauty and wildlife, while the oak-lined downtown streets feature galleries and quaint cafes.
Port Gibson
This tiny town is home to just under 1,500 people and sits on the winding Bayou Pierre River banks. It is still in its historical past with attractions to visit, including the nearby Grand Gulf Military Park and the Windsor Ruins, the impressively beautiful remains of a Greek Revival mansion built in 1861 and burned until 1890.
Vicksburg
With panoramic views of the Mississippi, stunning pre-war architecture full of South Gothic charm, and rich history and musical past, it’s no wonder Vicksburg is a popular stopover in the Mississippi Delta. Landmarks like Vicksburg National Military Park pay homage to the city’s central role in the American Civil War. Its five Mississippi Blues Trail markers testify to its role in the delta blues that can still be heard in the city’s many music venues today.