Downtown Oxford is a must-visit for everyone.
This story is sponsored by Visit Mississippi.
There’s nothing more charming than a small-town square. It’s where the community gets together to celebrate holidays and major milestones. It’s where we meet up with friends and family. It’s where people go to shop, eat and be entertained. After many downtowns across the country fell into disarray in the ‘90s, people realized they needed the heart of the town back and worked hard to breathe new life into them. And luckily for us, Mississippi has plenty of downtown squares that are perfect for a weekend getaway. Here are four downtown squares in Mississippi you should definitely plan to visit.
You can't talk about downtown squares without talking about Oxford.(Visit Mississippi)
We’ll get the most obvious one out of the way, because you can’t talk about downtown squares without talking about Oxford.
The home to the University of Mississippi may have one of the most renowned downtown squares in the South, if not the country. The food alone makes it worth the visit. After all, it’s home to Ajax, the ultimate meat-and-three that’s the perfect place to watch a game or just catch up with friends; Boure, a restaurant with fabulous cocktails and an even better patio; and City Grocery, whose tagline is “Some of the most inventive and interesting food in the South.” (They’re not exaggerating, y’all. It's that good.)
But there’s even more to it than the food. There are plenty of boutiques on the Square, including Neilson’s Department Store, which is billed as the oldest department store in the South. Stop by Blue Delta Jeans to get fitted for a pair of bespoke jeans that are sewn in nearby Tupelo. And of course, you can’t visit Oxford without taking some time to explore Square Books, the South’s most famed independent bookstore.
If you look up charming in the dictionary, you’ll find Hernando.
The northwest Mississippi town has a downtown square that hosts community activities year-round. There is a farmers' market, the Dickens of a Christmas celebration, concerts and more held on the square.Canton
Canton is filled with charm.(Visit Mississippi)
Whether you realize it or not, chances are you’re familiar with Canton, a town with a population of approximately 12,000, according to the 2020 Census. Canton is called the “Movie Capital of Mississippi” because so many productions have filmed there. If you’ve seen O Brother, Where Are Thou?,A Time to Kill, Mississippi Burning or My Dog Skip, you’ve definitely seen Canton, at least on the big screen.
And it’s obvious why Hollywood wants to film in Canton: It’s charming as all get out. The center of the downtown square is a Greek Revival courthouse that is just breathtaking. Courthouse Square is also home to the biannual Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show, which attracts nearly 100,000 people a year. Additionally, Canton is known as the “City of Lights” – a nod to the town’s display of more than 100,000 twinkling lights that drape the picturesque Square each Christmas season.
Grenada, like many towns across the country, watched its downtown grow vacant throughout the last part of the century.
Luckily, many concerned citizens took notice and worked hard to get the area back to its glory days. The Courthouse Square area is in the midst of revitalization and is quite lovely. There are plenty of food options: Molly’s Place is an excellent place to get some fried shrimp and a drink, and Orleans Bistro is a wonderful date-night option. The area is also host to many of the town’s events, including Christmas parades, a Downtown Jubilee and more. There's even a bed-and-breakfast on the square, so you can stay overnight.
Here's the thing about Southern women:We are prepared for every situation. We have ingredients to make a casserole in the pantry in case of birth, death or sickness. We style our hair based on the current degree of humidity in the air. We keep thank you notes at the ready. And we know how to change a tire because our daddies insisted.
Southern women aren't damsels in distress – sure, we might abide by the Suzanne Sugarbaker rule "the man should have to kill the bug," but it's not because we can't kill the bug. It's because we don't want to.
That's why I think any Southern woman could survive a horror movie. A steel magnolia knows to be nice … until it's time to not be nice. Then, Freddy or Michael or Jason better give their hearts to Jesus because their butts are ours. Still not convinced? Read on.
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When it comes to movies that we can't help but adore,"Steel Magnolias" is certainly on the list. Its A-list portrayal of female friendships wrapped in Southern humor isn't just something we can relate to -- all of the quotes from the women always have us laughing through tears in no time.
In addition to its emotional story, "Steel Magnolias" features plenty of amazing quotes thanks to the film's quick-witted band of Southern women. It's the conversations between the women of Truvy's Beauty Shop, which are a perfect combination of heartfelt and hilarious, that have made "Steel Magnolias" a beloved classic still celebrated today.
We thought we'd take a look back at some of our favorite "Steel Magnolias" quotes, because why not?
(Read Truvy's best quotes here.)
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Read more: The "Steel Magnolias" house is a charming B&B
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Read more: Movies that make us cry every time
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If you love disc golf or have been wanting to try it out, visit Morristown, Tennessee.
This story is presented by Visit Morristown.
Ed Headrick is known as the Father of Disc Golf. He founded the Disc Golf Association in 1976, just one year after he built the first formal disc golf course in Oak Grove Park in Pasadena, California. In the years since, disc golf has continued to grow with courses now located all over the world. But one small town in Tennessee has fallen in love with the sport —and if you visit Morristown, Tennessee, you might fall in love too.
Morristown, located in East Tennessee, is enveloped in natural beauty. The small town sits on Cherokee Lake and is surrounded by scenic Appalachian mountain views. In other words, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to spend a lot of time outdoors. It’s also the kind of place that has the perfect landscape for a disc golf course… or four.
Known as Tennessee's Disc Golf Capital™, Morristown has a course for every skill level from beginners to experts. At one point, there was not a course within 50 miles of the town, but professional disc golf course designer HB Clark — along with the mayor and other local officials—helped turn the town into a disc golf haven. They didn’t just invest in building amateur courses, but also championship courses. Because of that, the town is now home to the annual Tennessee State Disc Golf Championships, bringing competitors from 20-plus states to town in early June.
The four courses — Cherokee Park Disc Golf Course, Panther Creek Disc Golf Course, Rotary Disc Golf Course at Frank Lorino Park and Kiwanis Disc Golf Course at Wayne Hansard Park — were all designed by HB Clark. Each one provides a different experience, with different difficulties and terrain. Grab your discs, and let’s explore them all!
The small Tennessee town of Morristown has four disc golf courses to choose from.(Visit Morristown)
Kiwanis Disc Golf Course at Wayne Hansard
This was the course that started it all. It opened in 2007 and remains a favorite to this day. This challenging 18-hole course is heavily wooded, which is part of the difficulty! Don’t worry though. The yellow basket tops make each hole easy to see amongst the trees. The terrain is rocky, and the elevation changes on each hole. A walking path weaves through, so be sure to look for any hikers in the area before you throw. There’s also a map, bathrooms, snack vending machine and a practice tee onsite so that you can warm up before your game.
Panther Creek Disc Golf Course
This championship-level course was designed in compliance with Professional Disc-Golf Association guidelines and opened to the public in 2017. Located inside a state park, this course is not for the faint of heart. You’ll be hiking up a mountain as you play through the holes, so hiking shoes are recommended! It’s Morristown’s most difficult course, featuring elevation and a mix of long, open shots and technically difficult, wooded fairways. You will never get tired of playing this course, even if you might get tired from the hike!
Rotary Disc Golf Course at Frank Lorino Park
Established in 2012, this course is a “choose your own adventure” combination with two courses in one! (Or three, if you decide to play a mixed round.) You can choose to venture down the yellow basket path for a shorter course, or the blue basket path for a longer one. Each one features 18 holes. It offers a mixture of open and wooded holes, which makes it great for beginners who are just getting into the sport. Even so, it’s not too easy for advanced players—there’s still some technical shots that make the course a fun one no matter your skill level!
The small town of Morristown, Tennessee, has fallen in love with disc golf. (Visit Morristown)
Cherokee Park Disc Golf Course
Morristown also added this course to its collection in 2012, and it quickly became a staple. You’ll see some beautiful lake views at the Cherokee Park Disc Golf Course. Just like the others, there’s a mix of open and wooded holes, but elevation changes add an extra challenge since you will be throwing both up and down hills. Beware of the drop-offs around a few of the holes—a disc that veers off the path could cost you an extra shot or two! There’s a hole map with distances at each of the 18 holes on the course, so you will always know what to expect coming up.
When you play disc golf in Morristown, you’ll sharpen all your skills. Finesse is just as important as power, and each of the four courses give you an opportunity to practice both. It’s not uncommon to find first-time players wandering the courses alongside disc golf professionals—and that’s exactly what Morristown designed their courses for! Everyone is welcome, and some may discover a new love for the sport, and some may visit to take on a new challenge after years of play. No matter where you are in your disc golf journey, you’ll leave Morristown with a smile.