Hattiesburg has been called "America's Best Small City", and for good reason. Our city is rich in culture and diversity. The people here love their heritage, as well as, thier city. This makes a great combination and a city that is growing everyday. Many of the things listed here are in our historic downtown area. This has been an ongoing project to bring back the "Hub City" as it once was, vibrant and full of artistic beauty.

Outdoors

If your looking for something outdoors, the Long Leaf Trace is a good place to start. It's one of the many rails-to-trails projects that are all over the United States. Ours is 41 miles long and takes you from Hattiesburg to Prentiss. You can get started on the North side of the USM campus at the gateway. It's located on 4th street and you'll notice a big parking lot with a wooden cabin in the back.

Our parks are great place to spend the day in Mississippi. If you'd like to canoe, Okatoma Outdoor Post will help you out, so you can spend the day on the Okatoma River. The Kamper Park Zoo is another one of Hattiesburg's great places to spend a day walking outdoors. The 40 acre park houses a 12 acre zoological garden, a kids playground, walking trails, and tennis courts. Paul B. Johnson State Park is located just south of Hattiesburg and is one of the best camping experiences in the South.

Golf

One of the signatures of Hattiesburg is the excellent choice of golf courses that we have. Timberton Golf Courseis one of the top 5 golf courses in the state according to Golf Digest and has also been featured in it's 100 Greatest Golf courses issue. Canebrake Country Clubhas many amenities and is nestled in one of the best subdivisions in Hattiesburg. Shadow Ridge Golf has two PGA professionals on staff and like the other courses on this page, is a semi-private course. If your not into a lot of walking or interested in golf for the entire family, there is a nice miniature golf course in Oak Grove.

Restaurants

Even if you have the most particular of tastes, our city is sure to please when it comes to dining. We have a wide selection of restaurants to choose from. The ones listed here are some that are unique in the city. 206 Front is a bistro located in the heart of downtown Hattiesburg and overlooks the downtown area. The Walnut Circle Grillfeatures American and European dishes, and is another part of the downtown restoration. Leatha's Bar-B-Que Inn has some of the best barbeque in the state, maybe the South. If your trying to get a glimpse of the Southern lifestyle and cooking, it's a good place to eat.

Entertainment

The Saenger Theatre is one of the city's best historical landmarks. It opened in 1929, and is one of 7 that operate in the South. Another good show to catch is the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera. Many of their performances are held at the Saenger and they are now in their 29th year of production. If it's between spring and fall, the Beverly Drive-In takes you back to when the big screen was really big. It's one of only 417 drive-in theaters still operating in the United States.

Galleries

Hattiesburg has several galleries to choose from in our downtown area art district. A Gallery features hand-crafted gifts and fine art by many prominent Mississippi artists. Robinson Studio gallery features many pieces of fine art, including their own. Robinson Gallery images are found in collections all over the Southeast and California. Space 119 is a gallery of modern art and features many Mississippi artists including William Dunlop, Ed McGowin and Sam Gilliam.

Coffee Shops

Several coffee shops exist in the area and are located throughout Hattiesburg. While your strolling through downtown, stop by the South Bound Bagel and Coffee Shop for a little snack. If your near the intersection of Hardy Street and Highway 49, JavaWerks will do the trick. A little further west at the intersection of Hardy and 38th is Starbuck's. Even further west, in front of Wal-Mart and near Turtle Creek Mall is Espresso To Go.

Nightlife

Like many other cities, Hattiesburg's nightlife has many options. If you like music, then a good site to check out for upcoming shows is Dead Man Dancing. Mugshots Grill and Bar is an excellent place to hang out and has one of the best burgers in town. The Thirsty Hippo provides a cool environment with a courtyard in downtown Hattiesburg. For upscale entertainment, you might try 206 Frontor the Walnut Circle Grill. For a complete list of nightclubs in Hattiesburg, try Dead Man Dancing's List.

Places to Go

Finally, are some important local places to visit if your a resident or just passing through. The downtown area has some great historic places to view old architectural buildings in the city. The University of Southern Mississippi has many things going on any day of the year. The Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby is a must see if you have the time. There's also several other places listed at Hattiesburg.orgthat would be at least worth browsing through to see if anything peaks your interest.

For more information about what's happening in Hattiesburg, you can try our Hattiesburg events calendar, or the My Hattiesburg Magazine. Have something to add to this list? Contact us with a description and a website, we'll add it as soon as possible.