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East Mississippi Showcases Outdoor Recreation Options
East Mississippi is beautiful on the outside, especially with regard to outdoor recreation activities. Here are examples:
Let Us Play
Highland Park is home to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum, the Dentzel Antique Carousel, Frank Cochran Center and the Kendallwood Craft Center. This park has everything a visitor needs: swimming pool, duck pond, tennis courts, sports fields, playground and four shelters.
Velma Young Park has a playground, baseball fields, basketball courts, swimming pool, a... Read More »
Arts and Entertainment in East Mississippi Caters to Culture Enthusiasts
Historic districts combined with theater, art, music and museums make East Mississippi a happening place for cultural activities. Here's a quick guide to some major attractions in the area:
Theaters in Meridian
MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts is the perfect place for any theater enthusiast. Since opening in 2006, the center highlights performing arts, attracting more than 60,000 visitors a year. At the heart of it all, the second floor 1889 grand opera house seats 950... Read More »
Restaurants in East Mississippi Serve Flavor and a Good Atmosphere
Restaurants in Meridian and East Mississippi serve customers with good food, friendly service and local flavor in every dish.
Popular Restaurants in Meridian
Weidmann's has been a Meridian institution for more than 130 years and today lives on as an upscale and friendly downtown restaurant. Classic favorite dishes range from shrimp and grits to ribeye steak, complemented by a unique beer list and building full of history.
Cater's Market offers a healthy lunch menu and... Read More »
Go Around and Around on Meridian, Mississippi's Dentzel Carousel
In operation for more than a century, Meridian's Dentzel Carousel is a beloved family-friendly attraction and National Historic Landmark. Made in 1896 by renowned carousel manufacturer the Dentzel Factory for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, the carousel has called Meridian home since 1909.
Unlike most carousels that only feature animals of the equine persuasion, Meridian's Dentzel Carousel is a veritable zoo with lions, tigers, deer, antelopes, giraffes and horses, all ready to go for a ride.... Read More »
Meridian Is First Mississippi City with Designated Entertainment District
Meridian has long been a destination for entertainment, thanks to its grand historical Temple Theater, the Mississippi State University Riley Center, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and community theater groups such as the Meridian Little Theatre. But in 2010, local and state leaders made it official by declaring in Meridian the state’s first designated entertainment district. The designation came after state legislature passed the Mississippi Entertainment District Act, which... Read More »
Fun Things To Do in Meridian
Whether you visit for the weekend or call it home, Meridian is always alive with activity. There's something to suit everyone, from outdoor expeditions to unique historic adventures.
1. Bike through the scenic trails of Bonita Lakes.
2. See live entertainment or just take a look around the historic Temple Theater.
3. Plan a relaxing weekend at Clarcko State Park.
4. Get in tune with life and times of the "Father of Country Music" at the Jimmie Rodgers Museum.
5. Explore Dunn's... Read More »
Meridian Is the Place to be for Affordable Golf
For a day of affordable golf there are few places better than Meridian, where you can play a round for less than a dollar a hole. Sure, the courses might not be of championship caliber, and scratch golfers might find the layouts less than challenging. But for the majority of golfers who like to try to break par without breaking the bank, Meridian is the perfect place to be.
The city-run Lakeview Golf Course is ideal for newcomers to the sport or for those who simply want to enjoy a casual,... Read More »
Seafood Is Served to East Mississippi Diners
Menus and maps go together in East Mississippi.
"Meridian is in an interesting geographic location for cuisine," says chef Robert St. John. "Being located just a few hours from the Gulf of Mexico allows us to a steady supply of fresh seafood. The gulf offers, in my opinion, the best seafood in the country."
St. John, a native of Hattiesburg, is a 28-year veteran of the restaurant industry. For the last 22 years he has served as executive chef, president, and CEO of the Purple Parrot Café and... Read More »
Meridian Mardi Gras Includes Kids, Pets
New Orleans may have a lock on Mardi Gras debauchery, but in Meridian, Mardi Gras means fun for the whole family.
The city sponsors the annual Meridian Main Street Mardi Gras Downtown Parade as well as a "Little Mardi Gras" for young revelers.
Festivities include a gumbo cook-off, crawfish boil, block party and a Battle of the Bands competition as well as a popular pet parade. Read More »
Shopping in Meridian, MS
Meridian, MS has a variety of shopping destinations to choose from. Below is a listing of some of the stores available here.
Appliances APPLIANCE DIRECT, 572 BONITA LAKES DRIVE 39301 (601) 485-6321 CASH SALVAGE, 115 HIGHWAY 19 N. 39307 (601) 483-4011 COWBOY MALONEY'S ELECTRIC CITY, 510 22ND AVE. S. # A 39301 (601) 482-0033 DOWDLE BUTANE GAS CO. INC., 408 HIGHWAY 11 AND ... Read More »
Northwood Golf Course Dates to 1930s
Opened in 1930, the golf course at Northwood Country Club is virtually the same today as it was seven decades ago – fun to play.
"This course was laid out originally as a shot making course," says Jimmy Gamblin, head PGA Golf Professional at Northwood. "It's playable. Young people learn to hit straight and older people don't have to hit it very far to make the shots. It's not easy, but it's also not set up for the course to win. It's set up for people to enjoy themselves and to want to continue... Read More »
Highland Park Mixes Old and New
The city of Meridian has long understood the importance of providing quality outdoor spaces for its citizens.
Renovated in 1908 as a premier streetcar park, Highland Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. The park's history dates back to 1889, when it was home to the Meridian Fair and Livestock Exposition. When plans for the park were under development in 1906, there was a national trend to create streetcar parks and the Meridian Railway Company worked with the city to build the... Read More »
Meridian's Music Vibe Hits all the Right Notes
Live music is always in the air in Meridian.
A visit to the Meridian Underground Music Exchange – MUM for short – in downtown Meridian offers customers the chance to purchase CDs and musical instruments and perhaps catch some live musicians playing original acoustic works inside the store.
"We don't limit any genre," says Adam Wade, MUM manager for eight years and a local musician. "We accept any kind of music. It's an art form and it's other people's interpretation. We've had country, rock,... Read More »
