Escape the cold, come to Laurel!

Imagine this - You’re walking down a beautiful, historic downtown sidewalk where you can almost feel the nostalgia seeping through your shoes. You feel a slight breeze, but you’re not cold. You might even be holding a glass of sweet tea. And by the way, it’s winter! 

One of the perks of living in the South is mild winters. Once in a blue moon, we’ll have snow, but for the most part, our cold weather months are more like chilly Springtime temperatures. 

In fact, I’m perfectly comfortable in shorts and a light pullover as I write this article. 

If you need a break from the harsh winter cold, an escape down south might be the answer you’ve been looking for! 

When you come and visit Laurel, here are your must-do items and places to see:

 

First things first, let’s talk about the food. 

For a warm and delicious breakfast, check out one of Laurel’s newest breakfast spots - Grits and Some. When you showcase grits in the name of your restaurant, they better be good and these totally live up to the hype

For lunch and all the snacks you could ever want, head over to The Yard at the Scotsman General Store.  There are 2 AMAZING food trucks to choose from - Papa Doughs PIzza, and JDQ’s Backyard BBQ and more to come! 

If you’re curious, here are my recommendations for each food truck: 

• Papa Doughs - cheeseburger pizza on the gluten-free crust (that gluten-free crust is actually amazing!) 
• JDQ - the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mozzarella sticks (trust me on this!) 

At the Scotsman, you’ll also find unique and delicious snacks, coffee, and snoballs. There’s also a huge walk-in refrigerator filled with rare glass bottle soda flavors. It’s an experience on its own! 

If you have a sweet tooth, you must visit Shug’s for edible cookie dough and homemade candies, The Laurel Creamery, and Betsy’s on Magnolia. 

The streets of Laurel are filled with the best people and the most delicious food. You can’t go wrong with any of the local restaurants! 

Once you’ve had your fill, here are some places to see: 

You can’t make a trip to Laurel without first visiting our flagship store, the Laurel Mercantile. Browse the hand-selected American-made goods and grab a map of downtown Laurel. 

Right across the street, you’ll see our newest shop- The Scent Library! The Scent Library is the new home for the candles that we have all come to know and love. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to a 1930s library as soon as you walk through the doors. 

The streets of downtown Laurel are filled with shops and boutiques with items for everyone! You’ll have the best time browsing through stores and chatting with the local business owners. 

Mississippi’s first art museum, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, is within walking distance of downtown. It’s filled with breathtaking art pieces that you just wouldn’t expect to find tucked away in small town, Mississippi. 

While anytime is a good time to visit Laurel, MS, but there’s something special about Laurel in the winter before the heat sets in. 

You won’t need a winter coat or your snow boots, just a light jacket and a good pair of walking shoes! 

You can check out the Visit Us page on our website for more information on where to stay so you can start planning your trip today. 

Hope to see you soon!