small town

Bike rentals are available on the Longleaf Trail.Visit Hattiesburg

Bike the Longleaf Trace

A former railroad track, the Longleaf Trace is a 44-mile trail that runs from Hattiesburg to Prentiss. The rails to trails conversion resulted in a paved, mostly flat, 10-foot-wide recreational trail that attracts people from all over the country. Plenty of people enjoy walking the path, but a bike allows you to cover more ground and see more scenery. Along the way you’ll get incredible views of the Pine Belt Region’s foliage, as well as the small towns just off the trail. Don’t worry if you didn’t bring your bike—rentals are available!

Stroll through the All-American Rose Garden

Visit from spring through early fall, and you’ll be able to see the bright and colorful blooms of the All-American Rose Garden. The garden, located at the front entrance of The University of Southern Mississippi campus, first opened in 1974. It has around 800 bushes featuring 36 different rose varieties. There are also five different types of “drift rose,” as well as a climbing rose arbor. It’s a beautiful sight to see and smell, but don’t pick any of the blossoms!

The Pinebelt Blueways is 52 miles of river trails.Visit Hattiesburg

Kayak the Pinebelt Blueways

Hit the trails—the water trails! The Pinebelt Blueways is 52 miles of river trails, just waiting to be explored. The routes along the Leaf and Bouie Rivers stretch from Jones County to Perry County, with a few entry points in downtown Hattiesburg. There are five mapped out routes varying from 5.7 to 18.4 miles, so you can choose your own adventure according to how much activity you’re looking for. If you aren’t ready to go out on your own, guided floats are available on a first come, first serve basis—just fill out the form on the Pinebelt Blueways website.

Visit the Hattiesburg Zoo

Mississippi’s only award-winning zoo, the Hattiesburg Zoo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of course, there are tons of animals to visit with, like giraffes, a family of sloths, a jaguar, tiger and more, but there are also hands-on activities all around! Step into the sky on the high ropes adventure course, a four-story climbing adventure for kids and adults alike, or mine for gems and stones in the mining expedition. Take the scenic route around the zoo on its new train, or enjoy a spin on the carousel. There’s a splash pad that’s perfect for cooling off on sunny days, and a bug hub playground that the…