With spring in full bloom and temperatures finally hitting that sweet spot between pleasant and blazing hot, there’s no better time to explore the great outdoors in Starkville. Whether you’re an adventure seeker looking to get lost in the woods, an animal lover hoping to spot wildlife, or a city dweller just longing for a stroll in the sun, there are plenty of ways to fill your outdoor cravings. Here are five ways to enjoy the outdoors in Starkville this spring:
Go for a Neighborhood Stroll
If you’re normally an indoor guy or girl, but the promise of sunshine and warm temperatures after a frigid winter have you itching to get outdoors, one of the easiest ways to get outside is to explore one of Starkville’s many diverse neighborhoods on foot. In the Cotton District, wedged between downtown and Mississippi State University, go on a home tour to see the brightly painted historic homes.
Head to the Greensboro Street Historic District to see a full history of housing in Mississippi via 62 structures, 55 of which are architecturally or historically significant. Architecture styles include everything from Greek Revival and Queen Anne homes to Colonial Revivals, Victorians, and Tudors, plus Craftsman-style bungalows. If you like to share your outdoor time with some indoor shopping, head to Downtown Starkville where you can stop into several boutiques and shops (or pop into a restaurant or café for an afternoon pick-me-up).
Bike Mississippi State University’s Campus
As Mississippi’s College Town, you’d be remiss to visit Starkville without properly experiencing Mississippi State University’s sprawling campus. With grand lawns, massive oak trees, and stately historic academic buildings, stepping foot on campus is like walking onto a picture-perfect postcard scene of college life.
One of the best ways to see the entirety of campus without breaking a sweat is to bike it. If you don’t have a bike of your own to take for a spin, visit Boardtown Bikes, located just minutes from campus, and rent a bike for a day. You’ll also get a helmet and lock, so you can stay safe and hop on and off with ease.
Golf the MSU Golf Course
On a gorgeous day, there are few places better to enjoy the great outdoors than on a well-maintained golf course. If you’re eager to hit the links, MSU’s 18-hole championship course is always ready and waiting to welcome its next guests. The public course is the host facility for the MSU PGA Golf Management Program, the MSU Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams, and the MSU Golf and Sports Turf Management Program. Named the fifth-best public course in the state of Mississippi, the course features rolling greens in a stunning setting speckled with mature pine trees and sparkling lakes. The best part is you don’t have to break the bank to play a round. Nine holes will only set you back $16, and a full 18 costs just $12 more.
Canoe or Kayak at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
For true adventure seekers, Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, located just 20 minutes outside of Starkville, is your spot. Established in 1940 as a conservatory for migratory birds, the refuge is now home to four green-tree reservoirs, two major lakes, 16 small impoundments, and several wetland areas. On the 1,200-acre Bluff Lake, you can rent a kayak or canoe then explore the natural flora and fauna that live on the water, including egrets, herons, wood storks, cypress trees, American lotus, waterlilies, and maybe even an alligator. If you prefer to stay on dry land, the refuge also offers five hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty to explore.
Bird Watch on the Mississippi Flyway
Good news for visiting birders! Starkville and Oktibbeha County are located in the Mississippi Flyway, an area of land that is used by more than 300 bird species to travel from their winter homes in the Gulf of Mexico and Central and South America north to their breeding habitats in Canada each year. You can see a variety of birds flying overhead any time of year, but for the best bird watching, check out the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, MSU’s North Farm, Browning Creek Reservoir, or Chadwick Lake.
Starkville delivers big when it comes to ways to take in some fresh air. Rejuvenate your senses with a visit this spring and see why visitors and locals fall in love with Mississippi’s College Town! For more on where to stay and what to get up to while you’re here, click here today!
