2021 Visit Meridian Visitors Guide

10 11 VISITMERIDIAN.COM GUYTIME We have great places to eat and other vacation options that men love. Burgers, BBQ, and Beer: Need We Say More? Surveys show that men’s biggest vacation spending priorities are food and drink. No surprise, right? For guys, News Restaurant is the real deal. It serves up a good burger, cold beer, and the kind of live music that makes you feel right at home. It has been around forever (or at least since 1935), so it has the comfortable vibe of a great neighborhood hangout. Other notable burger joints are Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers (also great for home-style breakfast), Brickhaus Brewtique (craft beers!), and Mugshots Grill & Bar. Try the signature burgers or build your own. Inside or on the covered patio, the beer is cold, the music is good, and TVs abound. Squealer’s Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que serves its pulled pork and other meats with sauce on the side to show off the smoke-kissed flavor. Enjoy the craft beer selections, and get there early on Thursday evenings, when live music always draws a crowd. The Rib Shack is an inconspicuous little place with some of the best barbecue you’ve ever had. Or get a slab of ribs at Pappy’s, located inside a Shell station on Highway 39. (Hey, don’t knock gas station food.) Their pulled pork is also excellent. A Little Something Extra Before a show at the MSU Riley Center or the Temple Theatre, make dinner reservations at Weidmann’s Restaurant or Harvest Grill, both located downtown within five blocks of either venue. Mississippi’s oldest restaurant, Weidmann’s, specializes in fresh Gulf seafood with a Southern accent and New Orleans flair. You can also order a nice steak. Remember to save room for a slice of Weidmann’s World Famous Black Bottom Pie. Then head up to The Balcony Bar for a cocktail. Amore, in a grandly renovated, century- old house, serves authentic Italian cuisine (and has a pretty spectacular upstairs bar). The Rustler, a dressy, date-night establishment, also caters to red meat connoisseurs. For a more casual dinner with a great steak, head to Ole Farm Beef House. Where the Steaks Are High Harvest Grill’s menu of multicultural cuisine changes with the seasons. The chef/owner uses fresh, local ingredients in creative ways that delight both foodies and meat-and-potatoes types. Daily specials, interesting beer, and carefully crafted cocktails make meals even more fun. From Soul Food to Seafood and Beyond Whether you call it soul food, down-home cooking, or just Southern food, you can find it 24 hours a day at Magnolia Restaurant in the Queen City Truck Stop. You can also get a comfort-food fix with blue plate specials from Binkie’s Restaurant and Cafe 35. If you're looking for spice, try Aie’s Taste of Thai (where you can specify the degree of spiciness; be careful) and Ta Krai Thai Cuisine. For some tasty seafood, try the Breaux Bridge. Bring the Kids or Be a Kid The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, known as The MAX, showcases the state’s arts and entertainment legacy through participatory exhibits. You can spend hours playing with all of the hands-on displays ... um, to demonstrate to your kids, of course. Unwind Outdoors As a welcoming sign says, you can “splash, grill, play, or chill” at Okatibbee Lake. The fishing is excellent for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, and catfish. You can also opt for boating, water-skiing, and swimming. Lodging options include tent camping, RV camping, and lakeside cabins. Hunters go after squirrels, white- tailed deer, waterfowl, and turkeys — but not the bald eagles or alligators, except with cameras. Hit the trails at Bonita Lakes Park. The full loop is five miles of wooded paths with exercise stations scattered along the way. Walk, run, or ride; mountain bikes and horses are welcome. For fun on the water, bring your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Or just chill at one of the many nooks overlooking the lake, where you will find picnic tables, park swings, grills, and gazebos. You can sharpen your shooting skills outdoors at Binachi Shooting Sports (sporting clays, skeet shooting, and archery) or indoors at The Range at 601 Sports.