2021 Visit Meridian Visitors Guide

6 7 VISITMERIDIAN.COM REVEL IN THE Many visitors — and residents — love Meridian for what’s around it: the great outdoors. They splash, boat, and fish at Dunn’s Falls, Bonita Lakes, Okatibbee Lake, and other bodies of water. They hike, hunt, ride horses, drive four-wheelers and RVs, look for birds and other creatures, explore with their dogs, picnic, and camp. They connect with nature and feed their souls. Meridian is a great place to get outdoors. The city limits encompass the 3,300-acre Bonita Lakes Park. It’s a peaceful, lightly developed place for paddling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, exercising, picnicking, or just listening to the birds and feeling the sun on your face. You can even bring your dog (with a leash) or your horse: Over 20 miles of equestrian trails wind through the trees and along the lakes. The Lauderdale County Agri-Center, next to the park, offers public riding, horse stalls, and RV hookups when its 125x250-foot arena isn’t occupied by other events. Bonita Lakes RV Park, also next to the park, provides recreational vehicle camping (and a pool). Driving around the three lakes (or bicycling; the roads have bike lanes), you’ll see lots of picnic tables, gazebos, and swings overlooking the tranquil scenery. Playgrounds and workout stations cater to more energetic visitors. The lakes are also the site of the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show. Water-skiers love the 3,800-acre Okatibbee Lake. A number of public boat ramps with courtesy docks provide quick and easy access to the water. Hikers and campers enjoy four campgrounds in the area, offering everything from primitive tent camping to lakeside cabins and a full-service RV park. Some of the area’s best white-tailed deer hunting and largemouth bass fishing can be found at the lake. Check with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (mdwfp.com) for current regulations, plus locations for obtaining a license. Fine-tune your aim at Binachi Shooting Sports. It offers sporting clays and skeet shooting, plus 3-D archery and field archery courses. Target shooting is also available outdoors at Battlefield Shooting Club and indoors at The Range at 601 Sports. Lakes Make for Good Bird - Watching Meridian-area birders usually have the best luck at Bonita Lakes and Okatibbee Lake. Bald eagles live year-round in the 6,883- acre Okatibbee Wildlife Management Area that surrounds Okatibbee Lake. To learn more, visit the Okatibbee Creek Audubon Society on Facebook at: Facebook.com/OkatibbeeCreekAS OUTDOORS