Weekend Getaway

There’s never been a better time to rally your best friends and get away for a while. If you’re looking for somewhere you can enjoy the outdoors and have a quaint downtown experience to bond with your crew, look no further. Grenada, Mississippi, midway between Jackson and Memphis on I-55 is the perfect cocktail of outdoors, dining, and charm with none of the hassle most guys’ trip or girls’ getaway destinations entail. Whether you’re out to celebrate a bachelor/bachelorette trip or you just need a new location to get together with your favorite folks, Grenada’s got you covered.

Here are a few of our favorites in this charming Mississippi escape from the everyday:

1. Lake Experience to Make Your Own

 Grenada Lake, the largest lake in Mississippi, is an outdoors gem of the state, with varied fishing and recreation year-round. This 36,000-acre lake, fed by the Yalobusha River is known for having the best crappie fishing anywhere, boasting the monster 4-lb crappie. Your party can also fish bass, bream, and catfish year-round. If you want the best chance to give your special bride or groom-to-be a once-in-a-lifetime catch (the scaly kind), try one of the charter services here. You might even consider a friendly fishing competition to up the ante on your fun.

If fishing isn’t your group’s vibe, consider some other options around the lake for recreation. Take a dynamic day hike through a unique mixture of loess bluffs and wetlands. Little Mountain Trail is the highest point in the region, with a quick 300 feet of elevation gain and view of the lake in a compact half-mile hike. If you want to burn a little more energy, you may opt for Hidden Bluff, 2.3 miles with more ups and downs with incredible views of the Yalobusha River as it leaves the lake spillway.

Need more options? Hunting for squirrel, dove, quail and deer might be an option for the smaller groups. RV camping on the lake is plentiful with over 100 hookups—most of which come complete with an awesome view. Finally, you can canoe and birdwatch in a region that’s right in the flyway for nearly half of the migratory birds in the United States.

2. The Night Life

 Any friends’ getaway hinges on finding places to eat good food and unwind. Few small towns have the high-energy cosmopolitan options of Grenada to go along with the outdoors appeal.

Eat the food that makes you feel good. The Kennel Club is a cool, laid-back atmosphere for a top-notch steakhouse. Does anything say bachelor party like oysters and shrimp for appetizers? For entrees, choose from an array of steaks or the famous Mississippi Queen Porkchop.

 If you want food and drinks in a downtown location with a story, try Molly’s Bar and Grill.  Molly’s is named after a female pilot from World War II, whose daughter is the owner. Talk about a bachelorette must with some “girl power” energy to boot! Craft brew options, live music every weekend, elevated pub food, and an outdoor covered courtyard surrounded by brick make this a popular place for group hangs, or you can call ahead and rent the entire space.

For BBQ and catfish well-suited for any hungry brood, check out the practically famous Jake & Rip’s. Don’t miss out on the fried okra. This is rich Southern cuisine ideal for soaking up any of the day’s wild imbibing.

End your night with some party pastimes at The Sports Center: beers on tap, darts, pool, and good times. Cap the evening off strong, just be sure to save your strength for the rest of the exploring that awaits in Grenada for the remainder of your adventure.

3. Back to the Earth

For a full, Mississippi-centric experience, be sure to put these fascinating farms on your daytime itinerary.

Bull Bottom Farms represents three generations of the Robinson family and their desire to create a farm fun atmosphere for families and parties. Seasonally varying activities such as hayrides, corn mazes, and picking your own pumpkins are available. Groups often rent the large pavilions to host parties, bachelor/bachelorette celebrations, family reunions, and birthday parties.

Nobile Family Farms grows anything you can imagine and sells it from their large market: strawberries, green beans, peppers, cabbage pumpkins, flowers, broccoli, etc. This is the perfect place to see the farm and the table. Here, you can get some unique, local gifts for the attendees of your party like as apple cider, jellies and jams, home-canned vegetables, and homemade birdhouses. You’ll never forget your Grenada experience, but this will give you a little piece to take with you when you go.

4. Around Town Shopping

The historic town of Grenada, founded in the 1800s, has supported an array of local-owned shops and boutiques. Array Boutique, Dattel’s, and Stubbs are all close together on Sunset Drive, meaning you have a wealth of walkable shopping options sure to supply you with that perfect item you never knew you always needed. Meanwhile, the Square Market downtown has unique handmade items sure to serve as a fun keepsake from your visit. And if your gang of girls, is more into boho thrifting, Grenada has plenty of options in that direction too. See who can find the most distinctive item for under $15 at awesome local gems like the Broken Pot and Nest Egg Venders Mall.

Maybe the guys are going hunting and need the right camo for covert sporting or maybe you fellas just like a high-quality hunting apparel store: Okeefe’s, Backforty Outdoors, and PTG Outdoors can outfit you with whatever you need.

5. Where to Turn In for the Evening

Grenada’s lodging options offer something for practically every vibe imaginable. You can choose from over a dozen hotels and motels, rustic cabins on the lake at Hugh White State Park, or an ultra-cozy bed and breakfast. Lofts on the Square is an unforgettable downtown bed and breakfast experience with six uniquely designed rooms housed in a former department store with roots tracing back to the early 1900s. Each upstairs room features a king-sized bed, desk, lounge seating, WIFI, and private bathroom. Room 1, called “Trusty’s” is perfect for the bachelor or bachelorette your weekend is honoring as it has a panoramic view of Grenada’s sweet downtown square.

Whether you’re planning a friend’s last hurrah as a single or you’re just in need of a weekend getaway with your best buds, you’ll want a place where you can make unique memories, spread out, and explore the things you love together. Grenada offers a wealth of unique activities, nightlife, shopping, and a quaint downtown. Make it yours for the exploring!