So the Grove Bowl does nothing for you, and you’re not planning on being among the 2000-3000 rabid fans who’ll show up at the Vaught this Saturday for the annual full-contact scrimmage. It may be hard to believe, but not everyone in Oxford is a football fan. So, where can you go to escape the crowds on game day in the spring? Hotty Toddy has a list.
1. See A Movie
We know, this is food. Great-looking food that you can get at a movie theater. It’s the new Malco location in the Oxford Commons, which has already established itself as a new attraction for the Oxford community. With upcoming additions, like a bowling alley, it’s clear they are just getting started.
The Malco Oxford Studio Cinema is located on West Jackson Avenue in Oxford. Open seven days a week, adult tickets are $7 for a matinee show and $8.50 for an evening show. The theater’s website is the best place to find out what’s playing and to check on showtimes.
2. Take A Tour of William Faulkner’s Oxford
You can start by reading a book on the lawn outside Faulkner’s house.
Located on Old Taylor Road, less than a mile south of the Oxford Square, Rowan Oak served as home to William Faulkner and his family for more than 40 years. Bring a blanket and read for awhile on the property’s four acres, in the shade of its cedar, cypress and magnolia trees, or take a walk through the 29 acres adjacent to the home in an area known as Bailey’s Woods.
Next stop is Faulkner’s grave where you can pay homage to the great writer.
St. Peter’s Cemetery, on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and North 16th Street, is the final resting place of some of Oxford’s most well-known residents, including Faulkner. Bring a bottle of bourbon and share an afternoon cocktail with the literary legend, or leave the bottle behind in case Faulker’s ghost gets a little restless.
3. Bike The Rail-Trails
The Oxford Depot Trail and the Thacker Mountain Rail-Trail are part of a network of bicycle and pedestrian trails that link the community of Oxford. The 1-mile Oxford Depot Trail extends from Molly Barr Road to Old Taylor Road. Through a series of bike lanes, sidewalks and roadways, the Oxford Depot Trail connects with the Thacker Mountain Rail-Trail; 2.79 miles of trail from Front Street to Thacker Mountain Road.
Once part of the Mississippi Central Railroad, these rail-trails are rich in history. In 1852, the Central Railroad was chartered by the state legislature to build a railroad linking Canton, Miss. to Grand Junction, Tenn., passing through the towns of Grenada, Water Valley, Oxford and Holly Springs. By 1858, passenger service had extended from Holly Springs to Water Valley.
4. Spend the Day at Sardis Lake
Built as a flood control facility in the 1930s, Sardis Lake stands on 98,000 acres in Northwest Mississippi. Although recreation was not mentioned in the original plans, visitation skyrocketed after the dam’s construction.
Today, Sardis Lake is known as one of the top recreation facilities in the state. With the nearest point located just 12 miles from Oxford, visitors will find a wealth of activities to fill their days and nights.
5. Bring A Cooler to A Creek
Enjoy one of the last weekends of warm weather relaxing in a creek bed. Get together a group of friends, pack a cooler and experience one of North Mississippi’s waterways. An Oxford local favorite spot is a seemingly nameless creek known only as “The Waterfalls,” less than 20 miles north of Oxford, outside of Abbeville. Take MS-7 N towards Holly Springs, merge onto MS-30 E via the ramp to New Albany, turn left onto County Road 215 and take a slight right onto County Road 291. The creek will be to your right. Travel down the creek bed until you reach “The Waterfalls.” Set up your cooler on a sandbar and you’re ready to go. Make sure to wear shoes and clothes you can get wet.
6. Take A Trip To Graceland Too
Every Ole Miss student should experience Graceland Too before graduation. Located in Holly Springs, just 30 miles north of Oxford, Graceland Too is Paul McLeod’s two-story, antebellum home and shrine to Elvis Presley. Since its opening in 1990, McLeod has offered tours to visitors 24 hours a day. The 150-year-old home, once belonging to McLeod’s mother, is decorated from floor to ceiling with McLeod’s enormous collection of Elvis memorabilia. A post-bar favorite for Ole Miss students, Graceland Too is one attraction students and Oxford residents should take advantage of this weekend.
Story contributed by Meridith Elder, Ole Miss journalism major, meridithelder@gmail.com
Top 6 Things To Do In Oxford If You're Skipping the Grove Bowl
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