Happy Birthday to my Mom!
Mom wearing her “In October we wear pink” shirt in honor of Leigh.
To emphasize experiences over material gifts, we gave my mom the gift of an experience in Laurel, MS. What started as a Mother’s Day present eventually evolved into a combined celebration for both Mother’s Day and her birthday.
Amtrak
How many sons-in-law out there would choose a 5-hour train ride with their mother-in-law? Jonathan did and never thought twice about it until several people mentioned it this week.
The Amtrak train runs from Birmingham to Laurel. It says it takes about 5 hours, but insider information told us (after the fact) that it never arrives in Laurel on time, but the route from Laurel to Birmingham is almost always on time. These two had a great time on the train and made a huge check on their bucket list! Since Laurel doesn’t have an Uber or rental car, we decided that I would drive where we would have a car while in Laurel.
We checked into the AirBnb, went out for supper, and had a restful night in. Travel days are always exhausting!
Friday Night:
AirBnb- Shuff’s Place
Loblolly Festival
In December 2019, Jonathan and I had the opportunity to visit Laurel. Our visit coincided with a downtown event, which greatly enhanced the town’s unique charm. I strongly recommend checking their event calendar when you’re planning your trip to Laurel. When we were reviewing the available dates, we noticed the Loblolly Festival, and we instantly knew it was the perfect timing for our visit!
Street Vendors
Just imagine if the Fiddler’s Convention extended beyond the square in downtown Athens and lined the streets leading to the square, with all the streets closed off for the festival. The event featured numerous vendors and food trucks. I couldn’t resist the adorable baby clothes, but fortunately, I refrained from buying anything for MEB, much to Dyson and Clara’s relief! On the other hand, Jonathan insisted that I get the BOO-Jee sweatshirt, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wearing it. It’s become a definite conversation starter!
Home Town
A major attraction in Laurel is the popularity of the show. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Napier shops, including Laurel Mercantile, Scotsman, and the Scent Library. If you know Jonathan well, you can probably guess which one was his favorite! It’s a fantastic experience to wander the streets, explore the shops, and recognize landmarks from the show. While being a fan of “Home Town” certainly enhances the experience, it’s not a prerequisite to enjoy the town. All you really need is an appreciation for the charm of small towns, and luckily, we both have that!
Home Town Tours– aka The Pink Limo
Dani told me about this great addition since our last visit and it’s 100% worth it. Robert was a great tour guide. He’s a retired history teacher/principal, so we had lots to chat about in addition to the History of Laurel and the remodeled houses of Home Town. Somehow we managed to be the only ones on this tour, and that just made it even better.
Sunday
Breakfast. Church. Shopping. Art Gallery.
We had breakfast at Grits and Some, a highly recommended spot, and it’s easy to understand why. Allie, who was in charge, was the sweetest and could almost teach a masterclass in restaurant customer service. It was a genuine pleasure to watch her welcome each customer with her charming southern twang and the glimmer of glitter in her hair. Her infectious personality resonated with us Boo-Jee gals.
On Sunday, since shops opened at 1, we returned after church for a few last-minute purchases and to capture photos of some of the murals. A side note: it seemed like either the festival attendees were exceptionally tidy, or the local residents were incredibly efficient at cleaning up. By Sunday afternoon, the town was spotless, and you would never have guessed that 20,000 visitors had enjoyed the festival.
Murals
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
I usually don’t prioritize visiting art museums when exploring a new town, but this particular one piqued my interest. The museum’s rich history, the fact that it’s open to the public for free, and the Van Gogh exhibit were all compelling reasons for our visit. I’m truly pleased that we decided to go. It turned out to be our final activity before leaving, and all of us were delighted that we did.
Shuff’s Place- Bachelor’s Paradise
We were fortunate to secure accommodation at a place featured on the show “Home Town,” which added an extra layer to our Laurel experience. Shuff’s place was fantastic, located on the most charming street in Laurel, and it looked just as it did on the show. It was incredibly convenient for getting downtown, and it offered ample space for the three of us. I have nothing but positive remarks about the house.
Side note: Robert from the Pink Limo Tours shared they have over 100 AirBnbs now in Laurel.
Noteworthy things to mention:
We had originally planned to stay at the Buzzard’s Roost, but they did not have a vacancy. According to our tour guide, you have to book pretty far out to secure a room there.
They have so many great restaurants in downtown Laurel and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed each one. Just pick one, and I’m sure you will love it!
The Knight’s Butcher- whether you plan to get a sandwich from here, purchase jerky, or pack fresh meat for home, this is definitely one stop that must be on your list.