Laurel, MS: Experience the Filming Location of HGTV’s Home Town

Monday, December 30th, 2019

Get a firsthand peek into HGTV’s Home Town with a tour of the area where the show is filmed: Laurel and Jones County, Mississippi.

 

HGTV's Home Town filmed in Laurel MSThe HGTV’s Home Town Experience

On HGTV’s Home Town, the darlings of Mississippi, Ben and Erin Napier take old houses and turn them into dream homes as they lovingly welcome people to (and sometimes back to) Laurel, MS. With name brand hotels, local Bed and Breakfasts, and Air BnBs, there’s plenty of room to make our hometown yours for the weekend so that you can enjoy Laurel, MS beyond the TV screen. Here’s a list of must-see places to complete your HGTV’s Home Town experience.

 

Take a Historic Home Tour

Start your Laurel experience at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art or the Laurel Welcome Center where you’ll find the official Laurel Walking Tour brochure. Wandering the oak-lined streets of the Laurel Historic District will give you and up-close-and-personal view of so many historic and stunning homes, plus the beautiful parks and streets you’ve seen on episodes of HGTV’s Home Town.

 

Shopping

Laurel Mercantile Co in Laurel MS

Downtown Laurel is basically its own character on the show. Episode after episode, viewers will see the twinkling lights, plus watch Erin grabbing fabrics, antiques, knickknacks, and more from the darling shops throughout the town.

To truly get a sense of the style showcased on Home Town, start your shopping at Laurel Mercantile Co. and Scotsman General Store. Style and American Made are the theme of Laurel Mercantile Co. This retail store includes apparel, candles (oh the candles!), sundries, kitchenware, bath-ware, home décor including pillows, fabrics, vintage finds, and art for your walls back home.

Meanwhile the Scotsman General Store is a step into Southern days gone by. An ode to general stores that were known across the south decades ago, visitors will find apparel, preserves (and other delicious perishables), soda pop, and a peek into Ben’s woodshop. Pro Tip: stop by during the filming of HGTV’s Home Town to watch him create custom pieces featured on the show!

For more places to find toys, apparel, accessories, and antiques, check out our list of where to shop in Laurel and Jones County.

 

Dining

If there’s one thing we Southerners know how to do, it’s gather around a table, so it comes as no surprise that there have been many dining establishments featured on HGTV’s Home Town. Here are a few fans may remember.

Sweet Somethings Bakery in Laurel MS

  • Pearl’s Diner is Southern cooking at its best. From fried chicken to mac ‘n cheese and everything in between, you’re sure to get your fill of both mouth-watering fare and sweet Southern hospitality.
  • Lee’s Coffee & Tea is the perfect spot to grab a cup of soup, a sandwich, fresh baked goods, and (as the name implies) a hot cup of coffee or tea.
  • The Loft on Central Avenue features seafood, steak, and pasta in a beautiful setting. Settle in for a perfectly cooked steak in the courtyard, and you’re guaranteed a perfect Southern night.

Beyond the show, Erin and Ben regularly feature all the best spots to grab a bite in Laurel on Instagram.  They’ve named many local favorites including Café La Fleur, David’s grocery, The Knight Butcher, Shug’s Cookie Dough & Candy Bar, PDI / Phillips Drive-In (we hear Ben gets the #3), Mimmo’s Restaurant, Sweet Somethings Bakery, The 5000 MS, and more!

For a full list of restaurants in Laurel and Jones County, head to our Where to Eat page.

 

Local Favorites Featured on the Show

Erin dropped the sweet tidbit that her parents went on their first date at The Little Laurel Theatre, and it’s definitely a must-see sight in Jones County, MS. Located in the heart of Downtown Laurel, Laurel Little Theatre features a varied season of shows every year, so check out what shows are playing during your visit. Be sure to nab a pic under the neon Arabian sign during your visit!

The Loblolly Festival is one of the most annually anticipated events in Laurel. On the first Saturday of October, Laurel’s heritage as a sawmill town is the center of attention as folks gather to celebrate, shop, and eat. This free festival features arts and crafts vendors, live music, rides, and all of the best festival food (hello, funnel cakes and corn dogs). Demonstrations take place throughout the day, and the local shops are available for perusing as well.

Laurel and Jones County Mississippi

The murals seen on the show are a big thing here in Laurel and Jones County. Literally a big thing. Covering walls and the sides of buildings, these gorgeous quotes are both charming and Instagram-worthy. See how many you can find (and be sure to tag us in your Instagram posts).

 

Whether visiting in the fall, spending the holidays in Jones County, or joining us for a quick weekend getaway to Laurel, we’re so happy to get to share our little corner of Mississippi with you! Welcome to our hometown!

Where to Lay Your Head: Places to Stay in Laurel & Jones County

Tuesday, December 10th, 2019

Laurel MS, Home Town

Countless new memories are waiting to be made in Laurel and Jones County, Mississippi.

Whatever your plans may be—a weekend girls trip, a family vacation on the Gulf Coast, or a getaway for two—Laurel and Jones County, Mississippi is the perfect place to stop, if even just for a night, and soak up small-town charm, beauty and Southern hospitality you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

The hardest decision you’ll make while planning your trip here? Where to stay.

From enchanting B&Bs and lovely Airbnbs to top name-brand hotels, we’ve got the accommodations to meet even the pickiest travelers’ needs. Let’s take a closer look.

 

Charming B&Bs in Laurel & Jones County

Dreaming of a trip full of leisurely strolls taking in one-of-a-kind shops and eateries? Our town’s B&Bs are just the ticket! All are within walking distance of our delightful downtown area and the historic district brimming with beautiful homes and oak tree-lined streets.

If you’re an art aficionado, consider the Grandiflora Bed & Breakfast, a luxurious, 9,000-square-feet manor located just across the street from the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. Located in a home built around 1907, the Grandiflora boasts upscale suites with marble features, en-suite luxury spas and private balconies, as well as a handful of rooms offering all the modern-day conveniences you need to stay comfortably in this historic gem.

Stay in a bed and breakfast like Wisteria in Laurel, MS

Next up on the list is the Sweet Somethings Bed & Breakfast, a remarkable B&B located just above a cute bakery featuring studio suites with original 16-feet ceilings and red oak & pine floors. Not only are you mere steps away from virtually every kind of delicious dessert you can imagine, Sweet Somethings’ convenient Central Avenue location downtown means you’re also a hop, skip, and jump from some of the area’s finest shops and dining spots.

Last, but certainly not least, is Laurel’s oldest B&B, built in 1901 and located in the heart of the historic district: the Wisteria Bed & Breakfast. Rightly named for its lavender-colored exterior, the Wisteria is a historical haven offering an experience like none other of a bygone era with its timeless heirlooms, period furnishings and hand-made leaded and beveled-glass windows. When you’re not busy soaking up the history and goodness of this gorgeous B&B, its prime location on 5th Avenue puts you just a short walk away from Downtown Laurel.

 

Awesome Airbnbs in Laurel & Jones County

Want a B&B experience—without the company? We’ve got some fantastic Airbnbs worth writing home about!

If you’re an HGTV Home Town fan—or you’re simply wanting to stay like a local—the Laurel Cottages are sure to be right up your alley. Each cottage boasts its own unique and cozy setup, and they’re all located in the beautiful historic district just blocks away from downtown Laurel.

Another quaint local cottage to consider is Bonnie’s Laurel Cottage Airbnb. This cute space features two ultra-clean and comfy bedrooms, spacious decks and close proximity to downtown Laurel and the historic district. What’s more? Depending on when you visit, there are plenty of blueberry bushes and cherry tomato plants on the property ripe for the pickin’!

 

Name-brand Hotels in Laurel & Jones County

Baymont by Wyndham hotel in Laurel, MS

Photo courtesy Wyndham Hotels

If hotel-staying is more your style, you’re in luck. Laurel and Jones County, MS are home to a variety of name-brand hotels offering all the comforts you’re looking for when away from home.

For spacious guest rooms and suites, the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, which just underwent a full property renovation, are the perfect places to rest your

head. Both are excellent, family-friendly hotels with convenient access to the Big Creek Water Park, the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport and a variety of nearby shops, restaurants and businesses. The Baymont by Wyndham features 65 guest rooms, a courtyard pool area, plus a fitness center with a sauna.  All three hotels feature a professional meeting space as well. Bringing Fido on your trip? Quality Inn is an excellent pet-friendly choice.

 

For more information about visiting Laurel & Jones County, explore TheNewStateofJones or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.