The Centennial Inn in Richton boasts on its website that they "Try to make you feel like you're staying in an old friend's place" and, in keeping with the informal theme offers a "Community Kitchenette", rather than the microwave/microfridge combination you find at many of the well-known hotel chains . Whether you prefer your stay to be formal or informal, it's the location which brings most people to the Pine Belt of Southern Mississippi and visitors can easily visit Hattiesburg, which is just a 30-minute drive. Richton is also just 30 minutes from Neely.
Built in the early 1900s, Grand Avenue Inn & Cottages in Leakesville was a privately-owned house until 1996 when it opened its doors to visitors, offering what it describes as "the nostalgic ambiance of the old days." If that wasn't enough to convince travelers weary of the rat race that this was the place to relax, the owners have named each of the cottages after their grand children. The inn itself, cleverly avoids marketing the amenities you might find in any number of hotels and, alternatively, pushes its screened porch, shady trees and tranquil atmosphere, which is offers as an "Escape from a hectic lifestyle." Visitors can enjoy Golfing in nearby Citronelle, or if you're visiting in April, you can take in the Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival, which takes place in Leakesville, which is just over a 20-minute drive from Neely.
The Hotel Inn Express at Lucedale allows visitors to access Hattiesburg easily, but will also allow you to travel over the state line to Mobile, Alabama, where you can enjoy the Lo Da Artwalk on the second Friday of each month, or Mardi Gras. Alternatively, you could stay close to Lucedale itself and catch one of the Civil War re-enactments which take place throughout the year. While this Holiday Inn comes with standard amenities, it also has a 24-hour gymnasium and outdoor pool.
If the pools and breakfast buffets of nearby hotels don't have you reaching for the reservation forms then there's always the camping at De Soto National Forest, which is the largest of the six protected woodlands in the state and has over half a million acres for visitors to explore. With over 80 campsites, many of which have facilities to deal with RV waste, campers can take their pick of where to start their adventure.
