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The University is the place
to watch football, basketball and baseball games, and for golfers,
seventeen golf courses are within a 30 mile radius of town; all of
these are open year-round. The Timberton Golf Club is rated by Golf
Digest as one of the top courses in the state and has a
ranking of 4 1/2 stars. Green fees range from $49 to
$59. For those interested in the great outdoors and its
recreational possibilities, The Longleaf Trace is a 39-mile long
paved trail that was once a historic railway; it's a great place
for bird watching, bicycling and just strolling. There is
also an equestrian trail that parallels the trail. Desoto
National Forest is the place to camp, hike or canoe down the Black
Creek, and Paul B. Johnson State Park, just down the road, has a
300-acre lake with picnic shelters and boat rentals.
Hattiesburg also boasts a
number of fun festivals, including the new Arts Heritage Festival,
which used to be two festivals, the Old Time Festival and HUBfest
(the combination of the two, though, has not gone over with all
residents). And each holiday season, the historic district
lights up with a Victorian Christmas.
Retirees will find several
malls; stores include Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Wal-Mart,
PetSmart, Hibbets Sports and more. There are antique
stores and dozens of specialty shops and stores. Restaurants
are plentiful and varied for a town of this size.
The Retirement Connection is Hattiesburg's
official welcoming committee and helps newcomers become
oriented. These folks are a great way to find volunteer
opportunities, a realtor, churches (150 are here) and more.
There is an active Meals on Wheels program, but we were unable to
find a senior center. Amtrak and Greyhound Bus
serve Hattiesburg, and the town operates a special
"on-demand" bus system for seniors and handicapped
citizens as needed. The Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional
Airport serves the area with three direct daily roundtrip flights
to Memphis.
Winter temperatures are mild, averaging
between 39 degrees and 59 degrees in January; summers are hot,
averaging 80 degrees but occasionally reaching 100 degrees.
The humidity is high (74%), and the area receives roughly 60
inches of rain a year. Gardeners will love the lengthy growing season.
There are some drawbacks to a Hattiesburg
retirement. The crime rate is higher than the national
average, although the vast majority of crimes are thefts and
burglaries. The town was also hard hit by Hurricane Katrina,
but most of the damage has been repaired.
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