Oxford, Mississippi

Home to "Ole Miss" — the University of Mississippi — Oxford is a surprisingly sophisticated town, frequently voted one of the country's best college towns and most livable cities. The town hums around "the Square," a quintessentially Southern square surrounded by boutiques, restaurants and Square Books — one of the country's top independent bookstores. Stroll around amid the pre-Civil War architecture and you get a nostalgic sense of the Old South, complete with unhurried friendly folks sippin' cold tea or cappuccini. The rest of the city revolves around the university, a majestic campus and home to several worthy sights, including the Blues ...

Home to "Ole Miss" — the University of Mississippi — Oxford is a surprisingly sophisticated town, frequently voted one of the country's best college towns and most livable cities. The town hums around "the Square," a quintessentially Southern square surrounded by boutiques, restaurants and Square Books — one of the country's top independent bookstores. Stroll around amid the pre-Civil War architecture and you get a nostalgic sense of the Old South, complete with unhurried friendly folks sippin' cold tea or cappuccini. The rest of the city revolves around the university, a majestic campus and home to several worthy sights, including the Blues Archive, which holds the world's most extensive collection of blues recordings. Also on campus is the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and Rowan Oak, former home of William Faulkner. Students and residents alike go positively feverish during Ole Miss football games, taking tailgating to a whole new level.

About the Expert

Debra Landau has written eight Lonely Planet guidebooks, including books on the USA, Caribbean, and the South.