Moving to Meridian, MS = Nervous: Need Help!! (Jackson, Biloxi: houses, neighborhoods)

[MrSnatch]

I will be moving to Meridian this summer to start my career. I interned with the same company so I was in Meridian for the summer months last year. I was very busy with school work leaving me little time for activities, but when I had the chance I enjoyed riding around Bonita Lakes. I am nervous about moving there because I come from a city/suburb with many night life and other social activities along with outdoor things.

I should say that my interests are night life/bar scenes, other social events, hiking, mountain biking, basically any outdoor activity.

I know from my experience and well the geography of the area that many of my interests are not available or are but a subdued version, I can accept that. What worries me is that I have exhausted my knowledge of things to do in the area. I am terrified I will have a miserable outlook on my free time and my performance at work will suffer, leaving no one happy.

I guess my question would be for things to do. I am always open to try new things.

Also, I am interested in flying and skydiving, does anyone know if either of these are available at key field or anywhere else close?
Thanks

[brickpatio]

You're probably not going to find tons of nightlife in Meridian. What comes to mind are:
- tennis, working out, golf, hunting and fishing, and canoeing on rivers in south and southeast MS.
- naval pilot training facility might connect you somehow to flying
- national musical acts at Riley performing arts center
- church
- casinos and golf in nearby Philadelphia
- college sports in Starkville, Oxford and hattiesburg, and Tuscaloosa
- 3 hours to Florida and New Orleans and Biloxi
- Jackson has some nightlife but that's an hour and a half away

[pendemic09]

if your looking for a night life or anything social meridian is DEFINITELY not the place. I lived there most of my life and left when I turned 19 and moved to florida; never looked back. biking and hiking youll like cause youll surrounded by wooded areas with pathways to anywhere. But I wish you the best of luck in your career and hope you enjoy your time there

[BradfromNO]

You are going to have a rough time in Meridian. Bring lots of cab fare and you might be
OK..Outside of that, be ready to give up your driver's License and priviledges. There is
almost no other place but Mississippi that I find SO INTENSELY focused on DUI enforce-
ment than Meridian and Hattiesburg, MS. It is fair? Sure, I guess we all want our loved
ones to be safe on the road. But why are our loved ones driving at 2am? Granted, it
could happen. But you will never see such BS as Meridian's hard-on for Drunk Drivers.

There is a BIT of nightlife there, but you'd be better off in Hattiesburg.

[GritsinMS]

Run run away. My husband had to live there in his younger years when his mother moved them there from Miami. In his words - he thought he had died and gone to hell. He got stuck there longer than expected due to a wife and children. When he divorced and we met he was excited to move to the coast with me. His son, who was 11 at the time and very reluctant to leave Meridian, is now 25 and has never gone back and doesn't want to!

I am sure there are some good attributes. It depends on your preferences. Good luck!

[unsure soul]

I lived in Meridian MS for years...it was nice and boring. If your single just be prepared to stay single..its just not a lot to do there. It great for older ppl not for the young. It is a place where everyone knows everyone. Which gets old fast. There is no night life. Wish u much luck.

[Onemoreyear]

I'm in Meridian now due to my husband being stationed at NAS Meridian. I am counting down the days until we leave. This city is, by far, the worst place I have ever lived. The city is regressing, stores, restaurants pulling out, empty buildings everywhere. It is a black hole. I feel my family has literally wasted two years of our life here...and we have one more year to go. Help.....

[sparkle60]

Mdn. is definitely the pits. No new jobs coming in, not much hope for the future at all. Houses in older neighborhoods are literally crumbling down. Many streets are a rough ride on a daily basis. Not many places to shop, either; pretty much it's Walmart or nothing. No Kohl's. No Target. No Steinmart. If you can avoid Meridian, definitely do so.

[halcamcin]

Originally Posted by BradfromNO

You are going to have a rough time in Meridian. Bring lots of cab fare and you might be
OK..Outside of that, be ready to give up your driver's License and priviledges. There is
almost no other place but Mississippi that I find SO INTENSELY focused on DUI enforce-
ment than Meridian and Hattiesburg, MS. It is fair? Sure, I guess we all want our loved
ones to be safe on the road. But why are our loved ones driving at 2am? Granted, it
could happen. But you will never see such BS as Meridian's hard-on for Drunk Drivers.

There is a BIT of nightlife there, but you'd be better off in Hattiesburg.

I wish ALL cities would enforce DUI. Too many innocent people killed by drunk drivers. Yes, sometimes our loved ones need to be out at 2 AM, some returning home/going to work, running to the drugstore for thier sick child, ect. Just cause most people aren't on the roads at 2 AM doesn't give drunks free run of the road. My hubby periodically gets called in to work in the middle of the night. I expect his route in/to work to be just as free from drunk drivers as the middle of the day.

[sparkle60]

Another BIG problem in Mdn. is the lack of enforcement of animal control regulations. Vicious dogs are allowed to run free--if you dare to phone animal control about them---they WILL side with the owner. In some neighborhoods with rude thoughtless people, dogs are allowed to bark all night long. Take my word for it, if you are near a barker, you will get NO sleep, and NO ONE will do anything to enforce noise ordinances.