As Summer winds down, people want to fit in one more trip or adventure. Whether it’s a weekend trip in The ‘Sip or a day outing, there is plenty to do in Hattiesburg. So much so that you can now get a Hattiesburg Passport!
Bring your friends and family along on this fun quest introduced by the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. The Hattiesburg Passport Program has been developed to encourage new visitors, “Hattiesburgers” (Hattiesburg locals), and residents and guests from surrounding areas to grab your Passport and begin this fun journey that will guide you through some of the fun features of the Hub City.
“The idea for the Hattiesburg Passport Program came from Saenger Event and Sales Coordinator Todd Goode and his wife,” Lisa Conn, Hattiesburg Convention Conference marketing consultant, said.
“We spent a weekend in Vicksburg, and they had a similar program,” Goode said. “Their Passport helped us decide on the places we wanted to visit. We enjoyed collecting our stamps along the way. I just thought the Hattiesburg Convention Commission could do the same type of program because we have so many tourist-related attractions that people sometimes miss or don’t know about.”
To begin the travel adventure, explorers are advised to pick up their Hattiesburg Passport at the Hattiesburg Visitor’s Center, the African American Military History Museum, or the Hattiesburg Zoo Gift Shop. With Passport in hand, explorers will be guided to various Hattiesburg highlights, including the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, the Hattiesburg Saenger Theatre, the historic Eureka School, and the Generations Strong Wall, just to name a few.
At each location, explorers will receive a stamp or take a selfie to post their visit as noted in the Passport. Upon completing the tasks, passport holders can return their passports to the Hattiesburg Visitor’s Center or the Hattiesburg Zoo’s Gift Shop to receive their treasure of a free Hattiesburg Passport t-shirt. Out-of-town visitors 50 miles or more from Hattiesburg must gather five stamps, and Hattiesburgers must collect seven stamps to complete the journey.
“Our goal with the Passport Program is to spark people’s interest to further explore the many artistic, historic, and recreational opportunities that await their visit to Hattiesburg, including USM’s All American Rose Garden, the Hattiesburg Public Art Trail, the Longleaf Trace and many more. There is much more to see and do in Hattiesburg once explorers have acquired all of their stamps on their Passport,” Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission Rick Taylor said.
This is a fun adventure for friends and families to get out and about together and experience all the significant aspects of the Hub City. This exciting adventure is a great family activity to spend time together before the kids return to school. But this activity isn’t just limited to the little ones. It’s a fun way for adventurers of all ages to immerse themselves in the Hattiesburg scene.
“Participating in the Hattiesburg Passport Program is fun for individuals and families alike,” Conn said. “Visiting the attractions and acquiring passport stamps can be done in a day or two or over several weeks, depending on the travel schedule of the adventurer. Passport travelers are learning more about the attractions in Hattiesburg and thus are experiencing new sites and more about the Hattiesburg and Mississippi history, arts, animals, and culture.”
This program has already been met with great anticipation and success. The people to complete their Hattiesburg Passport visits were Rodney and Amber Mooney. “Their passports were FULLY STAMPED, and they redeemed their Hattiesburg Passport Holder t-shirts at the Hattiesburg Visitor’s Center,” Conn said. “They said their favorite places to visit were the African American Military History Museum and the other attractions in the Sixth Street Museum District.”
Without a doubt, explorers will be thrilled to journey through all the Hub City has to offer once they embark on this exciting voyage. Pick up your Passport today, and let the adventures begin!
