I long imagined Id end up living in a college town.
Life, it turns out, had other plans.
In the last decade, Oxford has grown.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Full-time residents now outnumber the college student population.
Undergraduate enrollment continues to grow, but so does k12 enrollment in the citys public schools.
Campus Life
My children are six and three.
University of Mississippi.Credit: Southern Foodways Alliance / Flickr
On a weekday afternoon, or a non-football weekend, its just a beautiful, shady green space.
Its also a great spot for a picnic.
My kids would tell you that chicken fingers and French fries have never been so exciting.
Credit: Stephen DeVries
Dining In And Out
Of course, Oxford also has a reputation for more elevated dining.
These days, my husband and I find lunch dates much easier to swing than dinner.
Dinners out are rare, and were creatures of habit: its almost always Snackbar.
Credit: Courtesy of Visit Oxford, Mississippi
The menu changes frequently, often showcasing seasonal produce and Gulf seafood.
(My daughter is convinced that a Margherita is light-years more sophisticated than plain cheese.)
More often than not, though, my husband and I cook dinner at home.
Ill happily do the grocery shopping, though, as long as its atChicory Market.
College students need caffeine.
So do sleep-deprived parents.
I like to get my fix atCaffecitos, a cheery yellow trailer by the Oxford Armory Pavilion.
At about 2/3 of a mile, it would be a stretch to call this a hike.
But its shady, peaceful, and completely doable for steady walkers over the age of two or three.
Youll come out of the woods at Rowan Oak, William Faulkners longtime home.
Even as it grows, Oxford manages to hang on to some of the best aspects of asmall town.
Shoppers and diners support small, locally owned businesses, even as more chains come to town.
(Were still waiting for you, Target.)
The community turns out in droves for parades, art festivals, concerts, and book signings.
Like so manycollege towns, Oxford depends on the University of Mississippi, and vice versa.
Maybe its not limited to those years.
Youll be welcome here.
