Top 12 Things to Do in Laurel, Mississippi

When Ben and Erin Napier brought their renovation and design skills to HGTV, their small town, Laurel, Mississippi, got a big boost. The couple co-host HGTV's Home Town, set in Laurel, as well as two spin-offs, Home Town Takeover and Home Town Kickstart, that feature their projects around the US. The shows are sprinkled with heartwarming stories, ideas and inspiration as they restore old homes and add modern, affordable updates.

Erin is a designer and author, and her husband Ben focuses on woodworking and construction. Together they're raising two daughters, Helen and Mae. Along with a few friends and family members, they also operate the Laurel Mercantile, their downtown flagship store. It's stocked with home goods, apparel and accessories made in the US. Their other popular stores, The Scent Library and Scotsman General Store and Woodshop, have helped revitalize their charming, historic town.

If you are planning a trip to visit Laurel, we have rounded up the top 12 things to see and do in the Napiers' hometown.

The Napiers are proud of their Scottish heritage, so finding a name for Ben's first woodshop was a natural choice. In 2016, Ben, Erin and a few partners launched Scotsman Manufacturing. The team made a committment — one they still embrace — to American workmanship and making things in small American towns. The woodshop later moved to a new home, the Scotsman General Store and Woodshop, and added the nostaglic fun and feel of an old-fashioned general store. You'll find glass-bottled soft drinks, candies that aren't sold anywhere else and all sorts of pantry goods, snacks and treats.

Originally opened in 1901, the Laurel Mercantile provided goods for the town for many years before closing its doors in the 1930s. In 2016, the Napiers partnered with their friends the Nowells and the Rasberrys (who make regular appearances on Home Town) to reopen its doors. Selling everything from apparel to homegoods, the Laurel Mercantile is a must-see when in Laurel, Mississippi.

Once called "The Yellow Pine Capital of the World," Laurel was a company town that eventually fell on hard times, especially during the Civil War and Depression. It began to recover during the 1980s and continues to grow. Today, Guild and Gentry honors the Gentry (wealthy Northern entrepreneurs) and the Guildspeople (crafters, lumberjacks and merchants), who've helped restore and expand the town. This self-described "distinctly masculine" store sells fine menswear, bags and leather goods, home goods and much more. Make an appointment with Jeremy or Grant in the barbershop and show off your good grooming.