About the Neighborhood

Our homes are in the “golf cart” district of Long Beach! The golf cart district is where you can drive your golf cart legally on the neighborhood streets to downtown Jeff Davis and around. In this area, you will find lots of pedestrians, bikers, and, of course, people drinking and driving their golf carts. Yes, you read that correctly, drinking and driving. I have no idea if this is legal or not, but it seems like everyone I see driving a golf cart is also drinking!

Long Beach is a very friendly community with lots of retired folks. I have friends and relatives who are very active with their high school class of 1970! It’s a big group of folks who all still live in the area and they get together once a month and go out to eat. Recently, the leader of the group, Jeff, organized a fundraiser to install swings on the beach. When he grew up, there were swings by the Long Beach Harbor. Well, he raised thousands of dollars to put swings back on the beach. He went to the city council and they wouldn’t approve swings on the beach due to liability issues. But he did get approval to put some swings in by our Town Green off of Jeff Davis in downtown Long Beach. He used all sorts of creative ways to raise the money. One thing he did was go catch mullet early in the morning and sell them still hopping and jumping at the Farmer’s Market that morning! Jeff is quite a character and he runs a Facebook group called Jeff Day Parade if you want to join it for some ridiculous humor! I mention this story to illustrate what a nice, giving, intimate community we have here in Long Beach! Jeff, who is in his 70’s, was out there in record heat digging holes and moving mulch to install these gigantic swings. Next time you go to Town Green, you will now know the backstory to these swings. These swings were made possible through private donations and no taxpayer dollars were used.

Long Beach is also a very animal friendly town. I volunteer with the Animal Control and we are very unique in that we have created our own shelter to house stray animals instead of sending them off to the humane society. It saves our city money and saves animals lives. When we get a feral cat, we spade it and then release it in an area out in the wild that has shelter and food for the cats. If we were to send that feral cat to the humane society, it would get euthanized right away. I help out by cleaning kennels, feeding the animals, and taking the dogs out on walks, and I also post a lot on Facebook trying to get animals adopted. If you are ever in town for an extended period of time and would like to help out with the cats and/or dogs, let me know! The more walks and love the animals get, the happier they are.

Here is a fun fact about our beach: The beach from Henderson point in PC to Biloxi is the longest man-made beach in the world!! The beach was made in 1951 by the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to boost tourism post-WWII! There was a sea wall before there was a beach.

Grocery Stores

The closest grocery store is Walmart Supercenter (  1617 E Beach Blvd, Pass Christian, MS) about 5 minutes away.

There are two local smaller grocery stores located in Long Beach. One is Winn Dixie (  109 N Cleveland Ave, Long Beach, MS) and the other is Froogel’s (  19099 Pineville Rd, Long Beach, MS).

If you are looking for organic, healthy, premium groceries, your best choice is Claiborne Hill Supermarket (  410 US-90, Waveland, MS) about 20 minutes away. This is where you will find the freshest produce around in the winter when the farmer’s markets are closed. Rouses at 1444 E. Pass Rd. in Gulfport, about 20 minutes away, has the best selection of local foods and a great ready-made meals and bakery section.

The best fresh tomatoes are at Back Gate Produce (  788 Klondyke Ave, Long Beach, MS). Park by the baseball field. This is very old school. The owner hangs baskets of fresh tomatoes, potatoes, and anything else he has and you leave cash in a hole in the fence! His tomatoes are huge and juice and very fresh. $3 per bag. Bring one dollar bills! They make excellent BLT’s! Find more information on his Facebook page called Back Gate Farm and Nursery. Seasonal.

The best fresh produce is at the local farmer’s market (  355 Jeff Davis Ave, Long Beach, MS). The Long Beach Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings has a stand called Poppe’s Kitchen where they sell fresh eggs including duck and goose. There is also a stand called Stonnington Farms that has very good fresh 100% grass fed beef at very good prices comparable to Walmart. I buy all of my beef from them. There is one stand called Cryer’s Family Produce that has very good produce as well. The farmer’s market in Gulfport at Jone’s Park is on Wednesday mornings and that’s another option. Jone’s Park is a nice park to walk around in. Pass Christian also has a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings with a lively atmosphere and lots of vendors. Seasonal.

The best fresh fish to buy, especially shrimp, is at the Pass Christian harbor (  115 Market St, Pass Christian, MS). Right off the boat, caught that morning. There are 2 sellers and both are good. Jerry Forte is one and Kimball Seafood is the other. Kimball Seafood sells the best gumbo hands down. Just heat it up and serve. Just as good as any restaurant’s gumbo but half the price.

Believe it or not, but if you want salmon, Walmart is the place to go. They sell fresh, never frozen, salmon there. I buy the Norwegian salmon there and it has a nice buttery flavor.

We have lots of U-Pick farms in the summer. These are listed in the U-Pick Farms section of this guide.

The best selection of craft beers is located at Long Beach Market and Deli (  20110 Pineville Rd, Long Beach MS). This is also a restaurant and they have 10 different beers on tap.

Where to buy fresh seafood

Right off the boat in the Pass Christian harbor. It is about a 5 to 8 minute drive away. Two operators (Jerry Forte (228) 452-2681 and Kimballs’s 295 East Harbor, Pass Christian, sell seafood that was just caught in the Gulf. Give Darlene at Kimball's a call at 228-209-4446 to see what fish she has fresh that day. Very fresh and great prices too! Be aware that they close at 4 PM. Kimball’s Seafood also sells gumbo made locally that is really good. To get there, drive down the pier on the far left hand side of the harbor. You will see the two vendors on your right. You can park right in front of the vendors.

There is also a Vietnamese lady selling fresh shrimp out of her van at the corner of Beatline and 28^th Street. All of the locals like to buy from her because her prices are the best.

Oyster Season is October through April.

Crawfish season varies from one year to the next, based on how cold (or mild) the weather was during the Gulf Coast winter. It also depends on the amount of rain, and the water levels in the swamps and bayous. Generally, the crawfish season in Louisiana runs from mid-January through early-July for crawfish caught in the wild, with the peak months being March, April and May. Crawfish from farms are available over a longer period of the year.

* Try the royal red shrimp. They are plump and sweet and taste like lobster.

Pharmacy

We have Walmart, Walgreens, Winn Dixie, and Corner Drugstore for local pharmacies. I personally only use Winn Dixie for two reasons. First, they have the best prices using Good RX. Second, there is hardly ever a line to pick up my medicine and they are very friendly.

Massage

Since I deal with back pain my whole life, I get massages regularly. I see Deb Wharburton here in Long Beach and she is really good and charges reasonable rates. Her rates are 30 minutes for $35, 45 min. for $45, 60 min. for $60, and 90 min. for $85. That includes hot stones if you want them (But tell her in advance if you want hot stones so she knows to warm them up before you arrive.) Her phone number is 228-234-6389. She has her own massage studio at 6120 Beatline Rd.  She does Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, cupping, hot stones, and more. Price is the same regardless of what massage you choose.

Spas

The nicest spa around is at the Beau Rivage Casino. You get to use their whirlpools, steam room, sauna, showers, and solarium relaxation room when you book a treatment. The solarium overlooks the pool and it’s great to just sit there and relax and read a book. You can even change, go eat at a restaurant, and come back and relax some more. I hear that you can even order a mimosa while you are in the solarium!

The IP Casino also has a nice spa with a relaxation room, whirlpools, steam, and sauna rooms. Call ahead to make sure these facilities are open.

Gyms & Pickleball

We have 2 gyms in Long Beach: Crunch Fitness and Energy Club. Crunch Fitness is newer and they have hydro massage chairs and very nice equipment to work out on. Energy Club is older, but they have an indoor pool, racketball court, hot tub, and sauna. In addition, they have the Silver Sneakers program. Both have group exercise classes.

Silver Foxes meets every Monday and Thursday morning at 9:00 am in the Christian Life Center inside the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach. FREE. For seniors. Low impact cardio. It is a very friendly group of women and a great way to make some new friends.

Want to make some friends while in town? Try playing pickleball! They play from 8 to noon on Tues., Thurs., and Fri. at the Long Beach Senior Activity Center. Singles are welcome and it’s free. The people are very friendly and make it easy to begin. All ages welcome. The Senior Center also offers free yoga classes on Mon and Wed and ceramics and pottery classes. There is a nice paved walking/running trail outside and inside. www.cityoflongbeachms.info/senior-activity-center. To get in touch with other pickleball players, join the Facebook group called MS Gulf Coast Pickleballers.When you go to that Facebook page, they post the schedules of all places around town. You will find somewhere to play pickleball every day of the week. Usually it is free too.

Dog Parks

Fetch Dog Park - 20257 Daugherty Rd.-This is a very nice, newer dog park with two separate areas: one for large dogs and one for smaller ones. Not far away. This is next to the Long Beach Senior Center, where you can check out pickleball and fitness classes for free. https://www.fetchparklongbeachms.com/

Bark Park -3317 Jeffrey Circle, Gulfport-Has a section for the large dogs and another one for the small dogs. There are also some training props.

For dog grooming, we recommend Shaggy Chic Pet Salon at 7198 Beatline. 228-380-0829.

Golf Cart & Jet Ski Rentals

Golf Cart Rental:  Contact Ben Nelson Golf Carts at 228-396-3905. They offer a weekly rental for $500 and they deliver and pick up the golf cart for you. This vacation rental home is located in the “golf cart” disctrict of Long Beach. A lot of times, especially in the summer, you will see adults, kids, and dogs in golf carts driving by. It’s a fun atmosphere. They cruise around in their golf cart and say hello to everyone.

Jet Ski Rental: There is a place across from  the Courtyard by Marriot on Hwy 90 called Jetblast Jet Ski rentals at 1542 E Beach Blvd Parking, Gulfport. This is the closest rental to the house. Their phone number is (228) 864-2300. There is also another rental place on the beach across from the Edgewater mall called Biloxi Beach  Jet Ski Rentals at 2305 Beach Blvd, Biloxi.

Community Theater & Professional Shows

All of the local theaters around here are good and no one puts on a bad show. But if I had to rank them, I would say Center Stage in Biloxi puts on the highest quality show. There is also Bay St. Louis Little Theater and Biloxi Little Theater. Bay St. Louis Little Theater is in a historic 1920 building that Robert Redford once filmed a movie in! The history of the building is very interesting and you can read about it on their website under the heading “history”. There is plenty of parking and it’s easy to navigate around it. You can make a date night out of it by going to one of the many restaurants in downtown Bay St. Louis and then seeing the show. And best of all, Bay St. Louis Little Theater gives you wine for free! Biloxi Little Theater is also very good but you may have to park down the street because they have a small parking lot.

If you are looking for professional shows, the casinos have touring acts. Hard Rock, Beau Rivage, and IP Casino have the most popular acts, but also check out Island View Casino, Golden Nugget, Harrahs, and Treasure Bay. If you want a Broadway show, it would be at the historic Saenger Theater in New Orleans. The Colliseum is a large venue that has concerts, festivals, and more.

We also have a local symphony called the Gulf Coast Symphony. Find more information at gulfcoastsymphony.net. Their performances are held in a lovely brand new theater called the IMPAC center.

U-Pick Farms

Harmony Farm . The closest one is owned by a sweet lady who is 71 years old named Donna. They have thornless blackberries and blueberries in late June / early July. They have figs, pears, and scupinines in late August. The name of the farm is Harmony Farm. Find them on Facebook. Call (228)861-8837 to check when they are open before heading out. Address is 8056 Canal Rd, Gulfport

Mert’s Satsumas -Season runs mid September to Jan. 1^st. 14380 Duckworth Rd in Gulfport

Charlie’s U Pik in Lucedale. Season runs late May to early August. They have all sorts of fresh vegetables and fruits. Anything from tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, peaches, watermelon, potatoes, squash, and lots more. They have a pricelist on Facebook. If you don’t want to pick, you can buy them already picked at the farm. Great prices.

Bounds Blueberry Farm is in Wiggins. Check Facebook for their hours. (601) 433-7826. 183 Hwy 13 , Wiggins, MS, United States, Mississippi

Fruit of the Vine Farm in Moselle. Also called Beeson Farm. They have blueberries and blackberries. Once they close for the season, they let people come and pick any remaining berries for free. Call (601) 467-0768.

Vancleave Blueberry Heaven Farm . Check facebook for opening hours. (228) 219-2590

Gift Shops

Stone Man & Gem Lady - 3 minutes away - in Long Beach off of Jeff Davis. This is a very unique, one of a kind Mom and Pop shop. A great shop for the kids with all sorts of interesting finds. They have authentic fossils, jewelry, insects, beads, crystals, minerals, and more. They have these fun inexpensive “grab bags” of jewelry or fossils for the kids. They sell beads at below wholesale and even sell real framed ugly insects! They have a cast of a dinosaur tooth. Believe it or not, but they even sell ancient Chinese tomb jade artifacts from 4700 BC! Ask the owner, Sherri, about how they got these things here into the US! All of their jewelry is handmade. This is a store that has been in town for years owned by a husband and wife team who are very friendly. When my daughter went there, she bought a rock but didn’t have cash. They only take cash for payments. So the lady told her to just take the rock and come back later to pay! She was very nice and didn’t even ask for my daughter’s name or anything. Only open Wed – Sat with limited hours.

Forget me not florist and gifts - 3 minutes away - in Long Beach at the end of Jeff Davis on Railroad, They have handmade souvenirs like Christmas ornaments, post cards, tea towels, pillows, and more. They have some local artwork and handmade items such as pottery.

Mockingbird Lane – 3 minutes away - a newer gift shop in downtown Long Beach. They have some Mississippi themed items and souvenirs. They are at 200 Jeff Davis Ave. They are next to Sister Swank Boutique.

Cajun Gourmet – 5 minutes away - Located in Long Beach and run by a true Cajun couple who are very nice. Honestly, you have to stop by here just to meet this guy. He is a character with the thickest Cajun accent ever! Buy some of his homemade bacon – you can’t go wrong. He sells very nice locally made artwork and other items such as pottery, spices, sauces, dinnerware, souvenirs. Check the opening times before you go. They don’t have a large selection of souvenirs, but the ones they do have are very nice.

Tallie’s Gifts and More - 7 minutes away - on Beatline Rd. They have a variety of nick nacks and souvenirs including local pottery, tea towels that say “Long Beach”, perfumes and creams, cards, beachy housewares, clothes, and more.

Robin’s Nest and Art Alley - 8 minutes away - in Pass Christian. Lots of great local gifts. This gift shop was highly recommended when I asked a lot of folks where they recommend to go to get local handmade products.

Derek Doyle Designs - 5 minutes away – 117 Hayden Ave., Pass Christian. Across from Walmart- Kitchen towels that have “Long Beach” on them and other coastal items

Cat Island Coffee Shop & Book store - 7 minutes away - Located with a lovely view of the beach in Pass Christian, they have a nice selection of books for everyone. They also have a table dedicated to books by local authors. We have many local authors!

Pecan House - 19 minutes away in Gulfport - One location is in Gulfport and the other out in the country in McHenry. They have a nice variety of foods to buy with pecans along with souvenirs. They made an excellent apple cake.

Pass Christian Olive Oil and Vinegars - 8 minutes away – gourmet olive oil and vinegars for your foodie friends. In Pass Christian.

Williams Gallery - 20 minutes away - in Gulfport, lots of local artists with original watercolors and other kinds of paintings. Very reasonably priced too. Great place to get ocean inspired paintings, jewelry, pottery, and more. They often post sales on Facebook and they show a lot of their artwork for sale online on their website.

Shops at Century Hall - 16 minutes away - This is a collection of vendors located in an old building in Bay St. Louis. While there is a large selection of many different things, I found the prices to be high, but it’s a pleasant browse to see everything. If you stop by here, go around the corner to Ruth’s Roots to check out a lovely community garden/gathering place that is kept up by volunteers. Pop in the local historical society across the street if you have time.

Mississippi Mercantile - 24 minutes away - This is a collection of different vendors that sell lots of handmade and unique items specifically from Mississippi. If you are looking for a Mississippi themed item, this is the place to go. Open the 1st & 3rd Thursday - Saturday each Month, Gulfport

Vintage Flamingo - 13 minutes away - This is a huge space that has many different vendors and they sell so many unique items. It’s a lot of fun to go there and browse. Open once a month, the second Thurs through Sun of every month. Thurs & Sat 9 to 6, Fri 9 to 7 & Sun 11 to 6. 2701 14th Ave, Gulfport

Two Fat Friends – 44 minutes away out in the country. This is a large store that rents out space to vendors and they have lots of vintage furniture, décor, and other items. They are located in Wiggins. Check their hours before heading out.

Sharkheads Souvenir Shop - 21 minutes away - in Biloxi. This is your typical, huge, souvenir shop with the t shirts, flamingos, and typical touristy things. Just look for the pink building with the huge shark head. You can’t miss it.

Surf Style - 13 minutes away - in Biloxi - huge souvenir shop with clothing and many other items

Jefferson Davis House: Beauvoir Gift Shop - 22 minutes away - They have a large gift shop here with tons of local history books. Lots of interesting souvenirs too.

Biloxi Visitors Center Gift Shop - 25 minutes away - This gift shop has lots of items for sale made by local artists. Worth a stop on your way to Ocean Springs.

Realizations - 31 minutes away - in Ocean Springs. This is a gift shop that sells Walter Anderson prints and other items. It is owned by the Anderson family. Located in Ocean Springs. Walter Anderson is our local famous artist that has lots of lovely artwork of the ocean and wildlife. I bought the famous alligator poster at this store and bought a frame at Overstock.com. Cost me less than $100 and I love it!

Shearwater Pottery - 35 minutes away - in Ocean Springs. Also owned by the Walter Anderson family. They sell not only pottery but artwork and other items as well. An amazing gem hidden away in the woods! The artwork is wonderful, the staff is pleasant and knowledgeable, plus they have things in all price ranges so you don't have to be rich to take home some art. Definitely a place to visit!

What do the Locals Love about this place?

What are some of the things the locals love about the Mississippi Gulf Coast?

The beautiful sunsets

The smell of the salt water. Marshes. Fresh seafood. Oaks and Magnolias. Our spirit and friendliness. I could go on and on.

The beautiful majestic oak trees. Did you know there are very few places in the world where oak trees grow so close to the beach and the MS Gulf Coast is one of them?!

The fresh seafood and the pelican

Friends & the beautiful scenery

Driving down the coast anytime, but the sunrise is breathtaking

The views and the weather

Cruise in your car by the beach every evening along hwy 90

Some of realize we live in the best town in the USA

I have never been as happy anywhere else happy every day walking my dog saying hello to everyone walking by my house while working in my yard a lot of people stop and talk and the people here are amazing, a lot of people that come here come back today stay

As I meet people from out of town they always comment on how much they love this town. I’ve been all over and it’s hard to find the atmosphere and people that we have in this town. It’s a Great Place to live and some people just don’t realize how good they have it.

We found everyone friendly. Very easy to meet people. Just go for a walk in the morning and say “good morning” to the people that are out walking also.

Exactly the appeal my aunt and uncle found in Long Beach. They love their neighbors and visiting with them and their guests every single day. It’s keeping them young, refreshed and rejuvenated. They’ve been there for about 30 years. We love to drive down from Kentucky a few times a year to visit. The neighbors have all adopted us as well and have watched our kids grow. The area is a lovely place.

We are building a house on a lot we bought in April of 2018, and we have been living in Long Beach for one year now and we absolutely love it! We walk or ride bikes nearly everywhere we go! We love our little beach town so much!

Long Beach has become our happy place for all the reasons you mentioned. There is always something to do between festivals, live music, boating, beaches, eating out and spending time with new friends. We have developed more friendships in the last 2 years in Long Beach than the 12 years we lived in Covington full time.

What was Long Beach like in the 60’s?

--written by a local

Do you know why Cruising on the Coast is so big now and where it all started along the Coast. Right there on Jeff Davis Ave. During the 60s when I was growing up you couldn’t drive on Jeff Davis Ave on Friday & Saturday nights since teenagers from the entire area, Mobile & New Orleans would Cruise Jeff Davis Ave. Up & Down and Up & Down with kids parked everywhere on the side just hanging out. All there old fixed up cars, the muscle cars, you name it. In fact it was like that some in the early 70s when I was a police officer there. Every Friday or Saturday night you could expect to be on Jeff Davis Ave dealing with the crowds, having high speed pursuits with muscle cars, etc., etc. Jeff Davis Ave was “the place’ to be as a teenager when I was growing up since the focus was the main drag, a place to hang out and of course the beach at the end. A lot like California during that time since I lived in California prior to moving back to Mississippi.

Now after 10 PM Jeff Davis Ave is a ghost street, no-one around. Times do change but a lot of it has to do with Camille in 69 and everyone moving North of the tracks after Katrina. When I was growing up on Commission Rd it was still a gravel road and everyone I knew lived South of the tracks or just North of the tracks….Commission Rd was country and farms.

Our Beach is like none other in the World!

Fun fact, the beach from Henderson point in PC to Biloxi is the longest man-made beach in the world!!

The beach was made in 1951 by the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to boost tourism post-WWII! There was a sea wall before there was a beach.

It’s not really a secret that Mississippi is home to an enormous amount of history and unique places to visit. One such place that lands itself in both categories is the largest man-made beach in the world that starts in Biloxi and runs to Henderson Point in Pass Christian.

Harrison County is home to Gulfport and Biloxi and it was emerging as a notable destination for tourism in the 1920s. In 1924 an act was signed that was aimed at protecting the public highways which ran along the shoreline. As a result of this act, a seawall was begun in 1926 and was constructed along portions of the coastal sealine at a cost of $3.4 million(roughly $26 million in today’s money). The project was completed in 1928 and offered protection from tidal surges.

The Great Depression forced the closure of many resorts which had appeared along the coast, but tourism boomed again for Harrison County in the 1940s.

Public Law 727 was enacted by Congress in 1946. The goal was to help protect communities along the coast and to help control erosion. The new law helped to protect the communities by promoting and aiding in the construction of artificial beaches that contained seawalls. The Harrison County shore Protection Project helped to reconstruct the seawall in the 1950s. The project produced the largest man-made beach in the world to protect the seawall. Nearly 13 miles of coast was raised, from Henderson Point to the Biloxi Lighthouse, which provided additional storm protection to the area communities.

Though the beach was completed in 1952, a series of incidents kept the public from being able to fully enjoy the beach until 1963. Harrison County was sued by the United States government in 1960 for failure to assure perpetual public use, per a 1951 contract with the U.S. government. The beach was limited because of the Harrison County v Guice case. Harrison County was sued by Guice, who claimed she owned the beach, and stated its construction was not intended for public access and recreation but only for shore protection. The Mississippi Supreme Court stated the State of Mississippi was the “owner of lands in the beds of its shores over which the tides of the sea ebb and flow,” and the State holds the titles as trustee for the people to all the lands below mean high tide. The State Supreme Court found Guice had a littoral property right, meaning unrestricted access to the waters, but only owning the land to the median high-water mark, and was awarded the beach which was next to the upland property owner.

In the U.S. Court of Appeals, the US v. Harrison County ruled the contract Harrison county had with the federal government was valid and the county must maintain the beach for public use. The Court of Appeals stated the ruling in the Harrison County v. Guice case was contrary to Section 90 of the Mississippi Constitution. Under the Constitution, land that belongs to, or is under a contract of the State, cannot be donated to private individuals.

Public access was clarified by then-Attorney General Cox. The clarification boasted that the public’s rights to access the beach are protected as long as that access did not interfere with the littoral rights of the landowners.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish emerge off and on in July and August in the waters. Yes, they can sting you. It’s not life threatening and the sting won’t last long. Here is what you do if you get stung: When you get stung, they leave little barbs in you. Take a credit card or license and scrape the edge over the sting to get them out. Then apply vinegar. If you really want to go in the water but there are jellyfish around and don’t want to risk it, you could try taking the ferry to Ship Island. Ship Island has a north side and a south side. Try going to the North side of Ship Island. It is possible that there are no jellyfish on the North side of Ship Island even though there are lots of inshore jellyfish at the beach. It depends on the wind and tides. It could be that the south side doesn’t have jellyfish.

Why is our Ocean Water Brown?

If you talk to any local, they will comment on how the ocean water is brown and that they don’t like it and refuse to swim in it! Read this fascinating article:

BROWN WATER - For those that comment or ask questions about the “brown water” along the Mississippi Coast. The reason the water is brown is because: the water along Mississippi’s Coast is not the Gulf of Mexico, it is called the Mississippi Sound. The Mississippi Sound extends from Lake Borgne, Louisiana to Mobile Bay, Alabama. The Sound is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a series of narrow islands, sand bars, and underwater ridge that is part of the island chain. This ridge of islands extends from just northeast of New Orleans eastward to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The islands include Cat, Ship, Horn, Petit Bois and Dauphin islands. Water exchange with the Gulf takes place through numerous passes. Numerous coastal bays are contained within the Sound system including St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay, Pascagoula Bay and Grand Bay. Rivers that feed into the Sound include the Escatawpa, Pascagoula, Tchoutacabouffa, Biloxi, Wolf, Jourdan, and Pearl Rivers. River water is brown from tannic acid. Tannic acid occurs naturally in rivers from rotting wood, leaves, and other plant material. The fresh (brown) river water feeds into the Sound and mixes at the surface with saltwater from the Gulf. Due to the island ridge, the currents of the Gulf are blocked from fully disbursing the brown river water into the Gulf of Mexico. The best thing about the water in the Sound is the fact that there is an abundance of nutrients in the sound that do not occur anywhere else along Gulf Coast States. For this reason, the oyster beds in the Sound are some of the largest naturally occurring oyster beds in the world. What’s more, an abundance of shrimp enter the sound to feed on the nutrients from the rivers which makes the Sound and coastal Gulf waters from Louisiana east to Alabama some of the richest waters for the shrimping industry. Another fact about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is that the island chain and underwater ridge prevents wave action along the Mississippi Coast like you normally see at Gulf Shores, Alabama. And for this reason, the shoreline of Mississippi is shallow well out away from the beaches, and the beaches of the Mississippi Coast are all manmade. Originally, Mississippi’s coast was mainly mud and clay. Most of Mississippi’s coastal history is linked to the oyster and shrimping industries as the main way of life for its residents throughout the past 200 years. All because of the Mississippi Sound!

The Annual Blessing of the Fleet

The fishing town of Biloxi, Mississippi has been blessing their fleet of fishing vessels since 1929, and the tradition is still going strong. It’s a week long celebration!

The tradition of blessing a fleet of ships dates all the way back to ancient Europe, when fishermen entreated a safe voyage and prosperous season. Biloxi's first Blessing of the Fleet in 1929 involved the typical Catholic Sunday Mass performed by the priest of the local parish. However, the townspeople built an altar on the shore, and the priest used this new altar to perform his Blessing of the Fleet. Back then, fishermen decorated their boats in the bay and tied them together in a long procession. Meanwhile, the priest stepped from the deck of one ship to the deck of the next, blessing each boat in turn and asking for divine protection for the vessel and her crew.

Now, the ceremony is much larger and spans the course of a long weekend. Biloxi's large fleet of shrimping boats still line up in a long procession, but they progress from the Mississippi Sound through the bay, slowly moving past a boat anchored in the bay. This dedicated "Blessing Boat" is where the Catholic priest and bishop perform their blessings, speeding up the ceremony by allowing the officiants to stand still while all the boats parade past.

Every year since 1929 Biloxi has an Annual Blessing of the Fleet that is a week long celebration in May or June. Events include the Memorial of the Mass for Deceased Fishermen as well as a reception for all the past Shrimp Kings and Shrimp Queens crowned in earlier years. The reception also introduces the new contestants for this year's Shrimp King and Shrimp Queen.

There is also an all day festival called Fais Do Do, which is an old French phrase that translates roughly to "street dance" in English. There is live music and other entertainment, as well as an area for children, and a number of vendor booths dedicated to arts and crafts, shrimp and seafood, and other country fair favorites. The festival is concluded on a Sunday with the actual blessing ceremony for the ships in the bay.In the Biloxi Channel, celebrants drop a wreath to honor the generations of fishermen who have died, as well as to honor all the other workers in the seafood industry. Then all the decorated boats proceed eastward from the Biloxi Light House for a boat parade.

An Interesting Local History Story I read

Long before Gulfport was Gulfport, and even before Mississippi was a state, a free black man named Bernard Benoit had an affair with the slave of the wealthiest landowner in Pass Christian, known as The Pass of Christian back then. From that affair, a son was born. Lady Asmard, the wealthy landowner, was known for freeing her slaves after a certain amount of time and giving them land as payment for their “service”. She wasn’t in the business of selling her slaves, so when Bernard came to her asking to “purchase” his own son, she agreed upon the condition that Bernard raise his son as a free man, and not a slave. Bernard agreed, naming his son Bernard Jr., and raising him a free man just like his father.

Over 30 years later, Bernard Sr. died, leaving behind a substantial estate and NO will. At this time, Mississippi had become a state and the vast region known as Hancock County had been cut in half, forming the newly incorporated Harrison County. Harrison County had just elected their first Sheriff, John Brill. When Bernard Jr. stepped inside the newly formed Harrison County Courthouse in order to make his claim to his father’s estate, he was met with a big surprise. Newly “elected” Sheriff Brill had already submitted himself as administrator of Bernard Sr.’s estate and claimed it to be intestate (no will) without heirs. Sheriff Brill had learned that Bernard Sr. had purchased young Bernard Jr. from a slave owner years before, so he claimed that Bernard Jr. was not the heir to his father’s estate, but instead was actually a slave and thus property of his father’s estate.

Bernard Jr. would go on to live for years as a slave to his own home and under the control of Sheriff Brill. However, Bernard Jr. would not go down quietly, even though this was pre-abolition Mississippi in the 1840s. He took his case to the courts, and eventually all the way to the Supreme Court of Mississippi. After living as a slave for roughly 5 years, he successfully proved his father had agreed to raise him a free man, and that he was not property of his father’s estate, but was instead the true heir. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor and ordered Sheriff Brill to relinquish control of the estate.

During this time, however, he had honed his skill as a blacksmith, something his father had taught him before he died. After regaining his freedom and his estate, he would continue to improve his skills as a blacksmith and would go on to help the Hand Brothers, businessmen from New York, develop a thriving industrial community called Handsboro. The Hand brothers praised Bernard as the most skilled blacksmith they had ever partnered with. In his honor, they named the waterway used to ship their goods to-and-from the Gulf of Mexico “Bernard Bayou”. A particular honor since his once stolen estate bordered this waterway just across from the Hand Brother's own twin plantation-style homes.

Today, the area where Bernard’s estate was located is known as Bayou View, and Handsboro is but a small community long ago annexed by the City of Gulfport. But, that small vital waterway is still part of the industrial channel used by heavy industry and is still called Bernard Bayou, sometimes also called Bayou Bernard. It’s a lasting testament to a man that wouldn’t be denied in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. There’s history to everything we see around us in this region of the country, from every street sign to every waterway. Keep your eyes and ears open; their stories built this beautiful place.

Further Local History Reading & Activities

The Last Slave Ship by Ben Raines - This book was just published and it has a neat tie to our locals. The owner of the Long Beach Market and Deli is also head of the USM hydrography department. He agreed to search the waters for free for the author and it was his graduate students that located this missing ship! How cool! This book is so thoroughly researched. It was such an interesting piece of local history that I knew nothing about. I give this book 5 stars, hands down.

Lost Biloxi

Rosalie and Radishes -by Mary Ellen Alexander- specific to Long Beach.

Mississippi Gulf Coast and Neighboring Sites

We have two very active local historical societies that hold monthly luncheons and meetings with interesting speakers. One is in Bay St. Louis and the other one is in Pass Christian. Check out the latest events at www.passhistory.org and www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety.com/newsletter/historian.html  The Pass Christian Historical Society hosts a monthly luncheon with a speaker. I usually go to these and the lectures are always interesting, even if the topic sounded boring. After the lunch, I swing by the Pass Christian library around the corner and check out their room of used books for sale. You can always find good used books for sale there are rock bottom prices.

Dining Guide

Long Beach is a small Coastal Community but has some of the most popular and unique eating locations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Best Breakfast

Fill up with Billups - in Pass Christian or Biloxi. Nice large outdoor seating area. Huge breakfast biscuits!

Half Shell Oyster House - has a great brunch on Sunday at reasonable prices

Rusty Pelican - has a good country breakfast and it is some of the locals favorite.

Beignet Café in Island View Casino - Has a little place at the front door with great beignets and café du Monde coffee. Take the 7 minute drive to the café and bring some beignets back to the cottage for a treat!

Harbor View Café - Long Beach on Jeff Davis, great breakfasts on Sat & Sun on the patio..great view. They make very hearty flavorful salads. Cafe offering Southern mains & po' boys in a warm setup with porch seating & distant harbor views. They recently changed their menu and have very nice selections.

Radish Cafe -   This is a hip little cafe right on the main street of Jeff Davis in downtown Long Beach. They serve brunch on Saturdays from 11 to 4.  The fried green tomato benedict is awesome! It's a nice leisurely 1 mile walk to get there.

Juicy Caboosy - A new hip restaurant that just opened in Long Beach. The kitchen is in a train and patrons sit outside on a raised deck with a view of the ocean. They sell fresh pressed juices and healthy breakfast options starting a 9 AM on Saturday and Sundays. It's less than a mile away from the house.

Favorite Coffee Shop

Cat Island Coffee shop & Books - in Pass Christian has nice outdoor seating with a view of the ocean. Very good homemade pastries and nice strong coffee. About a 10 minute drive away.

It’s a nice leisurely 1 mile walk down to Bankhouse Coffee - from the house. Bankhouse coffee is in an old bank building and they also call it Coast Roast Coffee. They have a nice bakery associated with it. They make their own blend of coffee that many locations along the coast use. They also roast their own coffee beans. This place is also named Coast Roast Coffee.

Boozer’s Brew and Café - in Gulfport. They have seating outside that has distant views of the ocean. Looks hip and fun.

Best Seafood

Steve's Marina Seafood - in Long Beach at the harbor. THE Favorite for locals and tourists!!! Wonderful harbor setting, great seafood dishes, great atmosphere. Best Shrimp PoBoys and hamburgers around. Have a seat out back on the deck overlooking the ocean. Casual 2-story beachfront seafood cafe & bar with wainscoting, nautical touches, big patio & views.

Half Shell Oyster House (Gulfport) - East on Hwy 90 then North on Hwy 49, left side can't miss it. One of my favorite restaurants. They have a nice selection of sides and the Sunday brunch has a small selection but is really good. The Oysters Orleans are my favorite. Excellent quality food. Everything is delicious here.

Shaggy's - Pass Christian, Gulfport or Biloxi) either east or west on Hwy 90 and you'll run into one of them. Great seating on a deck overlooking the ocean. Wonderful fried shrimp platters. My favorite location is the one in Pass Christian. You can walk around the harbor after eating and there is a playground there by the beach. Lively, kid-friendly beachfront spot serves seafood & drinks in funky digs with Gulf views & patio.

Little Ray's Seafood - Long Beach on Jeff Davis Ave. Another favorite for locals and many guests recommend this location.

Bull's - Long Beach on Jeff Davis Ave....wide variety menu, nice patio seating, pretty popular among locals and guests from cottage. They also have very good shrimp po’boys and hamburgers. Take a stroll around the town Green across the street after having a meal here. They have the best patio seating for watching a parade go by.

Bacchus on the Beach - Pass Christian on hwy 90 across from Pass Christian Harbor. Very popular with locals and great oysters. Locals love this spot for happy hour. Breezy Cajun hub for oysters & muffuletta, plus cocktails & a large bay side deck.

Pirate's Cove - Pass Christian north on Menge Ave...fried seafood, etc. Is popular among locales, good for a quick meal. Counter-serve joint dishes storied po' boys & burgers in cheery, no-frills digs with picnic tables.

Taranto’s Crawfish - Located in Biloxi North of I 10, it’s a 30 minute drive away, but is worth mentioning. Call ahead and make a reservation. Their seafood and service are excellent.

Sully’s - Known for their live music, best drink specials, and great food. This restaurant just opened up and everyone is raving about them. They have local live music every night. Drink specials from 3 to 6. Steaks are hand cut and they grind their own beef. Great food, drinks, and music – what else could anyone ask for?

Hook’s - Located in downtown Bay St. Louis. They have a nice outdoor eating area. I have had a lot of guests really like this restaurant, so I am including it here. The food presentation is very good. I personally felt the prices were a bit high for what you got, but like I said, for some of my guests, this was their favorite restaurant. It’s worth checking out!

Dempsey’s Steak and Seafood - Casual, colorful joint serving up Cajun-inspired seafood, plus steak, raw oysters & po' boys. They are 30 minutes away but a lot of locals make the drive to eat there – they are that good!

Recommended Eating Nearby

(less than 30 minutes)

Half Shell Oyster House (Gulfport) - East on Hwy 90 then North on Hwy 49, left side can't miss it. One of a chain but excellent quality food. The Oysters Orleans are my favorite. Excellent quality food. Everything is delicious here. They specialize in seafood. They also offer Sunday brunch.

The Rack House (Gulfport) Steak and Spirits - Very nice restaurant that has excellent steak and a wide selection of craft whiskies. The menu has a nice selection of sides and a small but wonderful Sunday brunch. They specialize in steaks and craft cocktails.

Tony's Brick Oven Pizza (Gulfport) - East Hwy 90 then North on Hwy 49, right onto 14th St, can't miss it. Very good pizza.

The Blind Tiger (Bay St. Louis) - West on hwy 90 first traffic light at end of bridge turn South. Nice atmosphere, pretty good food...nice area to walk and shop at unique shops. They have tables overlooking the bay and on the weekends there is live music outside. Fun atmosphere!

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House - Historic restaurant in Biloxi since 1737. Located in a historic building with an oak tree named Patriarch that is over 2,000 years old! For an over-the-top historic, elegant meal, this is the place to go. Very old school Gulf Coast style. The lunch prices are reasonable (about $15 for an entrée). Food is top notch and they have a lovely porch to dine in that overlooks a lawn. The restaurant is divided into smaller rooms with stunning original artwork throughout. There are photos of past presidents and other famous people that have visited the restaurant hanging on the wall.

McElroy’s Harbor House on the Bayou - Wonderful setting and great food. It’s fun to sit next to the window and watch all of the boats go by on the water. Takes about 30 minutes to get there.

The Shed - Best BBQ along the coast. Located in Ocean Springs. This probably takes more than 30 minutes to get there, though. It is located in an eclectic building along the bayou. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Blow Fly Inn - located on the bay in Gulfport, this is a good country restaurant serving up local favorites. They have great value lunch specials and their red beans and rice are very good.

Restaurants with Best Outdoor dining
or With a View of the Ocean

Juicy Caboosy- This hip little cafe just opened up in Long Beach. It's less than a mile walk to get there from the house. The kitchen is located in a train and customers sit out on a raised deck with a view of the ocean. They also have corn hole games there for fun. They offer sandwiches, appetizers, fresh pressed juices, and cocktails.

Shaggy’s - in Pass Christian and Biloxi. Nice seating on a deck overlooking the ocean. In Pass Christian, you can go walk around the harbor after eating. Indoor and outdoor seating. There’s also a playground there right by the ocean.

Parish's- Located on the water next to the Long Beach Harbor, the lounge is open Thurs., Fri, and Sat evenings. This is a great place to watch the sun set over the water and have a drink and appetizer. Very nicely decorated on the inside. The building is up very high, so you get a great view.

Steve’s Marina - the favorite for locals and tourists. Wonderful harbor setting, great seafood dishes (like the po boys), and great atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor seating.

McElroy’s Harbor House - on the bayou-Wonderful setting right on the water and great food. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Dockside Deli in Island View Casino – Wonderful outdoor seating right on the beach. Reasonable prices and good food. Since it’s in a casino, they don’t allow minors to go into the restaurant.

Blu at Treasure Bay Casino - This is a tapas bar on the top level of Treasure Bay. It has magnificient views of the ocean. They have a fun tapas menu. Opens at 4 PM. No one under 18 allowed since it’s in a casino.

Sea Level Taco Stand next to Shaggy’s in Pass Christian. This is a great place to grab an inexpensive beer and taco or burger and sit at the ocean’s edge. Literally right on the beach. The tacos are very good, too, not just your “run of the mill” taco. Bring some lawn chairs with you in case the picnic tables they have set up are full. Walk around the harbor and let the kids play on the playground while you are there.

Cat Island Coffee House in Pass Christian. Inside it’s freezing cold, but they have a nice sitting area outside that is right by hwy 90 and has a great view of the ocean. Their breakfast menu selection is limited but extremely tasty such as the breakfast croissant. Their pastries are homemade and also delicious. In my opinion, they have the most expensive but best tasting coffee around. They are also a book store and have a great selection of adult and children’s books.

Chimney's - an elegant restaurant in a historical home with a porch that has a lot of old time charm. Sit out on the porch and enjoy a relaxing lunch.

Fine Dining

Mary’s Mahoney’s Old French House since 1737. This is a famous iconic restaurant where many Presidents and famous people have dined. It’s in a beautiful old house. Revered elegant mainstay boasts locally sourced seafood, premium filets & romantic courtyard dining

32 at the Imperial Palace - Upscale steak & seafood restaurant at IP Casino with water views, a large wine list & a full bar. The views are great. Pricey. This would be good for an anniversary dinner.

BR Prime at The Beau Rivage - Dry-aged prime beef, seafood & wine presented in a glamorous dining room at the Beau Rivage Resort.

200 North Beach in Bay St Louis has a wide menu and is more casual with white tablecloths and not quite the service but not nearly the price. Steaks, seafood & regional fare, plus cocktails, in a 1907 building with patio tables & water views.

Chimney’s - Refined option dishing out classic coastal cuisine in a sophisticated, white-tablecloth setting. They have an excellent Sunday brunch. Sit outside on the patio with a view of the ocean.

Saphire Supper Club - Located in the Legends Hotel, dining here will be a night to remember. It’s reminiscent of the classic and ever-popular supper clubs from the 1930s and 40s. At the Sapphire Supper Club, you can experience what it was like to step into popular venues like the 500 Club, Gus Stevens Seafood Restaurant, and Club Saint-Germain. You’ll be glowing brighter than our custom-built light-up dining tables while sipping on a perfectly mixed martini, listening to a singer croon some sweet tunes. It’ll be a gas! Check their website for schedule of live entertainment and when they are open.

White Pillars - This restaurant is located in a historic building. It has won many awards such as most romantic, James Beard Semi-Finalist, and more. This is a great place to celebrate an anniversary. Local seafood, steak & handmade pasta served in elegant quarters with a fireplace & chic wood bar.

Best Sunday Brunch

Baccus on the Beach in Pass Christian

Half Shell Oyster Housein Gulfport

Chimney’s in Gulfport-they have a nice porch with views of oak trees and the ocean

Field’s in Bay St. Louis, pricey but good

Salute’s - They often have live music during the Sunday brunch, large menu

Good Down Home Country Cooking

Rusty Pelican - good country style food. Here in Long Beach. Seafood dishes share the menu with chops & pasta at this comfy outpost with a relaxed atmosphere.

Martha’s Restaurant here in Long Beach. Very tiny restaurant and good food. Best lima beans and fried catfish I have ever had. Daily Specials.

Ms. Audrey’s Southern Kitchen in Gulfport, very delicious and you feel like your momma made the meal for you.

Cajun’s Fried Chicken in Gulfport, known for their fried chicken. All-you-can-eat setup offering fried chicken, fish & hearty sides in informal surroundings.

Da Kitchen in Waveland - daily specials. Down-home Southern fare like po’ boys & fried catfish feature at this easygoing café

Rock N Roll Cafe – Where you will find all of the workers going for lunch. Good food and good portions. In Long Beach. Daily specials.

Sherry’s Country Kitchen and Catfish House – Located in an old school house on Hwy 53. They have daily lunch specials.

Darwell’s Art Carnival Café – It was featured once on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. A true “one of a king” restaurant here in Long Beach.

Best Fried Catfish

Martha’s Restaurant – tiny, hole in the wall restaurant here in Long Beach

Bradley’s Cajun Quick Stop and Deli -the locals love this spot

Steve’s Marina - a local’s favorite-nice restaurant on the water

Catfish Charlie’s – check their opening hours before you head out

Aunt Jenny’s Catfish House – in Biloxi. – beautiful setting by the water and oak trees

Best Red Beans and Rice

Long Beach Market & Deli -This restaurant got the most votes by far for best red beans and rice

Steve’s Marina

Cajun’s Chicken

Best Sushi

Fuji – just around the corner. Looks like a dive from the outside, but the staff is always very friendly and the food is always fresh. Try it! You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Samurai - in Gulfport Japanese restaurant presents sushi & kitchen dishes in a modern space with Asian touches & bar.

Rock N Roll -in Gulfport & D’Iberville. Check Facebook because they often have a coupon if you sign up for their emails.

Fuji Sushi House - in Biloxi - has awesome sushi! It's worth the drive.

Best Daiquiri

Coastal Daiquiri - downtown Long Beach on Jeff Davis. Has a really nice large deck with seating overlooking the ocean. Very good hamburgers too!

Juan Tequila’s has to go margaritas. Has live entertainment on weekends, nice atmosphere and decent prices.

Live Music

Juan Tequila’s

The Blind Tiger - Bay St. Louis & Biloxi

Coastal Daiquiri -here in Long Beach,check Facebook page to find information on when there is live music but usually every weekend

Murky Waters Blues and BBQ

Darwell’s Art Carnival Café

Salute’s - Call to find out when they have live music

Sully’s - the newest restaurant to open in Gulfport, I’ve heard lots of great reviews. Live music every night!

Saphire Supper Club -nice but super pricey! Reminiscent of the 1950’s supper club, think Frank Sinatra type entertainment

Shaggy’s - right on the ocean in Pass Christian, call to see when there is music playing

Best Pizza

Tony’s Brick oven – in downtown Gulfport

Brooklyn Pizzeria in Bay St. Louis & Gulfport. They also have excellent muffalettas and Italian subs. Calzones are amazing.

Best Thai

Basil’s Café - food always come out fresh and steaming hot. Very authentic and always good. One of my favorites.

Best Donuts

Dolce Bakeshop – right in downtown Long Beach. They don’t have donuts, but they have the best gourmet cupcakes. Really good! Check their opening hours before you head out there. They also have homemade gelato.

King Donuts , thicker and kinda cakey, also has good breakfast biscuits

Long Beach Donuts has more fluffy type donuts.

Rusty Pelican has good beignets

Beignet Café inside Island View Casino has beignets and Café Du Monde coffee

Best BBQ

The Shed – best BBQ on the coast in Ocean Springs. Down-home joint for barbecue & weekend blues in junkyard, shack-like digs with string lights & bar. While this place is very popular, I personally thought the brisket was too fatty and not very flavorful.

Best Chinese or Vietnamese

Asian Paradise - very fresh and delicious, located in Pass Christian

Long Beach Market and Deli 20110 Pineville Road, This family-owned restaurant has the largest selection of cold beer in the entire state of Mississippi. It also offers 10 beers on tap, and an eclectic menu that includes Korean, Chinese, Cajun, Vietnamese, and American cuisines.

Rusty Pelican - owned by a Vietnamese lady

Itinerary: Get to know Long Beach

This is best done on a Saturday when the farmer’s market is open and the shops downtown are all open.

Start off the day by having breakfast at Harbor View Café. The best seating is outside where you have a nice view and it’s quieter. Then go across the street to the farmer’s market (seasonal). Pick up some fresh produce to make a salad for dinner tonight. Walk down Jeff Davis Ave. and check out Mockingbird Lane & Sister Swank stores. Around the corner is Dolce Bakery (Tue-Sat 10-5) where you can get really good homemade gelato and gourmet cupcakes and cookies! The kids will love it. The kids will also enjoy the Stone Man & Gem Lady rock store where you can buy cool rocks at great prices (Wed-Sat). They sell all sorts of unique things from insects, fossils, to ancient Chinese tomb artifacts! Drive over to Forget me Not Florist and check out their store as well. Go back to the house and put all of the groceries away. Now it’s time to head to the beach! Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the beach. Cook the food you bought earlier today for dinner. After dinner, grab some food for the turtles and drive over to the USM Campus and walk around and admire the Friendship Oak Tree, which has been here since before Columbus! Stop by the bridge and feed the turtles. There you have it: a nice relaxing day in Long Beach! But if you still need more excitement and it’s Fri or Sat, there may be a live band playing at Coastal Daiquiri. On the first Friday of every month in the summer, downtown Long Beach has a live band playing.

Itinerary: Small Town Hop

This is a great way to experience the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You will stop at all of the cute little towns on the coast: Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, and Ocean Springs. Plan on a full day of shopping, eating, and sightseeing.

As you drive toward Bay St. Louis on Hwy 90, take Scenic Drive on your right on your way there. It’s a short drive with the most gorgeous homes on the coast. Stop at Cat Island Coffee House in Pass Christian (at the end of Scenic Drive) for a coffee and breakfast. Continue on to Bay St. Louis. In Bay St. Louis, park over by Ruth’s Roots. Visit Ruth’s Roots which is a lovely community garden. Stop at Shops at Century Hall which is a big building filled with various vendors. There are also 2 wonderful antique stores you could walk to: Magnolia Antiques and Antique Maison. If you are a history buff, stop by the Pass Christian Historical Society which is across the street from Ruth’s Roots. Finally take a walk down Main Street and stroll those shops as well (going toward the Gulf). There’s an excellent ice cream shop called Creole Creamery. You won’t be disappointed. On your way out of Bay St. Louis, instead of turning right to get on the bridge, go straight toward Cedar Point on N. Beach Blvd. This is a neat drive. It feels like you are driving on the water. It’s 3 miles down to Cedar Point where you can park. This is the best sunset viewing area. Gorgeous homes on one side and the water on the other side.

The next stop is Pass Christian. Stop at Shaggy’s to have lunch outside with a fantastic view of the water. Walk around the Pass Christian harbor after lunch and see all of the shrimp boats. Next, go to Art Alley in the Pass and Robin's Nest gift shops. You will find some other stores as well when you walk around.

The next stop is Ocean Springs. It’s a beautiful 30 minute drive there with unobstructed views of the ocean the entire way. You will drive past Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi. You will see all of the huge casinos in Biloxi on your way there. Once in Ocean Springs, park by the Realizations art gallery. Realizations sells Walter Anderson prints (a famous local artist). All of the shopping is along Washington Ave. I like Poppy’s and Coastal Magpie stores. If you are hungry, Maison De Lu has lovely streetside and patio seating. Excellent food too. For a more informal meal, Glory Bound Gyros and Lady May are popular. Ocean Springs has lots of art galleries. I particular enjoy the Pink Rooster. You must stop by this one! Before you leave Ocean Springs, drive to Shearwater Pottery, a very popular pottery store.

Itinerary: Shop till you Drop:

This day trip is best done on a Friday or Saturday when most of these stores are open. Most of these places are vendor malls where you have several different vendors inside a large building. Check the day and hours before you head out because they all have funky opening time and some are only open one weekend a month. Find information on these stores on Facebook.

Stone Man & Gem Lady - open 10-3 Wed-Fri and 10-1 Sat. A Mom and Pop shop here in Long Beach off of Jeff Davis.

Vintage Flamingo - Only open one weekend a month: open 2^nd Thurs – Sun from 11-6. –A large building with lots of vendors inside. They have home décor, jewelry, clothes, and more.

Williams Gallery - open 9-1 Tue-Sat. Lots of talented local artwork

Stop at Sherry’s Country Kitchen for a late lunch.

Mississippi Mercantile - Only open 2 weekends a month: Open 1^st and 3^rd Thurs-Sat from 10-5. Large mall with lots of vendors. You will find Mississippi themed items here.

And depending on the time, you could drive up to Pecan House in McHenry on Hwy 49 and stop at Two Fat Friends which is open every Fri., Sat., and Sun. The Pecan House has lots of great souvenirs. Two Fat Friends is a large mall filled with different vendors and they have antiques, clothes, jewelry, home décor, and more.

Itinerary: Museum Junkie

With some advance planning, you can squeeze a lot of cool things into this day. If you can, try to squeeze in the historic schooner sailboat cruise at 6 PM at the end of the day. This will take some planning on your part. Go to the website (link below) and see when the next schooner sailing is. Plan accordingly. Also, if you wanted the Presidential Tour at the Beauvoir Mansion, that needs to be booked 24 hours in advance.

Start off the day by visiting the Biloxi Visitor Center open 8-5 daily. They have a very informative video on Hurricane Katrina (10 AM & 2 PM daily). It’s an excellent visitor center in a historic building with lots of great information, plus they have a lighthouse you can tour. Light house tours take place at 9 AM daily, weather permitting, and it’s only $5 per person. I would suggest getting there at 8:30AM, going on the lighthouse tour, then watching the Hurricane Katrina video at 10 AM.

Our first museum of the day is the Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Museum. The grounds encompass 52 acres and you get to tour the historic mansion, which is the post-war home of the former President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis. Tours start at the top of every hour. If you are a real history buff, pay $35 a person and book in advance (at least 24 hours in advance) the Presidential tour where you will get your own personal guide and see the entire 52 acres and some very special behind-the-scenes places. Your guide will drive you to all of the points of interest on the historic Oak-laden Beauvoir property, providing a narrative of the historical grounds!

The next stop if the O’Keefe Art Museum. Open Tue-Sat. Have lunch here at the Trinity Café by Joshua. They have daily lunch specials. Eat outside on the patio for a lovely view of the beach. Tour the museum.

Our final museum of the day is the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi. Explore over 300 years of history, heritage, and culture. Open Mon-Sat 9-430 and Sun 12-4. One thing that this museum offers that is really cool is sailing on a historic schooner (sailboat)! You meet at the Schooner Pier (arrive early) at 367 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi. Cost is $30 / adult & $15 / child ages 3-12. Check the website for sailing dates at https://www.maritimemuseum.org/biloxi-schooners. You could time your museum day so that you end it with a historic schooner cruise at 6 PM!

Itinerary: New Orleans Day Trip

If you want to eat at the iconic Brennan’s restaurant, you need to plan a month in advance! Reservations open up 30 days in advance and book within minutes. If you are organized and lucky enough, snag a reservation for your party. Read the entire itinerary and decide if you want to do a swamp tour or a riverboat tour. Research the restaurant recommendations and decide where you want to eat and make reservations if they take them.

Start your day with an swamp tour with Airboat Adventures airboatadventures.com/swamp-tours/. Book your tour in advance. If you can request a guide, request . We took a tour with him and he kissed a wild alligator! He’s a true Cajun guy with a thick accent. You will love him.

Buy your parking spot in advance online at spothero.com for New Orleans. It’s cheaper and then you are not stressed out trying to find parking. I recommend parking spots P404 or P401. Once you arrive in New Orleans, you’ve got to go to Café Du Monde at 800 Decatur St. If the line is crazy long, walk all the way up to the front of the line and you will notice there is a short line on the left for take away only. I think you have to pay cash only, but I’m not sure. Just get your food for take away and eat it at the park across the street.

After having a beignet and coffee au laut, do a riverfront stroll in Woldenberg Park. It’s right behind Café Du Monde. Next, go across the street to Jackson Square where you can get your tarot cards read right before stepping inside the cathedral. Check out St. Louis Cathedral. The museum next door called The Presbytere is your next stop. They have 2 excellent exhibitions: Mardi Gras World and Living with Hurricanes. Very informative and an hour well spent.

If you have made reservations a month in advance, then head over to Brennan’s for lunch. The Court of Two Sisters has lovely patio seating but the food is so-so. Other restaurant recommendations are Galatoire’s (creole), GW Fins (seafood), K Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen (creole), Palace Café (creole), Tableau (creole), Café Amelie (southern), Acme Oyster House (seafood), and Johnny’s Po-Boys (po-boys).

After having lunch, it’s time to stroll the streets. Royal Street is lined with swanky antiques, art, and clothing shops. Be sure to browse M.S.Rau at 630 Royal Street. They welcome gawkers. Next is the one and only Bourbon Street. Lots of entertaining people watching on this street.

If you can squeeze it in, one fun thing to do is take the Steamboat Natchez on a daytime cruise Mon-Sat. Board the boat at 11 AM and sail from 11:30 to 1:30PM. You can pay more for lunch if you want, but you don’t have to buy the food. They also have an evening cruise from 7 to 9 PM. Check the website because they have 2 different boats and lots of different options.

Depending on your interests, the WWII museum is top notch excellent! I highly recommend it. If you go, be sure to see the movie with Tom Hanks. This is a newer museum and very interesting, engaging, and informative.

Before you leave, stop at Central Grocer and get a muffaletta to go. Once you get to the house, eat it for dinner. Delicious!

Itinerary: The Budget Traveler

This should cost no more than $25 per person. Really all of the money you are spending is on food today. Start the day off with a country breakfast at the Rusty Pelican ($10). This is where all the locals eat breakfast, hands down. Next you are going to drive to Ground Zero Museum in Waveland (Tues-Sat 10-3). Admission is free. It is a museum about Hurricane Katrina. Be sure to take Scenic Drive on your right off of Hwy 90 on your way there. This drive is very scenic with some of the most beautiful mansions on the coast. After visiting the museum, park at Ruth’s Roots in Bay St. Louis and walk around it. Ruth’s Roots is an awesome community garden. Stop across the street at Bay St Louis Historical Society if it’s open. Walk around Bay St. Louis. I recommend the Shops at Century Hall and walking down Main Street. For lunch, they say there is no such thing as a free lunch, however, they haven’t been to Long Beach. Head over to Island View Casino and sign up for their players club (21+ over). They will give you a voucher for free slot play and a free $15 in dining! Go to their lunch buffet which is outstanding. So many choices. Be sure to sample their gelato because it’s just as good as the gelato you get in Europe. The best buffet around in my opinion, and it will all be free! Try your luck on the free slot play. Who knows, you might actually earn money on this day! After lunch, you will be really full, so head back to the house, change into a swimsuit, and head to the beach and relax a bit. Check out Sea Level Taco Stand in Pass Christian for dinner. It’s a taco stand right on the beach! Open 11-7 daily. Inexpensive and you can’t beat the view. A lot of folks say they have the best burgers. Alternatively, Bacchus on the Beach is a lovely restaurant with $12.50 dinner specials Mon-Thurs. My favorite is the fried shrimp platter on Wed.

Itinerary: The Fisherman / Outdoorsman

If you want to catch a bunch of fish, hire a fishing charter. Every guest that has hired a fishing charter has had the best time. There are many to choose from, but some that guests have used and have been very satisfied with are Impulsive Fishing Charters with Captain Scott, Shore Thing Charters out of Bay St Louis, Fishing Frenzy with Captain Micah, and 9 Ball Mississippi Fishing Charters with Captain Berry.

If you don’t want to go fishing but want to see some wildlife instead, drive over to Global Wildlife Encounters (90 minute drive away). They have safaris that take you out in huge open pastures where you can feed wildlife such as giraffes, zebras, buffalo, camels, and more.

Itinerary: Young Kids Day Out

Start off the day by going to either the Aquarium or the Institute for Marine and Mammal Studies (IMMS). IMMS is less expensive. Both have dolphin shows. The Aquarium just opened in 2021. IMMS has different animal shows like dolphin, bird, sting ray, and sea lion. Grab lunch at any of the recommended ones and then head back to the house, change into swimsuits, and go to the beach for a couple of hours. Head on over to the Lynn Meadows Children’s Museum at 3PM and spend a couple of hours there until they close at 5 PM. On the way home, stop by the University of Southern Mississippi campus with some bread and feed the turtles. There is a little creek with a little bridge and there are lots of turtles there. You can also admire the huge Friendship Oak which has existed since Columbus! If the kids still have energy, Sweet Escape in Pass Christian is open until 9 PM on Wed and Thurs and until 11 PM on Fri and Sat. They have all you can play video games for one low price. They also have cotton candy and lots of other goodies. Alternatively, you could go family bowling at Big Play. Another option is the playground on the beach by Shaggy’s in Pass Christian. Also, walking around the Pass Christian Harbor and looking at the shrimping boats, great blue herons, and pelicans is interesting.

Things To Do

These are listed in order from the closest to the furthest away.

*Items with a star are highly recommended by me.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great place for families. It is home to top-rated schools, job and business opportunities, and plenty of parks and wide open spaces. In addition to all these, it also offers a number of recreation and entertainment options that the entire family will enjoy.

Fly a Kite at the Beach - FREE - 2 minutes away - Drive down to Walmart and pick up a kite and go fly a kite! You will have a souvenir to take home to boot!

Hang out at the Beach - FREE - 2 minutes away - Although the MS beaches will not rival Florida or Hawaii, they are nothing to scoff at! With nearly 80 miles of white sand beaches, there are plenty of isolated nooks that you can enjoy the Gulf of Mexico and the sun. What I like about our beaches is that you can out into the ocean for a long time and it’s shallow water. (Be sure to shuffle your feet on the ground as you wade to scare off the stingrays.) Our shallow water makes our beaches safer and more child friendly. When I went to a beach in Alabama, the waves were so violent that it was completely unsafe for kids to swim in. Heck, I could barely swim in that ocean! Load up the wagon provided with the kickboards, beach toys, and chairs and walk on down to the beach.

*Watch the Sunset on the Beach - FREE - 2 minutes away - Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to slow down and walk to the beach and soak up a beautiful sunset. The water is always so calm and the colors in the sky are amazing. Take the dog and kids and go for a walk to the beach. Take some family photos while you are there because the “golden hour” lighting makes the photos turn out really good!

*See Historic Mansions on Scenic Drive - FREE - 5 minutes away - Some of the most beautiful antebellum mansions are just down the street on Scenic Drive, off of Hwy 90, toward Pass Christian. It’s a pleasant short drive. Combine this with eating out at Shaggy’s on the water and walking around Pass Christian Harbor and downtown. You can find detailed information on each of the homes on the Historical Society’s webpage: https://www.passhistory.org/scenic-drive-historic-district

Feed the Turtles - FREE - 5 Minutes away - Long Beach - Bring some bread or other treats for the turtles and feed them at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park at 730 Beach Blvd. They have a lovely campus overlooking the Gulf with many huge oak trees, including the famous Friendship Oak that dates back to pre-Columbus times! Find one of their ponds and feed the turtles and birds there! This is a lovely campus for strolling. There a bridge over a turtle pond that is home to hundreds of turtles. There is a picnic area nearby. The turtles are delighted to eat your leftovers.

Tree Carvings along Highway 90 (beach highway 5-30 minutes away): Look in center of Highway 90 between Pass Christian & Biloxi in Harrison County. There are numerous large Live Oak trees that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina that have been carved into "Coastal" artwork all along the beach road way.

Ship Island Excursions - 10 minutes away - Gulfport-Ship Island is approximately 7 miles long an offers beautiful, high quality natural beaches for hiking and swimming. The treeless island offers visitors minimal shade. Prepare for the sun, especially in summer. A Ship Island sunburn is legendary. The National Park Service provides a large covered picnic pavilion and restroom facility with drinking water on both the north and south side of the island. A snack bar, along with beach umbrella and chair rentals are available on the South Beach. Additional shade and protection from storms are also available inside Fort Massachusetts.Take a ferry to West Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and enjoy its pristine waters and acclaimed white sandy beaches. The excursion includes an exploration of Fort Massachusetts, a historic structure built on the island from 1859 to 1866. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of chances to spot the bottle nose dolphins that thrive in the Gulf waters. $44 per adult. Pack tons of sunscreen!

Pass Christian Harbor & Playground - 11 minutes away - Pass Christian. There is a playground by Shaggy’s on the beach. Walking around the harbor and looking at the shrimp boats, great blue herons, and pelicans is interesting. There are also 2 vendors that sell fresh seafood on the far left side (east side). Sometimes they will feed the great blue herons that stand around waiting for scraps! If you want a quick authentic easy meal, pick up a container of gumbo from them! Delicious!

Mississippi Aquarium - 12 minutes away - Gulfport - $30 adults, $25 kids. This new aquarium has a dolphin show and is located right on Hwy 90. If you are a member of Keesler Federal Credit Union, you can buy discounted tickets on the credit union’s website. Honestly, a lot of locals (myself included) feel that it is overpriced for what they offer. I recommend Institute of Marine Mammal Studies over this, though.

Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum - 15 minutes away - in Gulfport $5 for adults and $2 for kids. Honestly this sounded boring to me but I had so many people tell me I had to go because it was great. And they have lots of 5 star reviews on Google to prove they are worth a visit. A great place to go if the weather is bad. There are several rooms to explore with moving trains, 1000’s of legos, and the people are delightful. There is also a train behind the buildings with an engineer that takes you through a tunnel and over the water. You will be in awe of the details the amount of stuff to see and they are expanding. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Look at all of the photos people posted on the Google reviews to get an idea of the place.

*Lynn Meadows Discovery Center Children’s Museum - 15 minutes away - Gulfport-$10 per person, $6 on Sundays, $3 from 3 to 5 daily. Indoor attractions include the Super Colossal Climbing Structure, which spans the entire height of the museum, an art studio, a pet clinic where kid scan participate in caring for their pets, a “History Hotel,” a science exhibit, and more. Outdoors, the family can enjoy a “bear creek,” the Kids Street that features kid-sized homes and structures, a pretend bayou shop, and a tree house village. They also host various classes for adults and children along with theater shows.

All-you-can-play Arcade at The Sweet Escape - 16 minutes away - Pass Christian -$10- The coast’s only all-you-can-play arcade! You just pay one flat fee ($10) and play a host of old and new school arcade and console games. A truly wonderful and unique place to have in the small town of Pass Christian. They offer all sorts of treats from pizza to banana splits. You can even get a frappe or smoothie that certainly rivals Starbucks and Smoothie King (for half the price!). Be sure to try the liquid salad if you’re in the mood for the healthiest drink on Earth! Some of best sno-balls around! Owned by former LA residents. Combine this with a trip to the Pine Hills Nursery.

*Visit Bay St. Louis -17 minutes away - Have lunch at the Blind Tiger and walk around the cute shops in the downtown. Walk across the bridge – it has a nice pedestrian friendly space for bikes and walkers. West on Highway 90 over the bay bridge. The little downtown runs along the Bay of St. Louis and has numerous interesting shops, dining spots, historical spots, etc. Since there has always been a strong New Orleans influence on the area most of the shops also offer New Orleans gifts. Great for an afternoon visit. They also have an artwalk every 2^nd Saturday from 4-8 PM during the summer with gallery openings, shops, restaurant specials and live music. I particularly like to shop at Century Hall which is a big building that has many vendors and tiny shops inside. You can find local artwork for sale. Down the street is Ruth’s Roots, a creative and innovative community garden that is pleasant to visit. Take a detour to Cedar Point to watch the sunset and look at the lovely homes on the water. Detailed directions are under the Hiking section, but basically after crossing the bridge, instead of taking a left at the light to go to downtown Bay St. Louis, you take a right and the road will dead end in 3 miles to Cedar Point.

Zip’ N Fun Adventure Park - 18 minutes away-Gulfport-You’ll have a full day of fun with the family in this outdoor nature adventure park. Go through a tree-to-tree obstacle course that features hanging bridges, tunnels, swinging logs, ziplines, and more. There are two courses to accommodate players of all sizes. The higher course designed for older kids and adults features 50 exhilarating games, while the lower, near-ground course for younger children offers 20 challenges. The trails become more challenging as you go along. Make sure you make a reservation!

Gulf Islands Water Park - 18 minutes away - Gulfport – $40 or $30 online or even cheaper if you buy online at least a day before you go. Buying your ticket at the gate is the most expensive option. An outdoor water park with a lazy river, a wave pool and water slides. They also have a special designated area just for small kids. I believe they have discounted admission after a certain hour. Call to confirm.

Altitude Trampoline Park – 20 minutes away - Gulfport – 1 hour jump $ 12.95 (add a second hour for only $9. A great place for the kids to let off some energy. Great place to go if the weather is bad. Very clean and spacious, they have an arcade section, rock climbing, dodge ball area, American ninja like obstacle course, and multiple trampoline areas. There is even a trampoline area for kids 60 lbs and under. They charge by the hour. So best to come in at the 1/2 hour. So get 30mins for free. Plus there are soft couches for the adults to sit on while the kids play!

Bayou View Park - FREE-20 minutes away - Gulfport Community park offering picnic shelters, play structures, tennis courts & waterside walking paths.

Chuck E. Cheese - 20 minutes away - Gulfport, When you just want to keep it simple.

Pine Hills Nursery – FREE – 21 Minutes away - Pass Christian. This is a very large nursery that sells plants but it’s fun to go there and wander the grounds. They have a mini “zoo” with a big gator, chickens, turtles, goats, rabbits, & koi pond. Combine this with a trip to the Sweet Escape.

Ice Skating at the Colliseum - 22 minutes away -Biloxi-Call ahead for opening times – only open in winter

*Center for Marine Education and Research, AKA Institute for Marine and Mammal Studies (IMMS), AKA Ocean Adventures Marine Park. 24 Minutes away-Gulfport-$16 adults $13 kids I don’t know why this place has 3 names, but it does! This is a nonprofit organization and I personally think it’s a better experience than the new Gulfport Aquarium. It is a fraction of the price of the aquarium and there are more interesting things to do. Dolphin & Sealion shows, stingrays up close, feeding parakeets, and more. You can also snorkel with the stingrays and have dolphin, stingray, or sea lion encounters.

Big Play –Biloxi-25 minutes away-The name says it all! Big Play is home to the largest arcade on the MS Coast nestled along the scenic Highway across from the Biloxi Beach. Along with a modern arcade, you can go bowling, race go karts, play mini golf, battle laser tag and mine for gems! Avoid the crowds and go early on a weekday!

Finish Line Performance Go-Karting - 25 minutes away - Biloxi-located next to Big Play, is a state-of-the-art outdoor go-kart racing complex offering the ultimate experience for kids and adults alike. Race against the clock and other competitors, as you climb the rankings and prove that you have what it takes to be the fastest driver

Ground Zero Museum - 26 minutes away - FREE - This is a very touching museum about the resilience of people as they experienced Hurricane Katrina. Worth a quick stop before or after visiting Bay St. Louis. There is a bakery that serves gourmet cupcakes and lunches attached to the museum. Open Tue-Sat 10-3

*Biloxi Visitor Center and Lighthouse - 27 minutes away-free - Biloxi, More than a visitor’s center, it’s a museum and has a historic lighthouse. It fuses the city’s architectural heritage with state-of-the-art technology and multi-media exhibits to give visitors and residents alike a feel for the Biloxi of yesterday and today. Besides offering a wealth of information about visitor amenities in Biloxi, the visitors center is also a museum of sorts, housing nearly a dozen multi-media exhibits that tell the story of Biloxi, its people, its connection to the water and its cultural diversity. You’ll find a gift shop offering all sorts of Biloxi memorabilia, with many of the items created by local artists and craftsmen. Among the attractions on the second floor is a 67-seat movie theater with continuous showings of the 10-minute film “We are Biloxi.” And stepping out onto the second-floor porch, you’ll be eye level with the beacon of the Biloxi Lighthouse, enjoying the cool breezes off the Gulf of Mexico, or soaking up the panoramic view of the Biloxi beach and Mississippi Sound. There is a very informative video about Hurricane Katrina which plays at 10 AM and 2 PM.

Biloxi Tour Train - 27 minutes away - In business for over 60 years, affectionately called “The Shrimp Train”, it is an open-aire train that takes you on a historic tour of Biloxi. Very popular and everyone has a great time. The guide is wonderful and it’s $15 for ages 12 and up.

*Historic Schooner Sailing - 27 minutes away - This is a super cool, unique experience. Set sail on a historic schooner, sailboat. The Maritime Museum hosts these walk-on sailings. You meet at the Schooner Pier (arrive early) at 367 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi. Cost is $30 / adult & $15 / child ages 3-12. Check the website for sailing dates at https://www.maritimemuseum.org/biloxi-schooners . Sailing times are either 2 PM or 6 PM.

Buccaneer State Park - 28 minutes away - Located in the heart of Waveland, Buccaneer State Park is the perfect getaway for families with an adventurous heart for the outdoors. With 276 premium campsites surrounded by large moss-draped oaks, marshlands, and the Gulf, it’s an invitation to savor the best nature has to offer. Whether it’s smores around a campfire, a pleasant walk along a historic nature trail, or a game of disc golf, Buccaneer State Park offers state-of-the-art facilities in a beautifully restored recreational environment. It’s a one-stop-shop type of deal where families can enjoy a true camping experience, along with some great amenity perks set within 400 acres of green space that borders the Gulf of Mexico. One great feature that’s sure to provide tons of fun for all ages is the half-million gallon wave pool that alternates between eight different wave patterns. The park also has concessions and a food court, picnic area, two water slides, a playground, and a Par 3, 18-hole disc golf course that incorporates open fairways and obstacles throughout the natural setting. A highlight of Buccaneer State Park is “Pirate’s Alley Nature Trail” — a 1.8 mile, self-guided trail that showcases many species of oaks, magnolia, pines, and a variety of indigenous plants and animals of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

U-Pic Farms - As the seasons change, so does the fresh, local produce that is available. There are several farms that allow you to experience fresh produce in a unique way… you pick it yourself! We have a U Pick Blackberry Farm right here in Long Beach off of Klondyke Road. Call 228- 861-8837 for more information. In May and June, Dannemann Farms in Kiln, MS and Bounds Blueberry Farm in Wiggins has an abundant supply of blueberries. Throughout the summer, Charlie’s U-Pik is loaded down with a bounty of all kinds of fruits and vegetables. They have two locations in Wiggins and Lucedale. Mert’s Satsumas farm has more than 400 trees of home grown Satsumas and other popular citrus fruits. The Satsuma season is typically mid-September through January 1st. Stop by the farm in north Gulfport to get freshly picked fruits.

The Biloxi Shrimping Trip - 31 minutes away - Biloxi- $20 adults $12 kids-This 70-minute cruise on the Mississippi Sound will give you and your family first hand shrimping experience. On the expedition, a net will be cast to the sea, catching not only shrimp but also blue crabs, oyster fish, flounder, squid, stingray, and other sea creatures that thrive on the sound. You will learn how the net is spread and operated, and how to properly cook and eat shrimps.

Putt Putt Golf with Exploding Volcano - 32 minutes away - D’Iberville, MS in Scaret Pearl Casino - $10 adults $5-$7 kids. Kids will definitely enjoy golfing at the Lava Links Golf Club. This unique miniature golf course is located at the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort on Central Avenue, D’lberville. Kids are challenged to putt the ball in an 18-hole course while being surrounded by an erupting mechanical volcano, serene waterfalls, and entertaining music.

Trampoline Park, Bowling & Aracade at D’Iberville Family Fun Center - 32 minutes away -D’Iberville- Get 2 games of bowling, rental shoes, a choice of an entree, and a large fountain drink for $15 per person Mondays thru Fridays, from 11 to 3. For just $6 per person, you’ll get a cosmic bowling experience every Tuesday night after league. Our Cosmic Bowling Extravaganza special is from 10 pm until midnight, with shoes included. Check out their website for other specials – they have several! The trampoline park is 12,000 square feet. I have also heard that their daiquiri bar has some of the best daiquiris around from several folks.

Heavenly Grace Farm - 33 minutes away - Kiln, MS - Llama and alpaca encounters. You can find them on Facebook. Reserve in advance.

Indoor Swimming at the Salvation Army Kroc Center MS Gulf Coast-34 minutes away- Biloxi-$8-$10 per person.This is an indoor water park with a lazy river. Very clean facility and friendly staff. DATE NIGHT CHILD CARE-Every Friday Night • 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm A light dinner, movies, games will be provided all in a safe Christian environment for children ages 2 months-12 years old. This program is $35 for the first child and $10 for each additional child.

Margaritaville Resort Biloxi - 34 minutes away - This is a casino that has a huge 55,000 square foot Family Entertainment / Arcade Center. There is a 48 foot volcano rock wall ($6), ropes course ($7), boutique bowling ($6), virtual reality ride where you choose your theme park ride ($10), and tons of arcade games. On Wednesdays, everything is half off! Note that it is extremely loud in there with all of the arcade games! Check out their website for pricing on particular attractions. This is not my cup of tea, but a lot of people recommend the Margaritaville for kids. Great place to go if the weather is bad outside.

INFINITY Science Center – 36 minutes away - Pearlington, MS- $15 adults $10 kids. The exhibits are amazing! You never realize just how large these rockets are until you're standing right next to one. You'll see artifacts from real space missions, not just replicas There are many interactive exhibits to enjoy for all ages. A lot of static displays inside as well as outside. The INFINITY Science Center is also the official visitor center for the NASA Stennis Space Center. Stop by Logtown nearby as well.

*Visit Ocean Springs - 37 minutes away - By far one of the favorite small town downtowns to visit. Have lunch at Maison De Lu which has street side and patio dining. For a more informal meal, try Glory Bound Gyros. Walk around the cute shops downtown on Government Street and Washington Street. One of the few old Downtowns to survive all the hurricanes the area has numerous historic sites, historic homes and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. A large number of events & festivals take place here during the year. My favorite shops are Shearwater Pottery, Realizations, Hillyer House, Coastal Magpie, The Pink Rooster, Poppy’s, and Walter Anderson Museum gift shop. There is also a large toy store called Miner’s Big Stuff toy and doll store.

Ghost Town in Logtown, MS - Free - 38 minutes away - This is a ghost town with a historic 3 mile trail. It is one of several ghost towns situated within the 125,000 acre acoustic buffer zone of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center. It stood along the banks of the Pearl River and had been the site of a very large sawmill and logging community. Today, the only thing left untouched is the Logtown cemeteries. There are three privately owned family cemeteries with graves dating back as early as the 1850s. Along the Pearl River you can find an artesian well and concrete and brick structures that were once the foundations of some of the buildings. Snaking through the pine and hardwood forest is the Possum Walk Trail, a 3 mile hiking trail stretching in between the Nasa Infinity Science Center and Logtown. Along the trail you can find many signs telling Logtown's history and even see remnants of the historic Dummy Line railroad. Complete your visit to Logtown with a nearby swamp tour with Cajun Encounters.

*Swamp Boat Tour & Visit a Plantation - 41 minutes away - Slidell, LA. If you plan ahead, you can do a swamp boat tour in the morning at Cajun Encounters. After the tour, head over to Oak Alley Plantation. Oak Alley plantation is the most famous plantation. Another plantation highly recommended is Laura: A Creole Plantation. This one is not as glitzy as Oak Alley, but offers instead of thorough view of daily life on an 18^th and 19^th century sugar plantation. I read that Cajun Encounters also does nighttime swamp tours that are spooky and cool.

Canoeing and Kayaking on the Wolf River - 42 minutes away - Famous for its white sand beaches and winding waterways, the Wolf River is the perfect playground for the amateur or experienced canoer and kayaker alike! Just minutes from the gulf beaches, the cool waters of the Wolf River flow over adventurous clay formations, twist around pristine white sand beaches, and meander through peaceful woodlands. Whether you want to swim, picnic, camp, fish, or just relax and enjoy nature, a canoe trip from Wolf River Canoes is for you! Ghost River Rentals provides shuttle services along the Wolf River. See wolfriver.org/paddling for more information.

*Wild Acres Petting Zoo-46 minutes away- McHenry, MS-Hands on animal exhibit. Petting zoo. Located in McHenry. You need to make a reservation before you go there. Look them up on Facebook. This one has been many of the guests’ favorite activities with small children. They have sloths and baby animals for the kids to feed. Definitely worth the drive there! You can combine this with a visit to the Flint Creek Water park. Stop at the Pecan House on the way to grab some sweet treats and souvenirs.

Pascagoula River Audobon Center - 47 minutes away - Pascagoula, MS-The center is the gateway to the Pascagoula River, the largest free-flowing river in the continental United States. It will introduce you to the diverse wild life that thrives in the river and its surrounding ecosystems. The center includes an interpretive trail and play and botanical gardens, and offers kayak rentals and river tours.

Explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore - 48 minutes away - Ocean Springs. The Gulf Islands National Seashore has a lot of interesting things hidden away, such as the Davis Bayou Trail. This two mile trail leads visitors on a journey through coastal forest. The trail is free to use and hike, but there is a fee for using the campsites or boat ramps in the area. The William M. Colmer Visitor Center is also another free location to visit here. There are video presentations where visitors can learn more about the national seashore and get involved with ranger-guided programs.

Flint Creek Water Park-54 minutes away - Wiggins is 30 minutes north. It has a nice beach area. Entry is cheap, and you can have a picnic lunch and swim. You can combine this with a visit to the Wild Acres Petting Zoo

*New Orleans French Quarter - 1 hour 20 minutes away - Walk around the French quarter and don’t forget to stop at the famous Café Du Monde and have some beignets and café au lait! There is always a long line, but a tip is for you to go to the front of the line and on the left, there is a take out counter with a much shorter line. Get your food to go and eat it across the street in the lovely park. Cash only. Take a relaxing tour on the authentic Steamboat Natchez paddleboat. I use Spothero.com and pay for a parking spot BEFORE I leave Long Beach. Not only does this reduce my stress of finding a spot once I get to New Orleans, but parking is also a fraction of the price.

USS Alabama Battleship - 1 hour 20 minutes away - Mobile, AL-$15 adults, $6 kids Highly rated tour of a WWII battleship and submarine. This was such an awesome sight to see! An awesome WWII battleship offers a fun experience for the entire family. View the massive canons on the top deck, explore the many levels of the ships full of intriguing rooms, and climb upwards to the main wheelhouse where the captain navigated the ship! This was an amazing visit and a recommendation for anyone!

Hattisburg Zoo - 1 hour, 25 minutes away - Hattisburg, MS $8 aduts, $6 kids. It is a small zoo, but lots of beautiful animals. They have monkeys, giraffes, lion, birds, flamingos, reptiles, etc. A very enjoyable experience. There is a small train the kids can ride along with a splash pad.

*Global Wildlife Center -1 hour 30 minutes away - Folsom, LA - The only place in Louisiana where you can get eye to eye with giraffes, feel the wooly fur of bison, or wiggle a camel's hump. Come safari with us! You ride in a wagon and drive around the grounds and feed the animals. The kids will love it. Very unique experience.

*National WWII Museum -1 hour 34 minutes away - New Orleans, LA - Top notch, new, large WWII museum. This is worth the drive. It is one of the best museums I have visited in the States. Be sure to pre-purchase your tickets online and pay the extra for the movie with Tom Hanks because it’s worth it. Highly recommended.

Mini Grand Canyon - FREE - 1 hour 40 minutes away - in Red Bluff, located in the small town of Foxworth, MS- A beautiful site will await you featuring colorful sandstone erosion. You can hike down to the Pearl River and explore! Keep in mind this is on private land and there are no restrooms or amenities nearby. Hike the .9 mile Red Bluff trail. Very unique spot that is unparalleled in Mississippi. The view is stunning, and the hike down can be slippery, so come prepared to get dirty and wear hiking boots. The creek at the bottom is cold and clear, forming something of a little oasis with cool air and miniature waterfalls. Bring plenty of water to drink and be prepared for cardio on the way back up. Find more information on this trails on Alltrails.com

Landrum Homestead Village & Living History Museum - 1 hour 41 minutes away - Laurel, MS. The village is a walk back in time -- a re-creation of a late 1800s settlement reminiscent of Southern days gone -- nestled in a beautifully landscaped setting. Features include a Confederate soldier encampment, an Old West Shooting Gallery, exhibits, entertainment, nature trail wagon rides, gem mining, a Native American Village, a mystery house, The Maze, Smokehouse lunches, a picnic pavilion, a forestry museum, demonstrations on blacksmithing, butter churning, gristmill grinding cornmeal, cooking biscuits on a wood stove, steam engine and much more. Walk-ins welcome Thurs – Sat. Call to make sure they will be open. They have a very nice Fall Fest and Christmas Candelight tour. https://landrums.com/

Alligator Alley - 1 hour 48 minutes away - Summerdale, AL. $15 adults $13 kids Lots of alligators and shows throughout the day. On your way to Gulf Shores, Alabama. You can buy a bucket of alligator feed and feed the gators. They have very cool boardwalks that walk over the water that is filled with gators. The boardwalks are very scenic filled with cypress trees and birds. You have the opportunity to pet baby gators and snakes too!

*OWA Amusement Park - 2 hours away - Foley, AL- A long drive away, but worth it! A brand new amusement park with a great roller coaster and a whole area set aside for little kids. If you don’t want to ride any rides, you can get in for free too. They also have a lovely downtown very similar to Disney Springs with lots of trendy shops and restaurants and a lake. They are adding a fancy indoor water park. Check their website to see if it is open yet. Also, if you don’t want to ride the rides, you can get in for free with a nonrider pass. Just ask at the ticket window for one. After you visit OWA, drive another 30 minutes to The Wharf in Gulf Shores. The Wharf is filled with trendy shops, restaurants, and a ferris wheel.

OWA Indoor water Park -2 hours away-Foley, AL-Right next to OWA Amusement Park. This water park is scheduled to open in the summer of 2022. Check website before heading there.

Pensacola , Florida - 2 hours away, Pensacola has a Historic Village, state parks, National Aviation Museum, Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, Sam’s Fun City water and amusement park, Florida State Museum, Children’s Museum, Mess Hall Science Museum, historic forts, Macaw Bird Park, beaches, shopping, Saenger Theater, and more.

Zoo, Water Park, Gardens, Beach & More in Gulf Shores, Alabama - 2 hours 20 minutes away - a fun place to visit. Has nice white beaches with very big waves. If you go there, you can eat at the famous Lambert’s Café that specializes in southern dishes and they throw rolls at you! There is always a wait to be seated, so be prepared. The earlier you go there, the better. Alligator Alley is on your way to the beach. More nearby attractions include Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, The Wharf, Waterville Water Park, the Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, beach at Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan State Historic Site, Adventure Island Amusement Park, Audobon Bird Sanctuary, Colonial Fort Conde, Flora Bama, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, City of Foley Depot Museum and Train Exhibit, and more. There is also the famous Felix’s Fish Camp restaurant on the way in Spanish Fort, AL.

Tabasco Plantation Tour - 3 hours 20 minutes away - located on Avery Island, it’s a 3 hour drive away but an interesting day trip. The McIlhenny family has made TABASCO^® Sauce on Avery Island, Louisiana for over 5 generations. Built on a salt dome, it's a mysteriously beautiful place where the red peppers grow, the factory hums, and abundant wildlife can be seen in Jungle Gardens. Visit Jungle Gardens across the street while you are there.

Websites to find information on things to do:

www.gulfcoast.org/things-to-do/

Local Events: https://www.wlox.com/community/calendar/

https://www.gulfcoastweekend.com

Splash Park Hop Journey

Pack a picnic lunch and snacks and plan a a splash pad hop journey - every 2 hours you go to a different splash pad in a different town. Keep in mind these splash pads are only open seasonally. But the parks are always open. Follow the order of the parks below:

Splash Park at War Memorial Park in Pass Christian – FREE - 7 minutes away - This park is right off of Hwy 90 and is very beautiful. It’s filled with lots of tall live oak trees and is right by the ocean. There is a nice big playground and splash park and tennis courts. There is lots of shade at this park because there are so many oak trees. On your way there, take Scenic Drive and look at all of the antebellum homes on the beach. After playing in the park, grab a frozen yogurt at the Pass Daq and Fro Yo Shop . Or, go across the street to Cat Island Coffee house and browse their lovely selection of books for sale and sit out on the deck and take in the ocean view.

Splash Park at Town Green – 3 minutes away - FREE - This is fun for little kids. They have some splashing fountains at Town Green on Jeff Davis about 1 mile from the house. Stop by Dolce bakeshop afterward (check hours) for a cupcake(they have the best gourmet cupcakes I have ever tasted) or Sonic for a slushie.

Splash Park at Jones Park in Gulfport – FREE - 9 minutes away - This is a very large park that has a large harbor and you can walk or jog around the park. There is also a splash park there for the kids.

Splash Pad at Point Cadet – Biloxi-FREE- 34 minutes away - The bathroom and picnic areas were in close proximity to allow the parents to watch their children while sitting in the shade.

Splash Pad at Fort Maurepas City Park and Nature Preserve - FREE - 39 minutes away - Ocean Springs, You can cross the street and play at the beach and walk down the pier. This place is an absolute blast for anyone wanting to come here. Fantastic park area and the splash zone is phenomenal. There is seating under a large canopy area and water fountains. It's right next to the beach as well which makes it a perfect place to go to cool down after a nice beach day t's nice and clean. The restrooms are clean as well. It's in a good spot. You walk across the street to the beach.

Walking/Hiking Opportunities

St. Patrick City Park – FREE - 0 minutes away! Right outside your door….at the corner of Magnolia St and East Ave. in Long Beach. It’s almost right next to the Magnolia Beach Cottage and the Magnolia Beach Escape. It has a humble playground and a paved 1/3 mile walking trail.

University of Mississippi Gulf Park Campus - FREE - 5 minutes away - in Long Beach – beautiful campus with lots of large live oak trees, including the famous Friendship Oak tree that dates back to pre-Columbus times! Bring some food and feed the turtles by the bridge while you are there.

Scenic Drive – FREE - 6 minutes away - If you are going to drive to Pass Christian, be sure to take this road into town. It’s right next to Hwy 90. Scenic Drive truly is scenic! It’s a short drive but you will pass by some of the nicest historic mansions you have ever seen! Historic antebellum homes with huge live oak trees in the yard. There is also a sidewalk along Scenic Drive if you want to park the car and walk. The Drive ends at War Memorial Park in Pass Christian where you can walk around there as well.

Jones Park - FREE - 9 minutes away - Gulfport – a very large park on the ocean that has paved walking trails.

Short Boardwalk along the beach - Biloxi - To find this boardwalk, locate Woody’s Bar and Grill in Biloxi. The boardwalk is on the beach side. It’s not very long, but it’s nice to have a solid walking path along the beach.

Bay St. Louis Bridge – FREE - 12 minutes away - On the way to Bay St. Louis. They have a separate walking trail on this bridge with its own barricade. Very scenic. After walking the bridge, check out downtown Bay St. Louis. They have some nice restaurants right by the water and a downtown shopping area. There is also a lovely church called Trinity Episcopal right by the ocean that is beautiful to walk around and visit.

Cedar Point-18 Minutes away - FREE - Bay St. Louis - This path is paved right on the water. You will walk along the water almost at water level and see the bay on your right and beautiful beach homes on the left. Cedar Point is a wonderful place to watch the sunset or go fishing. There is a parking lot and restrooms at the end of the road along with a place to fish. Somewhat secluded. 3 miles each way. To get there, take Hwy 90 to Bay St. Louis and take a right on Beach Blvd after you cross the bridge. You could put in Cedar Point or Bay Waveland yacht club in your GPS. Just follow Beach Blvd to the end where it dead ends and you can park your car and get out and walk. Very relaxing.

Buccaneer State Park – 28 minutes away - Waveland, MS - A highlight of Buccaneer State Park is “Pirate’s Alley Nature Trail” — a 1.8 mile, self-guided trail that showcases many species of oaks, magnolia, pines, and a variety of indigenous plants and animals of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Possum Walk Trail at Logtown - FREE - 37 minutes away - 6.7 mile trail. The Logtown area is well-traveled by locals for its view of historic trees lining a dirt road that leads straight to the Pearl River. There’s also an artesian well with fresh-flowing water and a walking trail that leads to Stennis Space Center. Many people fish or take boats out from the Logtown boat launch. There are no homes in Logtown, as it is in the Stennis Space Center buffer zone. No painting can do justice to the majestic oaks at Logtown.

Sandhill Crane Refuge-Fontainebleau Trail - 40 minutes away - Ocean Springs - Fontainebleau Nature Trail is a 1.6 mile lightly trafficked loop trail that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. Great for families or someone looking for an easy, well marked trail. There are a couple of benches and lookout points along the way. I hear people have spotted sandhill cranes on this trail. It can get very muddy after a rain. Trailhead is ½ mile down Hanshaw Rd. on the left. The best time to view the sandhill cranes is October through March. Check out The Country Gentleman restaurant nearby for lunch which has southern and Greek food.

Explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore – FREE - 48 minutes awa - Ocean Springs. The Gulf Islands National Seashore has a lot of interesting things hidden away, such as the Davis Bayou Trail. This two mile trail leads visitors on a journey through coastal forest. The trail is free to use and hike. The William M. Colmer Visitor Center is also another free location to visit here. There are video presentations where visitors can learn more about the national seashore and get involved with ranger-guided programs.

Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - FREE - 55 minutes away- Savanna Trail. Explore our newest walking trail loop with an entrance off our Savanna Trail Boardwalk or on the northern end of our parking lot. Immerse yourself in nature and discover the unique flora and fauna of a pine savanna. The trail is approximately 1 mile and ends in the parking lot. Sand hill cranes, pelicans, and lots of other birds can be spotted

Bellingrath Gardens - Mobile, AL - 1 hour 28 minutes away-Beautiful grounds with 65 acres and a pond. You can also tour their 1930 historic home complete with all original furnishings. They always have something in bloom year round. There is a nice café and gift shop on the grounds as well. I have a membership here and really enjoy it. What I do is combine a visit to the Gardens with a shopping trip to Costco which is 10 minutes away.

Lucedale Greenway Preserve Nature Trail & Creamery – FREE - 1 hour 26 minutes away-The first half of the hike (if you take a right at the fork) has you following a sandy creek called Depot Creek, which runs alongside a train track. There are many different types of trees, some of which are labeled. This is a great hike to observe fall colors. After the 1 mile loop hike, stop by Haven's Down Home Creamery, a nearby dairy farm where you can get ice cream almost straight from the cow. Talk about fresh! They also sell milk, cheese, ice cream and all sorts of beef. Bring your cooler and stock up on some fresh meat and dairy!

Mini Grand Canyon - FREE - 1 hour 40 minutes away - in Red Bluff, located in the small town of Foxworth, MS- A beautiful site will await you featuring colorful sandstone erosion. You can hike down to the Pearl River and explore! Keep in mind this is on private land and there are no restrooms or amenities nearby. Hike the .9 mile Red Bluff trail. Very unique spot that is unparalleled in Mississippi. The view is stunning, and the hike down can be slippery, so come prepared to get dirty and wear hiking boots. The creek at the bottom is cold and clear, forming something of a little oasis with cool air and miniature waterfalls. Bring plenty of water to drink and be prepared for cardio on the way back up. Find more information on this trails on Alltrails.com

Golfing

*Look for deals at golfnow.com

The Oaks Gulf Club

-This course is the overall best value. It is a beautiful golf course, laid back feeling. Get the oaks card ($100) and you get a few free rounds then a low rate each time after that. Highly recommend.

24384 Club House Dr

Pass Christian, MS

228-452-0909

Grand Bear Golf Course

-This course is the most beautiful. Grand bear is one of the nicest on the coast. It is in saucier. It’s hidden 6 miles into the De Soto National Forest in Saucier, MS. Grand Bear now offers the Bear’s Club Card. Highly recommended. Check out their website for deals.

Bayou Vista

-Most Economical. , if you’re looking for a nice short, family type Course that is extremely inexpensive, you can’t beat Bayou Vista. Active Duty or Retired $20 gets you 18 Holes with a Cart! Otherwise, it’s $25.00. Check Groupon for deals. There was a deal for a round of golf for only $10!

13756 Washington Ave

Gulfport, MS

Website
(228) 641-8000

Pass Christian Isles Gulf Club

150 Country Club Dr

Pass Christian, MS

228-452-4851

Great Southern Golf Club

This one has excellent views of the beach. Right off of Hwy 90. The restaurant there also has great views of the ocean.

2000 E Beach

Gulfport, MS

228-896-3532

Sunkist Golf Club

The people here are friendly. It’s a shorter course, the grass is brown in the winter.

2381 Sunkist Country Club Rd

Biloxi, MS

228-388-3961

The Bridges Golf Club

711 Hollywood Blvd.

Bay St. Louis, MS

866- 758-2591

This course is a difficult, challenging course.

Boating

Biloxi Shrimping Trip - In business since 1954, the Biloxi Shrimping Trip has been offering unique 70-minutes cruises between Deer Island and the Biloxi coast. You’ll learn how trawling is done. As the captain explains the proper method for shrimping, a 16-foot net drags the waters for blue crab, flounder, string ray, oyster fish, squid, and puffer fish. Discover how the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s main industry works and the diversity of marine life found in those waters. The pride & heritage of Biloxi comes alive aboard this unique & interesting cruise. The Biloxi Shrimping Trip exposes guests to the spectacular world of sea life caught on a real shrimping expedition. Upon leaving the harbor, the shrimping net is set out with full details on what makes the net spread and operate correctly. The net will catch any & all sea creatures in its path, along with shrimp. The varieties range from blue crabs, flounder, stingray, oysterfish, squid, pufferfish and other species of local marine life. The entire catch is identified and presented for your inspection by the Captain! This 70-minute “Living Marine Adventure” cruise navigated in the calm, protected waters between Deer Island and the Biloxi shoreline for your comfort.

Schedule subject to change without notice. Tours are weather permitting, and are on a “first come, first serve” basis. Reservations not accepted. No credit cards accepted.

Historic Schooner Cruises - This is a super cool, unique experience. Set sail on a historic schooner, sailboat. The Maritime Museum hosts these walk-on sailings. You meet at the Schooner Pier (arrive early) at 367 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi.

North Star Sailing Charters - Climb aboard North Star Sailing Charters, and Captain Jim will provide you the cruise of your dreams. Options for sunset and moonlight cruises, you can soak in the views of the Mississippi coastline and barrier islands.

Prices vary depending on passenger number and length of trip.

Set Sail Yacht Charters - The almost 3 hour sunset cruise aboard the 52’ Endurance departs from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor. Captains Darien and Trachelle Hill are US Coast Guard licensed Master Mariner, Sail, Oceans and Master, 200 Ton respectively.

Prices vary depending on length of sail.

Making Memories Sailing - Hop aboard the "Kahlua" and let Making Memories Sailing take you on a private voyage. Explore breathtaking views of the Mississippi Sound at sunset while making memories with friends, family, or that special someone. Sails are available year-round weather permitting.

Prices begin at $160 for 1-2 passengers. Maximum 6 passengers.

La Dolce Vita Cruising Charters - La Dolce Vita Cruises promise sunsets and serenity (and sometimes dolphins!) aboard their private luxury yacht for 1-6 passengers. You can choose to picnic for dinner or have a catered meal aboard for the 2.5 hour sunset cruise. Launching from the Gulfport Harbor, the yacht will lead you around the Mississippi Sound, nearby barrier islands, and even farther out into the Gulf!

Prices begin at $270.00 for 1-2 Passengers

Eco-Tours of South Mississippi - Choose from 2, 4, or 8 hour interpretive tours introducing you to the natural habitats of the cypress swamps and salt marshes of the lower Pascagoula River or the coastal barrier islands. You can book a sunset cruise or take the 2-hour afternoon cruise which includes a Coastal Mississippi sunset. Witness the native wildlife and ecosystems that enhance the beauty of the Pascagoula River and barrier islands as you bathe in the sunset.

Prices vary depending on age and length of cruise.

Ship Island Excursions - Enjoy the Mississippi Sound at sunset with Ship Island Excursions! Docking from Gulfport, they can accommodate a cocktail or private dinner party aboard one of their three vessels. Book the Pan American Clipper for up to 100 passengers, the Captain Pete for up to 150, and the Gulf Islander for up to 200 guests. All vessels provide two decks, a dance floor, and an open-air upper deck that offers a unique view of our coastal sunsets. Entertainment options are available for an additional fee. Excursions are available year round.

They also offer a ferry service at $44 per adult to go to Ship Island and back for the day. Oftentimes you will see dolphins on this trip. Pack tons of sunscreen if you are going to Ship Island!

Island Hopper Charters - They offer island hopping excursions, dolphin/wildlife searching tours, & sunset cruises. Packages from 2 hours to 8 hours for 1-6 passengers. 1 228-224-5432; Leaves out of Pass Christian.

Nautitoons Pontoon Boat Rental - They offer half day and full day pontoon boat rentals where you can take the boat out to Deer Island yourself and drive the boat yourself. Some pontoon boats have water slides. You can take the dog too! Prices range from $275 to $400. https://www.nautitoons.com/

Fishing on your own

One of the best things to do in Coastal Mississippi is to fish – and both newbies and angling pros agree. There are fishing spots for each enthusiast, regardless of their preference for saltwater, freshwater, or brackish water. And with summer ushering in the season for speckled trout, redfish, red snappers, cobia, pompano, and Spanish mackerel, to name a few, no fisherman will be going home empty-handed.

But before getting caught up with all the excitement of reeling in your catch, preparations have to be made. And it all starts with the license to fish.

Getting a fishing license

All anglers need to buy a license to fish in Mississippi. Only anglers who are chartering a boat are exempted from this requirement. For recreational fishing at piers or by the beach, residents and non-residents have pay for a saltwater fishing license. Check out the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ list of fees here and their online license purchasing portal here . You can also refer to this list of catch limits for guidelines on allowed quantities and species.

With a valid license on hand, anglers can stop by these stores to get the best bait and tackle that will reel in a prize catch or two.

Willie’s Fuel and Bait

720 S Cleveland Ave, Long Beach

Fort Bayou Bait Shop
1022 Legion Lane, Ocean Springs

This small shop in Ocean Springs has a homey bayou atmosphere that’s perfect for a relaxing day of fishing. Despite its size, it is well-stocked with fishing essentials and live shrimp bait, crickets, and worms. There’s no need to venture out too far since there are fishing piers near the shop. But if the water calls, there’s a ramp available for boat launches.

Gorenflo’s Tackle and Marina
119 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi

On the way to one of Biloxi, Mississippi’s great fishing spots? Stop by Gorenflo’s to stock up on the essentials. This tackle shop has a great selection of fishing tackle and must-have fishing accessories like coolers, sunglasses, fishing rods, and fuel. The staff is very knowledgeable and despite the small square footage, it offers many things an angler would need.

Mary Walker Marina
3308 Mary Walker Drive, Gautier

In operation since 1945, this full-service marina is the largest in Jackson County and has everything anyone can ever need for a boating excursion. The staff knows a great deal about the local area and can recommend ideal fishing spots.

The availability of live bait isn’t an issue with the marina’s three live-bait tanks. There’s also frozen bait, worms, and plenty of ice and fuel on hand. When the fishing day is done, there’s a picnic area for customers to relax and take in great views of the bayou after prepping the catch of the day at the fish cleaning station.

Wicked Fish Bait & Tackle
13011 B Highway 49 South, Gulfport

Wicked Fish Bait & Tackle hasn’t been around for long—not even a year. But the newly opened bait and tackle shop is determined to provide Gulfport anglers with a good selection of top water baits and worms and a great variety of tackle boxes and fishing line.

Owned by a Texan couple who fell in love with Coastal Mississippi, the shop has friendly and helpful staff. It is also conveniently located next to a gas station. If you prefer your bait frozen, there’s a variety of them (shrimp, squid, pogie, cut bait, crab bait, finger mullet, and a few more) available here.

Fishing piers to visit

Now that you’re armed with supplies for a day out on the water or at the pier, here are some notable fishing spots to visit in Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.

Ken Combs Pier (or Courthouse Pier). Even though this Gulfport pier gets crowded during peak season, facilities are still well-maintained. You also get to hobnob with friendly fellow anglers here. There’s a convenient boat ramp and plenty of parking space.

Jones Park. A popular spot with the local anglers, Jones Park has three fishing piers, a central boat launch, and a bait shop. There’s a park area and a splash pad that makes it an ideal destination for families with kids. Ship Island Excursions can also be booked from the park once the service resumes.

Broadwater Marina. This marina on the Mississippi Sound in Biloxi is privately owned but open to the public. It is situated on deeper waters, so bigger saltwater fish can be caught on occasion. Some of the more common species that can be caught here are speckled trout, redfish, and black drum.

All of the fishing charters are really good. I have had guests use all of these folks and each person had a fabulous time and they all caught tons of fish.

Shore Thing Fishing Charters . We pride ourselves on providing the best fishing guide service on the coast. Not only do we strive for an unbelievable fishing experience, we also take care of everything else. Every step is taken prior to your arrival to make certain that your trip is as enjoyable and productive as it should be. If you are looking for a hard core fishing adventure with your buddies or a fun filled fishing experience for your family Shore Thing Charters has the right trip for you. www.shorethingcharters.com/

Impulsive Fishing Charter with Scott Simpson is also highly recommended by a friend of mine who fishes. With over 27 years experience, you are sure to have a good time with Scott. www.captainscottsimpson.com

Fishing Frenzy with Captain Micah www.fishingfrenzycharters.com

9 Ball Mississippi Fishing with Captain Barry. With over 30 years experience in fishing the waters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I know where the fish hide and I know the techniques for catching many different varieties. I am totally dedicated to giving you the best fishing trip possible! Whether you are a novice or seasoned professional, I aim to please and strive to give everyone aboard the adventure of a lifetime! www.msfishingcharter.com

Museums

Coastal Mississippi’s history is almost as rich as its scenic views. And you can explore both on our daily tours or at a slew of historic sights you’ll see around town.

Kate Lobranon House: A traditional “Shotgun” style house. located in Bay St Louis (east on Highway 90) which has a walking Historic Tour and is popular for shopping or just looking through interesting shops in the old downtown. The community also has an Art walk every other weekend.

Biloxi Lighthouse Tour: The Biloxi Lighthouse was erected in 1848 and was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. It is the city’s signature landmark and has become a post-Katrina symbol of the city’s resolve and resilience. Guided tours: Daily from 9 to 10 a.m., weather permitting. No reservations needed. Admission: $5 for ages 12 and older, $2 for ages 6 to 11; free for ages 5 and younger.

Biloxi Visitor Center : Free. Located in an historic building. They have an informative film on Hurricane Katrina (10 & 2 daily). There are a dozen multi-media exhibits that tell the story of Biloxi, its people, its connection to the water and its cultural diversity. You’ll find a gift shop offering all sorts of Biloxi memorabilia, with many of the items created by local artists and craftsmen. The lighthouse is also across the street, which you can tour daily at 9 AM, weather permitting. It’s only $5 to tour the lighthouse. After touring the lighthouse, be sure to view the film on Hurricane Katrina at 10 AM.

Beauvoir: Jefferson Davis Historic Home, the retirement estate of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Completed in 1852, it stands on a spectacular 52-acre site overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. See a rich history of Jefferson Davis and his last home on a stunning 52 acre expanse on the Gulf Coast. The Beauvoir mansion is restored to 1889 when Davis lived in this house. Both the Library Pavilion and Hayes Cottages have been replicated as well as a cistern behind Beauvoir mansion.

The new Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and museum is open. The grounds also include a Confederate Cemetery where the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and the grave of Jefferson Davis' father, Samuel, are located. Varina Davis' Rose Garden has been restored. The grounds are beautiful with huge live oak trees overlooking the ocean. It’s lovely to sit in the rocking chairs out on the deck and take in the view.

For a greater flavor of Gulf Coast history, you can visit the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum . Learn about the prominent local seafood history. Highlights include the shrimp peeling machine, wooden boat models and full size Nydia schooner, and Hurricane history gallery. With an array of artifacts, exhibits and extraordinary photos, you’ll savor the experience and then some. Discover two industries that are the lifeblood of The Mississippi Gulf Coast. The exhibits cover topics from shellfishing and net repair to marine conservation. There is also a gallery that features maritime-themed art and two replicas of Biloxi schooners.

Other must-see history includes lovely lighthouses, southern cemeteries and The Blues Trail (blues had to start somewhere, and lucky for us, the trailblazing began here.)

Walter Anderson Museum - Preserves the work of local artist Walter Anderson (1903-1965). Call ahead and reserve a tour. He has a variety of artwork and his paintings are famous in this area. There is an awesome store called Realizations that sells his artwork. I bought the alligator poster there and then bought a frame for it online and hung it up at my home. It’s lovely.

Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art . This museum was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and is dedicated to the works of George E. Ohr, known as the “mad potter of Biloxi.” Today, the museum showcases a variety of exhibits such as Ohr’s ceramics and other art and looks into the history of the Gulf Coast. Where you can get your hands "dirty" with clay. They have a lovely café called Trinity Café by Joshua that offers daily specials and outdoor seating with views of the ocean.

Mardi Gras Museum: 119 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi, MS 39530 Phone: (228) 435-6308

National WWII Museum - 1 hour 34 minutes away - New Orleans, LA - Top notch, new, large WWII museum. This is worth the drive. It is one of the best museums I have visited in the States. Be sure to pre-purchase your tickets online and pay the extra for the movie with Tom Hanks because it’s worth it. Highly recommended.

Ground Zero Museum in Waveland - FREE - This is a very touching museum about the resilience of people as they experienced Hurricane Katrina. Worth a quick stop before or after visiting Bay St. Louis. Open Tue-Sat 10-3. There is a bakery that sells gourmet cupcakes and lunches attached to the building.

Casinos

Island View – This is the closest casino to the cottage and takes about 5 minutes to get there. They have a smoking and a non-smoking section. One of two casinos on the Coast that offers nonsmoking (the other is Palace). For many people, this is their favorite casino because they like to gamble on the nonsmoking side, which is the beach side. It has lots of windows, beautiful gulf views, and light coming in. I hear they have the best comps too. And want a free date night? Island view new players receive $15 food voucher and $15 in free play. No gimmicks. In Gulfport.

Beau Rivage – This is the fanciest, nicest casino. It reminds me of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. In Biloxi.

Hard Rock Casino – Probably the busiest casino around. Very hip fun atmosphere. They have a trendy famous restaurant inside called the Sugar Factory. Make your reservation early or you won’t get a table! In Biloxi.

Treasure Bay – I hear they have the best buffet around. In Biloxi.

Hollywood -I hear this is one of the better ones for gambling. Crab claws and lobster in the buffet on weekends. They have a lazy river pool. In Bay St. Louis.

Silver Slipper - I hear this is one of the better ones for gambling. Has a beach area, pool, the gambling floor is not too big or too small. In Bay St. Louis.

The Palace Casino – They have a smoking and non-smoking section. One of two casinos on the Coast that offers nonsmoking (the other is Island View). In Biloxi.

Scarlet Pearl – Super clean and friendly staff. Someone remarked they have good air cleaning here. In D’Iberville

Events Calendar

February

February : Mardi Gras – see flyer, events all along the coast. Mardi Gras Parades in Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs

https://www.gulfcoast.org/events/mardi-gras-events/

March

Annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-Off Festival with Corvettes and Oysters Car Show in Biloxi, Live Entertainment as well http://www.gulfcoastoystercookoff.com/

Rapiscan Systems Charity Golf Challenge-Grand Bear Golf Course Pro-Am with two days of pros/celebrities playing with amateur teams. Late March into early April https://rapiscansystemsclassic.com/

April

The Crawfish Music Festival - The five-day fest will bring headline entertainment, exciting mid-way rides and of course, hot, boiled, spicy crawfish . The Crawfish Music Festival parties on the front grounds of the Mississippi Coast Coliseum with the beautiful Mississippi Sound in the background. Each night of the Festival promises fun, excitement and a little something new! Featuring headline entertainment, hot boiled crawfish, and exciting mid-way rides. At the center of all the excitement is our main attraction, piping hot and perfectly spicy boiled crawfish served with new potatoes and corn. Enjoy thrilling carnival rides, arts & crafts vendors, delicious food, and more. ALL EVENTS AND CONCERTS HELD RAIN OR SHINE! https://www.mscoastcoliseum.com/p/crawfishmusicfestival

Rapiscan Systems Charity Golf Challenge - Grand Bear Golf Course Pro-Am with two days of pros/celebrities playing with amateur teams. Late March into early April https://rapiscansystemsclassic.com/

Art in the Pass - Art festival with over 100 vendors in Memorial Park in Pass Christian. They always have children’s activities as well. Free. www.artinthepass.com

May

Rock N’ Roll Car, Jeep, Truck, and Bike Show : Enjoy hundreds of Cars, Jeeps, Bikes, Trucks, Live Entertainment, Food, Automotive, Arts & Craft Vendors, Cold Beverages, Kids Activities including a Fishing Rodeo, and more! In Biloxi, http://clearvisionent.net/pay-entry-fee/

Chandyfest : Join Chandyfest 2022 in front of Chandeleur Island Brewery in Downtown Gulfport, MS. This annual block party will be bigger and more fun than you've ever known! Expect incredible music, vendors of all sorts, special beer releases, food truck options and of course the much anticipated Bed Race! This kid and dog friendly event is sure to have something for everyone of all ages! https://chandeleurbrew.com/

Annual Pirate Day in the Bay : Join The Krewe of Mystic Seahorse & Capt. Longbeard and his pirate crew including the Lafitte Brothers (Jean & Pierre) for Pirate Day in the Bay. Festivities start Friday evening with the opening of "Krewe Central" (music and carnival rides). https://www.mkotsh.com/pirate-day-in-the-bay

Annual Blessing of the Fleet -The priest blesses all of the boats and then there is a boat parade on a Sunday. Annual tradition since 1929. In Biloxi. https://www.facebook.com/biloxiblessingms/

June

Jeepin’ the Coast - JTC unites thousands of Jeep enthusiasts from all around the US for an annual 5 day Jeep event on the MS Gulf Coast which offers 26 miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. We set up multiple family friendly events for Jeepers to hang together or branch off into their own adventure throughout the Gulf Coast. https://jeepinthecoast.com/

Scrapin’ the Coast - This is a huge fest up and down the coast for all of those very low rider trucks and cars, hence the name, “scraping” the coast. https://www.scrapinthecoast.com/20th-Anniversary-Show-article

Ongoing Throughout the Summer:

Live entertainment in downtown Long Beach at Coastal Daquairi. Enjoy live music outside on the deck with views of the beach every Fri and Sat evening

Cinema by the Sea-Family friendly movies at Jones Park in Gulfport, free

Finally First Friday-First Friday of the month in downtown Long Beach features live music and antique cars

Artwalk in Bay St. Louis-Every 2^nd Saturday from 4-8 PM with gallery openings, shops, restaurant specials and live music.

September

Biloxi Seafood Festival - For over 35 years the Biloxi Seafood Festival has been held as a celebration of Biloxi’s rich culture, heritage, and connection to the seafood industry. The two-day festival features continuous live entertainment, an array of seafood, Sunday’s Gumbo Contest, arts & craft booths, and children’s activities. http://www.biloxi.org/events/Biloxi_Seafood_Festival.html

Diamondhead Arts and Crafts Festival

Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Has events with scientists, boats, guided hikes, Last weekend in September

October

Cruisin the Coast -from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs- Voted #1 by USA Today as the Best Car Show Competition, Cruisin’ the Coast brings car enthusiasts from over 40 states, as well as international visitors to celebrate antique, classic, and hot rod vehicles. Dubbed "America’s Largest Block Party," Cruisin' the Coast celebrates antique, classic and hot rod vehicles and nostalgic music. Car enthusiasts from 40 states plus Canada, Germany and Puerto Rico showcase their rides and cruise our beautiful 26-mile stretch of beach-side highway.

Doggie Costume Parade and Float Contest - Bay St. Louis-

Fall Festival – first weekend in October – Biloxi – vendor booths, crafts, pumpkin patch, games, food

The Monarch Festival - War Memorial Park in Pass Christian. Look forward to butterfly exhibits and activities for all ages.

Annual Fall Muster at the Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Home: Come experience the sights and sounds of the 1800's here in Biloxi! Vendors, food, on the 52 acres of the Beauvoir property. Reenactors will have camp set up in the back, battles twice a day on Saturday and Sunday.

Pumpkin Patches:

Trinity Episcopal Church Pumpkin Patch Pass Christian Lovely beachfront pumpkin patch. Great photo opportunities

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Pumpkin Patch Biloxi

United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch Diamondhead Another quaint little pumpkin patch.

Southern Promiseland Farm Kiln

Mitchell Farms Collins Pumpkin patch, corn maze, child-sized hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, slide, and corn pool.

Middleton Farms - Moss Point, Family owned-dairy farm. Live cow milk demonstrations, hay ride, petting animals, toddler hay maze, kid zip-line and pumpkin patch

Seward Farms Corn Maze & Family Fun Lucedale Corn maze, funny farm golf, pig races, train rides, hay ride (haunted hay rides after 6:30 p.m.), cow train, tube slide, corn cannon, farm animals, goat walk, pony rides and field of freight. Pumpkins for sale.

Farmer Browns Southern Farm CSA & Events Saucier Pumpkin patch, feed farm animals, face painting, horse shoe games, hay rides, and sack races.

Ferguson Family Farms - Perkinston “Fall on the Farm” corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals and hayrides. Runs October and part of November

November

Peter Anderson Arts Festival – Ocean Springs-celebrating the arts with more than 400 booths of artists and crafters from throughout the United States and beyond. From oil paintings to pottery, hand-made jewelry, digital portraits, American folk toys, metal works and so much more, spectators can enjoy a festive weekend of live music, coastal fare and more than 100 shops, restaurants and galleries set amongst 300-year-old oak trees.

Miracle on Fulton Street - New Orleans- Miracle on Fulton Street, a holiday attraction in the heart of downtown New Orleans, will bring the magic and spirit of the holiday season alive for locals and visitors of all ages with a dazzling holiday boardwalk, complete with a Christmas Tree, which towers 30-feet in the sky, a Gingerbread village and holday lights. Carolers and live reindeer too!

"Faux snow" will be another highlight of the attraction. Periodic snowfalls, while extremely rare in New Orleans, are nonetheless "forecast" for Fulton Street this holiday season every hour on the hour beginning at noon daily.

On Friday and Saturday, guests can also enjoy live entertainment from 6-9 p.m. Performers will include top local bands and special performances. Santa will also be available for photos.

Celebration in the Oaks in City Park - New Orleans is the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country. City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout the 2.25 mile driving tour of the Park. With more than 165,000 visitors pouring into the Park to see the magical winter spectacle in previous years, 2020 is a special year and City Park is planning a special event this year with a Driving Tour!

Columbia, MS - Events include Opening of Ice Rink, Lighting of Downtown, Parade of Lights, Night of Hope, Rides & Activities, Grinch Train, Music, Light Shows, Fire Pit, and more! it is really fun where you stand in the town square and the Christmas story and Santa Claus show take place on the roofs of all the buildings around you…

Mississippi Coast Rail Fest - Over 32,000 square feet of train club displays and vendor displays, plus 20,000 square feet of outdoor trains from Fl, AL, MS, LA, and beyond.

December

Christmas Parades - Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, Diamondhead, D’Iberville, and Ocean Springs all have their own Christmas parades. Long Beach does a Christmas Boat Parade where people decorate their boats and throw out lots of goodies to all spectators. The kids love it. Santa appears in a rinky dink shrimp boat!

Historic Tour of Homes - Gulfport, The Gulfport Civic League has been putting on this annual tour for 60 years. Tour local homes beautifully decorated for the holidays and enjoy holiday refreshments in the tea house. There is also a silent auction.

Miracle on Fulton Street -New Orleans- Miracle on Fulton Street, a holiday attraction in the heart of downtown New Orleans, will bring the magic and spirit of the holiday season alive for locals and visitors of all ages with a dazzling holiday boardwalk, complete with a Christmas Tree, which towers 30-feet in the sky, a Gingerbread village and holday lights. Carolers and live reindeer too!

"Faux snow" will be another highlight of the attraction. Periodic snowfalls, while extremely rare in New Orleans, are nonetheless "forecast" for Fulton Street this holiday season every hour on the hour beginning at noon daily.

On Friday and Saturday, guests can also enjoy live entertainment from 6-9 p.m. Performers will include top local bands and special performances. Santa will also be available for photos.

Landrum Homestead - An old-fashioned Christmas celebration that’s fun for the whole family. Attendees will enjoy food from the Smokehouse, photos with Santa, funnel cakes, hand-made craft vendors, civil war re-enactments, farm animals, gem mining, and LOTS of live entertainment. Stop by the General Store to listen to Bobby Hathorn pickin’ his banjo, grab some kettle korn, and take a wagon ride through our beautiful nature trails.Our thousands of twinkling Christmas lights are sure to bring on the holiday cheer. https://landrums.com/

Celebration in the Oaks in City Park-New Orleans is the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country. City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout the 2.25 mile driving tour of the Park. With more than 165,000 visitors pouring into the Park to see the magical winter spectacle in previous years, 2020 is a special year and City Park is planning a special event this year with a Driving Tour!

Columbia, MS - November 20th - Opening of Ice Rink, November 27th - Lighting of Downtown, December 4th - Parade of Lights, December 12th - Night of Hope, Rides & Activities, Grinch Train, Music, Light Shows, Fire Pit, and more! it is really fun where you stand in the town square and the Christmas story and Santa Claus show take place on the roofs of all the buildings around you…

Gulfport Harbor Winter Lights Festival -Gulfport- showcasing over 1.2 million lights in Jones Park

Lighted Boat Parade – Gulfport - Christmas on the Bayou is a lighted boat parade the whole family can enjoy. The parade hosts more than 50 lighted boats along Bayou Bernard and Gulfport Lake. More information at http://christmasonthebayou.org

Bellingrath Gardens -Magic Christmas in Lights. Featuring more than 3 million lights and 1,100 set pieces, Magic Christmas in Lights is a Gulf Coast tradition like no other. This is worth the 1 hour 15 minute drive away. It is our tradition to visit the Gardens every Christmas. The Gardens are huge and you can also tour the Bellingrath home which features all original furnishings, appliances, housewares, and artwork from 1935. It is like stepping back in time and is amazing how everything was perfectly preserved.

Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum - Christmas light and train displays; They have a light show in the evenings along with different special events each evening for kids. Nominal entry fee.

Oak Crest Mansion Inn - Snowglobe Studios Dinner and a Musical!, Holiday Brunch with Santa, Dickens of a Christmas Dinner, Christmas Movies with Santa!, Holiday Brunch with Santa

Christmas in the Pass - Pass Christian- Enjoy the merriment of the Christmas tree lighting; a holiday parade featuring Santa, Mrs. Clause and their elves; music, food, arts & gifts;

Find more events:

https://www.gulfcoastweekend.com

https://www.gulfcoast.org