Have lived on the coast for close to 20 years and never really took the time to stop and walk. It…read moreis very pretty and a convenient way to get across the I-110 without walking on Hwy 90. You go from the beach side to the casino side all without having to get in your car and move. I recommend you try it whether you've been here forever or just visiting.

Gulfport may not be the attraction to the region like New Orleans is to the West or Biloxi is to…read morethe East, but it does have some items that gives it a reason for being! It has the local airport, a Naval Base full of Sea Bees (with a really cool museum), a port, island excursions, fishing, shrimping, casinos and a beautiful white sand beach. Sunsets and sun rises are spectacular. Lots of camera opportunities! This was my second time here and yes, the hurricanes over the last decade or so have hit it hard. Still, the people continue to live here and the community survives. There are some great restaurants with some preparing local Gulf Coast favorites!

The city of Gulfport has a great many attractions, small museums, thrift stores, all very…read moreinteresting. I am usually glad every time I come. Only one time was unpleasant and that was the Cruise-In. The Aviation Museum is a must-see as is the train museum. The historical museum in the historic district is a trove of valuable information. The Fishbone Alley is so very cute and unique. There are so many things I plan on coming back and doing in the future.

The Visitor Center is in the old railroad station and has plenty of information about the area. The…read morelady working when I visited was friendly and helpful. And a public restroom that was clean and well stocked. The Ocean Springs Fresh Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, this market is in the parking lot of the chamber of commerce for Ocean Springs with local vendors of fruits, vegetables, plants and friendly people. All of it seemed reasonably priced.

Your first stop in your tour of Ocean Springs to help guide your time in this sleepy and upscale…read morehistoric town. This shaded building once hailed as a train station; remains in that style as a architectural gem. In fact as I was taking a photo of the welcome sign...a long train whistled and rumbled by; the porch deliciously shook in response. Detected the building serves three purposes well 1) A separate retail art boutique called Realizations 2) The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce 3) The (public) Ocean Springs Main Street- Tourism Bureau Inside are prolific but tasteful examples of local art. (Please see my photos and tips) Enter, and stop at the video kiosk for a full color brochure. Turn left for the water fountain and a public bathroom (resplendent w art). Or, you can turn right and enter the guidance portion of the visitor center. The high counter (see picture) reminded me of where days of old a ticket master's workstation would be. This small but functional room serves you and any little ones traveling with you well. Brochures line the left side of the room and interesting local art, some tall, fill the space. Center on the floor is a kids visitors table. (How cute and thoughtful) Sign in and ask questions about this interesting Main Street town. (Always sign in, it's a nice thing to do; as it helps the town gauge the flow of traffic to plan outreach for next year) For the Record: This town is a good non beach day kinda place to visit.

I always like to find places that are off the beaten path to visit, and this marks all of my boxes…read more Facing the Gulf, this home is delightful. The tour guide was very informative about the history and the details. The house is not open any set hours, you have to reach out to schedule a tour. Follow their social media accounts in order to find out when they have an open house event. Or to schedule a tour, email heritage@dmr.ms.gov or call 228-234-7298. I would highly recommend to anyone in the area. Admission is free.

This was a great venue for our Senior Graduation Crawfish Boil!! The 2nd floor was the perfect set…read moreup for the boiler and to set up the tables to serve the cooked crawfish and jambalaya. The top floor was plenty big enough to accommodate the 100 people we were expecting (and more). It was easy to rent and to get in to set up for the party. There is a kitchen with an industrial ice maker and refrigerator, if it is needed. The venue supplied all of the tables and chairs. All we had to do was bring the tablecloths, decorations, food, drinks, and music. It was a fantastic night and I would highly suggest using this for your next event!!!

Beautiful venue for a wedding but very difficult to find on Google. Once you do find it, you'll see…read moreit is a lovely three story white building with lots of parking and long stairs. They do have an elevator. There's a balcony you can use for your ceremony like in the wedding we attended this weekend and you can set up little small, tall cocktail tables out there for socializing. There's a kitchen and a bar area. The restrooms were clean and there were plenty of stalls and sinks. The place is roomy for a table for cake, separately for appetizers, main course and a DJ area plus many round tables and chairs for guests. The floors were of nicely polished wood for dancing and grooving. Longfellow Civic Center seems like a great place for a celebration and is close to the Buoys Bar for an after party.

The Civil Rights Wade-In historical sign is an important part of the history of Biloxi, Mississippi…read moreand honestly, was not that long ago in realistic terms. The sign also discusses the importance of the wade-ins in the birth of the Biloxi, Mississippi and the birth of the local NAACP.

Located in the parking lot for the Biloxi Lighthouse Pier, this marker recalls an important battle…read morein the fight for Civil Rights. The marker is accessible and in good condition. It reads, "Civil Rights Wade-Ins. On May 14, 1959, April 24, 1960, and June 23, 1963, the Biloxi beach front was the site of planned civil rights wade-ins demanding equal access to the public beach. On April 24, 1960, several citizens, both black and white, were injured and arrested, including the leader of the wade-ins, physician Dr. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. This series of protests gave birth to the Biloxi branch of the NAACP, major voter registration drives in 1960, and a 1968 falderal court ruling opening the beach to all citizens." Before the beaches were desegregated, adjacent homeowners claimed the beaches as private property. However, Mason and his supporters noted that the beaches had been built in a major project completed in 1953 by the Army Corps of Engineers using taxpayer funds, and so thought they should be public and available to all. The new beaches had increased tourist traffic to the Biloxi area, strengthening the local economy. The effort by local authorities to maintain segregation was supported by actions of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, a state agency founded in 1956. It used its extensive investigative powers to spy on citizens and plan economic retaliation against those who were civil rights activists or suspected of being so. On the date mentioned on the plaque, the police stood by and watched as white mobs attacked black beachgoers. It is referred to as "The Bloody Wade-In" and was described by the New York Times as "The worst racial riot in Mississippi history." The marker was placed here in April 2010, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the protests. [Review 14121 overall, 1443 of 2020, number 28 in Mississippi.]

Located in Jones Park, this historical marker points out an important part of Civil War history…read more It reads, "The Louisiana Native Guards, composed largely of former slaves and free men of color from Louisiana, were organized by Union Major General Benjamin Butler in 1862. On April 9, 1863, 180 men from companies B and G of the 2nd regiment, landed at Pascagoula and held the city for several hours against more than 300 Confederate troops. At 2 p.m., the Federals withdrew, returning to Ship Island, This raid is the first involving African American troops in the Gulf Region." After New Orleans fell to Admiral David Farragut in April 1862, Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler headquartered his 12,000-man Army of the Gulf in New Orleans. On September 27, 1862, Butler organized the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard regiment, some of whose members had served in the previous Confederate Native Guard regiment. Free men of color had served with the militia since the French colonial period. But the regiment's initial strength was 1,000 men, and it was composed mostly of African-American former slaves who had escaped to freedom. [Review 14193 overall, 1515 of 2020, number 83 in Mississippi.]

A great coastal area to visit and to live for that matter. Hwy 90 rides along the gulf coast…read moreliterally giving you a clear view out into the Gulf of Mexico. A few casinos line both the cities of Biloxi and Gulfport, literally city neighbors. Loads of souvenir shops and eateries as far as the eye can see. I've literally never tasted any better fresh shrimp or oysters than from the Gulf coast (these two cities primarily). So if you're a seafood lover, you'll be in seafood heaven here. I encourage all to visit these gems at some point, you won't be disappointed.