A guide to can’t-miss adventures on the Gulf Coast

Waves gently roll in as seagulls dive over the water. A slightly briny scent permeates the air as I spy a boat on the horizon. I take off my shoes to enjoy the sensation of warm sand between my toes.

Nearby, a man stands ankle-deep in the surf, casting his fishing rod. I walk past a woman in a lounge chair, book in hand, gazing not at the pages but out to sea. A couple of runners pass. I smile at an older couple holding hands.

Over a few short days, I have seen marshes and bays, estuaries and barrier islands, swamps and beaches. The variety of sights here never ceases to amaze me.

I delight in how the built-up tension of the past month just rolls off my shoulders. It’s been too long, and I’ve missed this place, this feeling, this state of mind.

The Gulf Coast.

The coastal area of Louisiana and Mississippi is synonymous with fun, sun, and relaxation. It’s no wonder that celebrated attractions, restaurants, and hotels draw visitors year-round. Here’s your 2024 guide to a can’t-miss adventure.

If you seek something quieter, look no further than Front Beach in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The 2-mile beach starts at the Biloxi Bay Bridge and extends to Ocean Springs Harbor. Sunsets here never disappoint. The island you see off the coastline is Deer Island, an uninhabited stretch that Mississippi owns. Kayaking to the island is popular.

As Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island, Grand Isle has much to offer. Although known for fishing, it boasts 7 miles of public beaches. One of the best is in Grand Isle State Park at the island’s eastern end. The warm Gulf water allows for a lengthy swimming season. State Park admission, $3 per person.

Of Mississippi’s 26 miles of white-sand beaches, Biloxi Beach is one of the most popular. The water temperature stays in the 70s or 80s from April through October, and the barrier islands help calm the surf. Water sport rentals are available. Casinos and Paradise Pier Fun Park, a seaside amusement park, are nearby.

If you have limited fishing time, consider booking a charter. VooDoo Fishing Charters operates in Venice, about as far south as you can go on Highway 23 in Louisiana.

Specializing in tuna charters, their experienced captains can also guide you to wahoo, marlin, speckled trout, redfish, swordfish, mahi-mahi, red snapper, and flounder on a variety of offshore, coastal, and inland trips. Lodging is available as well. Charters start at $2,200 for up to 6 anglers, plus fuel costs.

This company helps anglers hook speckled trout, flounder, redfish, and black drum. Licensed for fishing in Mississippi and Louisiana, the company’s captains most often work from coastal Mississippi docks in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian. Trips are customized for each group. Charters start at $450 for 1 to 2 anglers.

Ever wonder how that delectable shrimp reaches your plate? Find out by going on a shrimping expedition into the Mississippi Sound with Biloxi Cruise Company. On 70-minute trips that leave from Biloxi, you’ll learn all about shrimping. The captain will invite you to check out the catch when they haul in the net. $30 for guests 4 and older.

Our country’s largest national seashore, Gulf Islands National Seashore covers 160 square miles, split nearly equally between Mississippi and Florida. Mississippi’s portion includes marshes, beaches, turquoise Gulf waters, and barrier islands. Cat Island, Horn Island, Petit Bois, and West Petit Bois are accessible only by private boat.

But from March through October, a public ferry in Gulfport transports visitors 12 miles to Ship Island (adults, $44). The island includes breathtaking beaches and a 19th-century fort that you can tour.

In 1969, Hurricane Camille divided Ship Island in half. West Ship Island and East Ship Island were healing the breach naturally until Hurricane Katrina widened it in 2005. The National Park Service decided to give nature a helping hand, joining both halves in 2019.

INFINITY Science Center in Pearlington, Mississippi, wows visitors of all ages with engaging exhibits on space, earth sciences, engineering, and technology, including a massive rocket booster intended for the scuttled Apollo 19 moon mission. Experiences include simulators, a walk-through mockup of the International Space Station’s Destiny module, and a 3D immersive theater. Adults, $15.

There’s no shortage of swamp adventures in the South, but Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, Louisiana, is the real deal. Using smaller boats, licensed guides transport visitors past fishing camps deep into the Pearl River cypress swamps. Captain Roy is a font of information about area flora and fauna. Alligators, wild boars, raccoons, and birds frequently make appearances. Adults, $29.

Get a look under the waters of the Gulf Coast and beyond at the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. You can see everything from alligators and otters to sharks and bottlenose dolphins in 12 fresh and saltwater habitats. Adults, $31.95; discounts available on online ticket purchases.

Opened last summer in Gulfport, TrainTastic is an interactive experience with more than 50,000 square feet of detailed model train layouts. Highlights include an entrance that leads through a Pullman train car, a miniature Mississippi Gulf Coast, and a train created from almost 2 million Lego bricks. Adults, $15.

One of the South’s first cast-iron lighthouses, Biloxi Lighthouse operated from 1848 until 1967, and the city assumed control a year later. The 64-foot-tall landmark, which still illuminates the coastline, is in the center median of U.S. Highway 90 at Porter Avenue. It’s one of the coast’s most photographed spots. Open daily. Ages 12 and older, $5.

During Prohibition, illegal bars known as “blind tigers” along Mississippi’s coastline smuggled in rum from Cuba to keep politicians and musicians happy. Today, the Blind Tiger has 2 Gulf Coast locations, in Bay St. Louis and Biloxi. Tables overlook the Gulf, and a chalkboard announces the daily fresh catch. Two Louisiana locations are in Slidell and Madisonville, and another is planned for Fairhope, Alabama.

If you’re exploring the farthest reaches of Louisiana’s coastline, you’ll see Maw’s on Highway 23 in Boothville. The colorful roadside location will attract your attention, but the po’boys, burgers, and other sandwich varieties will win your heart. The region is known for its oyster production, so you know the oyster baskets are fresh.

Louisiana’s Grand Isle is a fabulous place to get away from it all. It specializes in the simple life, just like the Starfish Restaurant—a classic diner with mouthwatering cooking and friendly service. A full menu of po’boys and other sandwiches, plus lots of seafood options will satisfy nearly any craving.

Another popular Gulf Coast eatery, Shaggy’s has 4 locations in Mississippi and 1 in Pensacola Beach, Florida. Its enticing spot on Gulfport’s Beach Boulevard allows you to watch the waves while you dine. You’ll never look at macaroni and cheese the same way after tasting the Seafood Mac-N-Cheese, featuring grilled shrimp and crawfish in a lobster cheese sauce.

Some of the best restaurants in Biloxi can be found in casinos, and Thirty-two is no exception. The AAA Four Diamond steakhouse at the IP Casino Resort specializes in wine, steak, and seafood, and chef Matthew Kallinikos offers signature dishes like the pork tomahawk chop with roasted potatoes. 

In quaint and artsy Ocean Springs, Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant is located in an 1852 home. Outstanding views of gorgeous old oaks and the Fort Bayou River, which flows into Biloxi Bay, accompany some of the best fried catfish you’ll ever have. Other Southern standouts include fried chicken, hush puppies, and house-made biscuits.

Beau Rivage opened in Biloxi in 1999 with the intention of becoming a resort to rival anything in Las Vegas. It has succeeded beyond its wildest dreams, with 1,733 well-appointed rooms and suites in a AAA Four Diamond property that combines Southern charm with elegance. The 348-foot-tall hotel is Mississippi’s tallest building. Rates start at $159, plus a $19 daily resort fee.

In the heart of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, live oaks surround this boutique hotel that’s within walking distance of the beach and a vibrant downtown. The current owners restored the property to its original 1893 elegance in 2017. Architectural Digest has called The Roost “the most beautiful hotel in Mississippi.” Rates start at $210.

If tranquility is important, check in to The Inn at Long Beach in Long Beach, Mississippi. Located across the street from the beach, this 73-room hotel gets high marks. Gulf-side rooms offer spectacular views worth paying a little extra for. Complimentary breakfasts and a friendly staff are among the reasons that guests return. Rates start at $149.

Just 20 miles from the Louisiana-Mississippi state line is Hollywood Casino & Resort in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The 600-acre resort, with 291 rooms and suites, backs onto the bay and offers a small marina for boaters. The front of the 14-story hotel looks out on the Gulf Coast’s only Arnold Palmer–designed golf course. The decor pays homage to classic Hollywood. Rates start at $100, plus a $12 daily resort fee.

Karen Gibson is a freelance writer from Norman, Oklahoma.