There are tons of exciting destinations in Mississippi, where you can enjoy an incredibly warm welcome and have the chance to sample delicious southern home-cooked meals, fantastic blues tunes, the powdery shores of the Gulf Coast and a whole lot more. These eight places are some of the very best this “Hospitality State,” as it’s often called, has to offer.
Credit: bigstock.com Historic lighthouse landmark and welcome center, Biloxi
Biloxi
Most people are under the impression that New Orleans gave birth to the legendary celebration known as Mardi Gras, but it was actually Biloxi. This “playground of the south” sits on the Mississippi Gulf and offers tons of fun things to do, offering easy access to the gorgeous Gulf Coast beaches with sugary white sands and all sorts of outdoor recreational opportunities. Those who are looking for excitement can hit the casinos that line Beach Boulevard as well as enjoy the hopping nightlife found in everything from beachside bars and nightclubs to juke joints and cocktail lounges. The city offers a wealth of activities day and night, including historic attractions. It’s also home to art galleries, museums and the picturesque Biloxi lighthouse, one of the city’s most revered landmarks and one of the first cast-iron lighthouses built in the South.
Credit: WhitA via Flickr (14927058888) Deer Island
Deer Island
If peace and tranquility are what you’re after, plan on visiting Deer Island. It was purchased just a little over a decade ago by the state government and is the closest barrier island to the Mississippi shores at just a quarter-mile from the hustle and bustle of Biloxi. As you take a stroll along the beach, it’s hard to fathom that the city is merely a short jaunt away as there are few signs of the modern world here. Among the few are harsh reminders of the natural disasters that have occurred here, like the battered ship beached by a hurricane. Here, ospreys soar overhead and dive down to catch the mullet swimming in the Gulf, while dolphins can be seen playing and feeding in the waters. The 400-acre island is home to 10 different types of endangered species, and since it’s so close to the mainland, all you need is a canoe, kayak, paddleboard or a small boat to get there.
