Introduction
by Governor Haley Barbour
As Seen at the MS Welcome Centers
Where do you go on
the Gulf Coast if you want to find hospitality, scenic beauty,
attractions, recreational opportunities, culture, higher education,
special events, lodging, convention space, cuisine, shopping and malls?
Watch this film to find the answers.
Destination: Gulf Coast is a
30-minute film that highlights the best and most unique qualities of
the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Watch Excerpts
from the Film: [ Modem: 56k] [Broadband(Cable/DSL): 150k] Requires Windows Media Player
Below are screen shots from the
Film, Destination: Gulf Coast
Hotels and Lodging
Unwind in luxurious guest rooms, step out your room to the sandy beach, or
stay in a quaint Bed & Breakfast. Coast accommodations are unlimited. The
Coast has more than 120 Hotels, Motels, and Resorts and over 20 Bed and Breakfasts --
all
reasonably priced and suited for almost every need and taste. Plush World
Class Casino resorts with meeting rooms, fine dining, theaters, golf, and
health spas dot the Coast. For an outdoor experience, there are
over 35 RV
parks and campgrounds, some with canoeing, swimming, and hiking available.
Golf
Sunny skies, a beautiful Gulf view and the choice of 22 challenging golf
courses. The Gulf Coast is a golfer’s dream with its share of champion
golf courses designed by such greats as Arnold Palmer, Davis Love III &
Jack
Nicklaus.
Cuisine Po Boys, Gumbo, Fried
Oysters, and Stuffed Flounder--Destination: Gulf Coast tells you
where to find these dishes, and more! Mouth watering…scrumptious! Hundreds
of restaurants line the Coast and specialize in everything from Cajun and
Creole to the abundance of fresh seafood. The South takes pride in
its own local favorites like crawfish, jambalaya, gumbo, and etoufee’.
Fresh seafood favorites are shrimp, snapper, tuna, grouper and flounder,
Broiled, fried, blackened, sautéed and raw. You’ll find romantic
atmospheres to family settings and all of the ethnic favorites including
Italian, Greek, Mexican, French and Japanese Sushi. Many fine
restaurants have award winning chefs with unique International culinary
dishes and world class pastries.
Gaming The Coast is the
South’s premier resort destination with
exciting casinos and star-studded shows. The variety of Coast
Casino Properties are nationally recognized award-winning premier
entertainment resorts unique in style and decor, yet similar, offering
loads of entertainment-from traditional table games to fine dining to
nationally recognized entertainers. Each is unique with golf,
Spa/salon/fitness centers, movie theaters, meeting facilities, and much
more.
Special Events
Every week
the Mississippi Gulf Coast is alive with the scenes of unique festivals and events.
Themes range from Southern history, the arts, music, food, fishing, golfing, and
include special hobby, cultural, and technical interests. There’s always time for fun on the Coast!
Favorites include Mardi Gras, Cruisin’ the Coast, the Miss. Gulf Coast Billfish
Classic, The Blessing of the Fleet, Biloxi Seafood Festival, Christmas
on the Water, and the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.
Attractions
Coast events are complimented by the variety of area attractions, such
as the Biloxi Lighthouse, Marine Life Oceanarium, Lynn Meadows Discovery
Center, the Biloxi Shrimping Trip, the Seabee Museum, the J.L. Scott
Marine Educational Center, and unique attractions such as Alligator
Farms. A favorite attraction is the Stennis Space Center & Museum which
features StennisSphere. The Coast is blessed with a variety of art and
history museums.
Fishing Deep sea fishing
aboard charter boats is a year-round opportunity for half, full and
multi-day excursions. Whether you want to try your hand inland lakes
and rivers with fresh water fishing or coastal waters with salt-water
fishing including crabbing,
floundering, wade fishing, fishing off a pier, or a deep-sea charter,
the Coast has it all!
Parks and Recreation The Mississippi Gulf
Coast’s wealth of sporting opportunities is presented in a way that will
make you want to pick up that nine iron or hoist the main sail and start
having fun. Begin your exploration
of the Coast on over 30 miles of beaches. The Gulf Islands National
Seashore comprises Horn, Petit Bois, and Ship Islands with their
additional beaches, lagoons, forests, and dunes. West Ship Island is home to Fort
Massachusetts, a Civil War Era brick fortress worth exploring. The Coast
has an array of parks, campgrounds, trails and picnic areas including
Desoto National Forest, The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife
Refuge, Shepard State Park, and Buccaneer State Park with a seasonal
wave pool, and water slide.
History and Culture Mississippi’s Coast is
awash in culture. From George Ohr’s pottery to Walter Anderson’s murals,
the "who, what, when and where" of Coastal culture is presented in
Destination: Gulf Coast.
Five different nations
have flown their flag over the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Coast houses
a wonderful variety of museums to share the art, history and culture of
the area. Fort Maurepas, Old Spanish Fort and Museum, Beauvoir (last home
of Confederate President Jefferson Davis), Tullis-Tulledano Manor, the Old
Brick House, and St. Augustine Church and Seminary (the state’s oldest
seminary training African-American Roman Catholics for the priesthood) are
just a few of the special places to visit. The Coast has scores of
buildings with beautiful architecture listed in the National Register of
Historic Places.
Shopping The Coast is a
shopper’s paradise. Downtown shopping in each local community finds
those unique local gifts and dining stops. Especially popular are the
downtown areas of Ocean Springs, Pass Christian, and Bay St. Louis. Two
large indoor centers, Edgewater Mall and Singing River Mall are popular
with the locals. Prime Outlets and Crossroads Mall both sit on
Interstate 10 and provide a wide assortment of Popular Stores.
Tours
and Transportation The coast conveniently sits on the Gulf of
Mexico between New Orleans and Mobile and is easily accessed for
automobile travel from three interstates. With major airlines, four Amtrak passenger
train stations and many Yacht Clubs and Marinas, the Gulf Coast is an easy
vacation to access. Once here, the Coast Transit Authority, Casino
shuttles, numerous bus tours, car rental locations and taxi services make
the Coast easy to maneuver.
Convention & Meetings
Facilities The
Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center is the
centerpiece of convention activities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It
offers 180,000 square feet of newly expanded meeting space that is just
steps away from 17,000 rooms and suites.
Whether you're planning for a large delegation or an intimate seminar,
the Coast has the perfect place at the perfect price!
Higher Education The Coast is proud to provide quality
education with a variety of options. We host a 4 year public University,
The University of Southern Mississippi which also has the College of
Marine Sciences; William Carey College - a 4 year Baptist College; Tulane
University; and several campuses of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community
College.
Destination:
Gulf Coast
Where do you go on the Gulf Coast
if you want to find hospitality, scenic beauty, attractions,
recreational opportunities, culture, higher education, special events,
lodging, convention space, cuisine and retail centers?
Watch this film to find the answers.
