Info needed about Gulfport MS

[cgarr]

Our family may be driving down for our Spring Break the first of April, our Son is being sent there on April 2nd for more training with "NMCB One"and does not have to report til the 20th so I thought it would be fun trip for us to go down for a week and see him.

Whats the area like the first of April? Is it going to be packed with no place to stay or is it not one of those types of places during spring? Any good places to stay for a week? or places not to stay??

Thanks

[Mark Howard]

Gulfport is one of the typical nice southern Mississippi gulf coast towns that got larger though the expansion of some industry, the port, and casinos. It is not a "destination" city for most springbreakers, as the beaches are not as nice and white like the Florida beaches (too much river sediment from the MS River and other rivers).

The city got whacked pretty hard by Hurricane Katrina, but is almost completely recovered now. April weather is usually pretty nice along the coast, 50's at night and 70-80's during the day. A few spring storms may blow through, but they are typically gone pretty quick. There are a few attractions there locally, but you are a 1 hour drive in each direction from Florida beaches and New Orleans.

If you like to gamble, casinos are there locally and in Biloxi, about 20 minutes away. They usually have pretty good entertainers come in for performances, and Circ De Soleil has shows there every now and then.

Most of the housing is repaired since Katrina and almost all the FEMA and disaster recovery contractors have left, so finding a place to stay should not be a problem, as long as you are okay with Hampton Inn, etc.

There is a nice variety of restaurants there, seafood, etc and the creole culture from Louisiana does somewhat extend that far east. Again, the casinos have a good variety as well.

Lastly, the people there are very nice. Granted, that's how we are in the south. You will definitely have your fill of southern white trash, but try to ignore it the best you can and have a nice time.

Hope this helps.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Our family may be driving down for our Spring Break the first of April, our Son is being sent there on April 2nd for more training with "NMCB One"and does not have to report til the 20th so I thought it would be fun trip for us to go down for a week and see him.

Whats the area like the first of April? Is it going to be packed with no place to stay or is it not one of those types of places during spring? Any good places to stay for a week? or places not to stay??

Thanks

Cgarr,

Spent many years there. Being an outsider presents very different issues in Gulfport. If I were to stay there for a vacation, I would consider not staying in Gulfport, but down in Biloxi near the Air Force Base. It never fails to amaze me that these two cities being next door to each other can be so different (it may just be me). Katrina absolutly erased the water front in Gulfport, that is the only way I can explain it. The old waterfront neighborhoods that survived Camille back in the late 60s were not so lucky with Katrina. Those beautiful old southern mansions were scraped from the earth. As if they never existed. That was the Gulfport I enjoyed.

I like the South and the folks treated me very nice, but I may have just spent two much time in Gulfport. Places to eat??? High Cotton, try their fried green tomatoes (yum) and believe it or not there is a Sushi place called Samari Sushi that is worth a visit. It is near 25th Avenue and Pass Road.

Also, Pensacola is not to far from you and that is a great town.

If you like to fish, the Bass Pro Shop in Mobile is worth a drive. If you are a shooter, remember CMP south is in Northern Alabama.

Have fun.

[Joe Ricard]

Yup stay in Biloxi. Casino's are top notch and the beaches are returning to the pre-storm state. Nice and hardly ever crowded. April is the best weather EVER. Gulf islands water park will be open and is good for a day of fun.
We will probably have a couple autocrosses during that time. Come on down and enjoy. Lots of nice restraunts with a southern flair.

[rattlsnak]

Either stay in Biloxi, or Slidell, La. Biloxi is twenty minutes east and has casinos (that's about it), Slidell is 20-30 minutes west and is a decent size town that has everything except the beach, which isn't such a big deal, because the 'beaches' around GP and BI really arent nice.. No one goes there for 'spring break'. Trust me, I lived there for 20+ years..

[Dueller]

The Mississippi gulfcoast is not a primo beach area due to the barrier islands that render the water somewhat brackish and shallow/wave free; but they have done a lot to manicure the beaches but not the sugar white sand of the Florida panhandle. But if you do like a totally unspoiled beach that is stunning you can take a day trip out to Ship Island (12 miles off of Biloxi) on a ferry and see some of the most beautiful natural beaches any where. Pack a cooler as it is a national park and totally undeveloped...if you really like the beach this is a must for that area.

There are plenty of places to stay...particularly the Casinos' (there are several in Gulfport as well as Biloxi --20 minutes east on HWY 90 or Bay St Louis ---20 minutes west).

New Orleans is only and hour and 20 minutes tot the west if you want to take a day trip there.

Ocean Springs is just past Biloxi to the east....neat little town. Visit the Walter Anderson Art museum there...plus there are a number of nice restaurants there.

All of the Casiono properties along the Mississippi gulf coast are nice with good hotels...by far the most luxurious is Beau Rivage in Biloxi. If you call ahead rooms are very cheap at all of them Sun-Thurs nites with the rates going up on weekends.

If you'd give me an idea of what you want to do/see I probably can give you some more input.

And if you're driving down thru Jackson MS on I-55 do let me know and we'll meet for dinner/lunch/beer...whatever. In fact, Jackson is a nice place to stop over to spend the night as we're only 3 hours away from Gulfport and you can break your trip up so you'll be rested upon arrival on the Coast after driving from Michigan.

Let me know your interests and I'll give you some suggestions.

[Dueller]

OH yeah...if you do come down, these guys are at the little airport about 3 blocks from my house. Some of the Confederate AF guys

[Dueller]

Went down to Gulfport today to pick up a parts car...snapped some quick photo's as we were returning. Keep in mind this weekend is the final part of spring break for all schools and colleges so you can see it wasn't crowded. Like I said its not a big beach/spring break destination. They have tried to really clean it up:




You see a lot of this across the street from beach...lots with home slabs completely barren after Katrina wiped it out.




This is a must stop...out of the way BBQ and blues joint..."The Shed." Excellent pub grub. Funky decor. Its just on the north side of the city limits. Go north up Hwy 49 and turn west on Hwy 53...about a mile down on the right. BBQ plates were $8-10...outdoor stage with music at night. Family friendly and safe.

[Dueller]

[9dreizig]

Nice yellow BMW!!! Are there alot of them down there ? LOL (oops wrong thread!)

[cgarr]

Those beaches don't look so bad! Kind of like our Great lakes beaches here.... I do want to check out that Drinkery

[Dueller]

Also check out Whitecap restaurant for great shrimp po-boys in Gport, Broadwater in Biloxi.

You will still see a lot of post Katrina construction on/around beaches...





Beaches aren't bad...just not the beautiful blue green water 100 miles to the east unless you go out to ship island. Plenty of fun with wind surfer rentals, kite surfing, catamaran rentals etc. Also, you'll see a lot of folks wade fishing if any of that is your thing.

Mobile Bay is a nice drive about 35 miles east and there is a great Navy ship/museum/tour of the USS Alabam.

[Dueller]

Still coming thru on the 2nd/3rd? I may be heading out to visit my famioly in Ga.;(

[cgarr]

Yep, we should be staying around Memphis on the 1st

[Dueller]

Craig stopped by on his way down to visit his son in Gulfport.

Met his delightful and beautiful daughters and wife as well. How that curmudgeon has such a sweet brood baffles me.

Introduced them to lunch of southern fried catfish, fresh grilled squash, homemade fresh peach cobbler and pecan cobbler with ice cream. They were discussing who would drive and who would nap on the rest of the drive down. Craig lost

I dropped them a PM on suggestions for a NOLA day trip...you locals may want to give them some pointers...said he would be checking in.

I recommended Cafe du Monde, Jax Brewery, Central Grocery, Port-o-Call, Acme, Felix's, Camellia Grill, RiverWalk, Aquarium, St Charles Trolly ride, French Market, etc.

[cgarr]

When you look up the word "Southern Hospitality" there's a picture of Jim. What fine way to start out a vacation in an area so far from home. We are having a great time, when we checked in they said the beaches are now closed because some oil was spotted off shore but we are hitting them until they escort us off them. Plan on some Casino action to refill the fund! Should hit NOLA either tomorrow or Monday!

[Dueller]

Glad you made it down safely and I hope ticket free. Looks like you're in for some hot hot weather.

Forgot to mention I also made them eat fried dill pickles and friend green tomatos. His older daughter commented on how EVERYTHING is fried I explained that's how Mississippi is 1st in nation's obesity scale...heck...at least we're first in something!!!!

Bet you're noticing how much your son has matured in a few short months...

Have a good time guys...

[johnco]

every Sept/Oct for the last few years we make a run over to Gulfport/Biloxi for Cruzin the Coast weekend. 6-7000 registered streetrods and probably half again unregistered rods running the strip all day. well, I'd say running at night, during the day it's a slow moving parking lot. brought my rat rod last year and had a great time with all the attention, smiles and picture taking as we drove around.. probably going to bring a couple more rat rods with us this year. The area over there is looking so much better now than it did after the hurricane blew everything away.

[John Rogers]

Wafflehouse!

[johnco]

you might add Preservation Hall to your list of things to do in New Orleans. it's in the french Quarter right off Bourbon Street I think. it's a group of old timers, a few are really old, old timers, playing some great traditional jazz standards.they've been doing these songs for so many years they could probably do in their sleep. one old guy did look like he had fallen asleep for a while until his solo came up. never moved anything but his horn or even opened his eyes for quite a while .LOL. I went there my first time 30+ years ago,, brought my daughter there 12-15 years ago . the place is very small and cramped so they only let in maybe 30 or so people in for each show. they told my girl to come sit on the corner of the stage since she was too small to see thru the crowd. no tables or chairs so you'll have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the crowd for the hour or so show. try getting closer to the little stage before the set starts if you're height challenged if you expect to see anything but the back of someone's head. long wait and long lines between shows, but i'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it