Southern Mississippi

Post date: Jan 16, 2015 3:40:16 PM

Gulf Port Mississippi.  We choose Gulf Port because we wanted to stay along the Coast on our way to Alabama & Florida.  We're hugging the Coast to stay away from snow & ice!  (and we don't need to see big cities-we'd rather get the feel of small towns) It's been cold here, but a least we don't have to worry too much about the weather.  

Gulf Port is the second largest city in Mississippi.  It's home to the Navy Seabees and an Air Force base.  Navy ship construction has been here since WW II.  The beaches are white (actually quartz-very fine & squeaks when you walk on it)  The best way to describe the town is spread out & flat.  Buildings look like they were built during the 30s & 50s. There are some strip malls and there always seems to be a conveniently located Wal Mart.

We drove along the coast to Biloxi, Ocean Springs and a number of other coastal small towns.  There are still a number of empty lots along the water front - homes that have not been rebuilt since Katrina.  The lots go for 10 to 30k.  Homes & Condos are priced as low as 120 - 250k.  The views are wonderful, but when is the next hurricane going to hit?

The economy has picked with all the Casinos in Biloxi.  There are 8 of then in a mile stretch of beach.  

We visited the home of Jefferson Davis and his Presidential Library.  We forgot that he was a President - didn't quite work out for him - President of the Confederate States lasted 4 years and then he was jailed.

The water is flat - hardly any waves let alone surf. We asked a local if the water is always this calm - the answer was "yes"  The islands off the coast work as a barrier & keeps little surf from hitting the beach.  Most of the beach along Biloxi are man made (by the Corp of Army Engineers) to protect the roads & homes.  Originally, Biloxi was the capital of French Louisiana, but was moved inland to New Orleans due to the threat of high tides & hurricanes. (smart those Frenchmen)

What I'm enjoying most about these gulf towns is the shrimp that's available in all the restaurants!  OMG, I had the best shrimp salad in Biloxi - piled high shrimp - shrimp you didn't have to look for under the lettuce.

So, good-bye Mississippi & on Alabama........