Bob Walker's Official New
Orleans Area Wedding Guide
From lazy afternoons on the beach to elegant casino gaming, you can have it all...
A ROMANTIC HONEYMOON YOU CAN AFFORD!
Looking for a romantic honeymoon getaway with white sand beaches,
beautiful ocean scenery, and exciting attractions? Well, you don't have
to look far - and you don't have to spend a fortune, either. It's right
in your own back yard and waiting for you to explore and enjoy!
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is just an hour's drive from New Orleans and
offers everything the two of you need to plan a sensational wedding trip.
From Bay St. Louis to Gulfport, from Biloxi to Ocean Springs, the resort
communities along the shores of the Gulf have it all.
SUN, SAND, AND SURF
The twenty-six miles of beach which meet the warm waters of the gulf
on Mississippi's shore provide an endless variety of adventures. In addition
to swimming and sunning, you may want to try water skiing, jetskiing, windsurfing,
and parasailing. Or, rent a sailboat and spend your afternoons plying the
gentle waves of the gulf. Take an evening stroll at the water's edge, beachcombing
under the moonlight for treasures from the sea. You can even go for a ride
on a shrimping vessel and help with the trawl catch.
Schooner cruises are available for half-day or full-day excursions along
the coast or out to sea. You can also charter a romantic moonlight cruise.
ROMANTIC ISLANDS
What better fate could befall you on your honeymoon than to be "stranded"
together on a beautiful tropical island? Fortunately, on the Mississippi
coast, it's a fate that can be arranged (for a few hours, anyway!).
The chain of barrier islands located a few miles off the main coast offer
this possibility along with some truly unique opportunities for recreation
and exploration. The islands are part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore
and are managed by the National Park Service.
Ship Island, the most popular and most accessible of the islands, boasts
one of the top ten beaches in the country (as rated by USA Weekend.) Umbrellas
and lounge chairs are available for rent, and a lifeguard is on duty. There
are picnic areas, a covered pavilion, restrooms, gift shops, and a snack
bar. Guided tours of famed Civil War Fort Massachusetts, built on the island
in 1858, are offered daily. Primitive camping is allowed on the island.
Scheduled ferry services provide daily access to Ship Island from Biloxi
and Gulfport. The 70-minute cruise is a delightful ride in itself. Schools
of dolphins frequently accompany the boat on its voyage, and seagulls beg
morsels from the passengers.
Camping is also allowed on most of the other islands in the chain, including
Horn Island, Petit Bois, Round Island, and Deer Island (the one most visible
from the main coast.) These beautiful, pristine islands have, for the most
part, been left in their natural state and are accessible only by private
boat or charter.
The beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast provide the area's biggest attraction
and the greatest draw for the thousands of visitors from around the world
who visit the area each year. But the coast has even more to offer...
CASINO FUN
Feeling lucky? (And who doesn't on their honeymoon?) Then why not
board one of the elegant casino boats for an evening of dining, dancing,
and gaming! They don't sail, so you can come and go whenever you please.
On board you will find Las Vegas-style casino gaming, including slot machines,
blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, cash bingo, and other games.
The casinos' stately dining rooms offer all-you-care-to-eat buffets, usually
24-hours a day. Music and dancing are readily available, along with celebrity
performers, magic shows, Las Vegas revues, and other entertainment.
FOOD AND FESTIVALS
Dining on the Gulf Coast ranges from the very casual to 4-star French
cuisine. Though many area restaurants specialize in delicious seafood dishes
prepared from the freshest gulf catch, you can also satisfy your appetite
for Southern, Cajun, Italian, and Chinese fare, among others. Many establishments
are built over or near the water and offer a charming atmosphere along with
great food.
Various festivals are scheduled throughout the year. In addition to the
food festivals (Oyster, Crab, Crawfish, etc.), the Mississippi coast presents
its own version of Mardi Gras and the Jazz Fest. Also scheduled are the
annual Renaissance Festival, the Sand Sculpture contest, the Greek Festival,
a Spring Pilgrimage, and the Christmas on the Water parade - to name a few.
HISTORIC CHARM
Once home to the Biloxi Indians, the coast area was settled by the
French in 1699, making it the oldest French settlement in the Mississippi
Valley. The barrier islands off its coast later found favor with pirates,
and rumors still abound of buried treasures beneath the sands (bring your
metal detector!).
The charm of the Old South is still alive in the multitude of beautifully-preserved
historic homes that line the coastal beach. Many are open for tours, especially
during the Spring Pilgrimage.
The most famous of these elegant estates is Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson
Davis, the only president of the Confederacy. This National Historic Landmark
on a 74-acre site overlooking the gulf was built in 1852. Carefully restored
with family heirlooms, the home is open for tours daily. Also on the spacious,
landscaped grounds are the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier, a museum,
and centuries-old, moss-covered oaks.
The Biloxi lighthouse, built in 1848 and located on Highway 90 across from
the beach, is another famous landmark, and said to be the most-photographed
object on the Gulf Coast.
SPORTS AND ATTRACTIONS
If you've got that itch to "wet your lines," dozens of charter
boats are available for deep-sea fishing. Redfish, speckled trout, mackerel,
catfish, bass, and flounder are among the prizes waiting to be caught. Package
prices usually include all fishing gear, bait, and ice. The Deep Sea Fishing
Rodeo, held in July, is the largest event of its kind in the world.
The area's fresh-water rivers and bays are numerous, and skiffs are available
for rent. Public-access fishing piers and jetties are great for crabbing,
and don't forget the beach for surf-fishing.
If golf is your game, you should know that, with sixteen challenging courses,
the area is known as one of the South's premier golf resorts.
Want more? You can rent canoes on the Wolf River, visit nearby Buccaneer
State Park for a wild adventure at the wave pool, take an out-of-control
plunge down a waterslide, go horseback riding, take a helicopter ride over
the coastline, try the go-carts and water bumper cars, or play miniature
golf.
Shopping possibilities are also numerous - from spacious, modern Edgewater
Mall to quaint antique shops located in the "old town" sections
of various cities along the coast.
MUSEUMS AND SHOWS
The Old Spanish Fort and Museum, built in 1718, is the oldest standing
building in the Mississippi Valley. Its thick walls were constructed of
oyster shells, mud, and moss.
Exhibits also await you at the Biloxi Museum of Art, the Walter Anderson
Museum of Art, local artisan craft shows, the NASA-affiliated John Stennis
National Space Technology Lab (where the booster rockets are built and a
real moon rock is on display), and the Marine Education Center. And don't
forget the amazing dolphin and sea lion shows at Marine Life.
During your stay on the coast, check out what's happening at the Mississippi
Coast Coliseum. This 15,000 seat arena features top-name entertainment throughout
the year, including rock, classic, and country concerts (your visit may
just happen to coincide with a concert by Jimmy Buffett or the Eagles!).
The Coliseum is also home to fairs, rodeos, and professional sporting events.
TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS
The beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast are just an hour's drive
from New Orleans along Interstate 10. Exits from I-10 lead to the various
resort communities along the coast on Highway 90.
Air transportation is available using the Gulfport / Biloxi Regional Airport.
Accommodations vary widely. You can choose from small, basic-service motels
and bed and breakfasts establishments, to high-rise luxury hotels. There
are furnished homes and cottages for weekly or weekend rental, and beachfront
condominiums abound.
COME "SEA" THE MISSISSIPPI BEACH
If you're looking for a fabulous combination of entertainment, fine food, and a resort atmosphere, your perfect honeymoon could be a lot closer than you think - just an hour away on the sunny beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast!
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention/ Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 6128
Gulfport, MS 39506-6128
or call toll-free at:
1-800-237-9493
1-888-467-4853
or call:
(228) 896-6699.
You can also get more info on their web site: