I figured this would be good to get started for those of you making your way down to the tournament next week. As this is not comprehensive, please add in input.

Welcome to "the coast"! The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a near-continuous stretch of great nearby cities and towns with their own charm and things to do ranging from beaches, to casinos, to restaurants. It has a little bit of everything.

Explore each of the coast's towns if you have some time to kill
Biloxi- Where the tournament is hosted, casinos, great local history.
Ocean Springs (east of Biloxi)- Across the bay. Walkable downtown with some good shops, bars and restaurants. Very quaint small town feel to it. My favorite city on the coast.
Gulfport (west of Biloxi)- continues up Highway 49 past I-10. Diverse city with a forming downtown area. Check out Fishbone Alley for a cool (though small) bar/restaurant area
Long Beach and Pass Christian (west of Gulfport)- two smaller cities with their own charm, shops and restaurants.
Bay St. Louis (west of LB and the Pass)- smaller city with walkable restaurants and arts scene. Right on the coastline. Fun town to explore.

Local Eats- The Coast has everything from seafood to New Orleans style to Vietnamese to fine dining
Half Shell Oyster House- Biloxi and Gulfport
The Blind Tiger- Biloxi and Bay St. Louis
Tony's Brick Oven Pizzeria- Gulfport
Patio 44- Biloxi
Mary Mahoney's- Biloxi
The Chimney's- Gulfport
Murky Waters- Gulfport
Aunt Jenny's- Ocean Springs
McElroy's- Biloxi, Ocean Springs
Darwell's Cafe- Long Beach
Desportes Seafood
BB's PoBoys
Rebel Dip
Salute
Buzzys
Shaggy's
Bacchus
The Filling Station
Phonecia's
Salvetti's Italian Grill
Tripani's

Snacks
Pop Brothers (Popsicle) (As seen on Million Dollar Buyer)- Gulfport, Ocean Springs
Tat-o-nut (Donut shop)- Ocean Springs
Coast Roast Coffee & Tea


Family Attractions/Museums/Local History
Big Play Family Fun Center (Mini Golf, Go-Karts, Bowling, etc.)- Biloxi
Margaritaville Resort (arcade games, ropes course, etc.)- Biloxi
Biloxi Welcome Center (well done history and background of Biloxi and the gulf coast)
George Ohr (the "Mad Potter") Museum- Biloxi
Walter Anderson Museum (famous local painter)- Ocean Springs
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (children's museum)- Gulfport
Maritime Seafood Museum- Biloxi
Beauvoir home and museum (the last home of Jefferson Davis)- Biloxi
NASA Stennis Space Center/Infinity Science Center- north of Bay St. Louis
Gulf Islands National Seashore visitor's center- Ocean Springs
Ship Island Excursions (boat ride out to Ship Island where Ft. Massachusetts is located)- Gulfport
Gulf Islands Waterpark- Gulfport

Local Breweries
Chandeleur- Gulfport
Biloxi Brewing- Biloxi
Lazy Magnolia- Kiln (Middle Hancock County)

Casinos- each casino has its own restaurants, buffets, entertainment, and nightlife
Beau Rivage- Biloxi (right across the street from the stadium)
Hard Rock- Biloxi
Golden Nugget- Biloxi
Imperial Palace (IP)- Biloxi
Boomtown- Biloxi
Palace- Biloxi
Treasure Bay- Biloxi
Harrah's- Biloxi
Scarlet Pearl- Biloxi (north side of the bay)
Island View- Gulfport
Silver Slipper- Bay St. Louis
Hollywood- Bay St. Louis

Very good list!

Quote:Tat-o-nut (Donut shop)- Ocean Springs

Yes.
Get there early or be prepared to stand in line.
Either way... just do it.

Also:
BB's PoBoys - Ocean Springs
Crooked Letter Brewing Co - Ocean Springs

Also the po' boys at the lunch counter at Desportes Seafood, grilled oysters at McElroys, Italian food at Salute in Gulfport, breakfast at Buzzys in Ocean Springs, and for other relocated Hoosiers, the Steak and Shake inside the Harrah's casino.

The Palace casino is smoke free and has some low dollar blackjack tables during the day.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the Hard Rock, The Filling Station downtown Biloxi, Shaggy's , The Reef next to Shaggy's on the beach.

Phonecia's in downtown Ocean Springs...OMG!
Also Salvetti's Italian Grill in Ocean Springs.....Can you say CARBONARA?

(05-20-2017 02:23 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Very good list!

Quote:Tat-o-nut (Donut shop)- Ocean Springs

Yes.
Get there early or be prepared to stand in line.
Either way... just do it.

Also:
BB's PoBoys - Ocean Springs
Crooked Letter Brewing Co - Ocean Springs

Unfortunately Crooked Letter closed down a couple years back. It's a shame too. It was one of my favorites.

And for a good ole fashioned malt stand hamburger like we had 40 years ago. No place like the Rebel dip on Hwy 49 n gulfport

Trapani's in Bay St. Louis used to be really good. They serve seafood and a lot of typical New Orleans dishes.

(05-20-2017 09:36 AM)SouthernMissSNu Wrote:  

(05-20-2017 02:23 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Very good list!

Quote:Tat-o-nut (Donut shop)- Ocean Springs

Yes.
Get there early or be prepared to stand in line.
Either way... just do it.

Also:
BB's PoBoys - Ocean Springs
Crooked Letter Brewing Co - Ocean Springs

Unfortunately Crooked Letter closed down a couple years back. It's a shame too. It was one of my favorites.

Too bad. Maybe my T shirt will become a valuable souvenir! Small consolation.

Also regarding another post: heck yeah for Phonecia Brunch!!

On a historical note: Biloxi (pronounced Buh-lux-ee) was once headquarters of the infamous Dixie Mafia, which controlled (illegal) gambling, prostitution and general graft on the Gulf Coast for decades.

How ironic: Once the casinos came in to this Bible Belt state (although the Gulf Coast is more like New Orleans) with LEGAL gambling, the Coast thrived and the Mafia died (there is obviously more to it than just the casinos coming to town, which is an interesting story for later). Biloxi/Gulfport no longer looks like the seedy 1930's tourist trap of the 70's and 80's, and is a worldwide destination due to it's casinos, restaurants, history and scenery.

If anyone finds themselves with the greater part of the day without anything to do, go to Gulfport and take the ferry to Ship Island to check out Fort Massachusetts and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Some beautiful scenery out there.

The Hard Rock is next to the Beau Rivage, so both are walking distance to the stadium.

Wish they would bid on the basketball tourney....this should be it's home at least every 3rd year


No it's not Dallas with it's airports, millions of people, fancy places to eat or shop. Biloxi, actually has things families enjoy doing.

(05-21-2017 02:50 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  The Hard Rock is next to the Beau Rivage, so both are walking distance to the stadium.

Didn't realize how small some of the pop and rock stars actually were till we visited the HardRock. On most weekends this place have some of the best cover bands you will find.

I'm not a big gambler but I did manage to turn their $10 of free play into enough money to cover our eats and room for that night.

(05-21-2017 03:35 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  Wish they would bid on the basketball tourney....this should be it's home at least every 3rd year


No it's not Dallas with it's airports, millions of people, fancy places to eat or shop. Biloxi, actually has things families enjoy doing.

I've been saying that for years now....

Half Shell Oyster House is where it is at

I like Leo's Wood Fired Pizza in Ocean Springs, then chocolate from the Candy Cottage. Fun little town.

(05-21-2017 04:10 PM)wh49er Wrote:  Half Shell Oyster House is where it is at

Check out Mary Mahoney's for nice dining and their 2000 year old tree.

Looking forward to the tourney down here. I live in Long Beach, and there is a good buzz down here about it. Lots of advertising and people talking. I know of several people that are going that have no connection to any school playing. Should be fun.

I would recommend parking early on Wednesday, and stay all day. You can literally walk to several great places to eat, good bars, couple great casinos, and the beach.