Exploring the Charm and Beauty of Bay St Louis, Mississippi

Bay St Louis is a small coastal town between New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi. My first visit was just a stop over on a road trip to Florida. I have since been back two times. 

I love to walk along the coast and down the streets lined with colorful beach houses. It is so peaceful and relaxing.

We seem to always have bad luck with the weather during our stays, but it never fails to be clear the morning we are leaving. Lol  I took photos of some of our favorite spots on our last visit. Most were taken in the rain….   Hope you enjoy them anyway.

Bay St Louis Historic L & N Train Depot 

The Bay St Louis train depot, built in 1928, houses the visitors center and Mardi Gras Museum. The bottom floor had a display of Mardi Gras costumes as well as some historical timelines about the area.

Address:

1928 Depot Way, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Hours:

Monday – Saturday 10am to 4pm 

Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum

Address:

1928 Depot Way, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 4pm

Admission:

Free

Serious Bread Bakery

This place has the best artisan breads and muffins. A must try!

Address:

131 Main St, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520-4545

Hours:

Tuesday – Sunday  7:30am - 5:30 pm

St Rose De Lima Church

This beautiful catholic church dates back to 1855. Mass is still held almost every day of the week.

Address:

301 S Necaise Ave, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Angel Trees

Remnants of beautiful live oaks are now works of art by Chainsaw sculptor, Dayle K. Lewis. The Angel trees stand as a monument to Hurricane Katrina.

Walking Tour of Filming Locations

Robert Redford’s 1966 movie "This Property Is Condemned" was filmed mostly in Bay St Louis. Take a walking tour to see some of the locations and building used. Get map here.

 Beaches 

Beaches run along Beach Blvd with parking on the shoulder across from the sand. A parking area and pavilion are located at the Garfield Ladner Pier.

Address:

125 N Beach Blvd, Waveland, MS 39576

Bay Saint Louis Municipal Harbor

We love just walking around looking at the boats and visiting with fishermen. This is also the best place to watch a sunrise!

Address:

100 Jody Compretta Dr, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Bay Saint Louis Bridge

The Bay Saint Louis Bridge connects Bay St Louis and Pass Christian.

Address:

229 N Beach Blvd, Waveland, MS 39576

Shopping

Clothing and specialty shops are scattered through the historic area.

Bay Town Inn

 We always stay at the Bay Town Inn. The place is gorgeous and they love to pamper you!

Address:

208 N Beach Blvd, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Phone:

(504) 421-0960

Pirates Day in the Bay Festival 

The Pirates Day Festival is held in the spring each year. It is so much fun and has a true small coastal town feel. It will be held May 15^th & May 16^th this year.

Address:

100 Jody Compretta Dr, Bay St Louis, MS   

Hope you enjoy this charming little town as much as we do!

Happy Travels!

Ship Island, Mississippi: Discovering a Hidden Gem on the Gulf Coast

A small piece of paradise lies in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 11 miles off the coast of Mississippi. West Ship Island is an undeveloped barrier island featuring white sandy beaches and stunning blue-green waters. The island can only be accessed via ferry or private boat.

The ferry service to the island is operated by Ship Island Excursions from Gulfport, and the 50-minute ride is enjoyable, often including dolphin sightings and seagull feeding

Fort Massachusetts, constructed after the War of 1812, is situated on the island and was operational until 1903. Visitors can opt for guided tours or explore the fort independently.

Personally, I adore this island because it provides a sense of isolation. The ferry service has limited passenger capacity, and most people tend to stay near the main beach area, leaving the rest of the island relatively empty. A brief stroll away from the main area will give you the sensation of being alone on an island.

Tips on what to bring and wear

Ship Island Ferry

Address:

1040 23rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501

Cost:

Adult Round Trip              $29.00

Children (Age 3 -10)        $19.00

Senior (Age 62+)              $27.00

Military (Active I.D.)        $27.00

Schedule varies according to the season. Check here.

Enjoy you visit!

Mysterious Lighthouse - Biloxi, Mississippi

Isn’t it amazing how finding out the story behind a place makes you look at it totally differently! I have been to this lighthouse several times over the years and have just thought of it as a rundown area and nothing else. I’ve always been fascinated with the lighthouse, but the area around it had a lot to be desired. After my most recent trip, I started to wonder why it was there. I found out that it was part of the President Casino Broadwater Resort. The resort was opened in 1939 as the Broadwater Beach Hotel and closed shortly before it was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Now I can see it as a beautiful piece of history! :)

The sunsets from there are beautiful!

It's also a great place to visit with some of the locals. We meet a family that were catching blue crabs. They showed us how the traps worked and  invited us to their crab boil. That just goes to show how friendly the people are in the Biloxi area.

Address:

2110 Beach Blvd

Biloxi, Mississippi 39531



Happy Travels!