The 'Playground Of The South' Is A Fun Mississippi City Full Of Charm

Mississippi isn't a place that usually tops tourism lists in the U.S., but upon further examination, there is more than meets the eye. Not only is it the most affordable state for a road trip with tons of scenic byways and deep music history, but it also boasts 62 miles of scenic Gulf Coast shoreline. This includes spots such as the casual city of Pass Christian with idyllic sunsets and great seafood, as well as the town of Biloxi.

Long a hot, local vacation destination, Biloxi is often called the "playground of the South" because of its wide, white-sand beach, array of outdoor activities, and — these days — casinos. It's where people from all over the region come to let their hair down. Whether it's relaxing on the sand, deep sea fishing, shopping, or trying your luck at the blackjack table, Biloxi is a dynamic destination that offers something for everyone all year round.

Biloxi is also home to a historic downtown rich in old-fashioned Southern charm. Here you can stroll down Main Street and check out its museums, boutiques, and cafes. And once you've worked up an appetite, you can sit down for a meal made from the freshest Gulf seafood at one of the town's top-notch eateries.

Arguably the city's crown jewel, Biloxi Beach is a stretch of powdery white sand that wouldn't look out of place on a Caribbean island. It's part of a 26-mile sandy coastline which is the world's largest man-made beach. The shallow, warm waters of Mississippi Sound lap the shore, while to the north the beach is bordered by the oak tree-lined Beach Boulevard and its stately homes.

Biloxi's oceanside location means that it offers plenty in the way of outdoor pursuits. Chief among these is deep sea fishing, where you can jump on a charter boat in hopes of hooking into a monster snapper, redfish, black drum, or speckled trout. The surrounding waters are also home to a number of barrier islands that can be explored by cruise or ferry. The most popular is Ship Island, a 7-mile-long sandy rise that features great beaches, as well as the historic Fort Massachusetts.

While getting out in nature is a great reason to come to Biloxi, it has also carved out a niche as a hub for gambling. While once only hosting riverboat casinos, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the city allowed them to move onto land, and Biloxi is now one of the top gambling cities in the country. There are eight world-class properties in town that not only offer table games and slots but also shows, buffets, and excellent accommodations.

Once a sleepy seaside village, Biloxi grew into a prosperous seafood hub in the late 1800s, and the historic city center reflects this. First, check out the Biloxi Lighthouse. Constructed in 1848, this 65-foot cast-iron tower was one of the first of its kind in the South and is one of the town's key landmarks. While you're exploring, learn about the region's history at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, or take in some pottery, paintings, and more at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art. This Frank Gehry-designed campus features the ceramics of George Ohr — a Biloxi native — and is a must-stop during any visit to town.

Seafood is the name of the game in Biloxi, so it should come as no surprise that there is a host of top-notch restaurants serving up the bounty of the sea. Mary Mahoney's Old French House is arguably the city's most renowned eatery, featuring fine dining in a house dating back to 1737, complete with a New Orleans-style courtyard and Patriarch, a gargantuan oak tree that the restaurant claims to be 2,000 years old. One Thirty One Lameuse offers upscale food, wine, and cocktails — as well as live music on weekends — while Shaggy's is perhaps the town's most lively and fun seafood spot (with bang-on margaritas to boot).

The easiest way to get to Biloxi is to fly into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and head east along the coast. The trip takes about an hour and a half. For more wonder from the Gulf Coast, head out on this extraordinary road trip along the Texas coast.