Mississippi, like Alabama, has a relatively short coastline compared to the other Gulf states. Much of the mainland coastline is actually fronted by Mississippi Sound with a discontinuous string of barrier islands tens of miles further offshore. I remember the first time that I saw this coast in 1970. What struck me at the time were all the big boats sitting in yards and parking lots as I drove along coastal Highway 90. I thought that this was some kind of tourist trap; I did not remember that a category 4 hurricane with the highest recorded storm surge in U.S. history had made landfall at Pass Christian, Mississippi just a year earlier. It is hard to imagine that anything would be left at all with 23 feet of water inundating this low-lying area during the height of the storm.

For a complete retreat from the developed coastline of Mississippi Beach, which specializes in hotel golf packages, take a boat trip to the unspoiled beaches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Here the water is sparkling blue and the sand white with small shells. The string of offshore barriers includes Petit Bois, Horn, East Ship, and West Ship Islands. I vividly remember taking the 20-mile boat ride to Horn, the largest island in the group. We landed on the bayshore and walked across this virtual wilderness toward the prime beaches on the Gulf side. Long marshy swales were bounded by sand dunes; the tall grass nearly reached my head. While we avoided the alligators that cruise the marshy waterways, I nearly stumbled into a wild boar whose deep grunting made me freeze in my tracks. Fortunately, he lumbered away after a few tense minutes. The beach was a beachcomber's delight, but next time I think I will land on the Gulf side. If you prefer some amenities, then visit West Ship, which marks the western end of the 150-mile-long Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Mississippi Division of Tourism
P.O. Box 1705
Ocean Springs, MS 31566-1705
(800) 927-6378

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