Mississippi--Gulf Coast Drive

 
Date: 2004-11-22

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This is a short drive, but there are so many good opportunities to stop and see or do things that it will take at least a day to accomplish most of them. If you stop for all the interesting spots along this drive, you will need a week, but it's worth doing as they are all good. Start at the NASA Test Site near the first I-10 exit out of Louisiana. At the NASA Center, you might see, or at least hear, rocket engines being tested and see some excellent exhibits. Next, drive south on Rte. 607 for about 20 miles to Bay Saint Louis.

By now Rte. 607 has become U.S. 90. Follow U.S. 90 for 55 miles through Gulfport, Biloxi and Ocean Springs to Pascagoula. At both Gulfport (702 E. Beach Blvd.) and Biloxi (1115 Porter Avenue), there are interesting harbor boat tours with demonstrations of commercial shrimping, oystering, and fishing, as well as excursion boats to Ship Island, where you can climb around on Fort Massachusetts, a Civil War stronghold. In Biloxi, landmarks worth taking a break to see include the lighthouse, Magnolia Hotel (pre-Civil War), Tullis-Toledalno Manor (1856), and the Seafood Industry Museum.

A short drive up to I-10 near Ocean Springs brings you to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Refuge, where you can see very long necks. In Pascagoula, see the Scranton Floating Museum in a converted shrimp boat; you can pretend you're Forrest Gump. By now, you should know more than you ever thought you wanted to know about seafood.

Starting Point:
NASA Test Center

Distance of Drive:
70 miles

Must Eat:
McElroy's Harbor House
695 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone:  228-435-5001
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For:  Seafood

Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round

Points of Interest on Drive:
NASA Test Site
Fort Massachusetts
Seafood Industry Museum
Scranton Floating Museum

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