The Hot List: 5 Things to Do in Coastal Mississippi

Stretching 62 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, Coastal Mississippi offers a range of activities on both land and sea. Read on for a curated itinerary complete with craft beer, local catches and Southern culture.

On tap

Lost Spring Brewing Company in Ocean Springs creates their beers in-house, ranging from porters to IPAs. They also serve cocktails like the "live love lychee" — made with tequila, lychee Thai basil shrub, ginger simple syrup, dry vermouth and lime juice — and the "white caps," a combination of bourbon, grapefruit liqueur, lemon juice and egg whites.  

Pedal power

Explore the region on two wheels along the Pascagoula Historic Bike Trail. Cyclists pass landmarks like Jimmy Buffett's childhood home; the LaPointe-Krebs House, recognized as the oldest structure in the Mississippi Valley; and the place where William Faulkner is believed to have written "Intruder in the Dust."

Go fish

Whether you prefer to get your feet wet in the fishing world by casting a reel on the calm inshore waters or are an experienced deep-sea fisher, Coastal Mississippi offers a range of charters. Local catches include speckled trout, flounder and Spanish mackerel. 

Restaurant recs

Indulge in fresh gulf-to-table fare at Siren Social Club in Gulfport. Recommended in the 2025 Michelin Guide American South, the restaurant serves such dishes as garlic shrimp, scallop crudo and beef Wellington. Inside the Hotel Vela, the eatery is helmed by husband-and-wife duo Austin and Tresse Sumrall.

Light it up

Constructed in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse was one of the first cast-iron structures built in the South, and is one of the most photographed sites on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Visitors can tour the 65-foot tall structure and climb the spiral staircase up to the light itself.