Biloxi
Campground
Gulf Beach RV Resort
This campground is very convenient as it is close to the downtown and the beach. It is basically two large parking lots but the sites are decent sizes. There are 2 pools and 1 facility with bathrooms, laundry and bonus...free ice! There were no organized activities in the campground but the city itself had several. We were able to ride our bikes and run on the path along the beach. Another super bonus - a Waffle House right at the entrance to the resort.
Things to see
Biloxi Beach
The beach extends many miles but be aware that the beach areas right in Biloxi are NOT dog friendly. There are some areas that are marked as preserves for bird nesting. The walkway along the beach is wonderful for walking, running, biking. To find dog friendly beaches, head either to Gulf Port or Ocean Springs.
Biloxi Shrimping Trip
This was an informative 70-minute ride on a small shrimp boat. We learned all about shrimping, how the seasons are managed and dropped a "trynet" to get a peek at what was hiding in the Mississippi Sound. Check out the photos to see what we caught!
Biloxi Tour Train
The tour train leaves from the Biloxi Visitor's Center and is a 90-minute tour through downtown Biloxi. The tour guide, Carla, is quite a character. Be aware that she had some definite oddities and rules you must follow. She may offend some people but if you can get past that, it is a great introduction to the city, it's history and recommendations of where you should eat and explore while you are visiting.
Ground Zero Blues Club
This is a very popular blues club, co-owned by none other than Morgan Freeman. They have quite a variety of performers (not all blues) that come in.
Keesler AFB Airshow
We happened to be in Biloxi at just the right time to see an airshow! The Thunderbirds (F-16 Fighting Falcons) were fantastic! Also a bi-plane and a MiG-17! There were thousands of people lining the Biloxi Beach to watch the show and the base, itself, had a lot of activities. We have a whole YouTube playlist dedicated to the show. So many pictures!
Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
This was a great place to spend a few hours learn about the water-going history of the area. Lots of scale and full size boats, information about how boats have been made, seafood-specific industry in the area, etc.
Mississippi Coastal Mardi Gras Museum
Very small museum that gives the background of Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday" in French) and specifically the Coastal region carnival. We enjoyed being able to try on the elaborate costumes! Check out one of our costume changes below. The Mardi Gras royalty are King D'Iberville (a local town named after a founder) and Queen Ixolib (yes, Biloxi spelled backward).
Ocean Springs
A cute shopping area to walk around. Shops and restaurants galore!
Old Brick House
Is it an old brick house? Sure is! This is what you get when you consult Atlas Obscura. It has some history!
USS Biloxi Memorial
Remnants of the USS Biloxi and also a Gold Star Families memorial.
Food and Drink
Fillin' Station
Great food in a unique building (an old gas station) in downtown Biloxi. They have live music sometimes, more so in the summer months.
Jalapeno Grill
A nice Mexican restaurant we enjoyed for our now-famous "Margarita Martes" (Margarita Tuesday instead of Taco Tuesday).
Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Grill
We all know the Juicy Lucy was invented in Minnesota (okay, there's a fight over Matt's or the 10-8) but this place claims to have them too. Good food and good views of the gulf.
Shaggy's Biloxi Beach
Talk about dog friendly! They have a dog menu! Polly had the chicken and rice. Cute place to eat with your pet and have great views of the gulf.
The Lady May
Quaint restaurant in Ocean Springs with great food. The bread pudding is a must!!
To make a long story short ...
That was the best coffee
We decided to venture out to a local coffee shop to have a coffee, some lunch, and use wifi at a placed called Boozer's. A little thunderstorm had just moved through and when we arrived at Boozer's, we were informed that their credit card processing system wasn't coming back up after the power outage. Cash only. That's fine, I had some with me.
While standing in line, a young lady came in to order and she, too, was told of the need for cash. She didn't have any. I stopped her as she turned to leave and I asked "How much do you need?" At first, she didn't want to accept anything but then asked if she could pay me back with Venmo. Sure, that would be an option but I said "Just pay it forward." She was a little stunned by this but when the momentary fog cleared, she understood what I meant.
She was very appreciative and, after receiving her order, again asked me if I was sure I didn't want her to repay me. Nope. Just pay it forward. She said she would.
A while later, when she was about to leave, she came over to us and said "That was the best tasting coffee they've ever made for me." Yes, "free with a side of paying it forward" always tastes better.