The city of Biloxi, Mississippi was settled in 1699, nearly 120 years before Mississippi even became a state. It was built up around the seafood industry, thanks to its prime location on the Gulf of Mexico. In 1990, when the state legislature passed the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, dockside gambling began to draw visitors to Biloxi. Today, the city of about 50,000 residents has nearly a dozen casino resorts in or around town, offering a Las Vegas-like experience on the Gulf Coast. Yet even non-gamblers and families will find plenty of things to do here, from feasting on ocean-fresh seafood and making a splash in waterparks to boating and sticking your feet in the sand. Here’s what to add to your list when planning a trip to Biloxi, Mississippi.
Enjoy The Water
Take A Shrimping Trip
Once known as the “Seafood Capital of the World,” Biloxi produces 69 percent of the nation’s domestic shrimp. To experience this rich history of the area, book a Biloxi Shrimping Trip, which will give you an inside look at the shrimping industry. Hop aboard a boat called Sailfish for a 70-minute excursion through the Mississippi Sound, catching shrimp along with blue crabs, flounder, squid, and other local marine life. A guide walks you through everything in the catch before releasing it back into the ocean. If you’re lucky, you may even spot dolphins while out on the water!
biloxishrimpingtrip.com; 693 Beach Blvd, Bilxoi, MS39530; 228-392-8645
Visit The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
Head to the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum to learn about 300 years of history in the seafood industry on the Gulf of Mexico. Exhibits here range from a gallery of beautiful wooden boats to seafood factory artifacts and the 30-foot vessel Nydia, dating back to the early 20th century. From the museum, you can also hop aboard a group charter with Biloxi Schooners, a 2.5-hour sail that takes passengers out to Ship Island and back.
maritimemuseum.org; 115 1st Street, Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-435-6320
Hit The Beach
Mississippi boasts 26 miles of white sand beaches, and Biloxi’s portion is extra inviting for weekenders looking for a sunny patch of shoreline to relax on. Barrier islands not far from shore keep the surf relatively tame, so it’s easy to take a dip when the day gets warm. You can also charter a boat to take you out on day trips to explore islands like Ship Island and Cat Island.
See The Biloxi Lighthouse
Richard T. Nowitz / Getty Images
One of the first cast-iron lighthouses built in the South, Biloxi’s lighthouse is a local landmark that has stood the test of time. First erected in 1848, the lighthouse was operated by local lighthouse keepers before the Coast Guard took it over in 1939. Today, tours of the lighthouse are offered daily for $5 admission.
biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info/museums/lighthouse; 1050 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-374-3105
See World-Class Art
Visit The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Of Art
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, designed by architect Frank Gehry, celebrates the creative spirit of Mississippi master potter George Ohr along with the diverse cultural heritage of the state’s Gulf Coast. Visit to check out the museum’s collection of nearly 200 pieces of Ohr pottery and ceramics by Joseph Fortune Meyer, Toshiko Takaezu, and other featured artists with ties to Southern culture.
georgeohr.org; 386 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-374-5547
Check Out The Dusti Bongé Art Foundation Gallery
Considered Mississippi’s first Modernist artist and its first Abstract Expressionist painter, Dusti Bongé has left a lasting impression on the state. Born in Biloxi, you can see a large collection of her work in the Dusti Bongé Art Foundation gallery, which is located in the Creel House, part of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art campus. The gallery is free to visitors and open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
dustibonge.org; 730 Meaut Street, Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-436-0660
Enjoy The Excellent Dining Scene
Experience Dinner And A Show
Co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, Ground Zero Blues Club opened its doors in early 2022 inside the historic 20,000-square-foot Kress Building in downtown Biloxi. Visit to catch live music from internationally acclaimed blues artists and regional musicians while you dine on Southern delicacies like Delta fried green tomatoes, boiled peanut hummus, and chicken biscuits. The club stays open till midnight on weekends and features a late-night menu with hearty options like the “Morgan Special”—smoked pulled pork or chicken topped with mashed potatoes, bacon, cheddar, sour cream, chives, and barbecue sauce.
groundzerobiloxi.com; 814 Howard Ave. Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-910-6600
Sample Mississippi’s Best Farm-To-Table Cuisine
James Beard Award semifinalist and Mississippi native Austin Sumrall is the owner and chef behind White Pillars, a coastal farm-to-table restaurant blending global flavors with fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers markets. Menu highlights include a Thai wedge salad with red miso dressing and country ham, pork steak tonkatsu with handmade udon noodles, and a brunch shakshuka with artichoke and preserved lemon, plus lots of delicious seafood.
biloxiwhitepillars.com; 1696 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531; 228-207-0885
Order A Craft Brew Flight
Fly Llama Brewing is one of the top craft breweries on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, serving up craft beer and refreshing hard seltzer made from locally sourced ingredients like Southern muscadine grapes and blackberries. Founder and brew master David Reese is the only advanced cicerone in the state and one of only 139 in the world, earning this certification for his advanced knowledge of beer and flavors. In the taproom, sample their brews and play shuffleboard, darts, board games, or corn hole.
flyllamabrewing.com; 186 Bohn Street, Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-207-7757
Find The Perfect Stay
Spend The Night In A Historic Hotel
The historic White House Hotel dates back to the 1890s, when Cora White, the wife of Gulf Coast lawyer and later Circuit Court Judge Walter White began accepting boarders into their home while Walter was establishing his new law practice. Business was so good, the couple bought a house next door, which eventually grew into a row of seven Victorian homes right on the beach. In 1910, they joined two of the buildings to create a lobby, dining room, and ballroom. It fell into disrepair for decades until 2014, when a full restoration of the properties was completed. Today, the waterfront hotel offers 76 accommodations, along with a swimming pool, a lighted fountain, and a restaurant and bar named after Cora.
whitehousebiloxi.com; 1230 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-233-1230
Book A Suite In A Luxury Resort & Casino
One of the largest resort casinos in Biloxi, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino stands 32 stories tall and has 1,740 rooms including 95 luxury suites, along with a pool, golf course, performing arts theater, and more. Not to be missed is the Pan-Asian restaurant Jia, which has an 18-seat circular noodle bar, authentic Vietnamese soups, sushi, refreshing specialty cocktails, and an extensive sake menu.
beaurivage.mgmresorts.com; 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530; 888-750-7111
Join The Parrot Heads At Margaritaville Resort
If you’re traveling to Biloxi with family, book a room at Margaritaville Resort, located in downtown. Kids and adults alike will get a thrill splashing through the rooftop waterpark, which includes a 450-foot Lazy River, two water slides, a lounge pool, swim-up bar, and splash pad. Paradise Pier Biloxi Amusement Park, a new addition in 2022, adds a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, go-cart racing, and a sky bar to the resort.
margaritavilleresortbiloxi.com; 195 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530; 228-271-6377
