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The South has risen again; at least one particular state has some truly underrated beach destinations.
Mississippi is not only difficult to spell, but just as difficult to put one finger on, making it an attractive place to visit if you’ve never been there before.
Next door you have Louisiana, where you immediately think of the cultural delights of New Orleans. On the other hand you have Alabama, where Gulf Shores is the next best thing to the busy beaches of Florida.
But what about Mississippi?
Well, according to a new report from a local publication, the Sun HeraldMississippi should be known for an array of attractions, but perhaps none more so than the scenic coastal getaway Biloxi.
With new hype and accolades for top spas, airy restaurant patios, fun casinos and more, it’s time to head to the ‘Magnolia State’ for an affordable beach getaway with some unexpected treats.
Mississippi’s slice of white sand paradise
First and foremost, a geography lesson. Biloxi is on the Gulf, a popular fishing spot, but not so popular for snorkeling.
It’s best not to have false hopes and expect sparkling crystal clear waters to flash on your screensaver. This isn’t Cancun.
That said, Biloxi gets rave reviews from vacationers who enjoy a mix of quiet leisure and lively evenings.
Both are on the table in Biloxi. You can spend blissful days along sunny white sand beaches and come alive in the evenings hoping for ‘Jackpot!’ to shout.
Although Biloxi is more reminiscent of the southern version of Atlantic City, you’ll likely spend more time on the beach here because the winter weather is mild (consistently in the 60s).
Although the water is not the clearest, Biloxi Beach holds an impressive one 4.5 star Google ratingwhere a recent visitor said: “This beach was clean, quiet and very beautiful. We sat in our beach chairs for about 4 hours and loved it!”.
Biloxi is the most notable name along the Mississippi coast, but Gulfport is also on the rise, with Breeze Airways taking advantage of the city’s little-used airport, which is the most convenient access point to Biloxi rather than flying into New Orleans.
Delicious food and luxurious hotels
Biloxi is relatively small. Only less than 50,000 people live there. It’s fair to say that a good portion of that number are seasonal residents and were likely influenced to move here after a previous vacation.
Biloxi is a really fun place to visit for all ages, but certain areas are restricted to 21+ people.
Ironically, Margaritaville Resort is perhaps the best option for family holidays, as it clearly appeals to the aforementioned 21+ crowd, plus an element of surprise to keep the kids happy.
Here you’ll find two of Biloxi’s top attractions, Escape And Paradise Pier Amusement Parkboth amusement parks full of excitement, but the latter is outdoors with views of the Gulf from the ever-bustling pier and even better views from the Ferris wheel.
People come to Biloxi to enjoy themselves in a variety of ways, but most are concentrated around the city’s luxury hotels and casinos.
According to TripAdvisor, these are the top 5 hotels in Biloxi this winter: (based on value)
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- Hotel legends
- Palaca Casino Resort
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi
- Margaritaville Resort Biloxi
Of course, visiting the coast without enjoying seafood is a missed opportunity, especially in a former ‘seafood capital’.
Ask a local where you can eatand chances are you will be told to go to Shaggysa beachside eatery that serves classics and seafood dishes a high Google rating of 4.8.
Biloxi’s Latest Awards
Returning to the Sun Herald, they published Biloxi’s latest accolades, showing why this underrated beach city is seeing a spike in tourism.
The Spa at Beau Rivage was recently recognized as one of the best in the US and the best in Mississippi.
Given its beautiful weather year-round, Biloxi is also recognized as one of the best destinations for outdoor dining.
With white sandy beaches and luxury resorts as the main attraction, USA today backs up this claim by giving Beau Rivage Resort & Casino a top 5 spot for America’s best casino hotels.
Finally, the Mississippi coast as a whole is praised for being affordable and one of the most attractive places to live, so who wouldn’t want to vacation here?
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
