Mississippi Gulf Coast

The Mississippi Gulf Coast extends for about 80 mi from Alabama to Louisiana. Restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, and souvenir shops jostle for space along its busy four lanes, and the riverboat casinos permanently docked at the water's edge welcome anyone seeking a good time. But don't let the clamor of this neon strip hide the coast's quieter treasures: the ancient land, sculpted by wind and water, continually changing; serene beachfront houses set on green and shady lawns; the teeming wildlife of Mississippi Sound and its adjacent bayous and marshes; the unspoiled natural beauty of the seven barrier islands that separate the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi Sound.

On a clear day, if you have good eyesight or a good imagination, you can see these islands. Their names (from east to west) are Petit Bois (anglicized as "Petty Boy"), Horn, East and West Ship, and Cat. Two others, Round and Deer, lie within Mississippi Sound.

Three hundred years ago, France, England, and Spain ruled the area, according to their fortunes in international wars. Street names, family names, and traditions still reflect this colorful heritage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the coast became a fashionable vacation spot for wealthy New Orleanians and Delta planters eager to escape yellow fever epidemics. Elegant hotels, imposing beachfront mansions, and smaller summer homes sprang up. Today the homes that have endured the vagaries of time and hurricanes stand along the beach -- brave and beautiful survivors.