Worth the Drive :: Ocean Springs, MS
If you grew up in New Orleans, then you might remember what a big deal it was when the Beau Rivage opened in Biloxi. I remember my grandparents making the 90-minute drive many times to eat, drink and gamble, bringing us home treats and every once in a while, sharing a little cash winnings. So when my husband was offered to play a few gigs at the hotel, I was so excited to get a free stay and bring our son to play by the pool. And while the stay was nice, the real gem of the trip out to Mississippi was spending time in Ocean Springs.
Just a ten minute jaunt from casino-mile in Biloxi, downtown Ocean Springs is a quaint little arts community with nice restaurants, specialty shops and plenty of spots for a cocktail. We started our morning at Buzzy’s – the cutest little breakfast joint in what I assume was the living and dining rooms of a home at one point. My husband and I joked it was giving “Breakfast” in “My Cousin Vinny” with a limited menu of different variations of the same dish. But everything was great, the service was fantastic and we left fully satisfied with our meal.
Next door was the cutest little snowball stand built into an old train caboose. A further walk into downtown and we found plenty of shopping from kids clothing, adult clothing, local art, jewelry and toys. Further down we stopped for a treat and had the best donuts I can remember (respectfully, a Tastee’s girlie). A coffee to-go at the District, where the interior looked like something out of a maximalist design Instagram account.
It was time for us to hit the road, but we did notice lots of adorable short-term rentals being advertised up and down the area, and plenty of pubs and cocktail lounges where you could enjoy your evening.
On our next trip, we look forward to visiting the Walter Anderson Museum and Little Children’s Park. Hey, maybe we’ll even skip our free room at the Beau Rivage. Either way, downtown Ocean Springs made for a lovely and safe afternoon for our little family, and we look forward to making the drive again!
