Editor’s Note: During this period of social distancing, Group Tour magazine will continue to provide group travel inspiration. Many attractions and destinations are closed at this time; please contact them directly for updated information. 


In coastal Mississippi, the tranquil waters entice groups, but it’s the authenticity and Southern charm that has them coming back for more. Tucked between the cities of Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans, Louisiana; there’s 62 miles of Mississippi’s coastline for groups to explore.

Mississippi’s Gulf Coast region includes 12 communities: Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D’Iberville, Diamondhead, Gautier, Gulfport, Long Beach, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pass Christian and Waveland. 

Shrimp boats Coastal Mississippi
Shrimp boats, Mississippi coast
Credit: Coastal Mississippi

When traveling to coastal Mississippi, the Biloxi Visitors Center should be the group’s first stop.

“Located in a beautiful building next to the 200-year-old Biloxi Lighthouse — tours are available — the Biloxi Visitors Center offers a wealth of information for visitors to the area,” said Zach Holifield, director of leisure business development at Coastal Mississippi. “It also houses a museum with nearly a dozen multimedia exhibits that tell the story of Biloxi and the coastal Mississippi region, its people, its connection to the water and its cultural diversity.

“You’ll find a gift shop offering all sorts of Biloxi memorabilia, with many of the items created by local artists and craftsmen. For beautiful views of the lighthouse, the beach and the Mississippi Sound, head to the second-floor balcony.”

After stopping by the Biloxi Visitors Center, groups can head over to Beau Rivage Resort & Casino for an evening of endless entertainment and shopping.

“The tallest building in Mississippi, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino offers a wide variety of action-packed games, a beautifully appointed sports book, and plenty of fun, non-gaming options such as Top Golf, shopping and dining,” Holifield said.

For art aficionados, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a must-visit.

Walter Anderson Museum of Art
Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, Miss.
Credit: Coastal Mississippi

“Located in the heart of downtown Ocean Springs, this beautiful museum is dedicated to the works of local artist Walter Inglis Anderson, whose depictions of the plants, animals and people of the Gulf Coast have placed him among the forefront of American painters of the 20th century,” Holifield said. “The watercolors, drawings, oils, block prints, ceramics and carvings by the three Anderson brothers are all represented in the museum’s permanent collection.”

For more on Coastal Mississippi call 228-896-6699 or go to gulfcoast.org.