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Suggest a Feature →Gulf Coast Mississippi — Biloxi, Ocean Springs & the White Sand Beaches
Gulf seafood, casino culture, and an unexpectedly charming arts community 10 minutes east.
Keesler Air Force Base sits on the Gulf of Mexico beach in Biloxi, Mississippi — Highway 90 runs along the water right outside the base gates. The 81st Training Wing runs most of the Air Force's technical training in cyber, electronics, weather, and administrative fields, meaning Keesler has a constant flow of young trainees alongside a more stable permanent party population.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has more depth than first impressions suggest. Biloxi has the casino district and excellent Gulf seafood. Ocean Springs (10 minutes east) is a genuine small arts community with a thriving downtown and quality restaurants. The coast rebuilt significantly after Katrina, and the rebuilt infrastructure is generally better than what preceded it.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint (Ocean Springs)
"Mississippi BBQ royalty. A national championship smokehouse."
The Shed is a Gulf Coast institution — a rambling, eccentric BBQ joint with national championship credentials, live blues music, and a staff that treats regulars like family. The smoke ribs and pulled pork are the standard. The atmosphere is half the experience.
The Shed is cash-heavy but takes cards. It's loud, crowded, and festive on weekends. Thursday and Friday evenings often have live music. The jalapeño corn bread is a must-order addition.
Blow Fly Inn (Gulfport/Biloxi area)
"A legendary Gulf Coast dive with remarkable seafood."
The Blow Fly Inn is a dive bar that serves exceptional Gulf seafood in a ramshackle waterfront building. The fried oysters, boiled shrimp, and the Blow Fly Burger are the reasons to come. Locals love it; tourists rarely find it.
The name and the exterior keep tourists away, which is why the food is good. Go on a weekday for easier seating. The oysters are local Gulf oysters, briny and delicious.
Government Street Grocery (Ocean Springs)
"Ocean Springs' beloved neighborhood market and kitchen."
Government Street Grocery anchors Ocean Springs' food scene — fresh sandwiches, local produce, charcuterie, craft beer selection, and a kitchen that changes with the season. It's a local gathering point and the best place to stock a picnic.
The house-made sandwiches at lunchtime sell out quickly. Go before noon or call ahead. The craft beer selection includes excellent local Mississippi and Louisiana breweries.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
Biloxi Beach and Back Bay
"The Gulf beach at your doorstep. Flat, warm, family-friendly."
The Biloxi beach along Highway 90 — rebuilt after Katrina — is a long barrier island beach accessible from the base. The water is warm from May through October. The Back Bay of Biloxi has calmer water for kayaking and paddleboarding.
The base's access to the beach via the base waterfront area is a perk most trainees and newcomers don't immediately know about. The MWR equipment rentals (kayaks, paddleboards) are inexpensive.
Gulf Islands National Seashore (Davis Bayou)
"Protected Gulf Coast habitat 10 minutes from base."
The Davis Bayou section of Gulf Islands National Seashore is immediately east of Biloxi — hiking trails through maritime forest, kayaking in the bayou, a campground, and bird watching. The national seashore protects some of the most pristine remaining Gulf Coast habitat.
Davis Bayou campground is quiet and beautiful. The kayak launch into the bayou accesses excellent birding habitat — great blue herons, roseate spoonbills, and ospreys are all common. America the Beautiful Pass gets you in free.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art (Ocean Springs)
"Mississippi's most significant American artist. Extraordinary."
Walter Anderson was a Mississippi artist who painted the Gulf Coast ecosystem with obsessive intensity — his murals, pottery, and paintings are housed in Ocean Springs. The Community Center mural (painted secretly during WWII) is a masterwork. The museum is exceptional.
The Community Center building adjacent to the museum contains Anderson's secret mural — painted on the walls and ceiling of the building when he had access as a volunteer. The scale and intricacy have to be seen in person.
Biloxi Lighthouse and Beauvoir (Jefferson Davis Home)
"The Confederate President's last home. Gulf history."
Beauvoir was Jefferson Davis's retirement home on the Gulf — now a museum covering Civil War history and Davis's post-war life. The Biloxi Lighthouse (1848) nearby is one of the few lighthouses that stood through Katrina. Both are on Highway 90.
The Biloxi Lighthouse is one of the few Gulf Coast structures that survived Katrina's surge. The museum documents both its history and the storm impact on the region.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
Marine Life Oceanarium and Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
"Gulf Coast marine science center. Dolphin research and education."
The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport works with stranded marine mammals — dolphins, sea turtles, manatees. The educational programs and occasional public events provide access to marine science that most children never encounter.
The Gulf Coast has a healthy bottlenose dolphin population visible on boat tours from Biloxi and Gulfport. Dolphin sighting boat tours (1-2 hours) run from the Gulfport Marina and are appropriate for young children.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"The most unique American city. 90 minutes on I-10."
New Orleans is 90 minutes on I-10 — French Quarter, Magazine Street, Frenchmen Street for live jazz, City Park, world-class restaurants at every price point, and festivals year-round. A day trip barely scratches the surface.
"The original Mardi Gras city. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park."
Mobile is 60 miles east — the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (with the WWII battleship and submarine USS Drum) is excellent for military families. Mobile also claims to have held the original American Mardi Gras (before New Orleans) and has a charming historic downtown.
Ocean Springs is the real gem of the Gulf Coast assignment. It's 10 minutes east of Biloxi and has a completely different feel — walkable, artsy, excellent restaurants, and a community that feels nothing like a military town.
Hurricane season (June-November) is real. Have a plan every summer — an established evacuation route, a destination, and a go-bag. Katrina is within living memory for every permanent party member in the region.
The casino buffets (Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP Casino) are legitimately good and often military-discounted. Not exactly fine dining, but a family of four can eat well for a reasonable amount.
Keesler Medical Center is one of the better Air Force medical facilities — full-service hospital with L&D, ER, and specialties. Worth understanding what's available before defaulting to civilian care.
Hurricane risk on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is not theoretical — the physical infrastructure, the evacuation planning, and the community culture are all organized around it. Keesler's training environment can also make the permanent party experience feel transient and disconnected from the constantly cycling student population. Ocean Springs solves the community problem significantly. Live there if you can.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.