Page 24 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Spring, 2024

PLAN & PLAY
What to Know Before You Go
While visiting the miles and miles of sparkling white beaches with tranquil blue Gulf water, there are always a few things you can expect from the Coastal Mississippi without fail.
story by Cherie Ward photos
EVERY RESTAURANT HAS THE BEST SEAFOOD
And it’s true. The Gulf Coast is the perfect place to satisfy all of your seafood cravings one restaurant at a time. Coastal Mississippi is a seafood lover’s dream with a myriad of places to savor local Gulf seafood catches. Some places are iconic and popular, some are quirky and hidden gem spots, but all focus on local, fresh, and native seafood.
SWIMSUIT ATTIRE IS ACCEPTABLE
(ALMOST) EVERYWHERE
After a day of fun on the beach, don’t think you need to run back to the hotel to primp and change clothes. People in beach attire are staples in many stores and restaurants, which means no one will judge your wind- blown beach tangles at lunch. Don’t be surprised if all you see are people in cover-ups and swim trunks, especially at beachside retreats! And you can find your own beachwear at the several surf shops peppered all along the Coast.
BRIEF AFTERNOON STORMS
Summer storms rolling in and clearing out in under an hour is a real thing. Non-seasoned visitors take the first raindrop as a sign to head back to the hotel, but locals
courtesy of Coastal Mississippi
know to take an opportunity to find a nearby bar to wait it out. Keep an umbrella handy when heading out for the afternoon and you’ll be dry by dinner time.
THE HUMIDITY
If you’re visiting between March and October, you’ll finally understand walking around in the coastal air is like being in an endless steam room. The straightest of hair will frizz, and everyone’s skin will feel a bit sticky, but to neutralize the heat, every home and business you enter will have the air conditioning blasting on max, and even in August, you might need a sweater indoors.
SHADE AND SAND
There’s no way around it, you’ll need sunscreen and lots of it. Unless you’re from an area closer to the equator, don’t underestimate how quickly you can get a sunburn. And then there’s the sand, it’ll be everywhere. Embrace it. It will be in your hair, suitcase, and between your toes. Sand is a natural exfoliator for your skin, so it’s like a free spa trip.
And when you finally get here, we guarantee you’re going to love Coastal Mississippi as much as we do, humidity and all.
24 PLAY COASTAL MISSISSIPPI Spring 2024
www.CoastalMississippi.com