Page 136 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2024

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Get Fit While Enjoying the Sights and Sounds of the Gulf Coast
story by Amanda Nalley and Christina Mohrman
Raise your hand if you want to stay healthy but don’t love hitting the gym. We get it. Luckily, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is full of nature-based opportunities that will give you a physical and mental boost without the treadmill and weight lifting.
According to a recent project we completed with the Mississippi State University Extension, more than 149 nature-based tourism businesses are located along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That’s
a lot of opportunity. This project explored the economic impact of coastal nature-based tourism businesses and outdoor activities that people enjoy and found that these activities are also great for the local economy. Over $186 million in sales was generated by these businesses last year alone.
What activities were survey taker’s favorites? Enjoying the scenery, biking, boating, and fishing of course. All of which are great for your health.
Enjoying gorgeous beach views may not burn many calories, but it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, increase feelings of relaxation, and increase creativity.
Biking and taking a boat ride are great for working your leg muscles. And fishing can burn 130 to 550 calories per hour and is known to reduce stress while increasing patience and focus. Plus, you can end the day with a fresh-from-the-Gulf healthy dinner.
Looking for places to get outside? Try Mississippi Gulf Coast Natural Heritage Area sites such as the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, and the Crosby Arboretum. You can also check out the Mississippi Gulf Coast Outpost Program at GulfCoastOutpost. com for a list of businesses that are knowledgeable about the coast’s natural environment and take steps to protect it by fostering understanding, appreciation, and conservation.
Finally, don’t forget to share your experiences on social media. One key finding of the report was the importance of social media and marketing to help nature-based tourism businesses succeed. And, the more these businesses succeed, the more we get to enjoy the outdoors.
You can read the full project report on our website at GulfofMexicoAlliance. org/Publications under “Featured Publications.” This work was funded through our Gulf Star Program,
a public-private partnership that provides opportunities for businesses to invest in doing good things for the Gulf of Mexico.
@gulfofmexicoalliance
136 | June 2024 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living