Page 90 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2016

DOWNTOWNS
The City of Pascagoula has many activities for people of all ages and is a leader in ecotourism, a growing sector of the tourism industry. Residents and city officials extend an invitation to come and enjoy what it has to offer. The Parks and Recreation Department is in charge of all ecotourism for the city.
Mayor Jim Blevins said, “The City of Pascagoula is proud of its ecotourism amenities and industry. We invite citizens and visitors to discover and explore what makes our community the best in ecotourism. Come and enjoy our attractions such as the Scranton Museum at River Park, Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail and our Pascagoula River Blueway.”
“The city recognizes that our natural resources are unique, diverse, and appealing to nature enthusiasts,” said Outdoor Recreation Specialist Kristi Ducote.“ In an effort to improve quality of life for citizens of Pascagoula and to attract tourists, we are focused on providing a variety of amenities to make it easy and convenient to explore all the natural wonders we have to offer.”
Suzanne Steinberger, community events coordinator, explained that Pascagoula offers a variety of ecotourism opportunities. These include walking along the Buffett Beach Promenade and reading the different historical markers while enjoying the ocean breeze, exploring the Historic Bike Trail, paddling down the Pascagoula River
Blueway, learning about the wildlife and sea life in the area at our Scranton Nature Center or Scranton Museum or simply admiring Pascagoula’s beauty from the top of the Round Island Lighthouse.”
The Historic Pascagoula Bike Trail is perfect for a
family outing or a peaceful break. It provides a unique combination of cycling, nature, history, and coastal culture for all ages and abilities. “While reaping the many health benefits of cycling, you can experience a distinctive look
at many historic points of interest in our city,” Steinberger said. Among those are the LaPointe-Krebs House, which is the oldest standing building in the Mississippi Valley. Also in Pascagoula are Jimmy Buffett’s childhood home and the site where Faulkner is said to have written Intruder in the Dust. A monthly ride is hosted on the second Saturday of every month. The ride starts at 8 a.m. from Beach Park.
“There is much more to see, so take time to experience what makes our residents proud to call historic Pascagoula their home!” she added.
Annually, Mayor Blevins declares May as Bike Month, joining in the National effort led by the League of American Bicyclists to build a Bicycle Friendly America. The city
has received Honorable Mention from the Bicycle Friendly Community program for the past four years. Bicycle parking is provided throughout the city in parks and
public spaces. Sharrows, Share the Road signs and 3 Feet
90 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • August 2016
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Leading the way in ecotourism
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of City of Pascagoula