The newest addition to the entertainment mix is the high-spirited fun of casino gaming. Twelve casinos have brought the excitement of Las Vegas to the beach, with table games and slot machines galore. All casinos are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the casinos offer supervised activities for children; some are complete resort complexes with golf courses and hotels as part of their package, and more casino developments are on the way.

If outdoor fun is high on your list, you need look no further than the beach for adventure. Get a bird's-eye view of the entire shoreline with a parasail ride over the Gulf or hop on a jet ski, try your hand at windsurfing, sailing, skiing or motor boating. Water parks with everything from a wave pool, slides, bumper boats, and amusements such as miniature golf, rides and arcades are also among the outdoor set's list of favorite places on the Coast. The ultimate beach experience - spending a day on a barrier island - is only a ferry ride away.

For lovers of sports, there's no better place to be than the "Playground of the South." A temperate climate and generally pleasant weather mean year-round fun.

Sports fishermen can plan a day-long or overnight trip into Gulf waters, or they can fish the area's many lakes and rivers.

For those who believe a great day is a day on the links, over 20 golf courses offer challenges for every skill level, and the greens fees are surprisingly lower than those of comparable golf resort areas. With several courses recently refurbished and new courses either under construction or in the planning stages, the Gulf Coast is a choice destination for golf lovers near and far.

For a little peace and quiet, a simple drive along the beach will treat visitors to the unparalleled beauty of graceful live oaks, unique landmarks and antebellum homes. Historic neighborhoods provide a lesson in the notable architecture of the past, and annual pilgrimages offer an inside glimpse of the area's gracious homes, some of which have stood for more than a century.

Art and history play an important role in the character of the Gulf Coast. Two museums are dedicated to the works of two of the area's most famous artists, potter George E. Ohr and painter/sculptor Walter Inglis Anderson. A seafood industry museum commemorates the significant role that the seafood industry has played in shaping the region, and a marine education center teaches visitors about the Coast's environment and displays aquatic life native to the Gulf of Mexico in a 42,000-gallon aquarium. At another marine attraction, Marine Life, visitors can see daily shows of trained dolphins and can view other types of marine life.

If a shopping expedition is what it takes to put a smile on your face, you'll have plenty to rave about along the coast. Edgewater Mall and Edgewater Village in Biloxi offer a mix of department stores and specialty boutiques. The new Crossroads Center and the factory outlet mall, Gulfport Factory Stores just off I-10, brings shoppers bargains in name-brand clothing, home accessories, jewelry, books, music and more. For those in search of unique finds, a huge flea market operates on weekends in Pass Christian off I-10.

For party people, rest assured there's a celebration somewhere along the Coast you can enjoy. Locals sometimes say that the Gulf Coast has a celebration for every crustacean, and that's not far from the truth. The abundance of fresh seafood - crabs, shrimp, oysters, fish, crawfish - is reason enough to have a party. Add the area's diverse cultural mix, season it with music, heritage and an overall spirit of fun, and you've got enough festivals to fill practically every weekend of the year.

Combine all there is to see and do with the hospitality here on the Gulf Coast, and you'll know in an instant that you've brought your vacation fantasy to the right place: The Playground of the South.

For more information contact:
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 6128
Gulfport, MS 39506
PH: 228-896-6699
800-237-9493 U.S./Canada