This Quiet Gulf Coast City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers
Bay St. Louis, located along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, is one of those towns where everything seems to slow down. Fishermen often scatter the horizon and golfers spend their afternoons on the fairway. In the summer, families cool off at splash pads and waterparks while visitors take to the bay on guided cruises. For those looking to experience the Gulf Coast with fewer crowds, Bay St. Louis offers a quieter and more personal take on coastal life.
Municipal Parks
Bay St. Louis has a variety of municipal parks scattered throughout the city, aiming to have a park near every resident. McDonald Park, located in the heart of the town, is one of the most popular. In addition to being a favorite spot for birthday parties and other special events, the park offers a splash pad, playground, stage, pavilion, open field, and benches. The Bay St. Louis City Park is another one of the most frequent neighborhood parks in town, with many children and adults gathering in the park in the evenings and weekends. Some of the amenities that visitors will find in this park include tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, a gazebo, picnic tables, and benches.
Buccaneer State Park
Just about a 10-minute drive from town, travelers can reach one of the town’s most spectacular state parks: Buccaneer State Park. Here, travelers will find marshlands, moss-draped oaks, and gulf waters. In the summer, a 4.5-acre waterpark opens to the public, which features a wave pool, water slides, water playground, sun deck, and food galley, among other water attractions. Buccaneer State Park also has an 18-hole disc golf course with beautiful views of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Spanning 6,359 feet, the course is suitable for both new disc golfers and those with more experience.
For those looking to further immerse themselves in the park's natural surroundings, a 1.8-mile nature trail winds through the area. Although many of the original trees were lost to Hurricane Katrina, a new-growth forest has since taken root, now home to pines, magnolias, and oaks. Along the way, travelers might even spot native wildlife, including white and brown pelicans, osprey, egrets, and blue crabs.
Golfing
Golfers are in for a treat during their visit to Bay St. Louis. The town is home to one of Golf Digest’s top-rated courses in Mississippi: The Bridges Golf Club. Opened in 2006, it was the first course in the world to earn Audubon International’s Silver Signature Status and is the only Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay signature championship golf course in the state. The course spans 116 acres and features 18 holes, taking its name from the 21 bridges that cross over 17 lakes and 14 acres of wetlands, marshes, and fairways.
Boating & Cruising
No visit to Bay St. Louis is complete without a trip out on the water. One of the best ways to experience the bay is on a guided cruise, where a local captain leads the way through the area’s waters. If you’re looking for a particularly memorable cruising experience, consider signing up for an excursion with Cruisin' Tikis. This tropical-style cruise company offers a variety of tours that will leave you feeling as if you were on a Caribbean vacation! Tour options include a morning cruise with bring-your-own mimosas and Bloody Marys, daytime cruises lasting 1.5 or 3 hours, and a 1.5-hour sunset cruise. All cruises welcome guests to bring their own drinks aboard. The boat departs from the centrally located municipal marina, making it easy for visitors to enjoy breakfast before the trip or grab dinner afterward at one of the nearby restaurants.
Those wanting to explore the area in a more secluded fashion should add the Bayou La Croix Preserve to their itinerary. This preserve, spanning 1,478 acres, winds along the edge of a brackish marsh, bordering Bayou La Croix. Travelers will find various natural features throughout the area, including estuary marshes, cypress and gum swamps, and vegetation such as floating leafed aquatic plants, salt-meadow grass, eelgrass, and common reed. Travelers wishing to boat in the preserve can start at the Bayou Lacroix Boat Launch, which is located beneath the Hwy 603 bridge. Those hoping to fish may be able to do so on a seasonal basis in the reserve as well. Keep your eye out for swallows, small fish, and crabs while boating in the reserve!
Fishing & Birdwatching
The biodiversity of the bay and gulf is sure to catch the attention of both anglers and birdwatchers. Those craving a fishing excursion can book a trip with one of the town’s fishing charters. Shore Thing Fishing Charters is a highly rated option, offering customized tours for every group, whether they are new to fishing or experienced anglers. Depending on the excursion, travelers could fish over reefs, marshes, islands, or wrecks. The majority of the species that guests will be able to fish include redfish, flounder, speckled trout, sheepshead, and black drum. At the end of the excursion, your guide will clean your catch at no extra charge. And if you’re hungry afterward, two nearby restaurants will even cook your fish for you!
In addition to fishing charters, Shore Thing also offers birdwatching tours. One of the excursions will take visitors out to Cat Island, a barrier island along the gulf. Travelers can also request that a local birding expert join the tour to share their knowledge about the species. There are countless species of birds that guests may be able to spot along the tour, some of which include great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, osprey, bald eagles, blue-winged teals, and Double-crested Cormorant. The agency will provide snacks and water, and passengers are welcome to bring their own beer and wine if they wish.
Final Thoughts
As you plan your vacation this year, consider exploring some of the quieter stretches of the Gulf Coast. In Bay St. Louis, biodiverse bayous, barrier islands, and sprawling state parks are just the beginning. Whether you prefer a guided experience or want to explore on your own, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. However you choose to spend your time, Bay St. Louis makes it easy to reconnect with the outdoors.
