Why This Mississippi Town Deserves More Attention

The Gulf Coast may seem dominated by towering resorts and commercial hotels, but the sleepy fishing village of Ocean Springs is a welcome anomaly. Eager vacation-goers often flock to the bustling town of Biloxoi, just across Biloxi Bay, unaware that the quiet shores and sleepy live oak-lined streets of Ocean Springs lie just on the other side of the bay. The slow-paced way of life in Ocean Springs and its amazing ocean vistas make it one of Mississippi's most darling hidden gems that deserve more attention!

The Artsy Vibe Of Ocean Springs

While many salty-air villages are littered with kitschy tourist attractions, Ocean Springs is a slow-paced, artsy town with an enormous heart. A quick walk down Washington Avenue offers small, charming studios like the Hillyer House, Coastal Magpie, and the quirky Pink Rooster/Gallery Garbo. Walking up the lush green pathway to the Pink Rooster is a treat in and among itself. The dense walkway of native Mississippi plants leads to a welcoming wrap-around front porch to a converted century home. Inside, you’ll find locally made jewelry, pottery, and glass painting, among other bits and bobs. Its art studios, like the Pink Rooster, add to the overall colorful vibe of Ocean Springs.

Take An Ocean Springs Food Tour

Exploring art studios takes a lot of energy, so luckily, Ocean Springs is no stranger to amazing food! The city has about 100 restaurants within its city limits, and visitors will have trouble narrowing down the ample options come mealtime. If good old-fashioned Mississippi seafood is what you are after, there’s no better place than Bacchus On The Bayou. It delivers some of the best seafood on the coast (the oysters, in particular) with breezy views of the water on their outdoor patio.

For something a little less fancy, The Crawfish House offers delicious southern cuisine in a relaxed setting. The outside looks a little rickety, but the food that comes out of the kitchen will make you think you died and went to battered and fried seafood heaven. But don’t fill up at dinner before checking out the iconic Tato-Nut Donut Shop! New Orleans may be famous for the beignet, but you haven’t lived until you’ve tried Ocean Spring’s tato-nut, made with mashed potatoes. It sounds a little strange, but one bite and you’ll become a tato-nut convert.

Quiet, Relaxing Beaches

You could easily spend an entire weekend walking the salty-air streets shaded by towering live oaks and popping in art galleries, stores, and cafes and forget you’re in a beach town! When you’re ready to pack a good book (and ample sunscreen) Front Beach is a great spot to let those worries melt away. Don’t worry, you won’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to reserve a good spot because the vibes of Front Beach are similar to a public park in the Midwest. It’s low energy, rarely crowded, and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are perfectly calm. You’ll see fishermen along the shores, locals walking the well-maintained sidewalks and pier, and fishing boats bobbing in the distance. Plus, the water is so calm that you can easily go for a swim or even launch a paddle board or a kayak.

Take In The Rich History Of Ocean Springs

Not too far from Front Beach is the Fort Maurepas City Park and Nature Preserve. While the original fort of the French settlement (established in 1699) no longer exists, there are a few plaques peppered throughout the park to pay tribute to its origins, as well as a rebuilt replica of the original fort. Today, it’s a well-maintained park with picnic areas, walking trails with views of the ocean, a playground with a splash pad, dedicated green spaces shaded by live oaks, and public beach access.

If a visit to the Fort Maurepas City Park sparks curiosity about Ocean Springs's early days, be sure to swing by the Ocean Springs Historical Museum. Once Ocean Springs’ public school building (built in 1927), the museum weaves the tale not only of early settlers to the area but also of the Native Americans that once lived on the land.

Ocean Springs After Dark

Ocean Springs may be a sleepy fishing hamlet during the day, but it comes alive at night! The local bars and restaurants get a little raucous in the evening, with live music happening somewhere seven days a week. The Government Street Grocery is one of the most happening spots once the sun goes down, with great bar food and live music almost every day of the week. The inside is colorful and bright, and it’s easy to blend in with the locals at this beloved watering hole. While it was once a local grocery store (hence the name) it’s now one of the most popular spots to have a cold brew on a warm patio to bookend your day in Ocean Springs. From dawn to well past dusk, you're bound to make memories that last a lifetime in Ocean Springs.

Don’t Miss Out On This Mississippi Treasure

What makes Ocean Springs so incredibly special isn’t what it has but what it lacks. It’s free of heavy traffic, large crowds, and commercialized attractions. You can enjoy the gentle waves crashing on the shore without fighting crowds to find a good spot. Restaurants are locally-owned, and deliver some of the best Southern cooking in the state! It may be located on the coast, but it has all the hometown charm of a lesser-known inland city. Ocean Springs scoffs at the conventional and instead embraces an artsy, unique attitude that can be felt in every corner of this sleepy fishing village. If you’re looking for a coastal town in Mississippi that is quaint but never boring, Ocean Springs is one of Mississippi’s most cherished hidden gems!