Blame the California exodus or Florida's never-ending crowds, but one unsuspecting southern state is on the rise with surprisingly diverse destinations for travelers to choose from.
Whether it be riverside thrills, gleaming white-sand islands, or serene coastal hideaways, there's no denying Mississippi's surge in popularity.
Few places exude quintessential Southern charm and spacious beaches like the state I have to sing a song to help me spell.
As such, more people have taken notice, resulting in 2 of the South's fastest-growing beach towns nestled along what's become one of America's trendiest coastlines.
With Biloxi becoming not only a destination unto itself, but a popular springboard to connecting beach getaways, such as Gulfport, Ship Island, and Ocean Springs, which just opened the highly-anticipated OS 1515 Downtown boutique hotel, the Mississippi Coast is finally getting its due.
But it's not Ocean Springs, Biloxi, or any city Johnny Cash's baritone belted out that's rapidly growing — it's a pair of bridge buddies set along the scenic Gulf and split by the bay of the same name.
Pass Christian: Small Town Charm Meets Calm, Vibrant Shores
Pass Christian. Ever heard of it?
Normally that answer would be a hard “no” across the board, but the truth is this lesser-known beach town has seen significant growth over the past 5 years, where Census Takers have had to to double takes when seeing the numbers.
While Pass Christian remains low-key to travelers, there's a reason so many people are moving here, and that's because it's a unicorn in a sea of few hidden gems remaining with vibrant white sand, a welcoming community, and affordability in this day and age of information overload.
Don't worry, though — just like Ocean Springs down the coast is embracing more tourists, Pass Christian is well-equipped to become a new vacation hotspot.
No, there are no flashy resorts like Biloxi, but there are numerous vacation rentals, including beachfront cottages and downtown's Hotel Whiskey.
I don't know about you, but they had me at Hotel Whiskey, which other people seem to resonate with too since there's such rave reviews, like one recent guest claimed to ‘Love the self check-in', adding, ‘the room is so cheap for the space'.
That must be why it's a 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award Winner.
What's even more appealing is how friendly locals are. It's the type of place you can grab a barstool at a local seafood shack like Shaggy's and walk out with a new friend — and if you're lucky, said friend will own a yacht.
Odds are in your favor since Pass Christian has the second oldest yacht club in the U.S.
Bay St. Louis: Bayside Bliss & Southern Soul
Bay St. Louis hugs both the Gulf coast and Bay St. Louis, the actual bay, with the Bay St. Louis bridge connecting little-known Henderson Point and aforementioned Pass Christian.
And that's enough typing “Bay St. Louis” for now…
This serene slice of paradise is a small white-sand hideaway oozing rustic charm downtown and wide-open shores perfect for a summer escape, such as local-favorite Bay St. Louis Beach.
While you shouldn't expect vivid blue waters like Florida's Caribbean-esque setting, there's no denying the soft, illuminous sand is just what the doctor ordered for a relaxing beach day.
In fact, this is a key reason why we were ahead of the curve, unveiling Bay St. Louis as the South's most underrated coastal getaway this year.
While Pass Christian is still up-and-coming from a tourism perspective, visitors will find a wider range of accommodations, ranging from Hollywood Casino & Resort Gulf Coast to nostalgic bed and breakfasts like Carroll House Bed & Breakfast, located in the heart of charming Old Town.
How (And When) To Visit
Being so small and just now getting their due, neither Bay St. Louis nor Pass Christian has their own airports, but nearby Gulfport does with limited flight service from 5 airlines.
Good news is both towns are roughly an hour from New Orleans, which also explains why both towns go hard for Mardi Gras (mark your calendars!).
As another alternative, you could also check flights to Mobile, which is just an hour and half away.
Gulf Shores' new commercial airport is probably a bit too far out of reach to justify making your base in either of these towns.
Point being, there's no shortage of options with the right planning. Other than potential hurricanes, which can always be a threat along the Gulf for half the year, weather across the Mississippi Coast is great year-round for sunny beach days.
This summer, expect toasty afternoons with highs of 89, but rarely dipping below the mid-70s.
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