Have Kids, Will Travel: The Secret Coast (Gulfport, Biloxi & Ocean Springs, Mississippi)

I confess: previous to this summer, Mississippi's Gulf Coast is a spot that we had always driven right past on our way to the beaches in Alabama or Florida. This summer, we decided it was time to stop and explore The Secret Coast!

Our vacation to the Mississippi Coast 2021

Mississippi's Gulf Coast: The Facts

- Mississippi's Gulf Coast is a string of 12 communities and 62 miles of land where the Gulf of Mexico meets the shoreline of Mississippi.

-The Gulf Coast is about eight hours by car from Arlington. You can take the north route through Hattiesburg, which will take less time, or the south route and come through New Orleans, which will take longer.

Biloxi, Mississippi!

-The Secret Coast has something for everyone in your family. You can shop in Ocean Springs or Bay St. Louis or gamble at the casinos in Biloxi. Kids can head to the waterpark or the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. You can hang out on the beach or go out on a boat excursion. There are lots of fabulous places to eat and spots to explore. The Gulf Coast will entertain everyone!

-The beaches or Coastal Mississippi are man-made! In 1951, the Army Corps of Engineers trucked in tons of sand to make beaches where the water meets the land.

-Hurricane Katrina did a significant amount of damage to the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Mississippi's Gulf Coast: Things to Do

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center-  Let your kids run, jump, climb, play and explore until they wear themselves out! Kids can host a talk show, run a grocery store, create art projects and so much more. This spot is great come sunshine or rain! Best for ages 0-12.

Mississippi Aquarium- Encourage your kids to learn as they play at the new Mississippi Aquarium! See alligators and crocodiles, catch a show about dolphins, see birds in the aviary, interact with sharks and crabs and more! The on-site cafe has yummy food, so feel free to stay for lunch! Best for all ages.

Fun at the Mississippi Aquarium. 

Ship Island Excursions- Kick back and relax on this 90-minute cruise that will teach you all about the shipping canal in the area. Watch for dolphins, grab snacks and drinks on board and get your camera ready! Best for all ages.

Biloxi Shrimping Tour- This tour is a must-do when you are on The Secret Coast. Learn all about shrimping in the Gulf. After you drag the net to catch shrimp, you'll get to learn about everything else you pull up with the net! You'll probably get to see dolphins, too. Highly, highly recommend. Best for all ages.

Posing with the Biloxi Shrimping Boat.

Gulf Islands Waterpark-  Splash, swim, slide and play at this fun waterpark in Biloxi. Don't forget your sunscreen! Best for all ages.

Beach time- Spend time on the beach with the family! The beaches in the area may be man-made, but they are still fun! Dip your toes in the Gulf and have a great time. My girls spent four hours catching hermit crabs. There are also plenty of spots where you can rent jet skis and other watercrafts. Best for all ages.

Catching hermit crabs on Gulfport Beach.

Biloxi Visitors Center- Stop by the visitors center to learn about the history of the area. We enjoyed learning about the significance of the lighthouse on the Gulf and got to understand the impact Hurricane Katrina had on Coastal Mississippi. Best for ages 5 and up.

Gamble- If you love a good casino, Biloxi has some great options for you! My husband didn't make this trip with us, and he's the gambler in the family... So I don't have a personal opinion on the casinos. But if you want some adults-only entertainment, there’s a place for that in Mississippi! Best for 18 and up.

Mississippi's Gulf Coast: Places to Eat

It's not a secret that the EA crew loves to eat. Here were our favorite stops of the trip!

Shaggy's- We saw so many people wearing Shaggy's shirts when we were in Hattiesburg that we couldn't wait to check out this beach spot. Our margs were delicious, the kids' meals came in frisbees they got to keep and the whole place had a fun, it's-5-o'clock-somewhere vibe. Highly recommend!

Dinner at Shaggy's in Biloxi, MS.

Burger Burger- Need something fast and inexpensive? Give Burger Burger a try! The po'boys were fantastic and the whole meal was laidback and unfussy.

The Green House Biloxi- Stop here for great breakfast biscuits. We tried simple biscuits with honey butter and devoured every bite. Plus the coffee. Yum!

Patio 44- Ever have one of those meals with great food and even better company? That was our experience at Patio 44. The food was exquisite (try the pea saute. Don't ask questions- just trust me!) and the ambiance fantastic. Their servers were super attentive and we didn't want the meal to end! Head here for a classy meal in your cutest rompers (see the pic of my girls for reference!).

Fancy girls in rompers at Patio 44 in Biloxi. 

                                

Coast Roast- One great cup of Joe. I shouldn't have to say more. But a good cup of coffee should be shared!

Mississippi's Gulf Coast: Shop til You Drop!

If you love to browse the racks like I do, there are some great places to shop in Mississippi!

Ocean Springs- If you want to browse cute boutiques and local items, head over to Ocean Springs! We dropped some cash at the toy store there, called Miner's Doll and Toy Store. We dropped some serious cash at the adorable kids clothing store Sugar and Spice (because RuffleButts was on sale and I love RuffleButts!). There are lots of spots to rest your legs and grab a drink while you shop, too.

Bay St. Louis- This cute stop near the Louisiana border has lots of fun boutiques. We stopped at Fleurty Girl and loved all the Nola-inspired items!

Sharkheads- Find every souvenir you never knew you needed at this souvenir megastore!

Mississippi's Gulf Coast: Where to Stay

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in Gulfport. It was clean and right across the street from the beach. The pool had a deep end where kids could dive and play, and we could walk to Shaggy's. We were very happy with this pick! 

We really loved our time in Mississippi. If you can't make the drive all the way to Florida but want something a little different than Texas beaches, it might be time to consider the Mississippi Coast! If I left your favorite MS spot off this list, please let me know! We love The Secret Coast!

*Please note: we were hosted by Coastal Mississippi Tourism. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Have Kids, Will Travel: Corpus Christi, Texas

We finally made it down to the bay!

I had been wanting to take the girls down to Corpus Christi and Port Aransas for a some time now. So when the Omni Corpus Christi offered me two free nights at their hotel, I knew it was time to make the drive!

Corpus Christi, Texas

- Corpus Christi is about six and a half hours by car from Arlington. Your drive will take you down 35 through Waco and Austin. If you take the toll road from Austin all the way to Corpus, it will save you time but cost you quite a bit in tolls. You can also pick up 37 in San Antonio and take it straight to the Texas Coast!

- The population of Corpus Christi is about 325,000 people. 

- Corpus itself is sheltered from the Gulf of Mexico by Mustang and Padre Islands. You can drive from Corpus to Port Aransas in about 45 minutes and from Corpus to South Padre Island in about 2 hours.

- The name Corpus Christi means body of Christ.

- Corpus Christi is home to the first Whatburger. Although the original burger stand is no longer around, there is a two-story Whataburger building on Shoreline Drive that opened in 1999 as a tribute to the original. 

- The 2001 movie Pearl Harbor starring Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett was filmed in Corpus Christi. 

Hanging at the beach!

Where to Stay with Kids in Corpus Christi

We loved staying at the Omni Corpus Christi. They did give us two free nights and then we paid for an additional two nights at the property. Upon arrival, the hotel gave the girls backpacks filled with crayons and activities, which they loved working on before bedtime. The hotel features a great indoor/outdoor pool with a small splash pool outside and a hot tub inside. The hotel has a convenience store with a coffee shop in the lobby and well as a workout area and sauna on the second floor. There is also an on-site restaurant and bar. The staff is friendly and the location makes it easy for you to walk along the water in the evening and watch the boats pull into the marina. It's a short walk from the two-story Whataburger on Shoreline Drive as well as the Selena statue in Corpus. We highly recommend this fun hotel!

We loved staying at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi! 

What to Do with Kids in Corpus Christi

We spent three full days in Corpus and thought it was perfect! If you love time at the beach, you may want an extra day or two to spend time at Port Aransas or Mustang Island Beaches. We spent one full day at Port A and loved it! 

- Head to the beach! We went to Port Aransas. You can drive up to the beach and park there! A parking permit for Port A is $12 and is good for the calendar year. You can buy it at lots of spots but we grabbed ours from a local Stripes gas station. Don't forget beach toys, an umbrella or canopy, towels and sunscreen! There are also loads of jellyfish in the water right now... My girls caught seven in about an hour. Yes- caught. They are brave! (The majority of the ones they caught were large and clear- and those actually don't sting humans! Here is more information if you are worried about jellyfish. Just steer clear of the ones that are clear with bright orange throughout their bodies. Their stings can hurt!) If you don't want to make the drive to Port A, you can always head over to North Beach in Corpus, which is located right on the bay. The sand isn't as soft as in Port A, but there are cute places to eat and shop and lots of fun to be had!

- Visit the Texas State Aquarium. (We were given free tickets to the Aquarium in exchange for promotion on my blog) Guys- this aquarium was super fabulous! We spent four hours there but easily could have spent more. There are three levels to this aquarium. You can pet sting rays, interact with turtles, pet nurse sharks and view dolphins in an underwater viewing area. There are live shows centered around turtles, dolphins and sting rays (my girls loved feeding the sting rays!). The dolphin show was so entertaining and definitely a must-see. There is a 4D theater sponsored by Whataburger that plays two different shows on the half hour. There's a cafe, a coffee shop and gift shop. There's also a huge splash pad outside- so don't forget the kids' suits! The aquarium is situated right on the bay, less than 10 minutes by car from the Omni. Parking is $5. Don't skip this spot when you go to Corpus!

Cheesing for the camera at the Texas State Aquarium! 

- Tour the USS Lexington. I honestly wasn't expecting to love this "Museum on the Bay" even half as much as I did! The USS Lexington served in Pearl Harbor during World War II and was home to about 3,000 servicemen. The Japanese thought they sunk this ship at least four different times- and then it would pop back up on radar! That's how it got its nickname the "Blue Ghost." This ship was used as the setting for 2001's Pearl Harbor movie (love that movie). You can head to the top of the carrier and come up close and personal with lots of air crafts. We spent about three hours at the ship. There is a cantina on site. There is lots of walking up and down steep stairways. Overall I think this is a must-see in Corpus. Even my kids loved it! 

Smiling after our tour of the USS Lexington "Museum on the Bay" in Corpus Christi!

Places to Eat with Kids in Corpus Christi

If you have a Whataburger fan in your life, you should grab a burger from the two-story "Whataburger on the bay," just to say that you have!

Smiling outside the two-story Whataburger on the Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas!

Otherwise, we recommend the following spots:

Brewster St. Ice House- The downtown location is huge and super kid-friendly! There is indoor and outdoor seating, with bars inside and outside. The outside has a stage for live music as well as a large playground for kids. Drinks are reasonably priced and the menu isn't huge but definitely features something for everyone! Highly, highly recommend heading here with kids.

Railroad Seafood Station & Brewing Company- This local brewery had slightly fancier (and pricier!) fare, but man was it good! The Brussels sprouts appetizer was yum! There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a decent kids menu. The place is open and clean and has a decorative motorcycle on the patio that my girls loved sitting on while waiting for our food.

Blackbeard's on the Beach- We loved the crab cakes here- soo good! This place is no frills and reasonably priced with a fun pirate theme. The girls loved reading the ghost stories on the restaurant's website while we waited for our food.

Bien Merite Cafe- This French bakery has delicious breakfasts and Insta-worthy drinks! My youngest loved her pancakes and my Matcha Latte was perfect. After you finish eating, stroll over to the next block and shop at Made in Corpus Christi, a great spot for locally-made souvenirs from your trip. 

Moby Dick's (at Port Aransas)- After a long day in the sun, we loved having dinner at this ocean-themed restaurant at Port Aransas. There's an attached gift shop with lots of trinkets and treasures so the kids can shop while you wait for a table plus lots of on-theme decor for kids to enjoy. The kids menu has lots of tasty picks for kids, too. When you're finished eating, wander next door to Winton's Candy Shop and indulge in some sugar-y treats. Lots of throwback candy plus delicious fudge. Just bring cash- this spot doesn't take cards. Then stroll two more blocks down and snap a pic in front of the Port Aransas mural for a fun souvenir from your trip!

Shopping for souvenirs at Moby Dick's in Port Aransas, Texas. 

We really enjoyed our trip to the coast! We hit Buc cee's in Temple on our way back for some treats and had fun soaking up south Texas. What are your favorite things to do in Corpus Christi?