11 Things to Do in Biloxi: Musts for Every Traveler

Biloxi was settled in 1699, making it one of the oldest communities in the country. With sugar-white sand beaches, incredible history, unparalleled gambling, and genuine Southern hospitality, Biloxi, Mississippi, is a perfect getaway or road trip destination. Here are 11 things to do in Biloxi to have an incredible time, featuring museums, family-friendly activities, and a few surprises. These are musts for every traveler.

1. Visit the Beach

Spend your day at the beach! Coastal Mississippi, has 62-miles of shoreline, accessible from pretty much anywhere along Beach Boulevard on Highway 90. Here you can splash in the Gulf of Mexico, work on your tan, enjoy a good book, or build picture-perfect sandcastles.

Make your beach day even more fun by renting a boat, bird watching, taking an excursion to Ship Island, kayaking, fishing, or taking a sightseeing cruise.

2. Explore the Mississippi Aquarium

One of the newest Coastal Mississippi attractions is the beautiful and unique Mississippi Aquarium, offering many exhibits and displays outside verses in. Built on a waterfront 5.8-acre complex in nearby Gulfport, the aquarium habitats (salt and freshwater) house 200+ animal species and various native plants. Your ticket includes daily activities such as a croc talk, dolphin training session, aviary feeding, and “meet a biologist,” for example. 

What will you see at the aquarium? The North American river otters were my favorite residents, but you’ll also see birds, snapping turtles, crocodiles, stingrays, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and nurse sharks. Be sure to check online for the calendar of events, yoga, summer camps, and birthday party opportunities.

3. See a Baseball Game

Attend a Biloxi Shuckers Minor League Baseball game at the MGM Park and see the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in action. The Shuckers, playfully named for Biloxi’s oyster industry and heritage, play from May to September and are fun for the whole family. Tickets start under $10 and must be purchased online for the time being.

4. Stay in a Luxury Hotel

Step back to the golden era of Old Hollywood at the pristine Hotel Legends Biloxi. Conveniently located on Beach Boulevard (the main drag) and within walking distance to a few casinos, Legends Hotel offers 132 suites, an upscale restaurant (Sapphire Supper Club), free parking, complimentary Wifi, a fantastic infinity pool and deck, and onsite coffee bar.

You can wander the lobby and hallways to see the framed Hollywood legends, including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Clark Gable, and Ava Gardner.

My suite had two bedrooms separated by a living room area with a couch, desk area, and flat-screen TV. A wet bar area with barstools held a coffee maker and PJ’s coffee pods.

The bedrooms had sumptuous linens and really pretty rugs. I loved the decor, vibe, light fixtures, and special touches that make the hotel rooms extra comfy, cozy, and valued.

If you need more of a family hotel, we recommend the Biloxi Margaritaville Resort, home to the largest entertainment complex on the Gulf Coast, totaling 55,000 square feet. Margaritaville also has a pool with a swim-up bar, water slides, and a lazy river.

5. Tour a Historic Home

Visit The Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, Beauvoir, a National Historic Landmark. Property highlights include the Library, House, rose garden, Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier, and Confederate Soldiers’ Home Cemetery, where 780 veterans, wives, widows, and some of Davis’ family members are buried.

Beauvoir overlooks the Mississippi Sound and and was built in 1852 and would later become the home of Jefferson Davis, the one and only President of the Confederate States of America.

6. Learn at a Unique Museum

The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum showcases 300 years of Mississippi Gulf Coast history, heritage, and culture. My favorite exhibit is the shrimp peeling machine, developed by a kid, and the hurricane exhibits and footage. The one-of-a-kind three-story building boasts nine exhibits and galleries. Stop by Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

7. Indulge in Amazing Food

My best meal in Biloxi was from Patio 44, serving the most delicious Blue Crab Fondue you’ll ever taste. Pair your dip with a cold beer, swanky cocktail, or tasty glass of sweet tea. Don’t skip dessert—the bread pudding is sensational, though you may not be able to hold it if you order the shrimp & grits (gouda grits, I might add) as I did. Yummy!

Whether you are in the mood for Oysters, Shrimp, Crab Dip, Fresh Fish, Gumbo, or Crab Cakes, The Reef Biloxi has it all. Sitting on Biloxi’s beach, The Reef has the largest children’s menu on the Coast.

Another seafood favorite of ours is Shaggy’s, a regional chain restaurant with ultimate dining locations and a darned good menu. Shaggy’s Biloxi sits on Biloxi Beach and has epic wings, gator bites, blue crab claws, and smoked fish dip, for starters. Bonus, you’re sure to have a great time at this fun establishment. 

TripAdvisor’s #1 rated Biloxi restaurant is Half Shell Oyster House. With a New Orleans theme and laid-back atmosphere, Half Shell serves the finest quality of Gulf oysters (shucked in house all day) among a plethora of other dishes. We love everything we’ve tried from Half Shell Oyster Houses all over Mississippi. The Gumbo and Shrimp and Grits are both epic!

Lastly, the romantic restaurant with a prestigious menu to match is from Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, a restaurant my husband and I dined at over twenty years ago and still have great memories of. From lump crabmeat remoulade and veal Antonio to escargot and lobster imperial, Mary’s Mahoney’s menu items are to die for. 

8. Browse an Art Museum

Chances are you will do a double-take when you see the incredible museum that looks like something out of an international magazine. The Ohr-O’Keef Museum of Art strives to promote and preserve the legacy of the Biloxi native, George E Ohr, master potter, and the diverse cultural heritage of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Visit the stunning museum, designed by Frank Gehry, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

9. Gamble

Probably the best thing to do in Biloxi, Mississippi, is to gamble, or at least it is my favorite. I love the robotic bartender at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi, plus the remarkable rock and roll memorabilia around the hotel. If you are traveling with kids, they, too, will love this hotel, not for gambling, but for the Sugar Factory ice cream and sweets parlor.

Still, my favorite Biloxi gambling institution is the gorgeous Beau Rivage, offering great shopping, fantastic restaurants, and chintzy chic decor.

The Golden Nugget is another gambling Mecca, with slot machines and table games. Regardless of which casino you choose, you’ll most likely find all your favorite slots, table games, and then some. Table games throughout Biloxi casinos include Black Jack, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow progressive poker, Poker, Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, and Texas Hold ‘Em.

10. Photograph the Lighthouse

Built in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. This landmark has become the symbol of Biloxi, representing the city’s resolve and resilience. Take a tour of it from 9 to 9:30 AM daily, weather permitting.

11. Check Out Downtown Biloxi

Downtown Biloxi and the District on Howard Avenue has just had a fabulous facelift and houses some pretty great murals, art installments, and the Mardi Gras Museum, celebrating 100+ years of Gulf Coast Mardi Gras history.

Expect great coffee at Jacked Up Coffee Bar and a fantastic book selection, new and old, plus unique gifts and trinkets at Southern Bound Book Shop. For those who are looking for special things to do, try your hand at Skal Axe Throwing for the hottest sport around.

A Money Saving Opportunity

Coastal Mississippi offers a nifty attraction pass for saving big on local admissions. The Attraction Pass is one fee, heavily discounted, instead of paying standard fees at places like the Mississippi Aquarium, Beauvoir, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Of Art, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum, and more.

Passes can be purchased for one, two, or three days of admissions and are mobile-exclusive, delivered directly to your phone via text and email. 

Biloxi: A Must-Visit Coastal MS Destination

I’m thrilled to see Biloxi and Coastal Mississippi growing by leaps and bounds, especially when the weather and storms have not been in their favor. I can’t wait to explore more of the towns on the “Secret Coast” and learn all about them, too. 

Some of my hotel stays and attraction fees were paid for by Coastal Mississippi Tourism.  All opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.

Check out some of our other Mississippi posts:

50 Cool Things to Do in Mississippi

Tips for the Canton Flea Market

Things to See and Do in Vicksburg