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Things to Do in Gulfport

Looking for a beach vacation over spring break, a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico over the summer or simply an easy get away? Look no further than Gulfport, Mississippi. With a population of roughly 73,000, Gulfport is the second largest city in the state.

It takes its name from being a port on the Gulf Coast of the Mississippi Sound. Gulfport is rich with civil war history, claims six miles of sandy beaches, and is a marine enthusiast’s paradise.

Though quieter than coastal cities like Gulf Shores, Gulfport still has many things to do including dining, shopping, and gambling. The city is just over an hour drive from New Orleans, and its international airport supports over 800,000 travelers annually.

While visiting Gulfport, consider some of the following activities:

EXPLORE!

Fishing in Gulfport

During our two weeks in Gulfport competing in horse shows at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, we spent one of our Mondays off fishing in Gulfport. Due to poor planning, actually no planning at all, we had to drive to Biloxi, 45 minutes away, in order to charter a boat.

When we looked into our options, most of the fishing companies in Gulfport were already booked. The only ones left were pricey and operating out of Biloxi.

TAKE THE BAIT!

Places to Eat in Gulfport

Believe it or not, Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi. As a result, it offers a variety of entertainment and eateries. During our two weeks competing in horse shows at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, we tried many places to eat in Gulfport.

Some of the restaurants are in downtown Gulfport while others are closer to the fairgrounds, but these are a few that made our list.

DIG IN!

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

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While visiting Katy for two weeks of horse shows, I had a day off between the events and took a short road trip to San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.

Established in 1968, the refuge encompasses 70,000 acres from the coast to 50 miles inland. It protects coastal prairies, lakes and marshes (both fresh and salt), as well as riparian and bottomland forests that attract 320 species of birds.

While it is recognized internationally as a Significant Shorebird Site along with nearby the Brazoria and Big Boggy refuges, San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges is home to much more wildlife including deer and alligators.

EXPLORE

Things to Do in Safety Harbor

Well, I needed a getaway. I was in Dallas for almost six weeks and was starting to go stir crazy! While I was hopeful to sneak in an international hiking trip, I just couldn’t get an affordable one organized in a short time, so I retraced my steps to Safety Harbor, Florida.

In 2022, during my jaunt around the southeast, and mostly Florida, I made a brief visit to Safety Harbor. I intended to stay a few days, but the warm March temperatures for me and Annie in VANgo coupled with horses coming back into my life, curtailed our adventures. I guess that’s the beauty of having a mobile home, or more specifically a Sprinter in my case…you can come and go.

So, we left, but I always thought I’d like to visit the area again. Fast forwarding to January in 2024, I visited again. This time on a girls’ trip with three friends from the south of Florida joining me. Ironically, it was not too hot. In fact, it was ridiculously cold!

I had so much fun fishing in Loreto and kayaking in the Everglades, I had hoped to include both activities in Safety Harbor, while also exploring the cute downtown, tasting the local cuisine, soaking in the history, enjoying the arts and more. Though the weather kept us off the water, at least it was warmer than Texas, and we found plenty of other things to do in Safety Harbor and the Tampa Bay Area.

EXPLORE!

Christmas Time in NYC

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas in NYC. Well, to be fair, any day in New York City when the Christmas lights shine bright is an amazing time to visit the Big Apple. I never tire of New York. It is my favorite city in the world. As a result, I try to visit New York City every few years. Fortunately, my friend Tina is usually game.

This December in New York City we kept some traditions and added in some new. There is never a shortage of things to do in NYC. As always, we went to some dinners and shows, strolled through Central Park, admired the Christmas lights, and popped into a few museums.

But we also added visiting the library, some other parks, and some famous breakfast and lunch places into our itinerary too. We even tried staying in a different part of Manhattan, but by the time we organized this trip, affordable hotels in convenient locations were limited at best.

‘TIS THE SEASON

Things to Do in Mena

For our third annual girls hiking trip, we visited Mena in the Northwest corner of Arkansas. We normally have a group of 5 or 6, but schedules weren’t aligning, so Carol and I just drove from Dallas to Mena in hopes to soak in some fall colors. The short four-hour drive took us on highways and backroads, and we arrived just before dark.

I was in the area briefly thirteen years ago during my year-long road trip following scenic byways, and I’ve wanted to return for some leaf peeping. Unfortunately, this early November weekend didn’t bless us with vibrant reds and oranges, but we still saw some autumn colors and enjoyed ourselves around town.

History of Mena

Mena, the county seat of Polk County, Arkansas was founded as a railroad town in the 19^th Century. It is situated amid the mountains of Ouachita National Forest. Mena has a checkered past. It was once called the sundown town for its unacceptable treatment of African Americans. It was also in the news a lot for its role in a drug-smuggling operation and the Iran-Contra Scandal.

Today, while it has a diversified economy of agriculture and manufacturing, it has become a tourist destination due to its numerous recreational opportunities available in the surrounding national forest and state parks.

EXPLORE!

Things to Do in Loreto

After escaping Hurricane Norma whose rains flooded the dirt streets of Cabo Pulmo, we arrived in Loreto at dusk. The drive past cacti forests with views of mountains and the ocean was pleasant, as was the weather in Loreto. We had nothing planned, but soon found out there are many things to do in Loreto.

EXPLORE!

Diving Cabo Pulmo

I’ve contemplated how to write this article on Cabo Pulmo for a while now. Normally, I write a “things to do” post upon visiting a small town, but with Cabo Pulmo being a solar village of only 100 people, there is not a whole lot to do, which is the beauty of it.

Adding Hurricane Norma into the mix of limited local food supplies, dirt streets, and solar power without air conditioning, our glamping vacation in the Villa del Mar turned into quite an adventure! All things considered, we had a remarkably good time. But first here are things to know about Cabo Pulmo.

DIVE IN!

An Art Lovers Guide to New York

New York is a diverse city, offering something for every tourist. Since the Roaring Twenties, in particular, the city has been one of the epicenters of American culture and, as such, has produced countless pieces of art, whether it be in the form of music, theatre, or literature.

If you’re looking to immerse yourself within American culture, New York will have you covered. Here are some of the places to go if you are a lover of art and happen to be visiting, “The City That Never Sleeps.”

ADMIRE THE ART!