Gulf Coast State of Mind Special Section
Come along as two big fans of the Gulf Coast revisit their favorite spots--and discover new ones--from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Louisiana's Cajun Country.
By Valerie Fraser Luesse

A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Gulf Coast State of Mind" is from the June 2007 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

We just had to get back. My husband, Dave, and I could feel the pull of that very special coastline that marks the end of Old Man River's ramble to the Gulf. It wraps around Louisiana and Mississippi like a ribbon of live oaks, shrimpboats, and colorful towns.

We knew it would be different after Katrina, and it is. Now and then, we had to take a moment just to grasp the dramatic changes around us. Still, as our friends in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, remind everybody with their new town motto, "It's all good." They're right too. Focused on the future, the people of the Gulf Coast are making it a land of promise. For travelers, it's also a land of fun and adventure.

On Our Next Trip
Here are some stops we hope to make on future trips.

Biloxi

  • Le Bakery
  • Jazzeppi's Ristorante & Martini Bar
  • Ole Biloxi Schooner

    • Gulfport

  • Vrazel's
  • Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

    • New Orleans Attractions

  • Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
  • Audubon Zoo
  • French Market
  • New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden
  • The National World War II Museum

    • New Orleans Lodging

  • Hotel Monteleone
  • Hotel Provincial
  • Windsor Court
  • The Ritz-Carlton

    • New Orleans Shopping

  • Aidan Gill for Men
  • Aunt Sally's Creole Pralines
  • Beckham's Bookshop
  • The Garden District Book Shop
  • Louisiana Music Factory
  • Mignon Faget
  • RHINO Contemporary Craft Company

    • New Orleans Dining/Nightlife

  • Acme Oyster House
  • Court of Two Sisters
  • Napolean House
  • Preservation Hall
  • Tujague's

    • Louisiana Cajun Country

  • Blue Dog, Lafayette
  • Mulate's, Breaux Bridge
  • The Original Don's Seafood & Steakhouse, Lafayette
  • Prejean's, Lafayette


    • Need Info?
    For the most current Gulf Coast updates, visit www.gulfcoast.org and www.neworleansonline.com.





    Favorite Spots Along the Gulf Coast:
    First Stop: "The 'burg"
    Living Luxe at the Beau
    Laid-back in Ocean Springs
    It's All Good in Bay Saint Louis
    Hello, NOLA!

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