By no means heard of Ocean Springs, Mississippi? Neither had we! However it caught our eye on round-ups like Southern Dwelling’s 15 Most Lovely Small Cities and USA At this time’s 10 Finest Coastal Small Cities the place it ranked #1. So a number of months in the past our household determined to test it out for ourselves. It did NOT disappoint! We truly thought of detouring via Ocean Springs on our weekend journey to New Orleans two years in the past. However now we’re glad we didn’t shortchange it with a fast pitstop and gave it a full journey of its personal.


Ocean Springs lived as much as the hype of being an lovable, small, historic city with heaps to discover. In truth it reminded us A LOT of Cape Charles, the little Virginia seashore city the place we renovated two houses. Each locations are tremendous walkable, have a bunch of enjoyable outlets and eating places, and sit on a quiet bay with shallow water for teenagers to play in.


We visited Ocean Springs in late November throughout our youngsters’ Thanksgiving break, so we didn’t spend time on the seashore (though it did get into the low 70s every day). However even with out having fun with the water, we discovered lots to do in Ocean Springs.
The place is Ocean Springs, Mississippi?
Ocean Springs is situated on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, proper throughout the Biloxi Bay from, properly, Biloxi. It’s about 3 hours west of our dwelling in Northwest Florida and nearly 90 minutes east of New Orleans.


We spent most of our Ocean Springs go to strolling round and exploring the historic downtown and beachfront. We actually didn’t get in our automotive as soon as due to renting an Airbnb in a brilliant walkable space! We hit up parks, outlets, eating places, toy & sweet shops, and – in fact – poked round some charming neighborhoods too. It was the proper laid-back, slow-paced household getaway.
The place to Keep In Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs has plenty of short-term leases in addition to boutique inns and B&Bs, so there are quite a lot of lodging choices – together with stylish ones like the trendy cabins on the Beatnik Motel.


We stayed at a dog-friendly Airbnb proper off of one of many primary downtown streets, which was clear and well-stocked, however after strolling round many areas there, we wouldn’t advocate that particular spot, so I’m not going to hyperlink it right here. It was a bit of loud from some adjoining eating places, however there have been some very charming areas south of Authorities Road that we’d decide to remain in subsequent time. This one known as Gaslamp Home is a bit of expensive, however it at all times catches my eye!


However once more, there’s additionally no scarcity of cool inns. We walked by The Roost Boutique Resort, which appeared like an up to date previous farmhouse. The pool space seems to be superior on the web site too!


Barely nearer to downtown is The Springs Resort, which additionally homes a cool floral and reward store known as Palmette (extra on that later). That’s why Sherry is marching so determinedly into the resort beneath!


I stayed outdoors with the canine, however Sherry obtained to sneak some peaks of the within of the resort whereas buying. It was tremendous properly designed!


I imply, simply have a look at the lavatory!


We had been undoubtedly pleasantly shocked by the extent of lodging choices in Ocean Springs.
The place To Eat in Ocean Springs
We wouldn’t name ourselves foodies (zero refined palates right here), however one way or the other our holidays at all times revolve round meals! Ocean Springs had tons of nice restaurant choices which might be each child & dog-friendly. In our 48 hours there, we had 2 breakfasts, 2 brunches, and a pair of dinners… plus some desserts! Right here’s an inventory of the place we went, with extra information and pics beneath:
- Vibrant Eyed Brew Co
- The TatoNut Store (donuts)
- Fats Spoon Cafe
- Girl Might
- Glory Sure Gyro Co
- Pop Brothers (popsicles)
- Sweet Cottage


We additionally ate a terrific brunch on the Fats Spoon Cafe, however didn’t take any photographs!
Girl Might
We liked Girl Might a lot that we ate there twice – as soon as for dinner after which the subsequent morning for brunch. They’d a terrific patio and the menu had crowdpleasers from flatbread pizzas and burgers to omelets and waffles.


Glory Sure Gyro Co
Our first dinner was at Glory Sure Gryo Co which, we later discovered, is a sister restaurant to Girl Might. It additionally had burgers, salads, and pizzas but in addition tons of gyros with completely different topping and sauce mixtures. It wasn’t fancy, however it was SO GOOD we nearly ate there the second evening (however ended up at Girl Might as an alternative).


Pop Brothers
After an extended stroll, we handled ourselves to some connoisseur popsicles at Pop Brothers. It’s situated in “Money Alley” which is adorned with colourful umbrellas overhead and graphic sidewalk artwork beneath. There are dozens of artisan popsicle flavors to select from (I did Vietnamese Espresso and Sherry did chocolate peanut butter). We extremely advocate paying the additional greenback to have it dipped in chocolate!


Sadly we missed getting a New Orleans-style snow cone at close by Caboose Cones, which had closed for the winter season. However I think about it’s an iconic place to chill off in the summertime.


We additionally loved some novelty sweet on the Sweet Cottage, which is correct subsequent door to Girl Might. It had TONS of customized chocolate creations, plus the standard favs.
What To Do in Oceans Springs
The seashore is definitely a giant draw for Ocean Springs, however even in November we discovered lots to maintain us busy out of the water. Principally it concerned strolling round, exploring, dropping into outlets, and taking within the lovely neighborhoods.


Numerous Historic Downtown Ocean Springs seems to be just like the streets pictured above and beneath. Cozy sidewalks, huge oak bushes, and enjoyable little outlets, parks, and houses alongside the way in which.


Ocean Springs appears to have a vibrant artwork scene too, with one well-liked cease downtown being the Walter Anderson Museum of Artwork. Lots of people additionally speak about Shearwater Pottery, however we sadly didn’t make it there throughout open hours.


The subsequent block down is the aforementioned Springs Resort, which can also be dwelling to a floral and artwork store known as Palmette.


I stayed outdoors with Penny whereas Sherry and the children shopped. Primarily based on the period of time spent, I may inform it was certainly one of their favourite stops!


Sherry purchased this brass tiger pendant there and loves it endlessly.


I don’t bear in mind the title of each little retailer we stopped into, however that was form of the enjoyable of it. There was at all times one thing fascinating to see.


My solely want is that Ocean Springs had a neighborhood bookshop (we love trying out unbiased bookstores on trip). We did come throughout a number of Little Free Libraries, so I suppose that was an in depth second!


It was additionally enjoyable being downtown as issues had been beginning to get decked out for the vacations. We even obtained to see the toy retailer actively hanging theirs!


Along with buying the downtown, we additionally loved strolling down a few of the neighborhood streets to admire the houses. I’ve by no means thought a lot about what a “quintessential coastal Mississippi” neighborhood would possibly seem like, however one way or the other Ocean Springs is precisely that. It undoubtedly had quite a lot of New Orleans vibes, with lovely previous houses, native outlets, and tree-lined streets.


There have been plenty of sprawling porches, picket fences, and big mossy oaks.


Presumably the most effective half about our go to to Ocean Springs is that we left wanting to come back again. Whereas I believe we hit quite a lot of highlights in our quick go to, it seems like we may use extra time to soak it in, absolutely loosen up into its laid-back vibe, and possibly bike round city or hang around on the seashore on a summer season day.


Oh, and I actually need a type of snow cones from the prepare caboose.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi: A Recap
When you’re searching for all of the issues we talked about in a single spot, right here ya go!


The place to Keep:
The place to Eat
The place to Store & Browse
Extra Household Journeys We’ve Taken


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