GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - LEARNING TO SAIL ON THE BILOXI SCHOONERS

Taking the helm of a 65-foot Biloxi oyster schooner isn't something I ever imagined I would do in my lifetime, but that's exactly what I did recently for the latest Gulf Coast Bucket List adventure.

My day on the water came courtesy of the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, established in 1986 to preserve the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - BIG FUN AT BIG PLAY

Continuing my quest of trying to stay young with a milestone birthday rapidly approaching, I figured a visit to Biloxi's Big Play Family Fun Center might be just the place to let my inner child run wild with a playful afternoon of fun.

BIG PLAY FAMILY FUN CENTER

COMING SOON! 

GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - EMBRACING MY INNER CHILD AT LYNN MEADOWS DISCOVERY CENTER

With an upcoming birthday just around the corner where supposedly I'll be going over some sort of hill, I recently decided to embrace my inner child by visiting one of Gulf Coast's hidden gems -- the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center For Children.

Located at 246 Dolan Ave., the Discovery Center is housed in the old Mississippi City Elementary School building that was originally constructed in 1915.

Completely renovated, the 15,000-square-foot building is home to Mississippi's first children's museum, and is filled with exhibits that encourage visitors to explore, discover, inspire and have fun.


GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - GOING BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE GULF COAST GATOR RANCH

It's not every day you get the opportunity to drive an airboat through alligator-infested swampland, or actually get close enough to feed an alligator by hand, but during a recent visit to the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch, I got to experience both of those things and a lot more.

The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch, located on 105 acres of wetlands at 10300 U.S. 90, Moss Point, is where you can find some of the oldest and largest alligators in captivity. Family owned and operated for the past decade by Alan Adams and Curtis Silver, the Gator Ranch offers walking tours along protected walkways, as well as high-speed airboat tours in the wild.

GULF COAST GATOR RANCH AND AIRBOAT SWAMP TOURS

COMING SOON



GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - A PEEK INSIDE THE PECAN HOUSE

For over three decades The Pecan House in McHenry has been offering delicious pecans, as well as a large variety of other homemade treats, for Mississippi locals and tourists alike. If you’ve never had the chance to visit the rustic looking building on Route 49 though, you may be in for a surprise, as The Pecan House offers much more than just edible delights.

THE PECAN HOUSE

COMING SOON!

GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - LEARNING THE SECRETS OF STEAMPUNK CURIOSITY

Deeply hidden somewhere on the Gulf Coast is the secret laboratory of a mad-genius engineer who constructs devices such as time machines, portals, weather machines, Tesla guns, and is protected by an army of minion “Steambots.” While some might view this as cause for concern, I’ve been assured that the reclusive Dr. von Walrod, the alter ego of a local artist who creates fantastical contraptions from bits and pieces of things that some might consider junk, only uses his inventions to ensure safety from those that are after him and his highly coveted apparatuses.

GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - BEING AN EXTRA ON THE MOVIE MISSISSIPPI GRIND

On Monday, I found myself in front of "Hollywood" cameras, potentially heading for the big screen.
It started a little more than three weeks ago, after I read a story in the Sun Herald about a call for extras for "Mississippi Grind," a gambling-themed comedy-drama starring Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Ben Mendelsohn and Analeigh Tipton being filmed in Mobile, the Mississippi Coast and New Orleans.

GULF COAST BUCKET LIST - GETTING A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT A MARDI GRAS PARADE FLOAT

Having recently moved to the area from Wisconsin, I have many exciting things planned to check off on my Gulf Coast Bucket List. First of which, is something I’ve dreamed about doing ever since I participated in Mardi Gras festivities during my college years long ago. Getting an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at an authentic parade float.

Carnival season kicks off February 15th this year, with the first major coast parade of the season being held in Ocean Springs. Sponsored by Elks Lodge #2501, this will be the 39th year the Mardi Gras parade rolls through the downtown streets.