How to Spend A Day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis (BSL) is a sweet beach town that is located along the west side of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, between New Orleans and Biloxi.
Art spotted in a Bay St. Louis gallery
Bay St. Louis sits alongside the gulf coast, so of course it has miles of sandy beaches for you to lay out in the sun, build sand castles, and splash out into the water.
If you’re a beach goer, then by all means you might plan to spend your entire day at the beach.
However, if you’re more of an explorer and want to see what else the city has to offer you might check out the many downtown boutiques, shops, and restaurants that line the small, narrow streets.
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FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
If you drive along Bay St. Louis’ Beach Boulevard, you’ll eventually run into the many restaurants that line the beach. During peak hours, restaurants such as The Blind Tiger, Murky Waters, and the many oyster bars are filled with customers and surrounding traffic. If you’re looking to enjoy some delicious eats while having a wonderful view of the Gulf, definitely stop here. And if you plan ahead, you might even catch some live, local bands playing at these venues!
Delicious chicken n’ waffles from Mockingbird Cafe
One of my personal favorite places to grab a bite to eat is at the Mockingbird Cafe, a delicious and cozy coffee shop located on S. Second Street in the middle of downtown.
This cafe offers a menu of delicious eats (I’m not talkin’ just pastries) and caffeinated beverages that you can enjoy in their “living room area” or outside on the porch, under the terrace.
In my opinion, Mockingbird Cafe is one of the best coffee shops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast because of its delicious food, unique environment, and various options of coffee.
The vibe there is always so inviting and makes me feel like I’m on vacation. Right behind the cafe is Treehouse Yoga, a yoga studio that offers various levels of classes to the public and community. So, if you’re wanting to get your stretch on before or after you eat, make sure to sign up for a class ahead of your visit!
sHOPS
Once you’ve had some food to fuel your day, head on out to begin shopping and browsing the many boutiques and stores. You’ll notice that the streets are narrow and lined with parked cars in the downtown area. Because the stores are located so close to each other, you could easily park your vehicle and walk the streets. But if you’d rather ride around, there are also options to rent golf carts and bikes to move through the town.
My purchases from The Shops at Century Hall
My favorite shop in Bay St. Louis is The Shops at Century Hall- a three story marketplace filled with unique shops, antiques, and original artwork. And yes, I did said three story!
That’s right, there are three floor levels of shopping filled to every inch with cool items to look at and possibly purchase.
Each section within each level offers something different, whether it be jewelry, lovely smelling soaps, leather handbags, home decor, clothing, books, or children items!
Make sure to go all the way to the top, so that you don’t miss any of the goodness that’s hanging out up in the rafters ;) One of the shop owners in particular, Janice of Bay Life Gift Shop, was so very warm and welcoming, and made sure to answer any questions I had.
The Shops at Century Hall is located right beside Mockingbird Cafe, which makes for a great stop to visit after you’ve had some food.
Other shops that are definitely worth going into are:
Fleurty Girl: a unique gift shop with a heavy New Orleans influence.
Clay Creations: a gallery of original local artwork
Good Earth Records: an independent vinyl records store
There are so many additional shops and eateries that I haven’t mentioned in this article, but I suggest trying them out and seeing which one you like the best!
OUTDOOR AREAS
Outside of the places to shop and eat, there are also great places to rest and relax in Bay St. Louis.
Ruth’s Roots Community Garden
Towards the end of your exploration, it’s a must that you pop over to Ruth’s Roots, the local community garden.
Ruth’s Roots is a vibrant space in the middle of the downtown area that has many garden beds filled with seasonal flowers and plants. There’s also a pond filled with beautiful koi fish and a lovely waterfall stream that fills the space with sweet serene sounds.
The ground and fences are covered with art, games, and activities for the kids to explore. And if you’re looking for a place to rest, walk over to the large deck filled with rocking chairs and sit underneath the large oak tree.
In the garden, you can also find a Little Library filled with free books from the local community. You might find one you like and take it, and during your next visit, leave one for the next person. There’s also a space for leaving and taking community food items such as canned goods for whomever needs it.
Ruth’s Roots Community Garden
My favorite part about Ruth’s Roots is the back of the garden where a large chicken coop and rabbit hatch sit filled with large fluffy rabbits and chickens. It’s a must that you go to check out the rabbits doing their thing and burrowing into tunnels. And depending on the day, you might even see the chickens sitting atop their freshly laid eggs, while relaxing in the shade.
Each time I visit BSL, I have to stop by Ruth’s Roots because it’s truly a beautiful communal space to ground, catch my breath in between exploring, and to just sit and enjoy the gentle buzz of the day.
If you drive a bit further into town and away from the downtown area, you’ll find the town’s historic Train Depot, which also houses the Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum - a free admissions museum that shares the art and life of Alice Latimer Moseley.
Park next to Alice Moseley Art Museum
Right next to the museum is another of my favorite places to recline in BSL. Though this park doesn’t really have a name, you’ll find it very memorable after visiting. The small green lawn wraps around a large pond filled with beautiful, glistening ducks swimming and diving about. There’s a fountain in the middle of the pond which provides some more soothing water sounds for you. Make sure to bring a blanket to spread out under the palm trees. Read a book, have a snack, or chill with some friends while resting here.
There’s also Carol Vegas Park, which is located behind the Hancock Chamber of Commerce. This park has a large playground for children to enjoy, and tennis courts for those who want to play a game or two.
Carol Vegas Park
My favorite thing about this location is the large oak tree that’s surrounded by an elevated deck.
Take a walk up close to this tree and feel its wisdom and admire its beauty. Look above at the moss hanging high and swinging gently in the breeze.
Other things to take in while walking around outside the town are the areas filled with local street art. If you keep exploring, you might come across a large mural of Frida Kahlo or of a mermaid.
Bay St. Louis also has a large Catholic community, so as you drive through the town you’ll find many traditional schools and churches in the area such as St. Stanislaus, Our Lady Academy, and Holy Trinity.
Lastly, what makes Bay St. Louis such a beautiful place to visit, outside of the shopping and dining, are the beautiful houses that line the neighborhood streets. Each house has its own artsy, colorful, and beachy vibe that sparks inspiration for those who love design and landscaping. So take a walk or a ride through the residential spaces to take note of the beauty and creativity of the Bay St. Louis residents.
Have you ever spent a day in Bay St. Louis? If so, what did you enjoy most about it? Let us know down in the comments below! :)