We love a good spontaneous trip not far from home! Gulfport, MS is only 2 hours away from me, which made it the best weekend getaway. Austin and I spent Valentine’s Day weekend there, and despite it being freezing for the whole trip, we had a blast. The trip was even better because it was completely his idea! Let me recap you on all the eats, where we stayed, and the hidden gems of this tiny beach town.
Where We Stayed
The Oasis Resort was the perfect spot for this vacation! It’s located in walking distance from the beach, and it sits on a large portion of land. This hotel wasn’t actually just one building; it was comprised of lots of smaller stacks. Each building had only a couple floors, which made the hallways quieter and access to the parking lot easier. The Oasis also has a small water park on property — there’s a lazy river, kid playground area, and a giant pool! We didn’t get to enjoy these amenities because it was freezing outside, but we’ve already talked about going back during the summer months to enjoy it! I personally felt very safe here, and I think this would be an even better spot for families to stay!
What We Ate
The night we got into Gulfport, we ate at a pizza place called Tony’s Brick Oven Pizzeria. There weren’t many options because it was so late, but this was a good one! For some reason, right when we got there, I had this overwhelming urge to order out of my comfort zone. Don’t ask why lol! I typically keep it traditional with red sauce and pepperoni on pizza, but I went for the change up. Completely 180 degrees and ordered white sauce! The Pizza Bianca had Alfredo sauce, chicken, garlic, rosemary, and artichoke hearts (I asked for without), and it was delish! Well worth the risk. Austin and I also shared the Focaccia Herb Bread that was also so good!
We only had one lunch on the trip, so we had to make it count! After tossing around some great options, we settled on Shaggy’s. Right off the bat, the vibe was what we were looking for — casual, local, and a good view. It sits right across the street from the beach, and there’s a patio for outdoor seating as well. The place was so packed that we chose bar seating, so we wouldn’t be waiting forever. The day we went was actually when they launched a few new items on the menu. One being the crab and lobster mac-n-cheese that we shared and loved! The cheeseburger I ate was also a solid pick! I ordered a watermelon marg for the first time, and I was surprised how good it was. I would definitely recommend this place as a must-see restaurant!
Since we were celebrating Valentine’s Day, Austin suggested we eat dinner at a more upscale restaurant. We agreed on the Half Shell Oyster House! It was another place with a long wait, but once we got seated, we had the best time. I did not take any risks with my food though lol! I played it safe but wasn’t disappointed. I had the crawfish, crab, and corn bisque soup as an appetizer, which followed a steak and side salad. If you’re from Louisiana, you’ll appreciate the feel of this place! They had Mardi Gras decor for the season, and they even have a drink on the menu that resembles the Hurricane from Pat O’Brien’s in NOLA.
This last item we ate wasn’t actually a place in Gulfport, but I wanted to show this as well! I purchased this cute cookie cake for Austin before we left, and we brought it with us. Great American Cookie never disappoints, and this one was perfect for him!
What We Did
Despite it being a very chilly weekend, I somehow convinced Austin to take a walk on the beach! I was in leggings and a sweatshirt but still loved being by the water. It was very cloudy, almost looked like it could’ve rained. The sun did pop out for a little bit in the late afternoon, so we hopped back in the car to watch the sun start to set over the water!
We were only there for one day, but we managed to find (and brace the cold long enough) to see Fishbone Alley! I’m not going to lie to you, I totally looked up this place up before we got to Gulfport lol! But I’m glad we went. This alleyway is decorated by giant colorful murals that are so picture perfect. There’s a plaque there that explained that artists wanted to brighten up the dark and gloomy walkway between a few businesses. It isn’t very long was definitely very cool to check out!
Trip Wrap Up
This trip was honestly the best way to take a quick trip and get out of town without spending a fortune. It was also really nice to relax on vacation and not be running around trying to do a million activities. The things we did do were great! If you’re someone that likes spending time in casinos and gambling, Gulfport is great because it’s only 15-20 minutes away from Biloxi. I would definitely recommend anything we did on the trip and hope I can make it back there another time during warmer months!
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