On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast, travel journalist Terri Guthrie continues her Mardi Gras Train series with a stop in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Joined by Lisa D. Smith, Terri gives an overview of this walkable, creative Gulf Coast town: where she stayed, what she ate and drank, what she shopped for, and why a visit to neighboring Waveland adds depth to the trip.

This episode follows last week's visit to the historic 100 Men Hall: 100 Men Hall: Music, History & Community in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The series kicked off with Knox Ross, Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission: All Aboard! Exploring the Gulf Coast on Amtrak's Mardi Gras Train.

Stepping Off the Train
Terri calls Bay St. Louis a casual coastal escape that blends walkable charm with a laid-back beach vibe, and feels worlds away from New Orleans even though it is less than an hour by rail. Downtown is a hop and a skip from the depot. She and her husband Ron took an Uber to the Pearl Hotel because of the suitcases, but the 100 Men Hall is an easy walk from the depot. Volunteers greet arriving passengers at the depot and wave them off again, a Southern hospitality touch Terri loved.

Old Town: Art, Boutiques & Golf Carts
The old town streets are filled with art, shops and cafés, and Terri says there is far more to do than you would ever imagine, including art classes and festivals. She loved the coastal home décor boutiques, jewelry and curated gifts, galleries featuring Gulf Coast artists, and vintage and antique shops. She did not expect so much shopping, and says it is nothing like city shopping. Look for locally made goods, including surprising oyster shell creations. Golf carts seem to be the main mode of transportation.

Staying at the Pearl Hotel
Terri describes the Pearl as a stylish boutique property in the heart of the old town district, with crisp coastal design and breezy balconies overlooking the bay and the harbor. It is a great base for exploring Bay St. Louis.

Dinner at the Thorny Oyster
Downstairs at the Pearl, the Thorny Oyster served Terri, Ron and their foodie friends from nearby Diamondhead some of the best food they had ever had. She describes Gulf-forward dishes, craft cocktails and a lively setting. Her fruity cocktail arrived in a mermaid glass, the catch of the day was amberjack, her favorite Gulf of Mexico fish, and the roasted beet salad with lemon ricotta was so good she would fly back for it. They finished with a campfire dessert and a banana pudding, both topped with toasted marshmallow cream. Terri also met owner and executive chef Jeffrey Hansell, a local who always dreamed of opening a restaurant like this at home.

Bushwhackers Across the Street
Terri and Lisa both love a Bushwhacker, and Terri found the best one at the Blind Tiger (also known as TBT), a fun bar and grill, or seafood shack, just across the street from the Pearl Hotel. She admits she went twice.

Beaches & Beachfront Walking Paths
The town points toward the bay, with views of the bay bridge and the marinas. Round the corner and you are at the Gulf, with white sand beaches and sea oats that carry on into Waveland. Terri also loved the beachfront walking paths, perfect for a slow morning or a sunset stroll.

Waveland's Ground Zero Hurricane Museum
Waveland sits right next to Bay St. Louis and was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with surges Terri recalls at about 30 feet. The museum is in the former Waveland Elementary School, the only building left standing on Coleman Avenue. Terri found it impactful and beautifully done, with artifacts, photographs and oral histories, plus the quilts of Solveig Wells, made from storm-scattered scraps. She calls it more than a memorial: a living testament to courage, community and recovery, and not to be missed.

Resilience Along the Gulf Coast
Terri remembers the massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss from a childhood vacation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and marvels that they have survived hundreds of years of storms. Lisa adds that locals know when a hurricane is coming, so travelers shouldn't be scared away, and that the "live for today" spirit of Mississippi and Louisiana is part of the draw.

Local Guidance
Terri and Ron relied on Lisa Evans's book, 100 Things to Do in Coastal Mississippi Before You Die, and met Lisa and her husband for breakfast. The book turned up places they didn't know about, and Lisa Evans is the one who urged Terri to visit the 100 Men Hall.

Next Stop: Mobile, Alabama
The next episode continues the series in Mobile, with a wonderful hotel and a look at the city's Mardi Gras history.

Getting There
Bay St. Louis is a stop on Amtrak's Mardi Gras Train, which runs twice a day between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

Plan your trip: PearlBSL.com | WavelandGroundZero.com | Amtrak Mardi Gras Service | Southern Rail Commission

The Pearl Hotel and the Thorny Oyster are at 104 N. Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The Blind Tiger is at 119 N. Beach Blvd. Waveland's Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is at 335 Coleman Avenue in Waveland, and admission is free. Check the museum's website for current hours.

🎧 New episodes of Big Blend Radio's Travel with Terri Podcast air every other Tuesday at 9am CST.