With a great location on the Gulf Coast, it’s no wonder why so many tourists love Bay St Louis. After bouncing back from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the city became a hotspot for visitors. You’ll now find a Hollywood Resort and Casino as well as dozens of historical sites and of course, tons of fun on the water.
This Mississippi city gets its name as it offers easy access to Bay Saint Louis. It’s less than an hour from New Orleans and gained fame as visitors came from the bigger city. More than 9,000 people now call the Bay St. Louis home.
A tour we think you'll love
Get ready to hit the city on your next trip with a look at the best things to do in Bay St Louis.
1) Enjoy The Bay St Louis On The Water
Why dive into the water when you can see it in a whole new way? Grab your captain’s hat and a few friends to cruise around the bay and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. With a tiki cruise from Cruisin Tikis, you can even recreate the Mardi Gras experience any day of the year.
Feel free to bring your own drinks and kick back as you enjoy the sights and sounds of the bay. Book a tiki cruise to turn your trip into the ultimate party!
2) Hit The Beach
Taking a cruise isn’t the only way to have fun in the water. Bay St Louis has several swimming beaches that let you explore the Mississippi Gulf Coast in a new way. Waveland Beach is one of the city’s only dog-friendly beaches.
While you can bring drinks, the beach bans glass bottles. Once you finish splashing around with your pup, hit the Bay-Waveland Beach Trail that connects the city to nearby Waveland.
3) See History Come To Life
You don’t need to travel far to learn more about the history of Bay St Louis. Start at the Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum. This museum is free to visit and has tons of folk artists’ cartoons and other works on display.
The L&N Historic Train Depot Museum is just as popular. Many visitors can’t leave without taking at least a few photos of it. Though it no longer sees trains stop by, it’s home to hundreds of artifacts that detail the railroad history in the city.
Bay Saint Louis is also home to the Mardi Gras Museum, which is the best place to see historic costumes from past events. Tucked inside the train museum, it has free admission and exhibits dedicated to the Mississippi blues artists who once called the city home.
4) Discover Old Town Bay St Louis
During the second Saturday of every month, this historic neighborhood hosts an art walk. You’ll find pieces from some of the city’s top art galleries on display and have a chance to pick up a few to take home.
The Old Town neighborhood also has tons of local restaurants that let you sample the best and most authentic Cajun and Creole dishes. Many visitors like Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar & Grill, which serves oysters caught in the Gulf Coast area.
There are also tons of shops and boutiques such as Fly Boutique with unique fashions for women and The Porch, which offers a large selection of home decorations and unique gifts. Visit Good Earth Records to find one of the state’s biggest independent record stores. If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist.
5) Travel The Mississippi Blues Trail
Fans of blues music come to Bay St Louis every year as they work their way through this historic trail. It highlights some of the best musicians of all time like BB King, Willie Dixon, and Sam Cooke.
The trail runs for 170 miles through Leland, Tunica, and other cities. It takes more than three hours to drive the trail, but you can take longer as you spend more time in your favorite spots.
Some of the top places you may want to hit as you explore this trail include:
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100 Men Hall
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Blues & Jazz in the Pass
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Gulfport Boogie
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Biloxi Blues
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Ocean Springs Blues
6) Head To The Fishing Pier
The Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier is a Hancock County landmark. Open since 2014, the pier has a large public parking spot where you can leave your car. Hog and bucket mouth fish are commonly caught in these waters, but you may snag a largemouth bass, too. Make sure you get there early as spaces fill up quickly.
It’s just as easy to stick around and try your luck at catching the big one. Flounder, speckled trout, and redfish are also common here.
7) See The Sights Along Beach Boulevard
Almost as soon as you arrive in Bay St Louis, you will come across Beach Boulevard. It covers a portion of the Historic Old Spanish Trail that travelers originally used around the turn of the 20th century. Grab a map from the visitor center to make sure you don’t miss the top historic sites in and around Old Town.
The Art Walk & Heritage Trail hosts the annual Bay Bridge Fest in May. Live blues musicians play every day and the festival ends with a massive fireworks display. South Beach Blvd also has an area just for walking or biking.
8) Stop By 100 Men Hall
While Bay St Louis has quite a few landmarks, 100 Men Hall is one of the tops. This historic blues music venue recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. Though Hurricane Katrina left behind some damage, locals pitched in to restore the building.
Once used as a place for African Americans to play and listen to music, it now serves as one of the most happening places in the city. DJ OG comes out for the Lava Lounge on Thursdays to get fans up and dancing.
9) Spend The Day At Buccaneer State Park
Not only does this park boast a huge swimming beach that Bay St Louis locals love, but it also has multiple hiking trails. Some of the trails are even suitable for horseback rides and bike riders.
Swing by the activity center to see the day’s events or play a round on the disc golf course. The park has one of the only playgrounds in Bay St Louis and a playground for the little ones.
Get Ready For Bay St Louis, MS
Finding Bay St Louis things to do before your trip is easy! Touring some of the Bay St Louis historic sites and booking sunset cruises are just a few of the things you may want to do.
Check with Cruisin Tikis about the boat tours you can book in advance and then plan the rest of your Bay St Louis vacation!
