Introducing Pass Christian, MS

     Pass Christian is a beautiful city. It's a charming city. It's a LAZY city, and I mean that in the best way possible. Sure, you can vacation in New Orleans. I mean, lassez les bon temps rouler! You can vacation in Orange Beach, where the water is beautiful and there's no shortage of sandbar parties. I love both cities, but if you are just looking to get away and relax, and I mean really relax, Pass Christian is your city. Downtown is just busy enough for a day of shopping, but it’s not so big that it will take the wind out of you. It’s great because that leaves you plenty of time to hit the beach and relax. AND if you really want to visit these other bustling cities, they are just a short drive away.

     Start your day at The Cat Island Coffeehouse and Pass Christian Books for, well... coffee and books! They share a building that overlooks the Gulf. Henderson Park is the best spot to get in a walk. You not only have a beautiful view of the beach, but it’s landscaped with oak trees and beautiful young magnolia trees. Oh, and if you get there at the right time, there are sprinklers running EVERYWHERE... if you're into that sort of thing.

Cat Island Coffeehouse/Pass Christian Books

Cat Island Coffeehouse/Pass Christian Books

View from Cat Island Coffeehouse/Pass Christian Books

Cat Island Coffeehouse/Pass Christian Books storefront

Henderson Park

Oak Tree in Henderson Park

Sprinklers! (Henderson Park)

Take a drive down Scenic Highway 90 and you’ll see towering oak trees and historic homes. Nothing beats driving down the highway with the open water and bright blue skies on one side and beautiful oak trees on the other. 

Scenic Hwy 90

Scenic Hwy 90

Oak tree on Scenic Hwy 90

If you want to do some shopping, take a stroll down Davis Avenue. There are plenty of shops to work up an appetite. Luckily, there are several restaurants on and around Davis offering everything from Asian Cuisine to Steaks to Poboys.

Shops on Davis Ave

Cigars in the Pass

Martin Hardware

Pass Christian Olive Oils adn Vinegars

The Whiskey Bar

Stay the night right inside the shopping district at Hotel Whiskey. This hotel has 11 rooms total, so book early! Whiskey Prime, a locally owned restaurant, is located downstairs and specializes in steaks and fresh, local seafood.

Hotel Whiskey

You should also check out the Pass Christian Harbor. Buy local seafood! My family always hits up the harbor for fresh shrimp to boil and/or fry. If you aren’t in the market for seafood, check out the boats! One of my favorite things to do is read off the names of the boats. Boat owners are usually pretty creative. You’ll also probably run into a pelican or several. They are pretty chill until they see movement in the water. Then, you’ll notice them casually fly upward, and suddenly soar into the water after their prey. Oh, and one more thing…take in the smell. If it’s your first time at the harbor, you will probably be put off. Once you fall in love with the coast though, you will love it. 

Boats at the Pass Christian Harbor

Hi there. My name is Meagan, and I was born and raised in Pass Christian, MS. I grew up thinking The Pass was the most boring place on the planet. I dreamt of growing up and moving to the big city (ANY big city). I went to college in Baton Rouge, and spent most of my 20's in New Orleans, and I absolutely enjoyed everything those cities had to offer. I also spent a lot of time traveling to other big cities to catch my favorite bands live, but I feel like that is a whole other blog on it's own. Anyway, as much as I loved life in the fast lane, there was still a part of me that longed for that long stretch of highway along the Gulf Coast. Making that drive along the open water for so many years sure has a way of making the big cities feel claustrophobic.

Long story short, sometime after turning 30, I managed to find my way back to the Mississippi Coast. It started with some long weekends with the family, and ended with me moving back altogether. Honestly, Pass Christian had not really changed much, but something was certainly different. (Umm, yeah, it was me!) I was enamored with the outdoors. I made sure to take a drive down the beach almost every day. My daily exercise was mostly walking in various spots along the coast, and I frequently relaxed on the beach with only my sunglasses and Spotify playlists. My happy place became anywhere in the sun or near the water.

Pass Christian and the other cities along the coast are just captivating. They are beautiful and charming and full of thriving local businesses. The people are friendly and kind. They are proud and resilient. The Gulf Coast really is a wonderful place to not only visit, but also to live. It's so funny looking back at that kid who just wanted to "get out of Dodge". I still love to travel, but I could not imagine living anywhere else.

I am very lucky to spend my time between the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coasts. My wonderful boyfriend lives in Gulf Shores, AL, and has introduced me to a whole new stretch of Alabama coastline. I've been exploring the waters in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and have had the pleasure of sightseeing the lovely, laid- back city of Fairhope. Oh, and I've also thoroughly enjoyed eating at all the great restaurants along the way!

So, now that I have introduced myself, I have to say that I am so excited to document my Gulf Coast travels and share some of my favorite places. I hope you will follow along and share some of your favorites with me as well!