Gulfport: Beaches, History and Walking Routes

For your trip to Gulfport, you can start by choosing the themes that matter to you: soft white sand on the beaches, walking routes of varying lengths, wildlife, or city history. The places and activities offer different points of interest, from seasonal Ship Island Excursions to the exhibits at the Gulfport Museum of History. This gives you a way to choose a focus for your stay before looking for a hotel in Gulfport.

Beaches and seasonal excursions

Gulfport has beaches with soft, white sand. Another point to consider when planning is Ship Island Excursions, which depart from the Small Vessel Harbor in Gulfport, Mississippi. The service is seasonal. If you want to include it in your travel plans, check the current operating dates before your trip.

Walking routes by distance

The Discover Gulfport Walking Trail has sidewalks and, where available, marked pedestrian crossings. The map for this trail shows public parking and restrooms. It therefore provides specific guidance to the facilities marked there.

The First Discovery Loop is a 1.3-mile walking route in Gulfport. The Discovery Path is 3.3 miles long and includes scenic sections along the water. Comparing the two by their stated lengths, the First Discovery Loop is the shorter option; the Discovery Path covers more distance and also offers the described waterfront setting.

Aquariums and animal encounters

The Mississippi Aquarium includes 12 freshwater and saltwater habitats and more than 200 species of aquatic animals. These include bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters, sharks, and rays. At the interactive touch pool, guests can encounter crustaceans, rays, horseshoe crabs, and sharks, among other animals. The pool adds a hands-on activity to the wildlife experience.

At the IMMS Discovery Center, visitors can see touch pools and display aquariums in the Discovery Room. Exhibits may change. At Ocean Adventures Marine Park, the Tweeter Post is a walk-through aviary where visitors can feed the parakeets that live there; animal programs may also change.

Another animal encounter is the Stingray Encounter: visitors can feed, touch, and interact with rays in waist-deep water. Participation details may change. The activities described therefore vary in format, from visiting display aquariums and touch pools to feeding parakeets and encountering rays in the water.

Gulfport’s history in the historic depot

The Gulfport Museum of History is located in the historic Union Station Railroad Depot, built in 1904. The museum displays artifacts and documents relating to Gulfport’s more than 125-year history. This connects the depot’s specific historic setting with a broader look at the city’s history.

Discover more destinations: D'Iberville, Biloxi.

View the parent travel overview: Harrison.