Accessible adventures await in Coastal Mississippi.
by Barbara and Jim Twardowski
Coastal Mississippi’s warm climate, Southern hospitality and diverse attractions are easily enjoyed from a wheelchair.
Situated alongside the Gulf of Mexico and overlooking the Mississippi Sound, there are 62 miles of scenic shoreline to explore. For an extra-memorable vacation, combine your trip with one of the area’s annual events or festivals designed for fishing fans, car aficionados, art lovers, foodies or history buffs.
If you’re flying to Mississippi, the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is the primary hub for the Gulf Coast. In August 2025, Amtrak returned to Coastal Mississippi with train service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. The Mardi Gras Service route stops in four Mississippi towns: Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula.
For our three-day visit, we drove a wheelchair-accessible van, and Barbara used her power wheelchair to see the sights.
Beaches
The Mississippi beaches were immediately in view as we drove into Biloxi. You can pull over, park and take a stroll along the shore. Most of the beaches from Pass Christian, Miss., through Biloxi, and Front Beach in Ocean Springs, Miss., have paved sidewalks.
A Mobi-Mat, which provides improved wheelchair access across the sand, is located at the beach gazebo across from Centennial Plaza in Gulfport.
Beach wheelchairs can be rented from Special Needs at Sea (specialneedsatsea.com) and Cloud of Goods (cloudofgoods.com/biloxi-ms?).
The Biloxi Visitors Center offers a beach wheelchair at no charge for visitors. Prior to your trip, call 228-374-3105 to discuss availability.
Fort Maurepas Park & Nature Preserve
In Ocean Springs, guests may park at Fort Maurepas Park and Nature Preserve and access the beach area via accessible sidewalks and boardwalks. This offers an easy and relaxing way to experience the shoreline and coastal views. You can cool off or picnic in the pavilion. Youngsters will enjoy the splash pad.
Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
Well worth a visit, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum exhibits highlight shrimp-catching, oyster-harvesting and wooden boat building traditions.
Celebrating Biloxi as a fishing and shipbuilding hub, the collections include restored schooners, a Hurricane Katrina film, art depicting the region and one-of-a-kind artifacts.
Begin your self-guided tour on the third floor (via an elevator) and enjoy the Biloxi Bay Bridge view through a wall of windows. Upon arrival, ring the bell at the guest elevator, and a staff member will send the elevator down. The museum has family bathrooms, accessible parking and a loaner wheelchair.
For information, visit maritimemuseum.org.
Mississippi Aquarium & More
You can easily spend a day at the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport.
More than 200 animal species and 50 native plants are on view across indoor and outdoor habitats. Check the daily schedule for program times (msaquarium.org).
The aquarium offers close encounters with animals such as American alligators, North American river otters, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, seahorses and more. Don’t miss the 360-degree acrylic underwater tunnel. Spanning more than 5 acres, the aquarium is a must-see attraction for guests of all ages.
An elevator and ramps provide access for wheelchair users, and the staff is very helpful in advising the best routes. Family bathrooms are available, and wheelchairs can be rented on a first come, first served basis.
After visiting the Mississippi Aquarium, use the pedestrian bridge to cross Highway 90 into Jones Park. Known as the “Front Yard of the State,” this 60-acre waterfront park features a marina, splash pad, a replica lighthouse and a lively farmers market on Wednesdays.
Gaming
A dozen casinos dot the Gulf-front cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis and D’Iberville. They welcome skilled gamblers and weekend thrill-seekers alike.
Even if you aren’t interested in gaming, there are plenty of entertainment choices, including dining, bars, spas, pools and shopping inside the wheelchair-accessible casinos.
An accessible trolley bus, the Casino Hopper, stops at casinos, attractions and businesses. Operated by the Coast Transit Authority, the vehicle is equipped with a wheelchair lift.
For information, visit coasttransit.com/casino-hopper.
Art On Display
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Of Art
According to Business Insider, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art (georgeohr.org) is the coolest building in the state. Frank Gehry’s iconic pods on the Biloxi waterfront house the works of George Ohr, who called himself the “The Mad Potter of Biloxi.” The wheelchair-accessible museum hosts changing exhibits, classes and special events.
The Walter Anderson Museum Of Art
A revered painter and naturalist, Walter Anderson’s art was inspired by his Southern surroundings.
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art (walterandersonmuseum.org) showcases his work and mounts changing exhibits of contemporary artists. The museum’s showstopper is the attached 3,000-square-foot Ocean Springs Community Center, where the walls are covered in Anderson’s murals. The museum is wheelchair-accessible and also has a small outdoor sculpture garden at the front and side of the building.
Photo Ops At The Murals
Traveling from town to town, you’ll see large-scale murals and sculptures created by a variety of artists. Check out this link for a handy map and images of the art: coastalmississippi.com/blog/public-art-in-coastal-mississippi.
Where To Shop
Stroll the quaint downtown of Ocean Springs, and you’ll find shops selling cigars, art, food, clothing, decor and more. Most of the store doorways are wheelchair-accessible.
One of our favorite places to browse is Realizations: The Walter Anderson Shop (walterandersonart.com), a small wheelchair-accessible shop run by Anderson’s family. You can also pick up a set of Anderson greeting cards at the museum that bears his name. They sell silkscreen prints, clothing and textiles featuring the artist’s unique block prints.
Marley’s Music in Biloxi is small but accommodated Barbara’s wheelchair. The owner is happy to assist your search for a coveted vinyl album.
Buff City Soap store (buffcitysoap.com) sells candles, laundry balls and bath bombs at the wheelchair-accessible Ocean Springs store.
Where To Eat
All that shopping deserves a sweet treat. The Scoop Biloxi’s ice cream is so good, we went twice.
Here are a few other options to check out.
Traveler Cafe & Art
The Traveler Cafe & Art, located behind the Walter Anderson Museum, is housed in a 100-year-old building with steps and ramps at the entrance. The restaurant/coffee shop serves breakfast and lunch items. The cozy cottage is wheelchair-accessible and has a family bathroom.
Salt & Ivy at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Designed to feel like a glass greenhouse, Salt & Ivy (beaurivage.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/salt-and-ivy.html) is located inside the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We snagged a table beside the windows and enjoyed a decadent Cajun Bloody Mary. Continue the Southern theme with biscuits and gravy or the shareable New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp and grits.
BrewPaddle Cafe
The intimate BrewPaddle Cafe (brewpaddlecafe.com), located downstairs at The Bella Downtown in Biloxi, is a Parisian-influenced establishment serving a full breakfast and lunch.
The well-stocked coffee bar and fresh pastries also make it a nice place for a pick-me-up. Disabled parking is in the back of the building.
White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge
Expect to spend a leisurely dinner savoring every bite at one of the area’s most upscale restaurants, White Pillars (biloxiwhitepillars.com).
Recognized in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide American South, the restaurant is housed in a restored 1905 mansion. While the surroundings are elegant, there’s nothing stuffy about the ambiance. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Austin Sumrall’s menu is globally inspired and rooted in Southern flavors.
Some of our favorite items were the handmade “crab rangoon” ravioli, locally caught wood-grilled Gulf amberjack, the exquisite strawberry cobbler served with ice cream and the worth-every-calorie coast roast pot de creme.
The restaurant is farm-to-table, so menus are likely to change daily. Reservations are recommended.
Coraline’s at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Coraline’s is inspired by New Orleans’ historic French Quarter (beaurivage.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/coralines.html).
Guests enter the restaurant through an alley-like passageway with art-covered walls, wrought iron and a checkerboard tile floor.
Jim ordered the 14-ounce blackened New York strip steak (luckily our guest room had a mini fridge), while Barbara enjoyed snapper Coraline — fresh from the Gulf. Dessert was a divine hummingbird cheesecake brûlée.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Where To Stay
Often referred to as the “Bellagio of the South,” the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino lobby’s sparkling mosaic tile floors, soaring two-story ceiling, thousands of potted flowers and abundance of natural light create a gracious entrance to the MGM International property.
In 2024, Beau Rivage celebrated its 25th anniversary, and the property recently completed a $55 million renovation project,
which included remodeling guest rooms and converting rooms to suites. The tallest building in Mississippi, the resort has 1,727 luxurious rooms.
Our mobility-accessible room with two beds offered a Gulf Coast view with boats speeding across the waves and an occasional pelican flying past our window. The spacious room featured a mural depicting local plants and birds, a mini fridge, flat-screen television and ample storage. The marble bathroom with a roll-in shower was designed with open space below the sink and plenty of room to maneuver a large power wheelchair.
The second-floor deck has an outdoor swimming pool. If you want to swim, ask the staff to bring a portable chairlift outside. Order a drink and watch the sunset.
A stay at Beau Rivage is a treat. There are 13 restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining and four bars. Try your luck at the casino, which has poker, table games and slot machines.
Our favorite activity is catching a headliner or a show at the 1,595-seat Beau Rivage Theatre, where touring acts have included Jay Leno, Melissa Etheridge and Shrek the Musical. The views from the wheelchair designated seats are great.
For information, visit beaurivage.mgmresorts.com/en.html?ecid=gmb_br_ho. Â
