HWY 90 Perspective

[aestapa]

Having partially grown up in Ocean Springs, we never did the "touristy" stuff. (the family owned boats etc) Now that I am taking my own boys (5 & 3) I am finding all sorts of fun things to keep them busy.

There is a "for tourist" shrimping excursion that leaves from Biloxi right behind the Hard Rock Casino. For the life of me, I can't remember the name, but we had to do it twice last year. They take you out into the channel between the beach and the barrier islands and drop a shrimp net. They pull up fish, shrimp and all sorts of goodies and dump them in a holding area. Then, they let the kids touch, play and feed the seagulls that gather. We even had dolphins following us. The most interesting thing can be the guide. On one of ours we had an old native who told fabulous old stories of the coast (just like my grandfather used to). He went into great detail about the history of the islands, all the way to Katrina. I loved it.

To get there, pull into the parking deck for the Hard Rock Casino and park in the very back. Once there, you will see the boat and signage in the harbor behind HRC. Which BTW, Hard Rock has an AMAZING seafood buffet with 1/2 price Friday nights.

Also, just across the bridge into Ocean Springs, take a right and go into Old Downtown. They have fabulous shops and a real good old southern town feel.

I hope you all have a wonderful time!!

 

[themousetrap]

We're swinging through the coast on the way back (as opposed to getting on 98 from Mobile to Hattiesburg). Last time, we ran through horrid weather between Tallahassee and Pensacola so I was just too exhausted. If there isn't deja vu, I'm going to give some of that stuff a shot.

 

[lucigo]

In the Pensacola area Hwy 90 runs up on the north side of town, if you are interested in driving along the beach you will need to go further south to Hwy 98. Along our section of hwy 90 (Milton/Pace/Pensacola, FL) you won't see anything but maybe WalMart and Target, and lots of stop lights!

 

[meanmom121]

Actually, we leave on Friday...5 days! We don't arrive in WDW until Saturday though.

Have you driven before? This is our first time. DH and I haven't done a road trip in a while. I'm really looking forward to it actually.

I haven't driven to Disney since I was a kid but we've done other road trips as a family
Last year we did Missouri and Arkansas - We had a three day stay planned at big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake (beautiful place and very relaxing) and the rest of the time we just looked at the map and drove around and stopped at things we though looked interesting. It was so much fun and we saw some really unusual things off the beaten path. It was great fun. We did alot of hiking in too Arkansas has some gorgeous state parks.

 

[meanmom121]

The west end of Tammany Trace has all the goodies. This is the Covington/Mandeville area. The east end in Slidell is nothing but a paved path through the woods, no amenities.



Beauvoir had been damaged by Katrina, was restored, and just opened back up. It's open all year.

Stennis is nice. The tours are Wednesday through Saturday. You have to check into the visitor's center located in the MS exit 2 rest area. You will board a bus to Stennis. The Space Center does not allow unescorted visitors through the gate.



Only the greatest beaches in the world.. Destin is especially beautiful, with lots of shopping.



If you continue to follow 90 west of Waveland/Bay Saint Louis, you must not turn when 90 turns left about 4 mules from I10. Otherwise, you'll end up in New Orleans. To get to I10, continue straight when 90 becomes Hwy 607.

Jason, Thank you. You have had great advice

 

[TxRabbit]

I haven't driven to Disney since I was a kid but we've done other road trips as a family
Last year we did Missouri and Arkansas - We had a three day stay planned at big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake (beautiful place and very relaxing) and the rest of the time we just looked at the map and drove around and stopped at things we though looked interesting. It was so much fun and we saw some really unusual things off the beaten path. It was great fun. We did alot of hiking in too Arkansas has some gorgeous state parks.

Big Cedar Lodge IS a beautiful place.

I wish we had more time for more exploring along the way, but DH has to get back to work. But I know we will stay in a different place overnight on the way home, the big question is WHERE?

 

[adisneymama]

We are leaving the Houston area heading to Disney in a few weeks. I wanted to let you know that it is not Hwy 45 in Loxley. It is Hwy 59. Grew up there! Also, if you need a place to stop off of I-10 there is a nice park there. We are planning on stopping and doing a picnic lunch let the kids run and play and then back in the car. It is also just about exactly the half way mark.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Jason, Thank you. You have had great advice

Your'e welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

What about the battleship in Mobile, Al on I-10? We've always wanted to stop, but we're always so tired on the return trip!!

 

[meanmom121]

What about the battleship in Mobile, Al on I-10? We've always wanted to stop, but we're always so tired on the return trip!!

My son would certainly love that

 

[lanasboys]

What about the battleship in Mobile, Al on I-10? We've always wanted to stop, but we're always so tired on the return trip!!

We normally go down to Gulf Shores, AL, a couple of times a year. That's another trip in itself. Such a laid-back, relaxing trip. But we have stopped at the U.S.S. Alabama in Mobile a couple of times on our way to Gulf Shores. My boys LOVE it. The is also the naval aviation museum (I think it's naval aviation) in Pensacola. There is no admission charge and it is absolutely amazing. We can spend an entire day there. The museum is huge and so interesting. Then you can take the bus ride out back to see all the old, retired war planes. And, a couple of mornings per week, you can take a seat on the bleachers and watch the Blue Angels practice. I know it's a little out of the way, but super fun! And, if you take the bridge out across the ocean from Mobile to Dauphin Island, they have a really great estuarium and a 17th century military fort which is lots of fun. My boys love this as well. And from Dauphin Island, you can take the ferry across to Ft. Morgan -- another old fort to explore, plus some beautiful seashore. Lots of fun.

 

[txaggiemomof3]

We just returned from a road trip to Disney (from Texas) a few days ago. We are in the Houston-area. On the way there, we drove straight through in one day. On the way back, we stayed overnight in Pensacola Beach. It wasn't too far off of I-10 so that we were back on track pretty quickly the next day. Our motel was right on the beach so it was really relaxing to walk down and enjoy the late afternoon/evening playing in the sand and surf. It will be hard going back to Galveston after seeing those white sand beaches!!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[TxRabbit]

We just returned from a road trip to Disney (from Texas) a few days ago. We are in the Houston-area. On the way there, we drove straight through in one day. On the way back, we stayed overnight in Pensacola Beach. It wasn't too far off of I-10 so that we were back on track pretty quickly the next day. Our motel was right on the beach so it was really relaxing to walk down and enjoy the late afternoon/evening playing in the sand and surf. It will be hard going back to Galveston after seeing those white sand beaches!!

Hope you have a great trip!

How long did it take you to drive straight through? How often did you stop? Anything that you can comment on concerning road conditions?

We leave on Friday. I'd LOVE to hear some details about your driving experience!

 

[meanmom121]

We just returned from a road trip to Disney (from Texas) a few days ago. We are in the Houston-area. On the way there, we drove straight through in one day. On the way back, we stayed overnight in Pensacola Beach. It wasn't too far off of I-10 so that we were back on track pretty quickly the next day. Our motel was right on the beach so it was really relaxing to walk down and enjoy the late afternoon/evening playing in the sand and surf. It will be hard going back to Galveston after seeing those white sand beaches!!

Hope you have a great trip!

Where did you stay in Pensacola?

 

[meanmom121]

How long did it take you to drive straight through? How often did you stop? Anything that you can comment on concerning road conditions?

We leave on Friday. I'd LOVE to hear some details about your driving experience!

Look how close your counter is to the end
I can't wait to hear how your trip went when you get back

 

[meanmom121]

bump