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Waveland, Mississippi: Where Fun Meets Best – A Guide to the Best & Fun Things to Do + Places to Visit

Waveland, Mississippi is a coastal town, and it covers more than its size suggests. Art and culture, outdoor country and a long stretch of beach are all here, and they work for any age.

The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is the site most visitors come to Waveland for. It covers what Hurricane Katrina did to the Gulf Coast. Beyond it, the galleries and studios in Waveland show work by local artists and artisans, and the state parks and nature preserves nearby carry the hiking, biking and fishing.

Waveland repays a longer stay than most people give it. The history, the culture and the coast are all reasons to come, and none of them is far from the others.

Key Takeaways

• Waveland is a charming coastal town with attractions and activities for visitors of all ages.
• Top attractions in Waveland include the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum and local art galleries and studios.
• Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring Waveland’s state parks and nature preserves.

Waveland’s Top Attractions

Waveland, Mississippi has more going on than a town this size normally does. The attractions worth your time:

Buccaneer State Park

Waveland sits on the Gulf of Mexico in Hancock County, Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina came ashore here and destroyed most of the town, and the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum records what happened. Buccaneer State Park runs along the beachfront and holds the water park inside it. The Silver Slipper Casino Hotel is the other reason people drive out.

Buccaneer State Park is where the outdoor country is. It sits directly on the beachfront of the Gulf of Mexico, with swimming, fishing and boating all available. There are nature trails and picnic spots along the beach. With children, Buccaneer Bay is the water park inside the same park.

Ground Zero Hurricane Museum

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most destructive natural disasters in US history. Waveland was hit hard. The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum records the storm and what it did to Waveland and the surrounding areas. It stands in the middle of the town and holds exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays. People come out of it understanding what the town went through.

Silver Slipper Casino Hotel

The Silver Slipper Casino Hotel is the other draw here. The floor runs slot machines and table games, and there is a full-service hotel and several restaurants attached. Live music and other events run regularly, so check the schedule before you decide it is only a casino.

Those are the main attractions in Waveland, Mississippi. Outdoor country, the town’s history, or a night at the casino: all three are covered. The traveler rankings on TripAdvisor put these among the highest rated in the area, based on traveler reviews.

Art and Culture in Waveland

Waveland carries more art and culture than expected, across museums, galleries and theaters. The places to check:

Bay St. Louis Little Theater

The Bay St. Louis Little Theater is the one for anyone who follows theater. The room is small and the productions are better than the size suggests, and the welcome is genuine. Book a seat and go.

100 Men Hall

The 100 Men Hall is where the music is. The venue has been running since 1922 and has hosted some substantial names over that time. The programme covers blues through to jazz, and the history of the building is part of the evening.

Alice Moseley Folk Art

Alice Moseley was a folk artist who lived in Bay St. Louis, and her work is known for its colors and its humor. The Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum holds it, alongside the story of how she came to paint at all. It is a small museum that stays with people.

There are other galleries and specialty museums in the area. The Bay St. Louis Train Depot covers the history of this coast and its part as a transportation hub. History or art, Waveland has both within a short drive.

Outdoor Activities

Waveland is a good town for time outdoors, from fishing to golfing. The best of it:

Southern Comfort Charters

Southern Comfort Charters is the one for fishing. They run inshore trips to the better spots along this coast, and the guides know the water. All the gear and bait is supplied, which makes it workable for a complete beginner.

Gotta Geaux Charters

Gotta Geaux Charters is the other option, running inshore and offshore trips alongside sunset cruises and eco tours. The captains take you out into the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper, grouper and tuna. Dolphins and sea turtles turn up along the way often enough to be worth watching for.

Buccaneer Bay Waterpark

Buccaneer Bay Waterpark is where a hot day goes. The park runs a lazy river, a wave pool and water slides, which covers every age at once. The Buccaneer Bay Zip Line takes you out over the whole thing.

Fishing, a water park or a day on the beach: Waveland covers all three. Pack sunscreen.

Waveland is small, and almost everything in it sits within a short drive of the beach. Buccaneer State Park carries the shoreline, the nature trails and the Buccaneer Bay water park between them. The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum stands in the middle of the town itself, a short walk from the shops. The fishing charters run out into the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper, grouper and tuna.

Historical Sites

Waveland, Mississippi has several historical sites worth the time. The ones to see:

Bay St. Louis Train Depot

The Bay St. Louis Train Depot was built in 1928. It ran as a passenger station until the 1950s and then as a freight station until the 1980s. It has since been restored and now works as a museum and art gallery, covering the history of the depot and the railroad here, with rotating exhibits by local artists.

Historic Train Depot

The Historic Train Depot in Waveland is the other one. It was built in 1904 and was a stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Hurricane Katrina damaged it. It has been restored and is now a museum, holding exhibits on the depot, the railroad and the area’s past.

Ground Zero Hurricane Museum

The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is the site in Waveland to make time for. It records Hurricane Katrina and what the storm did to this area. There are artifacts recovered from it and exhibits on the history of hurricanes on this coast. The building itself was destroyed in the storm. It was rebuilt.

These are the historical sites in Waveland. They cover a great deal of ground for a town this size, and they are worth the time they take.

Shopping in Waveland

Waveland shops better than expected for a quiet coastal town, across stores and boutiques. Where to go:

Rustic Wick Candle Bar

The Rustic Wick Candle Bar lets you make your own candles, with a long list of fragrances to work through. It is the rare souvenir that is worth carrying home. The room is comfortable and nobody rushes you.

Hancock County Welcome Center

The Hancock County Welcome Center is where the local souvenirs are, running t-shirts, hats and antiques. The staff will also tell you what is actually worth doing that week, which is worth more than anything on the shelves.

Private Model Collection of Thomas F. Monti

The Private Model Collection of Thomas F. Monti is the one nobody expects. The shop holds a substantial collection of model trains, cars and planes, and an afternoon there turns into a history of transportation whether you meant it to or not.

Candles, souvenirs or antique model trains: Waveland covers all three. Take photographs, and use the rest areas and scenic stops nearby when you need to sit down.

Traveler Favorites and Rest Stops

Waveland has stops worth knowing about, particularly if you are driving through the county. The ones to use:

Hancock County Welcome Center

The Hancock County Welcome Center is the sensible first stop if you do not know the area. There are brochures and maps, and the staff will give you real recommendations. The restrooms are clean and there is plenty of parking, which matters more on a long drive than anything else on this page.

Scenic Rest Stops

For somewhere to stretch your legs, several rest stops along the highways in Hancock County look out over genuinely good country. Pull over, walk around, or sit and look at it. The ones worth stopping at:

• The Kiln Rest Area on I-10
• The Bay St. Louis Rest Area on I-10
• The Pass Christian Rest Area on Highway 90

Whichever stop you pick, the country around it is the reason to get out of the car.

These are the traveler favorites and rest stops around Waveland. They are the easiest way to break up a day in Hancock County.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to explore Waveland, Mississippi?

On foot. Waveland, Mississippi is small enough to walk, and the shops, restaurants and attractions sit close together along the way. A rented bike covers more of it if you want to see the edges of the town too.

Can you recommend any hidden gems in Waveland?

The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is the one most visitors to Waveland miss. It exists to keep the memory of Hurricane Katrina and what it did to this community. Buccaneer State Park is the other, with the water park, the nature trail and the beach.

What are some fun outdoor activities to do in Waveland?

Waveland is good outdoor country. Fishing, kayaking and crabbing are all available, and the Palisades Creek Trail is the walk the town names. The beach is the reason most people come and it should not be skipped.

Are there any dog-friendly places to visit in Waveland?

Yes, and unusually so. Waveland takes dogs, on the beach and through the town, and several restaurants with outdoor seating will welcome one at the table.

What’s the craziest thing to do in Waveland?

Nothing that will get you arrested. For a thrill, parasailing or jet skiing will do it. A helicopter tour of the coast is the version that gets you highest.

Is it true that Waveland, Mississippi is the ultimate vacation spot?

We are biased, and Waveland, Mississippi makes a strong case. The beaches, the shops and the people are the reasons. Come and decide for yourself.

Frequently asked questions about Waveland, Mississippi

What is at the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum in Waveland?

The story of Hurricane Katrina and what it did to Waveland and the whole of the coast around it. There are artifacts recovered from the storm and exhibits on the history of hurricanes here. The building itself was destroyed in the storm. It was rebuilt.

What is there to do at Buccaneer State Park in Waveland?

It sits directly on the beachfront of the Gulf of Mexico, and covers swimming, fishing, boating, nature trails and picnic spots along the shore between them. Buccaneer Bay is the water park inside it. A zip line crosses it.

What fish can you catch on a charter out of Waveland?

Red snapper, grouper and tuna are the three that people go out for. Southern Comfort Charters runs inshore trips and supplies all the gear and the bait, which makes the whole thing workable for somebody who has never held a rod. Gotta Geaux Charters runs inshore and offshore trips, plus sunset cruises and eco tours.

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