Awarded the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Winter Event for 2010 and 2011!

Come for the Parades

Sat., Feb. 12
Krewe of Nereids rolls through Waveland and Bay St. Louis, flinging plenty of beads and specialty throws

Fri. Feb. 17
Ocean Springs night parade rolls through the charming downtown

Sat., Feb 18
Krewe of Gemini day parade in Gulfport

Sun., Feb. 19
82nd annual Pass Christian Mardi Gras Parade. This year’s theme is “Mayan Calendar 2012″

Tues., Feb. 21
Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade in Biloxi, with 17 floats and 150 flambeau carriers

Krewe of Neptune biggest party, with double decker floats, marching bands and more

Complete list of Mississippi Coast Mardi Gras Parades.

Stay for the Food

They call it FAT Tuesday! Carnival time is party time. Oysters, shrimp, king cake, gumbo, jambalaya, poboys, wood-smoked barbecue. You and the kids will love the authentic live blues and hickory-smoked Q at the original Shed in Ocean Springs. Chimneys Restaurant in Gulfport takes it up a notch. Take in the water and watch the trains cross the tracks at the new 200 North Beach Restaurant and Hurricane Hunter Bar in Bay St. Louis.

Leave the Kids at Home?

Then hit the casinos for 24-hour gaming with great dining, entertainment and non-stop fun. Or check out the sounds at one of the Coast’s music clubs, like the 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, a site on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

Play Hard, Sleep Well

Make your reservation now at one of more than 100 hotels, motels, condominiums, RV parks and bed and breakfast inns. Pamper yourself at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino. Or sleep waterfront in your own RV at the Silver Slipper Casino in Waveland. Camp at Davis Bayou or Buccaneer State Park.

Left: Ferry boat to West Ship Island. NPS photo.

Head Outside

Run, paddle and let the good times roll in the Mardi Pardi Eco Adventure Race 5k run, 2-mile kayak and 12-mile bike triathlon on Sat., Feb. 18, in Bay St. Louis. Paddle some more at Wolf River Canoe and Kayak, Bay Breeze or Da Beach House . Fish, boat or spend the day on the beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore or take a boat tour through the amazing estuaries of Pascagoula River. You might see an alligator sunning itself or a blue heron fly by.

Take in the sites

Take a break from the Mardi Gras frenzy at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art or Walter Anderson. Kids love the Live Oak treehouses at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. The Biloxi Lighthouse is a Mississippi Gulf Coast icon.

“The ‘Wish You Were Here’ campaign has been hugely successful for lodging and restaurants, but some segments like charter boat fishing and the seafood industry continue to lag behind,” said MDA Tourism Director Mary Beth Wilkerson. “This charter boat fishing promotion served double duty, highlighting both the excellent fishing and the fresh seafood fishermen bring home.”

Wilkerson added, “The success of the promotion demonstrates the pent-up demand for the charter boat fishing segment. And we’re confident that marketing efforts will continue to emphasize charter boat fishing and safe seafood.”

July marks the end of the aggressive, multi-platform, tourism campaign running in 15 regional markets, including Atlanta, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Memphis, with a media budget of $15 million. The campaign was mounted across multiple platforms – television, radio, online, and social media. The campaign also utilized mobile texting. More monies for the Mississippi Gulf Coast are anticipated from BP to fund marketing efforts over the next three years.

MDA formed the Gulf Coast Tourism Steering Committee to offer advice on the most effective way to utilize the campaign funds. MDA tapped Mississippi Gulf Coast advertising agency, The Big Three, to create, produce and plan the campaign.

The “Wish You Were Here” campaign and promotional information can be found at http://www.visitmscoast.org. The website also features a series of destination video reports, typically three each week, reporting on Gulf Coast events. The video reports can also be found on YouTube.

Orrison’s smoker, which he uses in BBQ competitions, is retrofitted from an old Willys 4×4. A defunct golf cart forms part of the outdoor stage complex, which regularly hosts live music in a tribute to Mississippi’s stature as birthplace of the Delta Blues. They take music seriously, and performers have included Percy Sledge and Buddy Guy. The Shed is a true joint, and one that is often jumping. But unlike regional barbecue shacks with an exclusive, all-locals feel, it is very welcoming, and its proximity to Biloxi and Gulfport delivers a big tourist trade.

Barbecue is ordered from a surprisingly large menu at the counter and bar inside, then delivered to your choice of tables, “indoors” or out, in foam clamshell boxes with your chosen sides. There are 152 different beers in bottles and on tap, along with wines and hard cider.

Reason to visit: Full-sized pork ribs.

The food: The Shed is located between the vinegary pulled-pork culture of the Carolinas and the sauced-rib traditions of Memphis. Its menu offers up an array of what Northerners simply think of as “barbecue,” rather than a heavily regionalized style. Offerings include beef brisket, baby back and pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and chicken, in a wide range of plates, sandwiches, combos and sizes. Nearly every item on the menu has won an award — the pulled-pork sandwich was named the nation’s best by Regis & Kelly.

By Larry Olmsted

When The Shed opened nine years ago, it spanned all of 300 square feet. After 39 expansions, it now covers 6,500 square feet and seats 900 people.

But it is the ribs that stand out. I personally favor the full-sized pork ribs, which have more texture and flavor than the buttery tender baby backs, but baby-back fans will also be overjoyed (and those are Orrison’s personal favorite). The Shed’s “Whole Hog” was a winner at the ultra-prestigious Memphis in May, one of the world’s top barbecue competitions, but unfortunately does not appear on the menu (they do it as catering). The weakest links, as with too many good bbq joints, are the sides, mere afterthoughts. Eat more meat.

TV food junkies may recognize Orrison from the recent Food Channel show Best in Smoke, an Iron Chef-style cooking competition between barbecue heavyweights. Orrison took first place in both true barbecue rounds, with his pork ribs topping some of the nation’s most famous rib chefs, before being sent home.

The Shed is franchising and expanding throughout the Gulf Coast, and there are now six locations from Destin, Fla., to Scott, La. For quality control, everything from the sauce (winner of 20 major awards) to the juice for the coleslaw are made in one facility. While local purists swear by the Ocean Springs location, where Brad and his sister/partner Brooke are usually found, I have also eaten in Gulfport and loved it just as much.

Pilgrimage-worthy?: Yes, within the Gulf Coast. A must for the Gulfport and Biloxi-bound.

Rating: Yum! (Scale: Blah, OK, Mmmm, Yum!, OMG!)

Price: $$ (Scale: $ cheap, $$ moderate, $$$ expensive)

Details: Original, 7501 Hwy 57, Ocean Springs, Miss.; 228-875-9590; http://theshedbbq.com/

Larry Olmsted has been writing about food and travel for more than 15 years. An avid eater and cook, he has attended cooking classes in Italy, judged a BBQ contest and once dined with Julia Child. Follow him on Twitter, @TravelFoodGuy, and if there’s a unique American eatery you think he should visit, send him an e-mail at travel@usatoday.com.

“There’s no better place than Mississippi for children to broaden their imaginations and enjoy the magic of summer in the True South,” said Mary Beth Wilkerson, director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division. “From outdoor activities to indoor learning experiences, there is so much to experience across the state, and June is the perfect time for families to visit Mississippi.”

Following is a sampling of some of the exciting things your children can see and do while you’re here in the month of June and all summer long:

Jackson

The new Mississippi Children’s Museum is quickly becoming one of the most popular and interesting destinations for children. With plenty of interactive exhibits and room for children to be children, the museum includes five themes of Mississippi heritage, health and nutrition, literacy, cultural arts, and science and technology. Open every day except for Monday, you can find out full details about this new, unique attraction for children at http://www.mississippichildrensmuseum.com/.

At the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum/National Agricultural Aviation Museum, children will finds authentic, hands-on activities and exhibits to explore. Known as the “Ag Museum” to locals, you can visit any day of the week except Sunday. For more information about how your children can learn more about the agricultural history of rural areas of Mississippi, please visit the Ag Museum’s website at http://www.mdac.state.ms.us/n_library/departments/ag_museum/index_agmuseum.html.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is the perfect place for young explorers who love anything with fins, gills, fur, claws or any creepy crawly creature around. Indoor displays, including all kinds of native Mississippi fish, plus several walking trails and an open-air amphitheater provide a wonderful atmosphere for frequent special events that are held throughout the year. Learn more about how you can provide your children with insight into the great outdoors in Mississippi by going to http://www.msnaturalscience.org/.

For almost 100 years, the Jackson Zoo has been a can’t-miss attraction for locals and visitors alike. With a wide variety of wild animals, reptiles and amphibians, the zoo also features train rides and a carousel. Open every day of the week, you can find out all of the latest information about the Jackson Zoo by visiting their website at http://www.jacksonzoo.org/.

Meridian

The Dentzel Carousel in Meridian is one of the most unique places—not only in the state—but in the entire country. Originally manufactured in 1896 by Gustav Dentzel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this historic carousel features hand-carved animals made of poplar or basswood. The Dentzel Factory only produced two or three carousels each year of production, and the house for the one in Meridian is the only remaining original carousel building built from a Dentzel blueprint. Located since 1909 in its same location Highland Park in Meridian, meticulous carving and painting make this a treasured spot. The carousel is open daily in June and July from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. More details are available at http://www.meridianms.org/pr_carousel.htm.

Gulfport

Take a ferry eleven miles out to one of the barrier islands off the Mississippi Gulf Coast called Ship Island, and spend some quality family time on an undeveloped and unspoiled beach. While you’re on Ship Island, you can visit Fort Massachusetts that was constructed n 1868. Ferries depart from Gulfport and you can view the entire schedule of when they come and go at http://www.msshipisland.com/About_Us.html.

At the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport features interactive and entertaining exhibitions and programs for children. This is an active place with plenty of opportunities for hands-on experiences so your children will learn by doing, not just watching. You’re your trip there by going to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center website at http://www.lmdc.org/.

Biloxi

Once you’ve enjoyed the beaches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, be sure to take the Biloxi Shrimping Trip. It’s a neat way to quickly understand more about the unique habitat of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Hop aboard this 70-minute boat tour that will include taking samples of live shrimp and marine life during your tour so you will see up close what swims the waters just off the Mississippi coastline. See more details about how your children can dive into the details of marine life by going on the Shrimping Trip at www.biloxishrimpingtrip.com.

Laurel

Landrum’s Homestead and Village is a re-creation of an 1800s settlement that includes 60 buildings and displays located on a peaceful, scenic setting. The General Store and Homestead Shoppe includes gifts and souvenirs from days gone by. Landrum’s is a great place for your children to take a break from video games and get a glimpse of how life was in the 1800s which puts a whole new perspective on life. Landrum’s website includes more facts and history of the place, and you visit it at http://www.landrumscountry.com.

Tupelo

The Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo is one of those unexpected places you’ll find in this historic town that is also the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. The open-air trolley or the Monster Bison Bus rides you through the park to see everything firsthand. Exotic animals and even a petting zoo are just some of the fun things your children will enjoy while you are here. Discover more information at http://www.tupelobuffalopark.com/index.html.

Greenwood

The Viking Cooking School in Greenwood (also with a location Ridgeland, near Jackson) is home to one of the most renowned culinary sites in the world—the home of Viking Range Corporation. The Viking Cooking School offers classes practically on a daily basis, and provides a great opportunity for you to share a cooking and learning experience with your children. There is a wide variety of classes and topics featured by the Viking Cooking School and you can find out all of the details of the Greenwood location at http://www.vikingcookingschool.com/.

Start planning your trip to Mississippi in June so your children or grandchildren can explore and learn more about the True South. In addition to the places listed above, the best place to begin is at http://www.VisitMississippi.org, the official tourism website of Mississippi, which provides travel planning and location-specific information about attractions and events.

Susan LaBrecque celebrates Memorial Day on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at the Billy Creel Memorial Gulf Coast Wooden Boat Show. This annual event is hosted by the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum and features beautiful old boats, good food and a flea market full of cool collectibles. It’s just one of the wonderful events happening taking place. And, now that summer’s officially here, there’s even more fun on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Find it all at www.visitmscoast.org. Wish you were here!

Susan LaBrecque takes a walk on the wild side at the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Airboat Swamp Tours, one of the many wonderful outdoor adventures on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The entire family will enjoy getting up close and personal with the gators. Take a walking tour or explore our beautiful swamplands and creatures on an airboat ride. It’s an exciting experience you don’t want to miss. Discover all of our family fun on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at www.visitmscoast.org. Wish you were here!