I began the season by going down to the Gulf Coast, beginning in New Orleans and heading east driving along the Gulf of Mexico. If you haven’t been in the South during the spring, you’re missing out on a drunken fragrance festival. Everything is lush and in bloom and whether you’re from the south or not, it creates a feeling of nostalgia and yearning for whatever is to come.

As I began my trip, you couldn’t help but notice that a certain storm had blown by not too long ago with the deceptive name of Katrina. Most everything has been cleared away as far as trash, debris and trees. The roads have been repaired and rebuilt. The small towns are now dressed in their Sunday best awaiting to host any lucky visitor. It is sort of like visiting a different world as you pass through towns called Gautier, Pass Christian, Bayou La Batre, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Fairhope, Daphne and Pascagoula.With the air being thick and lazy, you can’t help but feel time runs a little slower. You have to downshift a few gears just to understand people when they speak, slow and easy.

Unless you’re from this region, you might not have ever thought about vacationing on the Gulf. It is truly a great kept secret. A destination that’s reasonable as far as accommodations go, and whether you’re single, a couple, or part of a family; you’ll find plenty to your liking. You’ve got everything from the casino hotels to the great family beaches of Gulf Shores to explore.

A couple of my favorite stops were in Ocean Springs, MS and Fairhope, AL. Ocean Springs was first spotted on the map when it became a sort of artist colony back at the turn of the 20th century. The Anderson family brought their talents and crazy genius there and set up a family compound that’s still going to this day. As a result, there’s fantastic pottery, painting, and lots of stores and galleries to wander around . The streets are canopied with magnolias and oaks that make you want to stroll around town eating a lot of ice cream while you shop. Down Washington St. you will find women’s boutiques like Bliss, Stilettoes, The Bay Collection, and Chandeleur Outfitteres. They carry lines ranging from Trina Turk, Tommy Bahama and Tribal, to Chinese Laundry, Yellow Box, Dog Earred, to Merrill, Quiksilver, Crocs and Columbia.



Fairhope is sweet. Directly across the bay from Mobile, it too has a lush landscape that follows the water. There are many B&B’s as well as a nice resort called The Grande (a Marriott property). It has a booming shopping district that was chock full of boutiques, bookstores, galleries and even a surf shop (Adrenaline) for your surfer girl or little grom. I'm happy to report that retailers in both towns were optimistic and having pretty good spring breaks. Their stores are full and they are eagerly awaiting to shower you with some Southern hospitality.

Keep heading east and you’ll hit Gulf Shores and eventually end up in Florida. There are tons of good places to stay that are reasonably priced -- not to mention that you can fuel yourself the whole way on powder sugar and beignets! So, if you are looking for something off the beaten path, and a little different from your typical tourist destination, why not check out Mississippi and Alabama?

You might never have thought you would say you would ever be visiting these states, but I promise you, it is worth the trip.