Gulf Coast Early Dec

doxiemom11 wrote:
The carved trees run from I think Biloxi to Pass Christian. They are in the median between the EB and WB lanes. (The ones we have seen) If you didn't know about them, you could drive thru and not even notice them as you are usually looking the other way towards the water.

This is along Hwy 90 I take it. Is there any place to pull over for a photo or two? Or I guess that varies according to location/area. Any other interesting sites and/or eateries along that route heading west to Fontainebleau State Park?

Thanks again

The carved trees run from I think Biloxi to Pass Christian. They are in the median between the EB and WB lanes. (The ones we have seen) If you didn't know about them, you could drive thru and not even notice them as you are usually looking the other way towards the water.

There are all sorts of Florida State Parks along the coast: Grayton Beach, Topsail SP, St Andrews, St Josephs are the major ones. But look at this map:

State Parks-NW

Ft Pickens is the major National Park.

Better make reservations as soon as you have a firm date since they may well be booked up.

tatest: Florida's Natures Coast sounds great, but what is really there in the way of state or federal parks, which we prefer? By the way, Panacea, FL has/had THE best fresh sea food market we've found. Like that area much, but there isn't much in the way of camping that we've found, but that's why we're asking on this forum.
We feel that we gotta head west to see Louisiana, just north of New Orleans, Fontainebleau, Fairview Riverside, & Tickfaw State Parks. This was our original early spring agenda prior to the onset of our medical set backs. Sure we like the serenity of the beach & breaking waves, but don't plan to swim or wade at all. Walk about, cook & eat fresh sea food and enjoy the great outdoors. See unfamiliar sites and consume the local fare and culture.
Also has anyone any info on the carvings of the trees along HWY 90 that were destroyed in Katrina around the Biloxi/Gulf Port area? That's also on out list.
Thanks for all the great info, but if snow sets in early we'll have to gut it out and hunker down with the ole keyboard and plot another trip come the thaw.

Check out Ft Pickens federal park near Pensacola. Also, consider Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Happy camping..........

My daughter was two years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Keesler). I found November and December good times to visit. It could be cold at night, seldom freezing. It could be warm enough for light jackets during the day, feeling really nice if the sun is shining on you. Sunny days, northern visitors might even go to the beach. They might not always go in the water. It will not be summer warm, best you might expect is a like a mild fall day up north, October weather in December.

Attractions, Gulfport to Mobile, stay open year round. There are the parks for exploring nature, malls for shopping, casinos. I don't know what other attractions you might seek, this is not an area big on theme parks and such.

The bummer for me was that the storm systems we enjoy Spring and Autumn on the southern plains, and all summer in the upper midwest, move down to about the level of I-10 and I-20 for the winter. On a cycle of a week to a week and a half, there will be a few days of cold, often heavy rain, follwed by a few days of sunshine. The rains tend to come with some pretty heavy winds, and when Arctic air masses push down into the southern states, this will be Winter's Tornado Alley. Such events are rare, but pretty miserable if camping.

All things considered, in December I would rather be on Florida's Natures Coast (north ot Tampa to the beginning of the Panhandle) or on the Texas Gulf Coast or Coastal Plain, somewhere from Houston south. That seems to be more out of the weather patterns that run across the mid-South and lower South during winter. Not so bad if you have a house, but the stormy days will be a problem for camping.

Gulfport MS area is predicting highs in the upper 50's to upper 60's with sunshine most days for the first part of December (as of now). Lows in the 40's. Sunshine will help you feel warmer. We are currently in Long Beach just west of Gulfport.

Too cool for most natives to think about swimming, but Yankee snowbirds may think differently. Weather depends on frontal systems, a front comes thru, it rains for a day or two and then the temps drop for 2 or 3 days. Can't say how much they'll drop since it depends on the unpredictable frontal systems. We've already had two fronts come thru that dropped temps 20 deg below average with another one scheduled for this weekend. What that means for the rest of the fall and winter is anyone's guess but so far it is definitely been on the cool side since mid September. Meaning most days have been in the 80's or lower instead of the mid 90's.

If you want a better chance of warm weather then go further south to Sarasota and south on the west coast or West Palm south on the east. The Keys are the best bet but everyone also knows that, and it will be packed.

I spent a couple years nearby in Pensacola, complements of the Navy. You'll be far enough north to see natives wearing sweaters or light jackets at night, and you'd have to be a Spartan to swim in the gulf, but it will be lots warmer than home. Go for it.