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By Morris Dye

There's no bridge to Ship Island, so the Gulf Coast barrier island has pristine white-sand beaches that offer superior shelling.

West Ship Island, Mississippi

When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the northern Gulf Coast last August, the concession area, restrooms and other visitor facilities at this uninhabited barrier island 12 miles south of Gulfport, Miss., were completely destroyed. The storm surge left the island's lovely, white-sand swimming beach intact, however, and regularly scheduled day trips to West Ship have resumed.

Excursions to the island are operated by National Park Service concessionaire Pan Isles Inc., with ferries operating from the Gulfport Yacht Harbor west of Biloxi. Passengers disembark at a newly reconstructed pier on the north side of the island adjacent to the Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts, also severely damaged by Katrina. A wooden walkway connects the pier to the beach on the island's south side.

Visitors who don't mind lugging their own gear over the 1/3-mile trail are rewarded with a long expanse of fluffy white sand facing the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, with abundant shore birds, good shelling and plenty of wide-open space to explore.

Pending full restoration of National Park visitor facilities, Ship Island excursions runs two trips a day, at 9 a.m. and noon. Restrooms and snack bar service is available aboard the Pan Isles ferries that stay docked at the Ship Island pier for the trip's duration. There are also some portable toilets on the island.

Contact ferry operator for rates.

Information: Gulf Islands National Seashore.

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