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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 in 2005, this barrier island was badly hit. Among the casualties were visitor facilities, concession areas and a replica lighthouse. All but the lighthouse currently are being rebuilt. Thankfully, the storm surge left intact the island's lovely, white-sand swimming beach, and regularly scheduled daytrips to West Ship have resumed.

Cruises to the island are operated by Ship Island Excursions, with ferries departing daily from Gulfport Yacht Harbor, located 10 miles west of Biloxi. Passengers disembark at a reconstructed pier on the north side of the island adjacent to the Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts. 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 abutting the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to the fine sand, beachgoers are blessed with abundant shore birds, good shelling and plenty of wide-open spaces to explore.

In summer (mid-May to mid-August), Ship Island excursions runs two trips a day, at 9 a.m. and noon, with return trips departing the island five hours later. In fall and spring trips are reduced to one a day, five days per week. Visitors are advised to pack everything they might need for a day in the hot sun, but are warned to not over pack as limited boat space is available. There are portable toilets on the island.

Information
Gulf Islands National Seashore, 850-934-2600
Ship Island Excursions, 866-466-7386

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