Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico just west of Biloxi. The two cities run together along the coast, sharing a stretch of white sand beach that faces the Mississippi Sound and the barrier islands beyond.
The city was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the rebuilding has been slow but steady. The beachfront Jones Park and the small-boat harbor are pleasant, and Ship Island — accessible by ferry from the Gulfport marina — has some of the finest undeveloped beach on the Gulf Coast, along with the ruins of Fort Massachusetts. The casino strip is mostly over in Biloxi, but Gulfport has its share of seafood joints and a more relaxed pace than its flashier neighbour.