Hidden Gems in Harrison County

Harrison County has far more to offer than casinos and beachfront resorts. If you venture beyond Highway 90 and keep your eyes open, you’ll find places that most visitors never discover.

Hiller Park in Long Beach

Tucked away in a residential area of Long Beach, Hiller Park is a quiet green space with walking paths, picnic shelters, and a playground shaded by old live oaks. It rarely appears in tourism guides, which is exactly why locals love it. On weekday mornings, you’ll mostly share it with dog walkers and joggers.

The Vietnamese Community of East Biloxi

East Biloxi is home to one of the largest Vietnamese-American communities on the Gulf Coast, established by refugees who arrived in the 1970s and 1980s. Wander along Division Street and the surrounding blocks to find family-run restaurants serving pho, banh mi, and fresh spring rolls that rival anything in larger cities. Several small markets carry imported goods and fresh produce you won’t find elsewhere in the county.

Wolf River Nature Trail

North of the beach towns, the Wolf River winds through bottomland hardwoods and cypress swamps. The nature trail along the river offers peaceful hiking, birdwatching, and kayak launches. In spring, the wildflowers along the banks are worth the trip on their own.

Art Galleries in Pass Christian

Pass Christian — “the Pass” to locals — has a small but genuine art scene along its scenic stretch of Highway 90. Several galleries feature Gulf Coast painters, potters, and woodworkers. The town’s unhurried atmosphere makes gallery browsing feel like something you actually want to do rather than a tourist obligation.

Old Brick Streets in Gulfport

A few blocks of original brick-paved streets survive in downtown Gulfport, remnants of the city’s early twentieth-century layout. They’re easy to miss if you’re driving, but walking through the area gives you a feel for the city’s history before hurricanes and development reshaped the coastline.

Local Seafood Markets

Skip the chain restaurants and buy direct from the source. Small seafood markets along the Back Bay of Biloxi and near the Gulfport Harbor sell shrimp, crab, and oysters caught that morning. Prices are better than restaurant menus, and the people behind the counter can tell you exactly where your dinner came from and how to cook it.

Deer Island

Visible from the Biloxi shoreline but visited by few, Deer Island is an uninhabited barrier island accessible only by private boat or kayak. The island is a protected habitat for wildlife, including nesting shorebirds and the occasional dolphin sighting in surrounding waters. Paddle over on a calm morning and you’ll have a wild Gulf Coast beach largely to yourself.

The Back Bay of Biloxi

Most visitors stick to the beachfront, but the Back Bay on the north side of the Biloxi peninsula has its own character — quieter neighborhoods, working waterfronts, and some of the best local seafood spots in the county. It’s where Harrison County feels most like itself.

Explore more local spots on the Harrison County events calendar and our business directory to find what the guidebooks leave out.