Uptown Acorn Travels {Bay St. Louis/Pass Christian, MS}

What a great weekend was had! J and I left for Bay St. Louis and walked around the galleries, shops, and bars of the cute downtown area. Bay St. Louis is such a cute beach town and has grown so much during the time since it was demolished by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Most excited for us was the newest addition, The Pearl (many of you know the one in Rosemary Beach, FL). Luxury accommodations are what the Bay has been missing, and it has finally arrived. The restaurant, Thorny Oyster, is well-appointed and worth the hype. The interior is amazing and just waht the doctor ordered.

Bay St. Louis Eats:

Mockingbird Cafe

A delicious cafe housed in a charming home. May I suggest the Mockingbird burger. It is delicious.

Thorny Oyster

What a sight! The well-decorated restaurant is just what the Bay needed. It is a more upscale eatery, but a great destination and meeting place for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant is connected to the Pearl Hotel. It was my first time. I enjoyed the ceviche, fried calamari, and the fresh lobster roll.

Bay St. Louis Drinks:

Hinge

A new bar ajacent to the Pearl Hotel. It is much more upscale than most bars along the beach. You can actually visit and hear conversations. 

A plush cocktail bar, which boasts a menu of fine libations including pre-Prohibition style signature craft cocktails and a variety of wines, spirits, and select beer. 

Bay St. Louis Shops:

Gulf Coast Home

One of my favorite new discoveries in downtown Bay St. Louis. The shop is a treat for the eyes with furniture, fabrics, and accessories galore. A must-see in Bay St. Louis!

The Shops at Century Hall

A collection of vendors under one roof. I always visit my favorite Bay Life Gifts. I also love the designs of Sassy Bird Interiors.

Pass Christian Eats/Drinks:

Fill-Up with Billups

What an awesome breakfast place housed in a former service station. May I suggest the sun-up breakfast? The biscuit was almost as large as my head.

Bacchus on the Beach

A great place near the beach for raw oysters, cocktails, and dinner.

Pass Christian Shops:

Art Alley in the Pass

It is not a trip to Pass christian without a stop at Art Alley in the Pass. Beth, the proprietor, is such a gem. A cute, beachy destination filled with great accessories and food items. I love the selection of jams and jellies. And yes, I picked up a jar of my favorite raspberry jalapeno jelly. Yum!

Pass Christian Stay:

Hotel Pass Christian

A newish, 10-room boutique-style hotel across the road from Bacchus on the Beach and next door to Fill-Up at Billups. The hotel overlooks Pass Christian harbor. The accommodations were fine for the price of the room. I did like that our balcony overlooked the gulf and the Pass Christian Yacht Club.

Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, y'all!

The Weekend That Was {March 4-6}

J & I just returned from the Mississippi Gulf Coast where we spent an awesome birthday trip. The weather could not have been any nicer.

We headed to Ocean Springs for a bite and a couple cocktails from Maison Du Lu, stylish food for stylish people. The shops along Washington Avenue are so nice and welcoming. Ocean Springs is never complete without some retail therapy from Hillyer House. I'll share what came home with us later. I'll give you a two word hint-- Jean McKee.

On the way to our room and board, we stopped for a couple cocktails at the White House Biloxi. It is a fabulously decorated hotel. Places in Biloxi seem to have quite the "cheese" factor due to the casinos. The White House adds some class to the Biloxi beachfront. I want to go back and stay in one of the ocean facing suites.

We dropped off our things at the Blue Rose Mansion, a great Bed & Breakfast in Pass Christian. It is the second year in a row that we have stayed there, and it could not have been nicer.  Wesley is always such a friendly host. Though we missed Herb, the owner, a treat was left in our room to help celebrate our birthdays.

We then headed to Bay St. Louis where we did more retail therapy. J and I fell in LOVE with this original painting at Bay Life Gifts, a charming gift shop in downtown BSL. More on the painting later. We stopped at The Blind Tiger for a couple refreshing drinks before heading back to the Pass.

We walked across the street for dinner at Bacchus on the Beach. The food and service are always a plus.

Earlier this morning, J and I shared "coffee tawk" on the great front porch of the Blue Rose before heading to the Outlets in Gulfport and lunch at Half Shell Oyster House. I just love the Voodoo shrimp.

If the weekend was any indication of how my birthday week will go then I am looking forward to it greatly. 48 can't be too bad.

Showing and Sharing at Coastal Charm

Bring it on, y'all!

And the Birthday Weekend begins....

I love to celebrate my birthday, so a get away to one of my fave beach spots is on the itinerary.

Looking forward to a weekend in Pass Christian.

A stop over in Bay St. Louis, followed by a stop at the outlets, along with a jaunt to Ocean Springs makes it so exciting.

The weather is supposed to be phenomenal along the coast.

Bring on the salty air.

Cheers to a grand birthday week, y'all!