Located in the Gulf of Mexico, about 11 miles off
Mississippi's Coast, is a little piece of paradise. West Ship Island is an
undeveloped barrier island with white sandy beaches and beautiful blue green
water. The island is accessible by ferry or private boat only.
Ship Island Excursions runs the ferry service leaving from
Gulfport. It is a pleasant 50 minute
ride that usually involves watching dolphins and feeding seagulls along the
way.
Once you arrive at the island, you are greeted by a long pier
and wooden walkways that leads you to the fort.
Fort Massachusetts was built after the War of 1812 and
remained in use until 1903. Guided tours are available or you can explore it on
your own.
From the fort, continue on the walkway, which will take you on
a pretty good hike to the other side of the island where the main beach area is
located. Along the way, you will pass restrooms, a pavilion,
and a small store. These along with the umbrellas are pretty much the only
places to get out of the sun on the island. There are no trees or natural shade
anywhere.
The sand is mostly white with dark gray in areas.
I have been to the island many times and have never found
much of anything in the way of shells. The few shells that I have seen had live
crabs in them, so I left them.
I love this island because it almost feels like you are on
it alone. There is a limited amount of passengers that the ferry will carry out
every day and most of them stay in the main beach area. So, that “alone on an
island feel” is just a short stroll down the beach away from the main area.
Address:
1040 23rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501
Cost:
Adult Round Trip $29.00
Children (Age 3 -10) $19.00
Senior (Age 62+) $27.00
Military (Active I.D.) $27.00
Schedule varies according to the season. Check here.
Happy Travels!
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