Hancock County: Coastal Landscapes, Culture and Spaceflight

The 13-mile Beach Boulevard Scenic Byway runs parallel to the coast through Hancock County’s wooded coastal landscape. Here, different travel themes come together: science and spaceflight, historic sites, nature trails and waterfront activities. To plan your trip, it’s worth first considering which of these aspects interests you most.

Nature Trails, Coast and Water

The routes vary in both length and activity. The Pirate’s Alley Nature Trail is a 1.8-mile self-guided nature trail. The Jourdan River Blueway Trail is an 8.5-mile canoe and kayak route through coastal floodplains and a river ecosystem. These offer two distinct options: a shorter nature trail and a longer water route.

The INFINITY Science Center’s Biome Boardwalk also connects a trail with a specific nature theme: it winds for 1,400 feet through four distinct habitats in the region. The Beach Boulevard Scenic Byway offers a different perspective on the landscape, with wooded coastal scenery stretching along the entire 13-mile route.

Science and Spaceflight

The INFINITY Science Center offers a self-guided visitor experience focused on space exploration, Earth science, engineering and technology. The Deep Ocean Explorer adds a deep-sea excursion. This brings together several scientific subjects under one roof, from space and Earth to the deep sea.

As of September 5, 2026, the Center lists its regular hours as Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check the schedule before your trip. At NASA’s Stennis Space Center, another distinction matters: as of September 5, 2026, public tours of the space center itself are not offered. Separate from these are scenic tours through the acoustic buffer zone, where you can learn about the site’s history. Check visitor policies before you arrive.

Local History and Culture

In Bay Saint Louis, the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum is on the second floor of the historic L&N Train Depot. The Old Bay St. Louis district, known as Old Town, also has a distinct historic character: it includes numerous houses and buildings listed on the National Register. The Bay St. Louis Historic Walking & Biking Tour is a self-guided bicycle tour through Old Town and the Depot District.

The Kate Lobrano House, a shotgun cottage built in 1896, is another example of the area’s architectural history. Historic Logtown, at the mouth of the Pearl River, was once home to several sawmills. These places bring different chapters of history into view—from the architecture of a single home to a site’s former economic importance.

Waveland also brings together local attractions with a clear thematic focus. Discovery Alley at Waveland’s Ground Zero Museum is a permanent children’s and educational area. Its features include a 37-foot mural, museum-style games, a craft area and a free hurricane simulator. The Garfield Ladner Pier in Waveland is a waterfront attraction.

Water Activities and Getting Around

Buccaneer State Park includes the 4.5-acre Buccaneer Bay water park. Together with the canoe and kayak route, the pier and the coastal trails, it offers a range of very different water and nature experiences. If you arrive by boat, Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor provides access to downtown. You can plan your trip around the experiences that matter most to you.

Explore more destinations: Diamondhead, Stennis Ctr, Kemper County, Jones, Tunica, Clay, Tate County, Harrison.

For the main travel overview: Mississippi.