5 Best Photo Opportunities in Biloxi

Now that the city has had a chance to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina swept through, visitors will find numerous fantastic photo opportunities. Biloxi is looking sparkly and new, a welcome upgrade from the post-Katrina views of devastation. Unlike many cities, the best photo ops in Biloxi aren't towering skyscrapers or pristine forests, but reminders of the city's resilience and steadfast determination in the wake of an unimaginable natural disaster. You may hear that scenic Biloxi isn't what it used to be. While that's true, there are plenty of folks who claim that the city is even better.

1. The Classic Beach Photo

Some of the best travel photography shots in Biloxi are along the shore. The beach here is part of a 26-mile stretch of uninterrupted white sand and sea. You won't find a more attractive beach photo anywhere in the state. Beach access points are all along Highway 90 (also known as Beach Boulevard), from Biloxi west all the way to Pass Christian.

2. The "Something-From-Nothing" Katrina Rebound Photo

Devastation was nearly complete once the storm surge receded after Hurricane Katrina. Along with all the buildings, bridges and landmarks that were damaged or destroyed, the local ecology took a major hit. Seawater killed most of the live oak trees along the coast. Rather than tear them all up and start over again, the city decided to turn the stumps into works of art. Chainsaw artists from Mississippi, Indiana and Florida have transformed dozens of dead trees into sculptures of dolphins, pelicans, seagulls and other animals.

To see them, drive west along the stretch of Highway 90 between Waveland and downtown Biloxi. For your best photo of one of these fantastic sculptures, you can also visit the city's Town Green, home to a massive sculpture carved by Marlin Miller.

Town Green
710 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, MS 39531
228-435-6294

3. The Panoramic Photo

No place can you get better views of the Gulf region than from the seat of a small plane. Snap the ultimate Biloxi travel photography shots during an air tour with Cool Breeze Aviation. Get a unique perspective, not to mention one-of-a-kind photos that most visitors never even dream of, on a short flight over the Gulf Coast, departing from Stennis Airport in nearby Kiln.

Cool Breeze Aviation
Stennis International Airport
7248 Stennis Airport Road
Kiln, MS 39556
228-343-6936

4. The Quintessential Biloxi Photo

Biloxi's most famous landmark is its lighthouse. Constructed in 1848, it also happens to be the only lighthouse in the world situated on a highway median. Easy to get to and picturesque, the 65 foot tall lighthouse offers one of the city's best photo opportunities. Biloxi visitors who climb the spiral staircase inside are rewarded with stunning shoreline vistas. Once at the top of the staircase, climb through a trap door to the light room, where you'll have an amazing 360-degree view of the city, the beach and the ocean.

Biloxi Lighthouse
Hwy 90 & Porter Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-435-6244
http://www.biloxi.ms.us/museums/biloxilighthouse/
Tours Mon-Sat 9AM, 9:15AM and 9:30AM
Adults $5, students $2

5. The Best Biloxi Modern Architecture Photo

Artist George Ohr was shunned during his lifetime. Today, however, the Biloxi potter is so revered for his innovative and eclectic style that the city has constructed a museum to house some of his most noteworthy pieces. The museum complex was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, who is known for designing the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, the Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA, and Prague's Dancing House.

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum itself opened November 8, 2010, in a complex of several other buildings. Set among live oaks, the park-like property was originally slated to open in 2006, but Hurricane Katrina deposited a casino barge on the site and construction had to begin anew. The museum's buildings include the Welcome Center, an Exhibition Gallery, the Gallery of African American Art, the George E. Ohr Gallery and the Center for Ceramics, in addition to two smaller traditional and historic structures. Shutterbugs with an eye for interesting art and design will find some of Biloxi's best photo ops here.

Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art
386 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-374-5547
http://www.georgeohr.org/
Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM
Free