Peace, Love, Bay St. Louis

The Bay's already known as one of the Coolest Small Towns in the Country.  Three more recognitions in August only add to our coolness quotient. 
- by Ellis Anderson 

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Bay St. Louis brought home what might be called a national trifecta for all-round coolness in August when it was named one of the 10 places in the state "Where Life is Still Simple," and one of 50 top "Hippie" towns in the United States and “One of Safest Beach Towns" nationally.  

One town wag observed that the “Safe” status is probably made possible by the town’s “Simple” and “Hippie” character traits.  That may be true, so to celebrate, we'll don our tie-dyed t-shirts and head down to the beach in the VW van.  

Below are links to the articles and excerpts: 

The Only In Your State website published an article on August 29th naming ten small towns in Mississippi "Where Life Is Still Simple."   Here's why BSL made the grade:

Named one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” by Budget and Travel Magazine, Bay St. Louis has it all – oceanfront views, a small town vibe, and a hip Old Town area filled with great restaurants, galleries, and more. As if it couldn’t get any better, the art scene is really flourishing thanks to city’s monthly “Second Saturday Artwalk.” The one-day fest includes art shows, live entertainment, and local cuisine.

The popular national men's website, Thrillist, named their choices for the "Best Hippie Towns in the United States."  We're not sure what their criteria was since Fairhope was the representative for Alabama and Key West was Florida's pick, but it just goes to show that we're in good company.  Here's what they said about Bay St. Louis: 

Mississippi is about as known for hippie culture as Oklahoma is for seafood. But once you head south of I-10, it’s an entirely different ballgame. And while the beach culture, casinos, and welcoming attitude of the Mississippi Gulf Coast give the whole region an almost-hippie feel, nowhere is it more prevalent than in Bay St. Louis. Here the old main street is lined with art galleries and antique shops, complete with a fantastic pay-what-you-want restaurant at the Starfish Café. The town feels like California got dropped right at the end of the Mississippi River...  

A national security blog named 12 beach towns in the United States to help readers "Plan a Safe and Secure Summer Family Vacation." The list included heavy hitters like, Gulf Shores, AL, Mystic, CT and Neptune Beach, FL. 

Bay St. Louis, MS
If you live in Mississippi, Bay St. Louis makes a perfect vacation spot. This small community is bursting with southern charm and safe beach spots, since the overall crime rate in Bay St. Louis is 22% lower than the national average. Mockingbird Café is the place to go to experience local twists on classic meals. The vintage venue has been around since 1868 and is only two blocks from the Beachfront, Old Town Bay St. Louis. Spend a day on Ship Island with a Ship Island Excursion. Bring the family, sunblock, and an umbrella to relax on the best beaches in the area. You may even spot a dolphin in the wake of your boat on the way there!