Locals to Coastal Area...Need Your Help! (Biloxi, Pascagoula: home, casinos)

[SoBelle]

Since I started posting on this site as a new resident of coastal MS just a few short months ago, I have had a lot of changes in my life. My 82-year-old father in TN suffered a stroke. I went there to help sit with him at the hospital and had a sick mother who would not leave his side, even though I went there to relieve her. She got violently ill and was hospitalized, so I had both parents in the hospital at the same time. After weeks of fighting for her life, Mom died. My father was left alone without his mate of 58 years and he was trying to adjust to life without her and with the effects of the stroke. He couldn't live in his home alone, so I gladly brought him to MS to live with me. He is progressingly very well and can now get out some for short trips. He gets frustrated because he was an active man, working with his hands and traveling, even at 82 years old. Although he is doing well, he is struggling with the sadness of the changes in his life for he has lost so much...his wife, his health, his ability to be mobile on his own, the ability to live alone and the ability to work with his hands, which are now twisted with arthritis. I tell you all of this so you can understand my request for help. I need to find some activities or short half-day or day trips that he might enjoy. He's a bit of a loner, so he won't even consider going to a Senior Citizens Center, yet he likes people (more on a one-to-one basis.) He is also embarrassed because he still has some speech difficulties and problems with word recall, so he's afraid people will not understand him or look at him strangly. He loves to get out and ride in the car, but I have no idea where to take him. He was a big Dizzy Dean fan, so we traveled to a rest stop where there was a mural and Dizzy Dean memorial, then on to the Bond Cemetery where "Diz" was buried. I know that won't sound very exciting to most people, but he loved it. He loves history and points of interest and he loves to fish, but can't hold up to go on a deep sea excursion.

Can you, my fellow City Data posters, help me in terms of suggesting activities, small half-day or day trips, etc. to places he might enjoy? Activities in which he might be interested? I'm looking for travel that is around 1 to 1 1/2 hours max (each way) to and from starting points like Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula or Biloxi. I know this may be a strange request, but I have exhausted all local inquiries at the Chamber of Commerce locations, and I want to do some things to make my father's days more enjoyable. Thanks so much!

[SacalaitWhisperer]

Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula or Biloxi

I don't live there but have been in those areas many times.
There just isn't that much going on in Gautier, so I'd narrow your list to the other three choices.

[bustaduke]

A short day trip into New Orleans to visit The National World War II Museum.


The National World War II Museum Contact Information



busta

[starlite9]

Take him to the Casinos, there are a lot of elders bussed in from all over, and they play the penny slots, seems they really like it and chat alot.. Just don't let him bet more than a penny a shot and he will be busy for hours on a few dollars.

The Silver Slipper in Waveland is pretty nice and you are on the beaches there, there is also the Hollywood too as well as some others..

Anyway, just a thought, they have good deals on meals there too.

[OSPKA]

I would suggest Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs. This would be the perfect place to catch some fish from the piers, as well as see some wildlife.