Everything Biloxi does, it does big. From its days as the Seafood Capital of the World to its presence in the military, the Mississippi city has gone all out. Now Biloxi has turned into the poor man's Vegas.

In just seven short years, gaming has become the lifeblood of the town. Biloxi (also referred to as Casino Coast) has generated nearly $2.5 billion in casino revenue, and since 1992, the coastal town has added 10,000 hotel rooms to its inventory. That's not all. By 2000, the Mississippi Gulf Coast's room inventories are expected to rival those of Reno and Atlantic City. Not bad for an otherwise sleepy Southern town.

Unlike Vegas and Atlantic City, you can't peruse the Gulf Coast casinos on foot. There are 12 casinos that stretch from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi (roughly 26 miles), where it all ends with a boomtown bang: the Grand Casino; Casino Magic; Isle of Capri; and Palace Casino -- all clumped together at the end of Beach Blvd, or Highway 90. Biloxi alone boasts nine of the Gulf Coast's 12 casinos.

Don't let the neon signs fool you though. Outside of the cha-chings of slot machines, this honky-tonk city is still the same. It still has a beach (even though it's man-made), its main drag is still lined with old-style Southern mansions, it's still a major fishing hub and there's plenty of dust in the air. Oh, yeah, and the history is still ever present, especially in those areas of the city that are not so aesthetically pleasing (which, believe it or not, are as much a part of Biloxi's charm as its residents). Cont..

Travelodge
40 East Beach Blvd.,
Gulfport, MS 39507

$57.00

Imperial Palace
850 Bayview
Biloxi, MS   39530

$61.00