Florida District
A good place to begin your visit is at Naval Live Oaks, which is
both the Visitor Center and Administrative Headquarters for the Gulf Islands
National Seashore. The Visitor Center includes exhibits on the history of live
oak trees for use in building wooden naval ships and on the archeology of the
area. There is also a brief orientation film about the park and a bookstore
that sells field guides, maps, and other visitor-related material. The Naval Live Oaks Area
includes a picnic area with a
pavilion, individual tables, restrooms and outdoor showers, a youth group
camping facility, and several hiking trails, including the Visitor Center
Trail and Pensacola-Saint Augustine Road. There are many ways to enjoy the
features of this 1,378 acre woodland area.
From the Fort
Pickens Visitor Center area, park visitors can take a self-guided
tour of Fort Pickens or the join a ranger on an hour tour beginning at the
visitor center daily. There is also a museum and auditorium
located in the Fort Pickens area, with interpretive programs offered on a
regular basis. The Visitor Center at Fort
Barrancas has exhibits on the history of Pensacola under five flags from
1559-1971 and displays Civil War and coast artillery artifacts. A 12-minute
video Fort Barrancas is shown upon request and a guided tour of the
Fort is offered daily.
Gulf Islands
National Seashore is a water lover's paradise, with two-thirds of the park is underwater.
The park has pure white sand beaches and crystal clear water.
Swimming and surf fishing are allowed along most of the parks beaches, and Fort Pickens has a pier that reaches out into the bay. Also, many charter
fishing facilities and two bridges for fishing the bay side of the islands are
in the area.
The
many trails at Gulf Islands allow visitors to explore a wide variety of habitats,
including can be
explored from beach to forest. You can walk the beautiful white sand beaches
or take a stroll on one of the many trails
through barrier islands, maritime forests or wetlands. Self-guided trails help
hikers discover the park's natural resources.
The National
Seashore comprises several diverse ecological communities which attract a wide
variety of bird life. The offshore barrier islands consist of open beaches,
dunes, freshwater marshes and wooded areas. On the mainland, also, are
freshwater marshes, salt marshes and wooded areas which offer wildlife
habitats. More than 280 species of birds have been identified within the
boundaries of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Mississippi
District
Begin your visit at the William M. Colmer Visitor Center, which is located
in Ocean Springs. Here you'll find an information desk, a bookstore, exhibits,
an auditorium that shows orientation films, and a nearby self-guiding nature
trail. The islands in the Mississippi District are about 10 miles offshore and
can be reached only by boat.
During the spring, summer,
and fall, boat trips are offered from Gulfport to West Ship Island by a park
concessionaire. The ferry departs from Gulfport Yacht Harbor located at the
intersection of Highway 49 and U.S. Highway 98. For departure times from March
through October call (228) 864-1013 or 1-800-388-3290 or visit their website
at www.msshipisland.com
West Ship Island, like
many of the other barrier islands on the Gulf Coast, is home to a variety of plant and animal life.
A boardwalk, about 1/3 mile long, goes from the boat dock across to the south
side of the island, giving park visitors the opportunity to see dunes, marshes and
beach. On the island, rangers and volunteers
give free guided tours of Fort Massachusetts during the spring, summer and
fall. Tours are scheduled twice daily in the summer, and
once daily in the spring and fall. Arrangements for schools and special groups
may be made with the Mississippi District Interpreter at (228) 875-9057.
Information about boats
licensed to carry passengers to the wilderness islands (East Ship, Horn, and
Petit Bois) is available at the William M. Colmer Visitor Center. The
wilderness islands offer dramatic scenery but limited facilities.
The
National Seashore comprises several diverse ecological communities that
attract a wide variety of bird life. The offshore barrier islands consist of
open beaches, dunes, freshwater marshes and wooded areas. On the mainland are
freshwater marshes, salt marshes and wooded areas that offer wildlife
habitats. More than 280 species of birds have been identified within the
boundaries of Gulf Islands National Seashore, since its establishment in
January 1971.
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