Pensecola, Florida, which is very easily driveable from the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or Perdido Key area, has a wonderful Naval Aviation Museum. The air base is the home of the Blue Angels. There is the USS Alabama and a submarine to tour, as well as an old fort. I've not been to the Mississippi coast.

Gulfport//biloxi is a casino area _ some are tacky, some very nice. (The beau rivage was developed by the same people who did bellagio in las vegas; i am not at all into casinos, but this was a beautiful resort with several pretty good restaurants, nice pool and spa, etc.) Biloxi has a couple of interesting museums _the pottery of george orr is odd and beautiful _ and some old south flavor as well (plantation type stuff, and the home//museum of robert e lee, the latter of which i personally found a little creepy). never been to mobile, so i can't compare the two....

Our family vacationed for 8 summers at Gulf Shores, Alabama and Perdido Key, FL. Both were in great locations to go see the sites in either Mobile (battleship) or Pensacola.

Would elect to go back to either place at the drop of a hat. We had actually thought of retiring in the area, but were transferred to Charleston, SC instead, and have many of the same features.

By the way, passed thru Biloxi on a driving trip and went to the casinos--as far as I am concerned this place is a bit negative - does not even compare to Atlantic City (and I HATE that place) or Las Vegas.

Hopefully, you can't go wrong with a vacation in the peninsula area.

I grew up in Biloxi and have lived in Mobile now for 10 years. Mobile is a great area. Gulfport/Biloxi area has a lot of casinos which have really ruined the view of the "manmade" beaches. Traffic is really bad too. If you are going to pass through Gpt/Biloxi and want to stay at a casino I recommend the Beau Rivage. They have a wonderful show that is a must see for about $45 "Alegria" Absoulutely wonderful. It will take your breath away. Beau Rivage also has spa packages. If the casino is not your scene then you can look into the area of Bay St. Louis or Pass Christian. They have a few B&B there. It's a little more relaxed and quiet.

Alabama
Mobile is a nicer area especially the Midtown/Downtown and Dauphin District. You might also want to consider Fairhope. It is a really safe area and there are a lot of shops and great restuarants to walk to. Gulf Shores is about a 30 min drive from Fairhope and you can also rent a sailboat to take out on Mobile Bay.

Check out website www.alabama.com. This will give you contact #'s to request some information. You can also query the Beau Rivage for Mississippi.

I forgot to mention that if you like deep sea fishing Gulfport/Biloxi and GulfShores are the places to go.

I hope this helps. October is a great time of year to go!

Dan: Hello. The gulf coast region you are considering is worth the visit, but think SMALL compared to other more crowded tourist destinations. The beaches in Mississippi are definitly not as pretty as Alabama. There are restaurants, casinos (Beau Rivage is a lovely hotel/casino, but Alegria has been gone for months; in its place is Riverdance, or a clone), an artist colony in Ocean Springs, but not ALOT to do.
Alabama beaches are truly beautiful; white, sugar sand. Weather is still very warm in Oct, and so is the gulf water. Good seafood restaurants, lots of good golf courses, some shopping, honky tonk bars, deep sea fishing/ diving, and not alot else. This is an area to "get away from it all". It is increasingly popular with snowbirds, but they won't arrive til a little later, so it should be quiet since school will once again be in session.
As for a home base, Mobile is an hour from Gulf Shores(ie beaches). In Mobile area are Bellingrath Gardens, USS Alabama and Drum, a few museums. They are the type of things you go to see if you are visiting relatives in Mobile and need something to do - hardly destinations in their own right (IMO). The previous poster mentioned residential neighboodhoods. I can't imagine that would be of interest in choosing a place to vacation. If it were me, I'd stay in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. More remote, and expensive is Fort Morgan. That way you could go to Mobile or Pensacola if the Naval Air Museum is of interest.
Good luck with your trip planning, hope this helps.

I'ma southern californian stuck in Mobile working fora couple of months. I've just checked out Pensacola and Biloxi, and unless you are a gambler, I would go to Pensacola. Nice beaches and restaurants,and more ofa touristy place.