After hurricane Katrina hit, the media's attention was firmly concentrated on the drama in New Orleans. Few people realize that the damage in other Gulf Coast towns was also significant. Biloxi, Mississippi was one of these "mostly forgotten."

Biloxi hasn't rested since Katrina made landfall. Seeing the devastation as a opportunity, Biloxi focused on rebuilding and, three years after the storm, its tourism industry is thriving. In fact, the city's airport is more busy than it was in the years before the storm hit.

Biloxi's white-sand beaches and maritime culture, which is marked by sites like the Biloxi Lighthouse, have long been regional tourist draws.

Biloxi's shrimp industry is also back on its feet. Seafood is always the center of attention on the area's menus. Celeb' chef Emeril Lagasse, a Gulf Coast native, has a restaurant in town. There are plenty of less commercialized creole joints in town as well.

Biloxi's first attraction to reopen was the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. A new venue, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, whose opening was delayed by Katrina, joined the party and Biloxi was reborn.

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Source Posted by: Josh Lew    Source

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