The Inn at Ocean Springs

The Inn at Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Noticed I haven’t written a blog in some time?  Been on the road for the best part of three months.  Visited Michigan, took a cruise around Ireland and the British Isles, and did the southeastern United Colonies from Georgia to Louisiana to Florida and back to Georgia.

Time to give both my loyal readers random looks at my discoveries.  Let’s start in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  If you haven’t been in Mississippi in a few decades (I’m holding up my hand), it’s time you took a trip.  I stayed along the gulf coast and didn’t venture into the northern parts.

Ocean Springs is a wonderful art community nestled among Biloxi, Gulfport, Latimer, and probably a few more villes I’m not familiar with.  But, let’s forget all the fab seafood diners and BBQ places that remind you of the 50’s, and let’s settle on downtown Ocean Springs.  

The Old Town, the home of Mom and Pop coffee shops, art shops, fashion boutiques, breakfast nooks, bakeries, and a very special place called simply The Inn.  The magazine Coastal Living called Ocean Springs a ‘dream town.’ Pretty much dead center on the truth.  Walk down Washington Avenue and you’ll see at a glance what I mean.

The biggest thing you’ll notice about the small town south is that people are friendly.  I’m not just talking about the shopkeepers, but everyone.  People just know each other.  They stop and inquire because they want to know.  “How’s your momma doin’?  Heard her dog died.  I know she loved that dog.”  Look for that on the streets of Chicago or Cleveland.  Best get yer-seff a concealed carry permit before you go lookin’.

Old town Ocean Springs is small town.  Park your car and walk down the old live-oak lined streets.  Browse, enjoy, relax.

Let’s poke our heads in The Inn at Ocean Springs, right in the beating heart of the old town.

Takes the kind of robust nerve I admire to hang out a sign that says, this ain’t an inn, it’s THE INN.  Should be a subtitle of ‘Best Coffee in this town or many many others!’ 

I stopped in to chat with the proprietors, Ted and Roxy Condrey, but Roxy wasn’t there, so Ted showed us around, offered us a cup of the finest coffee I’ve ever tasted and told us about how he and Roxy started the place.  

Ted is an easy man to chat with.

Only two bedrooms, but what bedrooms! You’ll think you stepped back in time.  Such tasteful antique furnishings, with a lovely porch outside.  You’ve just returned to the long ago days of southern hospitality, when men wore linen suits, white shirts and ties, even in the summertime, when ladies wore dresses and hats and the only air conditioning appeared with they unfolded a fan.  A taste of elegance is what I’m trying to say.

But, let’s not get too carried away with the taste of nostalgia. The rooms, which are more like suites, have private baths, air conditioning, flat screen TVs and a selection of other amenities.

Care for tea and biscuits and jam on the long, southern style porch? This is the place.

Wait a sec.  Only two rooms and no room in The Inn?  The Condreys also own The Bradford House, only a four-minute walk away from The Inn, offering another two splendid suites, including one with a kitchen.

But, time to talk about the wonderful coffee.  Ted buys roasted beans from Tuxachanie Coffee Company.  But, what makes his coffee so different…. Almost lost track of what I wanted to say, memories of Ted’s coffee is just that delicious.  He didn’t tell me how Tuxachanie does the roasting, but from the taste, I’d say they roast at a much lower temperature than the big boys and probably for a longer time.  The result:  Coffee with robust flavor that demands a second cup, but without even a hint of acidity and bitterness.  If you’ve been to Gimme-yer-Bucks, you know quite well what I mean.  Even if you don’t usually drink your coffee black, you can drink Ted’s black.  Smooth and delicious.

The Inn is not just an elegant guest house, but a travel adventure in a “dream town”, but even if you don’t need a room for the night, be sure to stop in for a chat and a cup of fresh roast.