Ken, my brother and I were planning a buddy boat trip with our two GB 42s into Mississippi Sound this week, but because of all the damage inflicted by Isaac, they elected to come east from their home on Ono Island to explore the Big Bend area. We had planned to stop in at Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island and then anchor off that area for the night, weather permitting. Then we were going to head into Ocean Springs for a day or so at the marina and maybe cross the channel to Biloxi. Biloxi, when it's not all busted up from a hurricane, is a good place to pull into for a bit of the high life in casinos. It may actually be OK now for all I know, but call ahead - fishing rodeos all but locked up every marina along the Mississippi shore during one trip we made to New Orleans. Our alternate during one trip to New Orleans (after Biloxi reported being blocked in) ended up being Pass Christian (currently in ruins from Isaac). Bringing my brother's boat over from Texas in 2010, we tried to get into Pass Christian, but the slip they offered was totally unacceptable because we would not have been able to even get off the boat. As to Lake Ponchartrain area, there is not much to see between Ship Island and lake Ponchartrain where you can then make the decision to drop into Slidell, go to Madison (google their wooden boat festival to see when it is), or head to the New Orleans marina on the south shore. I have stayed at the N.O. Municipal a couple of times, and once we stayed in Madison for a week or two and rented a car to get over to N.O. and up to Baton Rouge. I am sure you will get more local advice about the area, especially as Isaac is so recent. Rich Gano Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) Panama City area, FL