Harold And Claire

Claire is French-Canadian who grew up in Quebec. Harold grew up in Long Beach but had not resided in Long Beach for almost 50 years, retired from 35 year career in Public Safety from Utah. Purchased this cottage as a family vacation home for our six adult children and seven grand children to experience and enjoy the Mississippi Gulf which all now have a deep connection to the beauty and people of our beloved community.

Our goal in listing our cottage was for an alternative for other families wishing to enjoy and explore the MS Gulf Coast and to promote our beloved MS Gulf Coast. After traveling with our kids and now grandkids we found it was much more enjoyable to stay in one single house rather then several motel rooms and the family was able to experience and enjoy being a "local" rather then just some "tourist" at a Hotel. And having a real yard to sit in, enjoy the outdoors and cook out with the entire family rather than sitting in a crowded restaurant or park. The idea of a "home away from home" appealed to us since there is nothing better than returning "home" after a long day of exploring or having fun as a family and not being crowded into a motel room or separated in several motel rooms. So, if you are looking to staying at the "Ritz" remember this is just a family beach cottage but we do feel that it is about as close to a "home away from home" that a family could find along the MS Gulf Coast! And the whole idea when we listed our cottage is to make available a little cottage that a family could make as their "home away from home" while they enjoyed the wonders of the coast line here in Long Beach.

Harold & Claire purchased this cottage in 2014

This could be classified as a “love story” by some or simply “luck of life” by others. In 2010 we returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for my class reunion, where I hadn’t lived for over forty years. During that visit Claire fell in love with the beauty and peacefulness of the area and the people that call it home.

We had been looking for a location to purchase a winter/retirement home for several years. After we returned from our trip life went on and we continued looking for property in other parts of the country never thinking we would return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Then in 2013 events in life again brought us in contact with friends along the Coast. Later that year we decided Long Beach was were we would look for our second home and I was able to purchase a building lot. In 2014 we again traveled to the area for Mardis Gras and took in a number of the parades along the coast. When checking the property I had purchased, Claire noticed that the older cottage on the property next door was for sale. The cottage had not been maintained for several years and was in need of much attention. Claire decided she wanted to purchase the cottage and the work was on to set it up for a family retreat.

After several months of work and help from many friends in the area Claire has brought the cottage alive. This will now be our families’ (kids and grandkids) retreat when time allows. We hope you enjoy the cottage, Long Beach, the area, the beach life, the great seafood and of course the people of the area as much as we do and will. Please feel at home at our cottage and enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Now after 4 years of having our cottage listed we have enoyed hearing from families from all over the world that have stayed at the cottage to explore the MS Gulf Coast for the very first time. Each guest we have heard from has only reenforced why we picked & then decided to list our cottage. Thank you, Claire & Harold.

Cottage is in the heart of everything the coast has to offer. Walking distance to beach, restaurants, harbor, splash pad, town green (where all events take place), the quaint downtown but yet in one of the most sought after peaceful, relaxing and safe areas along the entire Gulf Coast. Cottage is situated on huge private lot with large Live Oaks, space to play and relax in an establish beach neighborhood right on the designated bike route for biking. With the screened in porch it is one of the few "old style" cottages still along the coast. And a five minute walk to the most rated beach fronts in the entire state.

So if your focus is to just sit back and relax away from it all the cottage has the space and the privacy to do just that. Wake up in the morning and relax with a cup of coffee on the screen porch or under the covered patio area. Listen to the birds, the bells from St. Thomas church, the whistle of the distant trains, the cheers at a ball game from the high school or just the peace & quiet. Then gather the family up for an outing at the beach (gather the chairs, beach towels, ice chests, outdoor & beach toys available at the cottage) then walk five minutes or a quick drive to free parking to enjoy the beach up a snow cone, play beach volley ball or walk one of the piers. See what the fisherman reel in or the wildlife along the beach or a sunset or sunrise.

In the evening cook up something on the grill or walk to an area restaurant then take a stroll along the beach at dusk enjoying the light wind coming from the Gulf. And the best part is no crowds! That is the benefit to where the cottage is located. This is where the "locals" live that love the beach life but do not enjoy the tourist traps or crowds.

You are a short hour drive to New Orleans or a short distance from all the tourist areas like Biloxi, Ocean Springs or Bay St. Louis but after you can come "home" and relax. You are a "local" now!