Follow the sun: head south for winter getaways that will warm your spirits and chase away the chills

Travel America, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Ellen Clark

While mild winter weather, 26 miles of manmade beach, and 19 golf courses make Mississippi's Gulf Coast appealing, the 12 casinos don't hurt either. With casino space second only to Las Vegas, visitors can try their luck 24/7. For a unique firsthand look at the fishing industry, take the Biloxi Shrimping Trip--a 70-minute shrimp-catching cruise--or visit the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum.

Those looking for a pristine beach experience can board the ferry and head for one of Mississippi's barrier islands. Part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. these remote islands offer plenty of outdoor activities, including swimming, fishing, hiking, and birdwatching.

If festivals and celebrations get your heart racing, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is rumored to have something going on almost every weekend, and winter travelers can take advantage of the area's biggest annual bash, Mardi Gras in February.

Southern Texas is long and varied. The eastern portion, on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Galveston, Port Aransas, and South Padre Island, boasts white sand beaches and a fish-filled sea. Farther west, in and around El Paso, the landscape turns to desert.

Arizona's desert has balmy winter temperatures (60s and 70s), and accommodations run the gamut. Cowboy and cowgirl wannabes can rope dogies and brand calves at the Williams Family Ranch near Wickenburg, while the pampered set luxuriates in spa treatments at Tucson's 93-acre Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

In Palm Springs, California, and surrounding desert cities, daytime temperatures in the winter range from the 60s to the 80s. With more than 100 golf courses. tennis courts by the score, and swimming pools numbering in the tens of thousands. the area is a winter wonderland for the active set.

Whether it's the desert or the seashore. a warm escape will go a long way toward curing the winter blues as it lifts your spirits and warms your soul, not to mention the rest of you.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

FOR INFORMATION ON SUN-SPLASHED WINTER GET-aways, contact the following state tourism offices:

Alabama, (800) ALABAMA; www.touralabama.org.

Arizona, (866) 275-5816; www.arizonaguide.com.

California, (800) 862-2543; www.visitcalifornia.com.

Florida, (888) 7-FLAUSA; www.flausa.com

Georgia, (800)-VISITGA; www.georgia.org

Louisiana, (800) 633-6970; www.lousianatravel.com

Mississippi, (866) SEE-MISS; www.visitmississippi.org

Texas, (800)-8888 TEX; www.traveltex.com