South of Somewhere is an early-1900s cottage tucked down a little lane in Bay St. Louis, where the creative side of this Gulf Coast town starts quite literally outside the door.

If you’re a writer, artist, photographer, musician, reader, history lover—or simply someone who gravitates toward places with personality—this may be your kind of place. There’s a little Tennessee Williams feeling to this part of Bay St. Louis: old cottages and porches, artists working nearby, trains moving through town, and the Gulf close enough to reach on foot.

The art starts next door.

Louis Geiger Designs is directly beside the cottage. Geiger is a Bay St. Louis artist and designer known for his distinctive metalwork, sculpture, assemblage and found-object creations.

Right around the corner is The Arts, Hancock County, part of the local creative community with exhibitions, classes, workshops and events throughout the year.

Keep walking and you’re in the Depot District, where the railroad has been part of the story of Bay St. Louis for more than 150 years. Rail service connecting New Orleans and Mobile came through Bay St. Louis in 1870, and the neighborhood around the station grew along with it.

Today, the Depot area is still filled with independent local businesses. Have a cocktail or glass of wine at Hen House, grab pizza at Uncle Joe’s, browse Lagarde’s Fine Wine & Spirits, take your dog to Café BoneJour, or even fit in a workout at HOTWORX, a 24/7 infrared fitness studio offering hot yoga, Pilates, barre, cycling, HIIT and more. The historic L&N Depot anchors the neighborhood, with art, theater, food, drinks, fitness and local businesses all clustered within a few walkable blocks.

The Tennessee Williams connection is nearby, too. The building associated with This Property Is Condemned, the 1966 film starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford and based on Williams’ one-act play, is now home to the Bay St. Louis Little Theatre.

And just beyond the Depot, across the railroad tracks, is 100 Men Hall, another remarkable piece of Bay St. Louis history within walking distance of the cottage. Built in 1922 by the One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association, the Hall became an important center of Black social and cultural life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and later a stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit. Musicians including Etta James, Big Joe Turner, Guitar Slim and Professor Longhair performed here. Today, the Mississippi Blues Trail landmark is still alive with live music, artists, workshops and cultural events.

The railroad, the theater, the artists, the music, the old houses and the Gulf aren’t a theme created for visitors. They’re simply part of this neighborhood.

And now you can arrive by train again.

Amtrak restored passenger service to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2025. The Mardi Gras Service runs twice daily in each direction between New Orleans and Mobile, stopping in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. From New Orleans, the trip to Bay St. Louis takes roughly an hour and a half, depending on the train.

Step off at the Bay St. Louis Amtrak platform beside the historic Depot and South of Somewhere is just a few blocks away and walkable from the station.

So you can actually catch a train out of New Orleans, arrive in Bay St. Louis, walk to the cottage and spend a few days here without needing a car.

If you do drive, South of Somewhere has two dedicated parking spaces, but this is the kind of neighborhood where you may find yourself leaving the car parked.

The beach is just three blocks away and easily walkable, and we provide two bikes for exploring farther. Ride toward Old Town and the waterfront, head out for dinner or drinks, wander through galleries and shops, or just take off and see where you end up.

Then come home to a cottage with a layout that gives guests more privacy than you might expect.

South of Somewhere sleeps up to four guests in two queen bedrooms located in separate areas of the cottage. The primary queen bedroom has its own private bathroom. The second queen bedroom is toward the back of the cottage and has its own separate exterior entrance and small porch, giving it a little extra independence and privacy. It also has a TV with a Fire TV Stick.

That separation works especially well for two couples, friends traveling together, or anyone who appreciates having a little space of their own.

At the heart of the cottage is a living room with a TV, with a separate dining area and kitchen beyond it. There are two bathrooms, an office, and a washer and dryer, giving you the space and conveniences for anything from a few days away to a longer stay.

At the front of the cottage is the screened front porch, one of those spaces that just belongs with an old Gulf Coast house.

Outside, there’s also a private fenced courtyard and a separate fenced backyard. String lights outside give the space a different feeling after dark—a place to sit with a drink, read, talk, write, or stay up later than you planned.

And dogs are very much welcome here.

South of Somewhere is pet friendly, both the courtyard and backyard are fenced, and we provide pet amenities for our four-legged guests. Having Café BoneJour nearby—a local pet boutique and barkery—is a pretty perfect neighborhood bonus.

And then there are the trains.

Yes, you will hear them.

We don’t hide that because the railroad isn’t an inconvenient secret about this neighborhood. It has been part of Bay St. Louis for generations and is woven into the history of this part of town. If you require complete silence when you sleep, please keep that in mind before booking. We do provide ear plugs for light sleepers.

But there’s also something wonderfully fitting about hearing a train move through an old Mississippi Gulf Coast town while staying in an early-1900s cottage—especially now that those same tracks are carrying passengers into Bay St. Louis again.

Walk to the beach. Take the bikes out. See what the artist next door is working on. Wander around the corner to The Arts. Explore the Depot District. Catch live music at 100 Men Hall. Bring the dogs. Or take the train in from New Orleans and leave the car behind entirely.

Bring a book, a camera, a sketchbook, a guitar, a half-finished manuscript—or nothing you’re supposed to accomplish at all.

Come here when you need to feel like yourself again.