Budget Savvy Mississippi – Best Family Friendly Adventures for (Almost) Free
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Mississippi, known as the Bayou and the BirthPlace of Rock-and-Roll, is bursting with history. Taking a family trip Down South is a great idea if you want to make new memories and have fun experiences, even on a budget. You’ll never have a dull moment in the Magnolia State!
How to Have Family-Friendly Fun in Mississippi on a Budget
Having family-friendly fun on a budget is easy in Mississippi, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank! All you’ll have to worry about is filling your schedule with the following:
1. Teach Your Children About the Delta Blues
Jazz and rock-and-roll are often credited for the birth of modern music, but the Delta blues deserves that award. Teach your children about the history of delta blues music by traveling the Mississippi blues trail. Be sure to stop by the many Delta blues museums along the way.
2. Go on a Rare Carousel and a Vintage Drive-In
At Meridian’s Highland Park sits a giant carousel made in 1909. A ride will only cost you $0.50, but you’re not going to make a day out of it. After spending some time in the park, drive out to the Luka Drive-In, where your kids can watch new movies in a small-town drive-in theater.
3. Spend a Day at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center has so many indoor and outdoor exhibits you’ll have no problem spending the day here. For about $40, kids and adults can check out the Tree House Village, play pretend at The Little Pet Vet, and film their own cooking, game, or talk show.
4. Check Out Mississippi’s Children’s Museum
Admission to Mississippi’s Children’s Museum is about $10 per person, but you get a lot of value for the low cost. Exhibits in the museum focus on cultural arts, heritage, health and nutrition, literacy, and STEM, and children are taught lessons through play, dance, and music.
5. Don’t Forget to Explore the Famous Biloxi Beach
Biloxi Beach is often described as the best family beach in Mississippi. Home to incredible resorts and activities, children, teenagers, and adults will love swimming and sunbathing here for hours. But if you get bored, you can take a tour around a lighthouse or rent a kayak.
6. Like Space? Go to INFINITY Science Center
The INFINITY Science Center is a state-of-the-art center with tons of hands-on exhibits, activities, and chances to learn. Older children, teens, and adults will enjoy the International Space Station exhibit, while younger children will love the playground and LEGO table.
7. Trek Around Roosevelt State Park for Free
The United States has plenty of free or inexpensive national parks to enjoy, one of which is Roosevelt State Park, which looks incredible in the summer and fall. Children and adults can experience tons of free activities here, like nature trails, a tennis court, and water slides.
8. Get Educational at the Civil Rights Museum
Walking through Mississippi’s Civil Rights museum may make you and your children emotional, but learning about our nation’s history is incredibly important. Black history is rarely taught in schools, and many children, young and old, should know the struggles of their fellow Americans.
9. Consider Splurging on Geyser Falls Water Park
If you’re like me, you probably think that experiences are worth the splurge. If you have room in your budget, take your family to Geyser Falls Water Park. With over 15 attractions, you and your kids can have a lot of fun here. You don’t even have to leave the park to get a bite to eat!
10. Take a Tour of The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch
Most of us have never seen a gator in the wild (and that’s a good thing!). But if your children are fond of animals and want to see well-cared-for gators in their natural environment, The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch is a real treat. Where else can you feed gators right from an airboat?