Imagine a beach: The sand is silky smooth, the water is warm like a bubble bath and abundant in sea life, and yet there are no people in the visible distance. Does such a place even exist? It does! Waveland Beach, Mississippi, was our home for the week as our family explored the beautiful Gulf Coast.
GETTING THERE:
To get the best value on travel, we flew into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) airport and were tourists for a day in The Big Easy before renting a car and venturing out to our beach destination. The drive from MSY to Waveland Beach is just over an hour. For comparison sake, the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is a 40-minute drive.
WHERE TO STAY:
As far as hotels go in New Orleans, there are lots of choices! We used hotwire.com and scored a downtown hotel for under $100/night. Best of all, with easy access to public transportation, you won't need a car while adventuring in New Orleans.
For family-friendly accommodations in Waveland, Mississippi, we chose a VRBO home that comfortably slept six adults and five kids.
WHAT TO DO:
Looking for activities along the Gulf Coast? Here’s a peek at some of the fun we found in the South:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: |
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas ~ The aquarium is divided into four aquatic regions: the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Caribbean. For an interactive experience, visit the Stingray Touchpool or participate in virtual reality with Reef Rescue. Seasonal exhibits come & go. Get a sneak peek of "Washed Ahore" which was available through April 30, 2019:
Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium ~~ Have an avid bug-lover in your family? This destination is North America's largest museum dedicated to insects. With hands-on exhibits, edible bugs (yes, really.... yuck!), and a large butterfly garden, this is a place your family will talk about for quite some time.
Audubon Zoo ~~ Considered one of the best zoos across the US, this is a must-visit for animal lovers. Unique to the Audubon Zoo is its use of natural habitat exhibits that feature swamp life. For the full zoo experience, take the Swamp Train to see the entire park, ride the Endangered Species Carousel, and splash around at the Cool Zoo Splash Park.
City Park ~~ One of the nation's oldest parks, this 1,300-acre outdoor facility is loaded with family-friendly entertainment. Home to a breathtaking Botanical Garden, biking/jogging/walking trails, tennis courts, City Putt mini golf, playgrounds, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, the world's largest stand of mature live oaks, a ride-on train, Storyland (photos below), and so much more, this was our favorite New Orleans destination.
Louisiana Children's Museum ~~ My kids could never tire of this 30,000+ sqft playspace dedicated to hands-on learning and enrichment. The museum will bring a brand new outdoor exhibit to New Orleans City Park in 2019.
Mardi Gras World ~~ New Orleans is THE place for Mardi Gras. Get an inside look at this huge celebration with tours that highlight parade floats, costumes, and masks. You'll even get to try a slice of King Cake, a Mardi Gras culinary classic. Take the complimentary shuttle from 20 convenient downtown locations to avoid parking fees.
WAVELAND BEACH & BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI: |
Waveland Beach ~~ You may recognize Waveland, Mississippi from the news in 2005 when it was "ground zero" for Hurricane Katrina. The city was almost completely destroyed but much of it has since been rebuilt. In addition to appreciating the gorgeous new homes & business fronts, we watched dolphins from a fishing pier, explored the oak-lined neighborhoods, learned about Cone Jellies, and had a date night consisting of local cuisine and a golf cart tour of Bay St Luis.
Waveland Public Library ~~ Whenever we explore new cities, we like to visit places frequented by the locals, hence our stop at the public library. Completely renovated after Hurricane Katrina, this library is equipped with a break-taking pirate-themed children's area. Never before had my family read books on a pirate ship! This hidden gem was a great place to visit for a little indoor fun.
Pop Brothers Ice Pops (Bay St. Louis & Gulfport) ~~ It's no secret that the South is a very humid region. We beat the heat with some of the most amazing ice pops I've ever eaten. With fruit, cream, indulgent, and seasonal flavors, this must-visit treat shop was a trip highlight. My sweet tooth couldn't get enough of the Oreo Cheesecake Pop. Yum!!
GULFPORT & BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI: |
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (LMDC), Gulfport ~~ With 15,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, LMDC is a learning zone that features real-world environments such as a vet center, shipping port, train depot, safari, 1890's Mississippi City hotel, grocery store, and production studio. Complete with an indoor climbing structure, art studio, science room, tree house village, and an outdoor Kids Street, this quickly became our top choice for places to visit in Mississippi.
Ocean Adventures Marine Park, Gulfport ~~ The Insitute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) is a facility geared towards public education, conservation, and research. Their Marine Park offers animal encounters with sea creatures such as stingrays, sharks, crabs, and fish. Check out the dolphin interaction program for your chance to get up close and personal with these majestic beauties.
Souvenir City, Biloxi ~~ Remember your visit to the Gulf Coast with a special memento from this two-story souvenir shop. An alligator head at the front entrance makes for an excellent photo op.
MOBILE, ALABAMA: |
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center of Mobile ~~ A facility dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), this museum has more than 150 interactive exhibits. If your child has an interest in health and medicine, this is THE PLACE to visit.
The My BodyWorks exhibit features astounding hands-on learning opportunities that mimic real-life surgeries. You can even watch a 12-foot-tall beating heart as it undergoes a blood clot. Fascinating!
Gulf Quest: National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast ~~ Overlook the Mobile River while you peruse the exhibits inside a life-sized replica of a container ship. Interactive exhibits focus on an array of maritime themes including marine life, coastal environments, commerce & shipbuilding, offshore oil/gas platforms, shipwrecks, trade routes, and more.
For EVEN MORE family-friendly suggestions in New Orleans, visit new-orleans.macaronikid.com. Don't forget you can also visit macaronikid.com and select your travel destination for additional resources across the United States and even into Canada! Happy travels!!
