South MS Kids

Center For Marine Education And Research

Jessica — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:42:57 +0000

Want to make marine education fun for your child? At South Mississippi’s Marine Education and Conservation Center, your child will get the hands on learning experience that will instill a love for our Gulf waters and the creatures in it. They will learn to understand and appreciate the species that inhabit our Gulf Coast waters with up close and hands on experiences. At the museum, there is 2,000 square feet of exciting and interactive exhibits! You will also see life-size replicas of many sea creatures and local marine inspired art at the museum. There is also a 180-seat auditorium that shows underwater adventures on the big screen daily! But the most exciting part of the Center is the Discovery Room! There, your child will encounter the hands on touch pool, with horseshoe crabs, stingrays, sea stars, and many more marine species. Your child will be able to observe both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and analyze the differences of their artifacts. Marine life doesn’t get any closer!

Admission is:

$4 for adults

$3 for children under 12

Reservations are required!

To schedule a visit, please call:

228-896-9182

and check out

www.IMMS.org

Located off of Cowan/ Lorraine Road on Dolphin Lane

Gulf Islands Water Park

Jessica — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:46:26 +0000

Are you looking for a great way to enjoy the summer heat? If so, then pack up your family and head on over to the Gulf Islands Water Park! Enjoy the coasts first and only water roller coaster, the Horn Island Blaster and then speed down the 38 -foot incline of the Deer Island Express! So much fun awaits any age at the Gulf Islands Water Park! Lil Pelican Bay, for the little ones, is even equipped with water cannons and squirt guns! The Lazy Pearl River is the most relaxing way to get around the park to almost every attraction! Test your coordination at Padscagoula or just lay back and feel the waves rolling in at Waveland Wavepool! And don’t forget to bring some extra money for lunch and a snack! Petit Bois Island Cafe has burgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, pizza and Dippin Dots icecream!

Gulf Island Water Park is open daily from

10 a.m- 6 p.m

$31.24- 42″ and taller

$22.68- under 42″

under 2 years old- FREE

For more information check out:

gulfislandswaterpark.com

or call:

228-328-1266 or 1-866-485-3386

Be sure to check out their What to Bring checklist!

Gulf Island Water Park

17200 16th Street

Gulfport, MS 39503

You can see the Water Park from I-10

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Jessica — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:35:22 +0000

Have you ever wondered what kind of creatures are swimming around in the deep and beautiful Caribbean Reef? Or what you would see lurking through the mysterious and amazing Amazon Rainforest? Maybe you would just like a closer look at the native creatures that dwell in or near the Mississippi river. If so, then the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is just the place for you and your family! Enter the world of penguins, sharks, sting rays, and a playful duo of sea otters named Buck and Emma. Explore life through the eyes of a fish living near the Caribbean Reef, a parrot in the Amazon Rainforest, or a turtle on the banks of the Mississippi River! There is so much to see and do!

The folks at the Aquarium of the Americas take pride in keeping a nice family atmosphere and proper, conservative attire is required. They also take pride in keeping a clean and healthy environment for the animals and others visitors, so no outside food or beverages are allowed.

Hours of operation are:

Tuesday-Sunday

10 a.m-5 p.m

$18.00 adult

$11.00 children

$14.00 Sr. Citizens

For more information go to:

auduboninstitute.org/aquarium_info.html

or call:

(504) 581-4629 or 1-800-774-7394

Audubon Zoo

Jessica — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:09:11 +0000

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of the country’s top-ranked zoo’s. From their amazing animals and exciting exhibits to their live animal presentations and hands-on encounters, your child will have so much to do! They can also ride the Endangered Species Carousel, Simulator, or the Swamp Train! Even the Audubon Marketplace gift shop is exciting! With so much to see and so much to do, Audubon Zoo is a great way to share a beautiful day with your family! Some of their animals include rhino’s, tigers, monkeys, elephants, gators, and even sea lions! Travel from the swamp to the jungle, all in one day, and then stop off at the Zoofari Cafe for lunch. Maybe you’ll get lucky and get to pet a giraffe on your adventure! What fun!

The Audubon Zoo is open:

Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm

Closed Mondays

$13.00 adult

$8.00 child

$10.00 Senior Citizen

for more information check out:

auduboninstitute.org

or call:

(504) 581-4629

1-800-774-7394

(monday-friday 10am-4pm)

Audubon Nature Institute

6500 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 70118

Ship Island Excursions

Jessica — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:22:57 +0000

Ship Island is located 11 miles off of the Mississippi gulf coast. It is one of just a few of the last undeveloped barrier islands left in America. If you are looking for a day-getaway, ship island is a great place to escape to. The water is beautiful and the beaches secluded. You can fish, visit Fort Massachusettes, swim in the semi-clear water, picnic, or just lay on the beach and enjoy the fresh gulf air. There is a one-third of a mile boardwalk from the north side of the island to the south side. Along that boardwalk are restrooms with showers and a little snack bar where you may also rent beach chairs and umbrellas. The fun starts when you board the cruise ship! There is food service provided on the boat, along with restrooms and plenty of storage for your coolers and beach gear. On just about every trip to the island and back, you will see Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins playing in the wake of the boats, so have your camera ready! There are two options for visiting the island:

A half-day visit: (4.5 hours)

full-day visit: ( 7 hours)

Admission is:

$24.oo adult

$14.00 child

$22.00 Seniors and Military

Located off of hwy 90 at the hwy 49 and hwy 90 intersection

Look for the Ferry’s!

The Ferry schedules vary, so for more information check out:

msshipilsand.com

or call:

1-866-466-7386

(228)-864-1014

Pan Isls, Inc

P.O Box 1467

Gulfport, MS 39502

Grand Paradise Water Park

Jessica — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:30:28 +0000

Located in Collins MS, approximately 1.5 hrs from Gulfport, awaits a wet and wild time and great fun for any water loving child! From their Water fort to Wipeout and then on to the Blue Typhoon, any child is bound to have a blast! But it’s not just for the kids, Mom and Dad, bring the whole family! Tell Grandma and Grandpa to jump in a tube on the 800′ Lazy River, take the little ones to Waddlelands, Mom can enjoy shopping at Tropical Treasures and let Dad make a splash on Grand Falls (4 stories above the park), and you can all meet up at the Food Court for Nachos, hotdogs, burgers or pizza afterwards!

Beginning May 16-August , they are open every day

Then, August15,16,22,23,29,30 & September 5,6,7

Labor Day is the last day of the season

Hours of operation are:

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

Sun 12:30pm-6pm

2009 ticket prices are:

Season pass $100

48″ or taller $24.00

under 48″ $20.00

children under 3 years are FREE

From Gulfport(1.5 hrs) Take Hwy 49 North ( 30 miles N of Hattiesburg) to Collins. Located on left, behind Huddle House and Best Western Hotel

For more information check out:

grandparadisewaterpark.com

or call (601) 765-8118

Grand Paradise Waterpark

50 Grandview Dr.

Collins, MS 39428

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

Jessica — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:19:48 +0000

The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is the first children’s museum in Mississippi. It is no ordinary museum either! At Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, children are encouraged to touch, talk, share and interact with one another! The exhibits include an art center, science center, boat and train station, a supermarket and many more! The exhibit is 15,000 square feet of indoor fun, so you can even come on a rainy day! The exhibit also includes 6 acres of outdoor fun with a tree house village, cabin on a stream, and meeting rooms for workshops, camps or birthday parties. It is a great place to bring the whole family! They even have group rates for pre-formed groups such as schools, scouts, or churches. But be sure to pack a lunch! Lynn Meadows Discovery Center offers a great picnic area but does not allow food or drinks in the museum.

The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center Summer Hours are:

Monday, May 25 until Saturday, August 1

Mon-Sat 10 am-5pm

Beginning Tuesday, August 4

Tues-Sat 10am-5pm

Admission is $7.00 for adults and children over 1 year old

$3.00 Admission after 3pm Tues-Fri

And get this! Admission is free on 2009 Fridays from 5pm-8pm

Located between Courthouse Rd. & Teagarden Rd. approx 1 block of beach

For more information check out:

lmdc.org

or call (228) 897-6039

Lynn Meadows dicovery Center

246 Dolan Avenue

Gulfport, MS 39507