Exploring Mississippi with Kids: 10 Unforgettable Family Activities
What to Do for Fun in Mississippi with Your Kids?
If you’re planning a vacation with your kids, you’ll find plenty of family activities in Mississippi where you can have fun and make memories. The state benefits from some of the most beautiful natural environments around, many of which have camping areas for a fully immersive experience. Walk the trails, kayak, or swim in the lush greenery and clean waters of the river or along the coast.
If you’re traveling around the state, you’ll find things to do with kids all over MS, many of which add education to the mix. They may be called museums, but they’re more like play centers where any learning involved comes through doing. Check out our list of top activities your family will love.
1. Mississippi Children’s Museum, Jackson
Learning has never been this much fun
Good for: Families, Photo
If you’re traveling though Jackson with little ones in tow, take them down to the Children’s Museum. It’s jam packed with interactive exhibits indoors and out where kids can run free and follow their curiosity. All the displays are scaled to kid-size and designed to be grabbed or climbed on.
In a place where learning feels more like play, kids can discover all sorts of info on topics like how plants pollinate, what makes food nutritious, and how robots work. Check the events calendar to see when the next story time, art session, or farm spotlight is happening, so you don’t miss out.
Location: 2145 Museum Blvd, Jackson, MS 39202, USA
Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 601-981-5469
Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson
2. Natchez Trace Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail, Ridgeland
An accessible nature trail
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Natchez Trace Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail is a linear park that stretches to around 10 miles long. The paved surface and gentle rolling hills make it accessible for strollers and little legs, while offering plenty of space for running and biking. It’s a great spot all year round as each season brings out a different side of nature, from springtime wildflowers to the changing of the leaves in fall.
The trail benefits from a series of access points, most of which have parking. There are also rest stops with seating and picnic areas, so you don’t have to spend the whole time on your feet. Take a break to breathe in the pine scents and watch the birds fly by.
Location: Ridgeland, MS 39157, USA
Open: Daily from sunrise to sunset
Phone: +1 800-305-7417
Natchez Trace Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail, Ridgeland
3. Gulfport Beach
A potential base for your family vacation
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
Located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Gulfport Beach offers a wide stretch of sandy shoreline with calm waters that are ideal for families with children. The gentle waves and well-maintained facilities, including restrooms, picnic areas, and playgrounds, ensure a relaxing and enjoyable experience for visitors of all ages. Get active with a game of volleyball or unwind on the fishing pier.
The nearby attractions like the TrainTastic! Train Museum and Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum add to its appeal as a vacation destination. When the tummies start to rumble, make a pitstop at one of the eateries by the beach, from pizzerias to barbecue restaurants.
Location: 1301 20th Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501, USA
Phone: +1 228-868-5881
Gulfport Beach
4. Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Gulfport
Where imagination comes first
Good for: Families, Photo
Situated near the seafront in Gulfport, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is an interactive children’s museum offers engaging exhibits and activities designed to inspire creativity and learning. What was once an elementary school is now full of colossal climbing structures, a history hotel, and roleplaying stations where kids can dress up as vets or engineers.
With art studios, puppet theater, and family-friendly amenities like strollers, nursing rooms, and free on-site parking, it’s a fantastic choice for a playful, educational day out. Don’t forget to check out the outdoor features that include treehouse villages, a musical garden, and a tiny “Kids Street” village.
Location: 246 Dolan Ave, Gulfport, MS 39507, USA
Open: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm
Phone: +1 228-897-6039
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Gulfport
5. De Soto National Forest, Brooklyn
The welcoming embrace of nature
Good for: Families, Adventure
De Soto National Forest spans over 518,000 acres of forests filled with streams and creeks that showcase Mississippi’s overflowing biodiversity. It’s a nature lovers dream full of outdoor adventure.
Go on a family hike with over 60 miles of marked trails to choose from, or paddle at Black Creek, Mississippi’s sole National Wild and Scenic River. Its sandy banks are great for picnics and hanging out in nature. Come for a day and enjoy canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching, or extend your stay at either primitive or developed campsites according to your needs.
Location: Brooklyn, MS 39425, USA
Phone: +1 601-528-6160
De Soto National Forest, Brooklyn
6. Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Moss Point
A birdwatcher’s paradise
Good for: Families, Adventure, Budget
The Pascagoula River Audubon Center acts as central hub and gateway to the surrounding bayou. It hosts an art gallery, interactive exhibits, and weekly parent and toddler sessions. It’s a fantastic place to learn about the environment firsthand.
Moss Point is known as “River City”, and Pascagoula is one of the most pristine, well-preserved waterways you’re likely to find. For a family adventure on the water, you can rent kayaks or pedal boats directly from the Audubon Center. Head out to explore what the natural world has on offer, including over 300 different bird species from hummingbirds to bald eagles.
Location: 5107 Arthur St, Moss Point, MS 39563, USA
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 10 am to 3 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Phone: +1 228-475-0825
Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Moss Point
7. Gulf Islands National Seashore
A sanctuary for wildlife
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The stretch of barrier islands that shelter the Mississippi coast, along with some of the bayou and wilderness on the mainland, form the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A national seashore is a type of national park, protected and reserved for the public to enjoy. It’s teaming with wildlife and full of things to do, so bring your camera and hit the nature trails.
The gentle waters are ripe with potential. If you like swimming, bring snorkels for a better view beneath the waves, or kayaks to extend your explorations. There are regular ferries to the barrier islands too. Check out Ship Island and take a tour of the awesome Fort Massachusetts, built over a century ago to defend the coast.
Phone: +1 850-934-2600
Gulf Islands National Seashore
8. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson
Everything you wanted to know about animals
Good for: History, Families
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is full to the brim with exhibits on the state’s wildlife and natural history. Permanent displays include an entire wall of fossils, engaging explanations of how birds fly, and a 1,700 square-ft greenhouse known as The Swamp. Find things at your own pace or call on the highly knowledgeable staff with all your burning questions.
If you’ve got kids who are into dinosaurs, they’ll love the outdoor Dinosaur Trail. These large, 3D models include the instantly recognizable triceratops and an appalachiosaurus which, as you might guess from the name, used to live in the Appalachian region. Come on down to this award-winning attraction that the whole family will enjoy.
Location: 2148 Riverside Dr, Jackson, MS 39202, USA
Open: Monday–Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm
Phone: +1 601-576-6000
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson
9. Biloxi Beach
Laidback coastal living
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
Head down to Biloxi Beach for a classic beach day. The soft white sand and calm waters create a family-friendly environment for splashing around in. The barrier islands shelter this stretch of coast, making it ideal for swimming and water sports like parasailing and jet skiing.
Check out the 19th century lighthouse and learn more about it and the rest of the city at the Biloxi Visitors Center. When it comes to mealtime, you’re spoiled for choice. Take your pick from the stellar restaurant options for Cajun cuisine, Southern style comfort food, and of course plenty of local seafood, and enjoy the celebrated Southern hospitality.
Location: 1027-1031 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530, USA
Phone: +1 228-374-3105
Biloxi Beach
10. Tishomingo State Park
Fun and games in the great outdoors
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Located in the northeast of the state, Tishomingo State Park offers a natural escape in the Appalachian foothills. Explore the verdant forests and unique rock formations on one of seven clearly marked trails, or try canoeing on Bear Creek. You’ll find three disc golf courses spread across the park, so ask for a free score card at the park office when you arrive.
There plenty of facilities at Tishomingo for both day trippers and overnight campers. Picnic pavilions and playgrounds are great gathering spots for families, and if you’ve got a lot of mouths to feed, consider booking a barbecue and grilling up a feast. To stay over, book a vacation cabin or simply show up with a tent.
Location: 105 Co Rd 90, Tishomingo, MS 38873, USA
Phone: +1 662-438-6914
Tishomingo State Park
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