Take A Mississippi Education Vacation This Summer And Have The Time Of Your Life!

This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated. However, all opinions are mine. In my home, education has always been a top priority. But having fun is a very close second! We strive to find ways to link those two ideas together. I am blessed to have kids who have a thirst for learning and are always up for a family education vacation.

Education vacations are one of the most popular trends in family travel right now. According to the 2017 US Family Travel Survey, the top priority for a family vacation is “visiting new places and exploring together.” Mississippi has several attractions covering everything from STEM to entertainment.

If you are planning a Mississippi Education vacation, Mississippi Museums has a great list to hit. I believe it is best started in Jackson. It’s home to not one, not two, but three different interactive, educational museums for the young and old alike.

The Mississippi Children’s Museum has received many accolades through the years. Including Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence 5 years running. The museum houses five hands-on galleries. Each one features interactive, educational exhibits that kids love. They’ll have fun while they learn literacy, science, health, nutrition, and the arts. Exhibits include a working replica tv station, a literacy garden, and a giant Scrabble game.

This photo of Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science takes visitors back in time looking at prehistoric fossils and animals in the wild. You can also enjoy an underwater adventure in a 100,000-gallon aquarium network. It houses more than 200 species. The swamp exhibit has real-life alligators and freshwater turtles. Outside you can explore 2.5 miles of nature trails to see wildlife up close. The trails go past swamps, lakes, river bottoms, and wooded bluffs.

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is also in Jackson. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy learning about Mississippi’s rich athletic history. With legends like Dizzy Dean, Brett Favre, Archie Manning, and Jerry Rice featuring. They also have interactive exhibits where you can find out if you have what it takes to be a professional sports announcer. You can also measure yourself against the pros.

From Jackson head south to the Gulf Coast. There you can find two amazing science centers you won’t find anywhere else.

The INFINITY Science Center is the official visitor center for the John. C. Stennis Space Center. This is where NASA tests rockets. The INFINITY Science Center is the premier destination for STEM learning in the Gulf Coast region. There you can see an F-1 rocket engine and a US Navy riverine training boat. You’ll also be able to explore a 1,400 square foot biome. There you can see otters, birds, and alligators in the wild. You can also explore the surface of Mars and walk through a model of the International Space Station’s Destiny module.

In Gulfport, you can find the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. In 2016 it received the highest honor a museum can get, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. It has 6 acres of outdoor exhibits for you to explore. Including a replica weather station and a tree house village. You’ll also find an outdoor play kitchen and a kid’s sized replica of Main Street USA. Throughout the museum, kids can explore with role-play exhibits. In them, they can work in a market, be a veterinarian, work in a busy port, or an 1890s hotel. They can also experience an African safari or star on their own talk show.

The final destination is in Meridian, Mississippi, 20 minutes from the Alabama border. It’s home to the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, known as MAX. The MAX celebrates Mississippi artists in all disciplines. They include; dance, drama, literature, music, and visual arts. 5 exhibits connect visitors with cultural points of interest in the state. While another 5 exhibits highlight artistic legends with roots in Mississippi. Guests come face to face with world-famous musicians, actors, artists, and authors from Mississippi.

Interactive learning is great for kids. They often don’t even realize they’re learning while they’re having fun. Learning doesn’t have to stop just because you’ve hit the road for a family trip. Be sure to stop off at these amazing interactive museums during your vacation. For more information to help you plan your Mississippi education vacation, the Visit Mississippi website is the place to go!