Water Fun for Warm Mississippi Days
Spring has made its arrival, and summer is nearing. Parents, your children may be looking forward to upgrading their backyard water balloon fights to something a wee bit more exciting.
When your child is on his or her summer break out of school, one idea is cooling off at the city’s swimming pool. When summer lags on, though, and the weekly swim at the local pool gets boring, there are waterparks in your home state of Mississippi waiting to be explored. If everyone in the family is up for traveling longer distances for a soaking good time, here’s a list of water attractions you may want to consider:
Swimming Lessons and Pool Fun
The DeSoto Athletic Club in Southaven, Mississippi has become a popular place for those summer dips. DAC offers a special summertime membership for families who only want access to their large outdoor swimming pool of six lanes. The athletic club also offers private and group swimming lessons. For more information, visit DacSouthaven.com.
Another location offering private swimming lessons and two-person sessions for ages three and up is the Olive Branch Family YMCA Recreation Center. Beginners get to schedule a thirty-minute lesson with an expert at whatever time is best. Enter YMCAmemphis.org in your search bar to learn the costs of your upcoming swim lessons.
Water Parks in Mississippi
As a resident of Clarksdale, Mississippi, I typed the location of Geyser Falls Water Theme Park in my MapQuest app on my phone. It read that this waterpark is a three hour drive from my location, a drive that would take up a lot of time from my day if I were to go. If you live anywhere near the birthplace of the Blues, that means you should plan ahead when you consider taking this family trip. Although far from my hometown, it seems that the fun is worth the travel. According to FamilyDaysOut.com, Geyser Falls, located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, is a refreshing sight. The park features palm trees, a beach, and it has the very first Backsplash waterslide in America. There’s even a hangout for the toddlers called Lil’ Squirts Hollow.
If you and your family want to consider an overnight trip, head south to Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport, the second largest city in Mississippi. There are two water rides on which you may let out a high-pitched scream when the cool water hits, a wave pool, and a water bucket sitting high above that just might unleash on you when it’s filled. Maybe before heading back home the next day, you might want to spend a few hours treating the kids to an experience on the real sand and real beaches of the Mississippi sound, also found in Gulfport!
Also down on the coast, the Salvation Army Kroc Centre in Biloxi has opportunities for water splashes. Combine this with a beach visit, and it’s a nice “cooling off” retreat for the kids.
Another spot that will probably require a night in a hotel is in Collins, Mississippi, almost a four-hour ride from Clarksdale. Grand Paradise Waterpark should be fun for the entire family. It offers Waddle Splashland for the toddlers and speedy water slides.
If you are looking into visiting these water parks, you can find all the details at FamilyDaysOut.com.
Melody Darneice Dixon is in her early 20s and a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi who enjoys singing on the Praise and Worship team and in the choir at her church, St. Matthew Church of God in Christ in Lambert, Mississippi.
