14 Free/Low Cost Museums

The Historic New Orleans Collection Gallery Exhibitions are always free, any day of the week.  However, an admission is charged for tours of historic buildings. 

The Bestoff Sculpture Garden in City Park at the New Orleans Museum of Art is free every day.

The Louisiana Children's Museum is free the third Sunday of the month, courtesy of Target.   It is located on Julia Street in New Orleans' Warehouse District.

The New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park is free every Wednesday, courtesy of the Helis Foundation.

The Contemporary Art Center (CAC), in the Warehouse District offers free entry to Louisiana residents on Sundays.

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, offers free admission to Louisiana residents, with a valid I.D., every Thursday from 10-5 p.m. Children under age 5 get in free every day.

The Slidell and GOSH Museums offer daily free admission and are open a variety of days and times.  Visit their website for details. 

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum in Madisonville, LA offers a low cost admission of $5 per adult, $3 per child/seniors, children 5 and under, free. 

The Otis House Museum in Madisonville, LA offers a $4 admission fee for adults with seniors and children under 12 free.  

The Louisiana Museum of Natural History offers both a textile and natural science museum. Both are open Monday through Friday and are free to the public. Visit their website for details.

The Old Louisiana State Capital is offers a variety of exhibits.  Located in Baton Rouge, LA, the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday with free admission.

The Louisiana Rural Life Museum, located in Baton Rouge is a great way to explore the past.   Adult admission is $9; Children ages 5-11 are $8; Under 5 are free. 

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday and is free to the public!  Be sure and combine this with a trip to Merit Water Park for a full weekend of adventure!

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(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure

Have You Ever Park Hopped?

Have you ever park hopped while visiting Disney World?  It's fun and shakes things up a bit!  Well, you don't have to be at a theme park to do so!   Consider planning a day of adventure by traveling to some of your favorite parks and splash pads!  You will create a memory with your Frugal Family Travelers they will never forget!    Look below for a few suggestions of places to visit on the Northshore!  If you know of any other great parks or splash pads in the area or elsewhere, please leave us a comment!! We would love to hear from you!!  Be sure to sign-up for email notifications on our the blog or like us on Facebook to receive future postings!

Tips: 
Bring Towels, sunscreen, water
Be sure to check the area for letterboxes!!  To discover more about letterboxing Click Here to read the information previously posted on our blog.
***Plan a stop in Slidell at lunch or at the end of your adventure! Take the family to the Slidell Soda Shop for lunch/dinner and homemade ice cream for dessert!!  It is in Old Town Slidell and transports visitors back in time!!  

Note:

Be sure to click the highlighted text above the pictures to get directions to each of these parks!

Pearl River, Louisiana
Beautiful Park and Awesome Splash Pad!

Pearl River Park and Splash Pad

Slidell, Louisiana 

For Directions to Heritage Park and to see a full list of parks in Slidell---CLICK HERE!

Heritage Park and Splash Pad

Mandeville, Louisiana

The Kids Konnection Playground

Mandeville Trail Head Splash Pad

Abita Spring, LA

Abita Springs Park and Splash Pad

Madisonville, LA 

Coquille Sports Complex Splash Pad & Fishing Pier

Hammond, LA
Chappapella Sports Park

Offers 3 parks and a Splash Pad!!

North Oak Park and Splash Pad

Springfield, LA
Tickfaw State Park

(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town: Bayou Segnette Wave Pool, BaratariaPreserve-Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve

Our Frugal Family Travelers love hiking and especially love cooling off after the experience to beat the heat of a South Louisiana summer day!  Pair Bayou Segnette State Park's wave pool with a visit to Jean Lafitte's National Historic Park and Preserve to create a full day of adventure or a quick weekend/mini vacation for your family, that's not to be forgotten! 

Bayou Segnette State Park is located in Westwego and offers a great wave pool with an adjacent splash area for the younger travelers.  Other activities available at the park include, camping, boating, canoeing, hiking, playgrounds and picnicking!  Admission into the park is $2  but consider purchasing an annual pass to the state park to capitalize on the extra savings.  Admission into the wave pool is $10 for adults and $8 for children.  

A short distance away is the Barataria Preserve-Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.  This area is managed by the National Park Service and features 20,000 acres consisting of swamps, forests, hiking trails on boardwalks and a visitor center with exhibits.  It's a great place to experience the beauty of the southern swamplands.  Our Frugal Family Travelers particularly enjoyed the overlook of the swamp that is located on one of the boardwalk trails.  We even saw an alligator nesting in its natural habitat.

Tips: 

Bring Towels, sunscreen, water
You may also want to consider pairing this with the New Orleans museum selections , Crescent Park or letterboxing information previously posted on our blog to extend the adventure with your family. -Click highlighted text for more information. 

Note:
Remember that admission to the water park at Bayou Segnette State Park requires $2 admission into the park as well as a wave pool admission.   Consider purchasing a yearly pass to the state park system, which is approximately $80 dollars.  It is good for all travelers in one car and van and good for a year.

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Directions: 
Bayou Segnette State Park Wave Pool
7777 Westbank Expressway
Westwego, LA 70094

Barataria Preserve-Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve
6588 Barataria Blvd
Marrero, LA

Splash area for Younger Travelers -adjacent to wave pool

 View of the Wave Pool

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure

Natchitoches Itinerary Day 4.......Melrose Plantation

Day 3:

Majestic plantation homes, mossy live oak trees, historic churches, the Kisatchie National Forest, and the scenic and calming waters of the cane river are just a few of the places you will encounter when visiting Natchitoches.   Frugal Family Travelers have shared itineraries in this area to Hodges Garden State Park, the Kisatchie National Forest and Fort St. Jean Baptiste.  Today's itinerary will share our adventure to Melrose Plantation known to some as the home of the self-taught African-American Folk artist, Clementine Hunter.  While in her fifties, Hunter began her journey learning to paint using art supplies left behind by artists staying at Melrose Plantation.  Hunter lived and worked at the plantation and created art in her spare time.   Her art is an important documentation of life on a working plantation.  It transports viewers into another time and reminds us of the hardships endured by those once bound by slavery!  Vibrant landscapes depicting funerals, baptisms, and cotton picking are just a few of the views you will see while browsing some of her original paintings and murals located on the grounds of the plantation home.  Hunter originally sold her paintings for 25 cents with some selling now for over $20,000.  

Tips:

*Pack water sunscreen and insect repellent! 

Note:  

Be sure and check out the letterboxes in this area! To learn more about letterboxing, click here to read our blog about it!  Coming soon..........Free/Low Cost No Cost Area Museums!!!

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Directions:

Melrose Plantation

3533 Louisiana 119

Melrose, LA 71452

(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure

Share Your Adventure with Us!!

Have you been to a unique location or a place you would like to share with our readers?  Piease post a link, a picture or a description of your adventure!!  It  doesn't have to be in Louisiana!!!  

Natchitoches: Vacation Itinerary Day 2

Our Frugal Family Travelers are taking our readers on a vacation adventure to the Natchitoches, LA area.  Day 1 of our itinerary featured the adventures to be had with your family at Hodges Gardens State Park.  If you missed "Day 1" of our itinerary and want to catch up, "click here".

Day 2:
Kisatchie National Forest is a vast area for exploration and features over 600,000 acres of land spanning across seven parishes in Louisiana.   Our favorite area of this expansive forest is the the Kisatchie Bayou District, particularly due to the beautiful white water adjacent to the Kisatchie Bayou Campground.   Not only does this area have beautiful white water, which is quite uncommon in the Louisiana area, but features a sandy beach on which to lounge and enjoy the amazing sound as the water cascades down the rocks.   Our Frugal Family Travelers enjoyed splashing in the water, climbing the embankment, hiking trails by the campground and riding bikes down the blacktopped hill in the parking lot.  Primitive "walk-in" campsites are available which feature tent pads, barbecue pits and lantern polls.   A building with a vaulted toilet is on site but no running water is available.  This area requires a small fee collected in an honor box, available on site.

Tips:

*Pack water, as none is available on site. 

*Bring sunscreen and bug spray!!

*Water shoes are definitely recommended because the rocks in the water can be sharp.

*Rocks in the water can also be slippery and rapids quite swift!  Parents should supervise younger children.

*No lifeguard is on duty!

*Tubes are recommended but not available at the site.    

*Lifeguard certified vests/jackets are highly recommended! 

Note:  

Continue to read our post over the next few days to discover the full Natchitoches, LA itinerary!

Be sure and check out the letterboxes in this area! To learn more about letterboxing, click here to read our blog about it! 

Be sure to sign-up for email notifications on our the blog or like us on Facebook to receive future postings!

Directions directly from National Forest Website (Be aware that you will drive on primitive, gravel roads for some of the journey until you arrive at the campground!):  

From the intersection of I-49 and Highway 6 (Natchitoches) drive west on Hwy 6 for 4 miles. Turn left (south) on Louisiana Hwy 117 and proceed 16 miles to Forest Highway 59, Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway. Turn left (east) on FH 59 and go 7 miles to FR 321. Turn right (south) on FR 321 and go 4 miles to Forest Road 366. Turn right (west) on FR 366 and proceed to the end of the road.

A short video of our adventure!

Enjoying the cool white water!

Zooming down the hill!!

 Exploring!

(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.