Good times at Grand Gulf

Our Frugal Family Travelers were feeling a little stir crazy, not only from the pandemic, but also from Hurricane Zeta which blew through our town, leaving over 72,000 in our community without power and damage.   Fortunately though, we were blessed with beautiful weather after the storm passed!   The cool temperature, coupled with a desire to  break free from the house, thrust our crew, (complete with our newest Furry Frugal Family Traveler), into the van on an adventure to Grand Gulf Military Park in Port Gibson, MS.  This little gem of a place has been on the bucket list for quite some time.  We actually learned of it after visiting Natchez, MS a few years back when one of our guides on a tour told us that a church from the Ghost Town of Rodney, MS was actually moved to Grand Gulf.  He further explained that the church and other historic buildings were restored and open to the public. This recommendation prompted us to visit Rodney but until today Grand Gulf in Port Gibson remained unchecked. 

Upon arrival we stopped at the museum to pay a nominal entrance fee ($4 per adult and $1 for each child in k-12th grade).  Armed with a trail map, and information from the ranger, we hiked to each of the sights you will see in the pictures below.  It’s important to note that our Frugal Family Travelers enjoy both hiking and history, so this place provided the perfect mix. 

As we hiked to each of the buildings along the way we read the historic placards which explained the significance of each.   Our hike traversed through the woods, along bluffs, through a civil war cemetery, the river and an observation tower which provided amazing panoramic views of the rolling hills!  The last leg of the loop trail took us through the camping area, which is suitable for both RV and tent camping.   Readers may want to make a weekend of it by camping and then exploring  some other  nearby Frugal Family favorites such as Natchez, MS  and Rocky Springs. Finally, the loop brought us back to the entrance where we took time to explore the extensive civil war era items on display in the museum.

Overall, we had an amazing day as did our little furry friend at this pet friendly location.   Enjoy the pictures below which mark all of the places mentioned above and provide the visual piece to the story.  Let this inspire you and your Frugal Family Travelers to gas up the car and satisfy your wanderlust by exploring  a new place.  You won’t be sorry! 

Directions: 12006 Grand-Gulf Rd, Port Gibson, MS 39150 

Cost:  $4 Adults; $1 k-12th grade students 

Don’t forget: water, bug spray, picnic food or camping supplies, for those wishing to stay overnight!

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. 

Picnic at a Peaceful Place and Explore too!!

If you are looking for a place to picnic, hike and fish or perhaps just a place to contemplate life, while amongst beautiful surroundings, then read on to learn about this spot which recently reopened to the public after renovations.  Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of approximately 34,500 acres of land in the Pearl River Basin.    The southern most portion of the refuge can be easily accessed at the Pearl River turn around exit off if I-59 in Louisiana.   Here you will find the Jim Schmidt Boardwalk and Trail,which is an area adorned with piers, boardwalks, picnic areas and a lake!  This site offers lots of opportunities for Frugal Family Travelers seeking outdoor activity and adventure.

This was our first visit to the refuge and our afternoon time was well spent taking pictures and also exploring the bayous from the expansive boardwalks, which offer exceptional views of the ecosystem.   We rounded out our day with a picnic lunch at one of the covered picnic areas adjacent the lake while watching others enjoy fishing and bird watching.  Our only regret was not bringing our kayaks to explore the lake!  

If this appeals to you and your Frugal Family Travelers pack you’re picnic lunch, kayaks, bug sprays and sunscreen and head to this area of the Bogue Chitto Wildlife Refuge. 

Directions: Jim Schmidt Boardwalk and Trail

Don’t forget: sunscreen, bug spray, picnic lunch, and a kayak! 

Remember: You MUST have a fishing license to fish here.   

Click here to discover a location within miles to create even more adventure for your Frugal Family Travelers! 

Enjoy the pictures!

Journey Through the Bayou

Today my Frugal Family Travelers needed a place to hike to enjoy a rare cool Spring day in the south.   Not wanting to travel far, we embarked on a journey to the Bogue Chitto Trail off of Interstate 59 between Slidell, LA and Picayune, MS.  However, upon arrival we discovered that the boardwalk at the refuge had sustained damage and therefore was closed to visitors.  We let out a sigh and with a quick internet search developed a new plan to salvage the day to make use of the beautiful weather!    Fortunately, we discovered another hiking area approximately 6 miles away!  Holmes Bayou Trail became our new destination and it did not disappoint.    The scenic drive took us on a gravel road under a railroad bridge and then through sections of wetlands littered with cypress trees.  Also along the way, on the left hand side of the road, we discovered an artesian spring fed well flowing out of a pipe right into the bayou.  If you visit the trail look out for this!  

We parked at the modest trailhead and began our hike to discover cypress bayous, birds and even a river at the trails end.  We wished we had hiked in with a chair in order take a short respite to linger at the river a bit longer.   While the hike was only 1.5 miles in to total, the adventure it provided did not disappoint.   So, if you are looking for a quick adventure, consider making a visit.    

Directions:  

39769 Honey Island Swamp Road - Pearl River, LA 70452

Pack:   Bug spray and water!  (Although we had no issues with mosquitos at this time of the year, this may NOT alway be the case.)

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.

Road Trip to Poverty Point

Poverty Point has been on the bucket list for my Frugal Family Travelers for some time now.    However, life with teens and preteens can be quite chaotic so finding the time for excursions is a little more challenging these day.   With that being said, it is ALWAYS worth the effort when we do plan a weekend getaway or a day trip, as it satisfies the desire for wanderlust and provides the whole family with a much needed respite from an active life.  

For those who may not know, Poverty Point is a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site located in Pioneer, Louisiana.  The 402 acre property, which operates as the Poverty Point State Historic Site, contains earthworks built by indigenous people between 1700 and 1100 BC.   Here visitors can enjoy hiking a trail, which outlines all of the various mounds and structures once present, or discover the history, through prearranged tours by a site ranger.  For those with limited mobility, access to the larger mound can be accessed by car.   Our Frugal Family Travelers particularly enjoyed viewing artifacts at the museum which had been excavated from the site.  However, the biggest adventure by far was the hike to the top of the largest mound!    The view was breathtaking and awe inspiring while thinking about the monumental task it was for the indeginuous people to build such a structure during that time period.   

For all of the reasons stated above and may more, your Frugal Family Travelers should plan a trip here.  Not only will you learn a great deal about the past, but you will leave with a renewed spirit having spent time out in nature. 

Directions:   

6859 Hwy. 577 Pioneer, LA 71266

(To learn more about UNESCO and the selection process for inclusion visit Click HERE.  It’s a great organization that is responsible for elevating knowledge of endangered sites and what they do to preserve them for future.