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It would be nice if everyone could jet off to The Magic Kingdom whenever they wanted to take a family vacation. Unfortunately, most families are operating on tight budgets these days. That doesn’t mean that you have to forego a vacation altogether, however. There are plenty of staycation ideas that pack plenty of family fun in the Magnolia state. So load up your vehicle, grab a Mississippi map and hit the road!

Visit A National Park

There are 8 national parks in Mississippi, but the three most popular are:

• Gulf Islands National Seashore:  features ancient citadels, exotic beaches and adventurous activities.
• Natchez National Historic Park: offers hiking, horseback riding, camping and lessons in history.
• Vicksburg National Battlefield: retells the political history of Mississippi relating to the Civil War.

National parks are fun for young and old alike. Not only does a trip there offer the opportunity to experience nature, but there are also a variety of educational opportunities as well. In many national parks, kids ages 4-12 can become Junior Rangers by completing age-appropriate worksheets and activities.

Make A Splash

From a very early age, kids naturally gravitate to water—especially when it’s hot outside. There is no better way to spend a hot, humid summer day than at one of the many waterparks in Mississippi. In fact, Geyser Falls waterpark located in Choctaw is rated the number one family attraction in the state. It boasts 13 different water slides—including a freefall speed slide that is six-stories tall—a huge wave pool, a lazy river as well as a play area for younger children. There are also a half dozen other waterparks to choose from located throughout the state.

Travel The World

You can travel the world without even leaving Mississippi. All it takes is a little creativity. Make or buy a pretend passport for your children. Choose a handful of countries that you want to learn more about and write the names of those countries on each page. Then, spend a week presenting each other with fun facts and trivia about those countries, playing games and making crafts. At the end of the week, treat your family to dinner at a restaurant (preferably one you have never been to before) that serves ethnic cuisine from that country. Before you leave, be sure to put a stamp in the kid’s passports.

Meander Through A Museum

The Mississippi Museum of Art has over 4,000 pieces in its permanent collection. While this might sound overwhelming for a family outing—especially if you have young children—it is actually a great opportunity to immerse yourself in culture and open up the lines of communication at the same time. The museum features “Family Corners” where you can sit, play and talk about some of the things you have seen. They also host a hands-on event for children under the age of 5 complete with story time, an art project and a visit from the museum’s mascot, Hoot the Owl.

You don’t have to be an art aficionado to enjoy spending time at one of the many museums in Mississippi, however. There are also a number of alternative museums including the Tupelo Automobile Museum, the Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

Travel Through Space

You can get kids excited for a trip to the Russell C. Davis Planetarium in Jacksonville by sending them their own personal invitation. Use your imagination to come up with fun wording such as “3, 2, 1. . .our staycation countdown has begun!” Be sure to include the “launch date” and “blast-off” time. Once you get to the planetarium, everyone will enjoy participating in interactive activities, viewing realistic sky and space scenes in the hemispheric theater and watching large-format films. Older children will also enjoy laser light concerts.

Stay In A Hotel

Whatever you choose to do on your staycation, you can make if more fun by staying in a hotel. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—kids just love the novelty of staying somewhere new and different. It is also easier for parents to leave the distractions of daily life behind if they aren’t staying at home. Another benefit of staying in a hotel: if you get tired while exploring your home state, simply head back to the hotel for a quick nap and a dip in the pool. Afterwards, kids will be rejuvenated and ready to go out and hit more “tourist” attractions.

Article contributed by Chuck withers of The two guys travel blog. Follow him on twitter or visit his blog for more food and travel tips.