This year’s free summer fun list is brought to you by Rapid Urgent Care, open 365 days a year–even holidays.
Museums
Abita Mystery House. 22275 Hwy. 36, Abita Springs. $5/person. Open 10AM-5PM seven days a week. An outrageous collection of “things” for your family to explore. Read more about the Mystery House here.
Abita Springs Trailhead Museum. Abita Trailhead–next to the Brew Pub. Documents the history of Abita Springs. Rotating exhibits also. Check their website for details. Free.
Camp Moore Museum and Cemetery. 70640 Camp Moore Rd.
Kentwood, LA 70444. Located 25 miles north of Hammond, this is the largest Confederate Training Camp in Louisiana and the only one still open to the public in the U.S. Its museum displays personal artifacts of the common soldier. It’s open Wed-Sat from 10AM-3PM. You can learn more on their website.
Collinswood School Museum. 100 E. Pine St., Ponchatoula, LA 70454. Antique quilts and furnishings, early household products, and Native American artifacts. FREE. Editor’s Note: the museum closed during the pandemic and we are uncertain as to whether it has reopened.
Covington Trailhead Museum. Covington Trailhead. Take a stroll through Covington’s past. The museum includes a short film, photos and interactive kiosks. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 10AM to 2PM, Saturday from 10AM to 4PM Sunday from noon to 4PM. Free.
H.J. Smith and Son’s General Store. 308 N Columbia St. Free. Part store, part collection of local memorabilia, this Covington institution has been in operation since 1876. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30AM-5PM, Wednesdays 8:30-Noon, and Saturdays 8:30AM-1PM. Closed Sundays. Free.
Independence Italian Cultural Museum. 524 Pine St., Independence, LA 70433. Open week days 9AM-1PM and Saturdays 10AM-1PM. FREE
Kentwood Historical and Cultural Arts Museum. 204 Ave. E., Kentwood, LA 70444. This museum dedicates part of its space to pop star Britney Spears who was born and raised in Kentwood. There is also a section dedicated to WWII Veterans. Open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10AM-3PM.
Louisiana Treasures Museum. 10290 Highway 22, Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Open Saturday 10AM-4PM and Sunday Noon-4PM. A variety of items from Louisiana’s past including everything from arrow heads to early dry cleaning equipment. Admission is $3/person.
Lake Ponchartrain Basin Museum. 133 Mabel Dr., Madisonville, LA 70447. Open Tuesday-Friday 1-4PM and Saturdays 10AM-4PM. I could not find current admission rates but at last check they were: $5 for adults, $3 for children. Kids under age 5 are free. Men and women in uniform are free.
Otis House. Fairview Riverside Park. Temporarily closed. 1880s-era home available for tours. Admission $4 per adult. Seniors and children 12 & under free.
Slidell Museum. 2020 First Street Slidell, LA 70458. Free. Find out more about the history of Slidell including a large exhibit dedicated to the War Between the States. They’ve now added a Mardi Gras exhibit featuring over 800 pieces of carnival memorabilia. Open Tuesday and Wednesday 10AM-4PM, Friday 10AM-4PM, and Saturday 10AM-2PM.
Local Parks/Playgrounds
Abita Splash Pad. Free and always fun!
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Lacombe. Boy Scout boardwalk available so you can walk and look at wildlife. More information and educational materials can be found here. Or you can check out a picture of my crew walking the boardwalk this past fall.
East Lakefront Children’s Park. Splashpad, swings, two sliding/climbing structures, and a beach! (beware of wildlife). I took one of my all-time favorite pictures there last summer.
Fontainebleau State Park. 62883 Hwy. 1089 Mandeville, LA 70448. Open Sunday-Thursday 6AM-9PM and Friday/Saturday 6AM-10PM. Beach and boardwalk. Splashpad. Admission $3/person. Seniors and children under 3 get in free.
Neighborwoods. End of Garden Avenue in Beau Rivage subdivision. Open Mon-Sun Sunrise to Sunset. Trails are open to all ages, pets, and bicycles.
Mandeville Trailhead Splash Pad.
Chappapeela Park. Located in Tangipahoa parish, this splash pad is COVERED! My kids had a blast here. There’s also a small playground.
Coquille Park. Large playground and splashpad for kids. Free.
Indoor
Kids Bowl Free–Tangi Lanes in Hammond participates in Kids Bowl Free–an event that allows kids two free games each week day. Sign up on the Kids Bowl Free website to get your tickets sent via email.
Summer Movie Express. Regal Covington 14. $1 movie admission. Movies start at 10AM. See full schedule here.
Summer Reading
Barnes and Noble. Reads books to earn a free book! Find all the details here.
St. Tammany Parish Library. Summer reading starts May 28th. Get more information about this year’s program on their website!
Tangipahoa Parish Library. Tangi Libraries participate in the summer reading challenge too. You can sign up for that here.
WANT TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER PARENTS THIS SUMMER? Join our 75 Days of Summer Group on Facebook.
About Our Sponsor, Rapid Urgent Care:
Rapid Urgent Care has locations in Mandeville, Covington, and Slidell. Rapid Urgent Care is open 365 Days a week including holidays and has a physician on site to access, diagnose, and treat your concern. Rapid Urgent Care commonly treats aliments such as the flu and flu-like illnesses. These include colds, sore throats, bronchitis, asthma, and strep throat. They treat sprains, minor trauma, and fractures. Learn more by visiting their website and liking them on Facebook.
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