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A Hidden Gem in Biloxi, MS

Every November, we make our way on over to Mississippi to visit family for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, like Ben Franklin once said, "Guests, like fish, tend to smell after three days." Therefore, we opted to take the kids on a mini vacation to Biloxi before heading back to spend time with the relatives. Due to the fact that it was obviously too cold to spend much time on the beach, we had to look for alternative places of interests to go. In my research I stumbled on what would turn out to be an amazing discovery: The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies! According to the website it is a "...non-profit organization established in 1984 for the purposes of public education, conservation, and research on marine mammals in the wild and under human care."

On the website there are several different tours the public can participate in; we decided on the basic dolphin presentation. For only $20.00 per person we were going to get an educational lecture as well as a dolphin "show." Because of the low price, we weren't expecting a whole lot. We were SO wrong!

When we finally arrived (The place is a little tricky to find.), we drove into a very small parking lot with only a couple of cars in it already. We walked to the entrance with the sounds of dolphins coming from somewhere in the facility. We entered into a gift shop/exploration zone. It featured walls filled with information on conservation as well as computers with interactive games on them.

After we checked in, we were escorted into a small lecture hall with a couple of other families/participants. We were then given the pleasure of watching a very knowledgeable staff member educate us about several different topics, each with its own visual - a live bird or reptile! The trainer talked about training the bird all the while the bird impressed us with its wide array of tricks, all taught to the bird, as we were told, for specific, non-performing purposes. After the snake lecture, we are allowed to go up to the front of the hall and touch the live snake!

From the lecture hall we went into the touch tank/aquariums. This was a relatively small room with a large touch tank in the middle filled with sharks, sting rays, and horseshoe crabs. The surrounding aquariums housed snakes, fish, and small alligators.

When we finished in the touch tank/aquariums, we were then shown outside to the dolphin tanks. I could not have imagined that we would be so close to the dolphins! We were able to sit within an arm's reach of the tanks. Because the Institute's purpose is education and conservation rather than for putting on shows, the presentation we watched was to show how the trainers practiced and trained the dolphins. It was basically the daily activities the trainers go through with the dolphins in order to practice their skills. After the presentation, the trainer asked if any of the children wanted to come up and tell one of the dolphin's what to do by using a hand signal! It was such an amazing experience, but it wasn't over yet.

Next, it was time for the sea lion presentation. We once again followed our "guide" to another section of the facility. Here we were sat in bleachers in front of a gated pool. The trainer came out and introduced Gabby, the sea lion. From there Gabby and her trainer educated us on the differences between a sea lion and a seal.

If that weren't enough, after all the presentations were over, we all went to the gift shop and everyone was able to sift through sand in a giant sandbox to search for sharks' teeth. Once we found one, we brought it over to the attendant who would identify it for us and give us a souvenir paper to take home.

This has to be one of my favorite places to go so far. It was educational, fun, and inexpensive. We have since been back again, yet this time we added a little something extra to our visit. The girls and I were able to get up close and personal with a sea lion and each got a kiss! Not only that, but we also got a little extra special treat and were allowed to hold one of the snakes!

If you are ever in Biloxi, Mississippi, please visit the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. It is so much better than paying high prices for an overcrowded, tourist trap. This is definitely a hidden gem!!