Hashbrowns, Rays, and Toddler Days: Biloxi with Coop

This year was my husband’s first time being officially old enough to play in the State Games Senior Olympics for volleyball. He teamed up with a fellow middle-aged friend (his words, not mine) and the tournament was held in Biloxi—at the middle school gym, I believe.

Since he was going that far, and Coop and I weren’t exactly jazzed about staying home alone all weekend, we decided to tag along for some toddler-friendly adventures. Well—I decided. Coop didn’t complain, and my husband didn’t dare. 😉

Friday Night Shenanigans

We drove down Friday evening. Coop, who hadn’t napped, conveniently slept most of the way. When we arrived, he woke up just enough for snacks and a little “hotel zoomies” session before finally crashing around 10:30 p.m.

Saturday: Aquarium Time and Public Diaper Humility

Saturday morning, Dad took a Lyft to the volleyball tourney. Coop and I “slept in” until 7:25 a.m., then got ready and headed out. First stop: McDonald’s. I know, I know—not very crunchy of us—but I knew he’d eat the hashbrowns. He did. Joyfully. He paired them with a Brainiac applesauce pouch and some Mama’s milk à la mode. So that I knew he got some proper nutrition with his fried processed potatoes.

Our main stop of the day was the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. We didn’t have pre-purchased tickets, but we got in quickly, and it wasn’t too busy for a Saturday. The real challenge? Finding the parking garage. Even with GPS, I got confused, and for some reason parked us on the third level. Then, because I didn’t see the elevator, I walked down three flights of stairs with Coop strapped to me on the Tushbaby. (Side note: I still didn’t notice the elevator until we were leaving… so yes, we also walked back up all three flights of stairs—with Coop still strapped to me like a chunky little backpack. My glutes are stronger; my patience is not.) #legday

Oh, and just before we entered, I got a whiff of what all moms fear on road trips: a car seat blowout. Well fortunately it was an *almost* blowout this time. Thankfully, I parked by a trash can, so it didn’t have to ride along for the rest of the day.

Pro Tip: Always keep diapers, wipes, booty cream, and a changing mat in your trunk or backseat. Your vehicle will become a mobile changing station.

Mississippi Aquarium: Highlights & Rays (Not the Sun Kind)

Once we made it inside, we opted to start indoors so Coop could enjoy the outdoor areas later, when he was likely to be tired. The signage recommends starting on the top floor, and we followed suit.

We began at the touch pool, where Coop watched me stick my hand in and then—hesitantly—followed my lead. That is, until a ray swam by, and he yanked his hand out like it was lava. 😂 Still, he was fascinated and watched the tank for a good 20 minutes.

The rest of the aquarium, while not massive, is thoughtfully laid out and very toddler-friendly. Coop especially loved:

The walk-through tunnel
The big viewing window room
And the central tower you pass on the ramps between floors—he toddled circles around it like it was Disneyland.

Outside, we visited the aviary, which was another win, even if he was determined to leave the path. We strolled past the dolphin tanks, skipped the show (he’s not a sit-and-watch kind of guy), and enjoyed the sunny, windy day.

Lunch, Naps, and the Discovery Center

By this point, Coop was ready for lunch and milk, so we hit up Chick-fil-A. I know… another crunchy point lost. He loved it. No regrets.

Next up: Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. He napped during the drive, which gave him just enough energy for a solid 90-minute play session.

It was busy. VERY busy. We tried the under-4 play area first, but let’s just say… some parents ignored signage and let their big kids run wild. We left to avoid the chaos and spent the rest of our time exploring the themed rooms. Favorites included:

The grocery store room (he finally got to pull stuff off shelves without a “No, no!”)
And the low-stimulation sensory room, which was a calming contrast to the rest of the center’s excitement.

When it was time to leave, Coop melted into a puddle of “but I was having fun!”—so I carried his boneless body out to the car, armed with snacks and milk. Naturally, I made a pit stop at TJ Maxx (priorities), and then we picked up Dad.

Saturday Night Wrap-Up

Back at the hotel, Coop played while we got ready for dinner. We decided to try Woody’s Roadside Diner, which we liked in Gulf Shores, but this time was a miss:

Loud and overstimulating
Very slow service
Not much Coop-friendly food

We won’t return.

To reset, we took Coop to the beach at sunset, let him take in the waves, wind and sand, then grabbed dessert at Bop’s, and finally headed back for baths and bedtime.

Sunday: Breakfast Busts and Back on the Road

I had dreams of visiting The Greenhouse for a cute breakfast spot, but sadly they’re closed on Sundays. We also tried Brick & Spoon, but they only had high-top seating or outdoor tables—which isn’t toddler-friendly on a windy day with a wiggly baby.

So… we circled back to McDonald’s. Again. Don’t judge me.

The verdict?