COUSIN CAMP ON THE MISSISSIPPI COAST | CAMP CECE

Every year my husband and I plan an annual cousin camp (known in our family as Camp CeCe) according to the ages and interests of our grandchildren. So far we’ve hosted Secret Agent Cousin CampPreschool Cousin Camp, and two different versions of  Cousin Camp at Jellystone Park. Cousin Camp is special for so many reasons,  so we put a lot of thought into our venue and theme.

I moved from my hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi several years ago, so my grandchildren had never experienced the unique culture of my hometown.  That’s why we decided to host a Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast.

The Mississippi Coast offers a variety of family-friendly events and venues, so we knew it would make an excellent choice for a Cousin Camp.

 

Heading out to Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

A couple of weeks before Cousin Camp, I hand-stamped shirts for everyone.

camp cece shirts-cousin camp on the Mississippi coast

 

We always keep our venue for Camp CeCe a secret from our grandchildren. Part of the fun of Cousin Camp is having them guess for weeks where we might be going.

On the day of our departure, we surprised our grandchildren with the announcement of a trip to the Mississippi Coast. They were beyond excited! Then my husband and I loaded our grandchildren and their luggage into two vans (borrowed from our children) and headed out.

 

Cousin Camp on the Coast-Camp CeCe

 

My mom has been serving as a co-camp counselor since our very first Cousin Camp. Since she lives on the Mississippi Coast, she offered up her home to us! We spent no time hanging our Camp CeCe banner over her sunroom door and flinging sleeping bags onto the floors!

 

COUSIN CAMP ON THE MISSISSIPPI COAST-Camp CeCe sign-the titus woman

 

Day One of  Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

Not Just Any Donut

Our first morning at Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast called for a visit to Tato Nut, a true Ocean Springs icon with indescribably delicious donuts.

 

Tato Nut bag-cousin camp on the mississippi coast-the titus womanTato Nut donut shop-cousin camp on the Mississippi Coast-the Titus Woman

 

Shrimp Boat

Our first adventure on the Mississippi Coast was a shrimp boat excursion.  As our boat left the harbor, the kids learned about the Coast’s long-time shrimping industry.  Then they handled a variety of creatures pulled from the boat’s shrimp net.

 

shrimp excursion-cousin camp on the Mississippi coast- The Titus Womanexamining shrimp-cousin camp on the mississippi coast-the titus woman

Small Craft Harbor Park

Since we’d planned a jam-packed itinerary, we brought along lunches and an ice chest. After our shrimping boat excursion we stopped at a park near the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor where the kids ran, played, and paused to visit a military monument.

 

playing at the park- cousin camp on the mississippi coast-the titus woman

 

After dinner at Sal and Mookies (where pizza makers tossed pepperonis at the kids!), we headed for the beach.

 

pepperoni tossing-cousin camp on the mississippi coast-the titus woman

Beachside Park

As the sun began to fade, Ocean Springs Front Beach  offered a view that was hard to beat.

 

beachside park-cousin camp on the Mississippi coast-the titus woman

Day Two of Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

Biloxi Lighthouse

The Biloxi lighthouse has provided a beacon of light over the years for countless maritime pilots.  But as a Coast native, the lighthouse reminds me of the unique people, food, and culture that make up the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Biloxi Lighthouse-cousin camp on the Mississippi Coast-the titus woman

 

When I suggested we climb the 55-step staircase to the top of the lighthouse, I had no idea my 84-year-old mom would be game! Although she’s lived on the Mississippi Coast all her life, my mom had never climbed the lighthouse steps!

 

spiral staircase-cousin camp on the Mississippi coast-the titus woman

top of the lighthouse-cousin camp on the Mississippi Coast-The Titus Woman

It’s one of the many special treasures Cousin Camp on the Coast gave to all of us.

 

Biloxi lighthouse-Cousin Camp on the Mississippi coast

 

Air Show

On our way back from the children’s museum we stopped at a Biloxi harbor and unpacked our lunches and ice chests. Then we ate lunch and drank plenty of water while we watched the Blue Angels practice their air show that was scheduled for the next day!

watching the air show-cousin camp on the mississippi coast

Blue Angels air show-cousin camp on the mississippi coast

Children’s Museum

After our lighthouse adventure, we made our way to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a children’s museum that offered entertainment for everyone.

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center-Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center- Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

 

Day Three of Cousin Camp on the Coast

Beauvoir

To our surprise, our grandchildren loved our visit to  Beauvoir, the historic home of Jefferson Davis.

Beavoir-cousin camp on the coast
Although Beauvoir was ravaged by Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, it’s still standing. But not in its former state of glory.

 

We were impressed by how attentively our grandchildren listened to the tour guide. As she told us about the history of the home, they paid attention to every word.

 

cousin camp on the Mississippi coast-the titus woman

 

cousin camp on the Mississippi coast
While we toured the house, my youngest granddaughter found a way to stay cool!

 

The kids loved Beauvoir’s museum and explored the exhibits with interest.

Every. Single. One.

Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast

 

After the tour we boarded golf carts for a visit to the cemetery.

 

to boys riding on the back of a golf cart-camp cece on the coast

 

With the help of an onsite ledger, my mom discovered the grave of her great-grandfather, a Civil War veteran. The kids were beyond excited.  And so was my mom!

 

woman standing in front of gravestone-cousin camp on the coast

 

 

cousin camp campers with grandmother-cousin camp on the coast

 

 

Once we’d seen all Beauvor had to offer, we were sweltering in the Coast heat.

So, we accepted a gracious invitation from some Coast friends for a pool party at their home.

Downtime

Cousin Camp-camp cece-the titus woman

As the sun began to fade, my grandchildren asked to return to the Ocean Springs playground they had enjoyed the day before. So we did. And we were not disappointed.

cousin camp

Day Four of Cousin Camp on the Coast

Shoe Excursion

We ended Camp CeCe by buying all the grandchildren a new pair of back-to-school tennis shoes.

cousin camp on the Mississippi coast-the titus woman

 

Hometown family

Once the shoes were  purchased, we met up with my sister and nephew for a quick lunch at what had become one of my grandchildren’s favorite spots.

Since my sister and her family  normally live out of the country, we felt fortunate to catch them during one of their stateside breaks. (The benefits to Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast kept mounting!)

 

Cousin Camp-camp cece
My nephew Eldon is the best cousin ever and is dearly loved.

 

 

Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast for the win!

As we loaded our grandchildren into the van to begin our trek back home, I asked them which was their favorite Camp CeCe: Bug Camp, Secret Agent Camp, Jellystone Park or Camp CeCe on the Coast?

And their unified response was: Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast!

Cindy Singleton of The Titus Woman

 

Cousin Camp on the Mississippi Coast-the titus woman

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