Sandy Creek Campground

Three campground loops are strung along the shore of  B.A. Steinhagen Lake so most of the sites are water front. Of the 77 sites, 71 have water and electric, 6 are tent only. All sites are reservation only but since most of the sites were open during our visit, we waited until we got there before choosing site 36. Amenities include tables, fire rings, restrooms, showers, a dump station, boat ramp, fishing pier, and a playground. 

 

Although many of the sites are usable, none are designated as accessible, however, as we were leaving I noticed a few sites in loop Scre that are fairly accessible. I snapped a photo but unfortunately I didn't get the site numbers. Campground   30.82134, -94.17147

Jasper County Historical Museum

Housed in only one room, this small but nicely curated museum covers the history of  Jasper County, Texas with artifacts and stories on Native American culture, towns founded by freed slaves after the Civil War, farming, logging, and the discovery of oil. The horrific, racially motivated murder of James Byrd Jr by three men in 1998 is also covered. Two of the men were executed; the third received a life sentence.

The museum is accessible but the entrance is sloped and has an outward opening door making entering awkward. 

Parking on Main Street in front of the museum is all angle-in but there's parallel street parking north on Main Street and on the side streets. Cross walks and curb cuts are in fair condition. Museum   30.92171, -94.00068

Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area

The Sabin River Authority which owns and operates Toledo Bend Reservoir also maintains eight free or very inexpensive campgrounds along the Texas side of the reservoir. Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area where we camped is excellent with picnic tables, trash cans, restrooms, showers, a boat ramp, beaches, and a playground. There aren't any sites - just pull up alongside the railing and enjoy the view. We camped on the south side of the road because it was more level than the north side.

A break in the railing is large enough for wheelchair access but the terrain is too steep for lake access. A trash can and picnic table with a shelter are a short roll across the grass. The restroom is signed as accessible but I didn't check it out. 

The recreation area can be accessed by any size vehicle. Camping  31.16586, -93.57822

 

Louisiana History Museum

The museum is in the basement of the 1907 Alexandria Public Library. Display cases hold collections of donated items that highlight various periods of central Louisiana history but there isn't a lot of  interpretive text. Due to being short staffed the volunteer who was manning the library closed it to give us a guided tour of the museum. This was another case of a very friendly and informed small city museum volunteer who was ready to explain and discuss any of the items on display. 

The accessible entrance is in the rear of the museum. The museum is accessible.

RVs will fit in the on street parking. Museum   31.30912, -92.44465

 

Alexandria Museum of Art

 Changing exhibits with a focus on Louisiana and southern artists fill the galleries of this small museum. There's also an arched room painted exactly like the one from the 12th century church of Vera Cruz de Maderuelo in Spain. 

 

The museum is accessible with an elevator to the second floor galleries.

RVs will fit in the free parking spaces on the 2nd Street side of the museum. Museum  31.31215, -92.44437

 

Clear Springs Campground

This small 22 site national forest campground is located miles from any large cities but surprisingly has paved roads, electric hookups, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. There are two campsite loops plus a group camping area and a designated dispersed camping area. First come, first served. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and the campgrounds were almost empty. Summertime might be busier with people swimming, boating, and fishing in the 12-acre lake. 

The road to the campground splits with at about the 4 mile mark. The right road goes to sites 13-20 and the left road goes to sites 1-12. We took the right road and camped in site 21. This loop is hilly and some of the sites have steps to access the picnic tables and fire rings. Site 21 is fairly level even though the asphalt is in poor condition but there isn't room to deploy a lift. We were only staying for the night so it didn't matter but I recommend going to the left and camping in that area because the sites are level and roomy.  

The website indicates that there are accessible sites and, although we did not see any designated as accessible, the sites on left road loop are usable.  Campground  31.4289, -90.98589

Hattiesburg Cultural Center

Hours are limited so check the website before going. Calling first is also recommended. I did - no answer but we decided to take our chances and were given a guided tour by a woman who has roots going back to the founding of Hattiesburg and had stories about every object in the museum such as who donated it and the history of it. She made what is essentially a bunch of unrelated and underwhelming items interesting. 

The accessible entrance is in the rear. The doors open outward and the sidewalk has a slope so entering is awkward. The interior is accessible. 

The parking lot is large enough for vans and short RVs. Longer RVs can be parked on Main Street about a block east of the museum. The sidewalk and curb cuts are in fair condition. Museum 31.32855, -89.29296

 

Hattiesburg Pocket Museum

I didn't know what a pocket museum was and looking at the website wasn't very helpful but I did figure out that it was a very small museum located in an alley. That was intriguing enough for us to seek it out.

What we found was a magical little alley way filled with paintings and tiny figures perched on pipes, electrical boxes, and narrow crevices. They're hard to spot a first but once you find one you'll start seeing them everywhere. The art changes and, this close to the holidays, it was Christmas themed. 

The alley is accessible. A few pieces of the art are too high to be seen. There's also a too-high window to peek in and watch a short film but almost everything else is easily viewed.

 Parking is on Main Street. Museum  31.32663, -89.28999