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This past weekend my family visited the self-promoted No. 1 family destination in Louisiana, Jellystone Park in Robert. I must admit I was a little nervous because very few people I know have been there, so I couldn't get a good word of mouth referral and everyone who had visited did so about 30 years ago!

Well, we decided to be open-minded and check it out and it delivered just what we needed -- a nearby escape, relaxation and good family fun. We stayed in the cabins (our idea of camping) with beds, a bath and small kitchen ("The Cajun Chalet") which has a semi-private pool area and outdoor grills. The cabin rates are a little higher than most of the state parks, but included is free access to the splash park, an 18-hole putt-putt golf course, lakes/fishing, canoes, pedal boats and other activities. The park has planned activities from morning to night, such as flag football, sand art and lunch with Yogi. There was even a concert on Saturday evening at the Yogi Dome! These activities were perfect for our children, age 4 to 8.

There are a few things you might want to know before you visit:

• Don't go for the cheap A-frame cabin. It is tiny and has no private bath or kitchen.

• You can rent a golf cart for the weekend. Since the cabins are in the back of the campgrounds and we didn't bring bikes, this was very convenient and fun.

• If you can, bring the bikes. The park is fairly large and there are several trails and safe paths for riding. All of the kids camping for the weekend enjoyed cruising around from activity to activity.

• You need to bring sheets and towel for the cabin, but don't stress over all of the groceries, etc. There is a grocery store right down the road from Jellystone and a store on the premises with the essentials. Also, there is a laundry facility on the grounds in case you run out of clean clothes like we did.

• The Global Wildlife Center is just a few miles down the road, so plan a trip to see the wild before you return to the city.

• There is a café at the park, but we did not have a good experience. The staff was nice and restaurant was clean, with cute Yogi Cartoons playing, but the food was very disappointing.

There are pictures, schedules of events and much more information here. I don't know if I would rate it No. 1 for best family destination, but I must admit we had a great time!