22 Enjoyable Issues to Do in Jackson MS to Uncover the Metropolis With Soul…
What does it imply to be the Metropolis With Soul?
That is what was on my thoughts when planning our journey with Go to Jackson to the capital of the State of Mississippi.
I solely knew of Jackson MS due to its Deep South Blues historical past and complex slavery and Civil Rights historical past. And I knew I cherished saying Jackson, Mississippi with that Southern Drawl.
However what else would we uncover? Did it have sufficient depth and soulfulness to share to fall in love with?
Sure!
The town of Jackson MS has been probably the most shocking vacation spot to this point on our America Unplugged highway journey.
We cherished it for its range of thriving arts and music tradition, and open pleasant individuals. I used to be impressed with how this metropolis has embraced it’s difficult previous and is keen to evolve into one thing higher.
Oh, and the meals. I can’t overlook the meals in Jackson!
We had a number of the finest meals we’ve had to this point within the US –recent, inventive with a contemporary twist on some soulful Southern dishes.
We visited Jackson on a sponsored journey with Go to Jackson to showcase the Metropolis With Soul and share their wonderful docuseries highlighting the approach to life and journey experiences on provide, which you’ll see right here.
Watch our video, then scroll right down to learn our 22 ideas:
Enjoyable Issues to do in Jackson, MS
Uncover the Metropolis with Soul with these enjoyable issues to do in Jackson, MS.
Find out about historical past and tradition of Mississippi
The historical past and tradition of Jackson is sophisticated, inspiring, humbling and thought-provoking.
Based in 1821, Jackson was named after Andrew Jackson, and shortly turned the political, financial, and social exercise, and has a wealthy civil warfare and civil rights historical past.
You possibly can study all about it and the way it has advanced into this thrilling vacation spot on the following locations.
1. The Mississippi Museum of Artwork
The Mississippi Museum of Artwork is a group supported establishment for over 100 years.
It’s not simply concerning the gorgeous artwork assortment, nevertheless it’s a vibrant cultural middle that gives exterior films, bands and meals vans, and the café inside is supposed to be stellar.
We solely skilled the artwork inside the museum, which options numerous native and nationwide artists and brilliantly tells the story of Mississippi.
I like the mix of previous and trendy artwork inside every part of the museum, which is damaged down into historic timelines.
I used to be tremendous impressed with the standard of the artwork assortment.
We had been led via the museum by two instructing fellow college students who helped us acquire extra from the items with the background tales and extra insights these with a educated inventive eye can see.
I like how there are interactive sections for the youngsters and my ladies, not used to artwork museums, actually loved it.
White Gold by Thomas Sayre is an immersive site-specific set up, which depicts the cotton-filled Southern panorama, Mississippi is most identified for.
I cherished Purple April, the tie-dyed canvas paintings that drew you down the corridor within the Civil Rights Part depicting the assassination of Martin Luther King.
This portray of the relocation of Native People can be mesmerizing.
2. Mississippi Kids’s Museum
Searching for enjoyable issues to do in Jackson, MS?
Okay, so we’ve been to some Kids’s Museums in our travels. However the Mississippi Kids’s Museum in Jackson was by far one of the best we’ve been to.
Firstly, the spacious, gentle and brilliant design of it attracts you in and opens the proper framework for studying and engagement. I didn’t notice how vital this was till I walked in and felt it.
The Museum has a mission to enhance well being, literacy and total well-being for youngsters and the actions replicate this.
It’s extremely participating, inventive and academic.
There are climbing partitions, an actual automotive you may faux drive, a large scrabble board and biking skeletons.
There’s a music and dance room the place you may create and file, and an artwork room with volunteers instructing artwork classes.
And there’s a giant digestive system (i.e. large tunnel playground) that gurgles and farts as you progress via it till you poop out the tip in the bathroom bowl!!
There’s additionally a Literacy Backyard exterior which is a 13,00zero sq. toes backyard and playground with artworks, fountains and climbing towers.
Three. Mississippi Museum of Pure Science
We are going to at all times keep in mind the Mississippi Museum of Pure Science for the two-headed snake.
Have you ever ever seen one earlier than? Me neither and it freaked us all out!
Apparently, the snakes had been twins within the egg however stopped the splitting course of, and so now they’re one with two heads.
Simply if you thought snakes couldn’t be any scarier. (I like them!!)
There are many cute alligators and turtles to take a look at too and a terrific part on power conservation which lead a dialogue on what we will do higher in our way of life.
If you wish to stretch your legs, there’s an outdoor space with just a few strolling trails.
four. Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum
The Agricultural Museum is on a big block of land and has a small historic city, cattle, a big indoor mannequin prepare show, cotton bales, previous crop dusters, and extra.
My ladies loved the printing room probably the most.
We discovered how printing is advanced, they’d the chance to make use of an previous printing machine and discovered how phrases corresponding to thoughts your p’s and q’s got here from the previous model of printing.
It’s simply really easy to provide phrases for others to learn now with the net world!
Word to self: By no means complain about how onerous running a blog is once more.
5. Mississippi Sports activities Corridor of Fame and Museum
In case you’re a sports activities fan, this is among the finest issues to do in Jackson, MS.
Once I first met Craig, I knew about Jerry Rice about an hour into our dialog. He’s been his sporting hero for a few years.
So it was fairly a thrill for him to go to the Mississippi Sports activities Corridor of Fame and Museum, the place Jerry Rice, alongside just a few different Mississippi sporting legends, like Brett Favre, Walter Peyton, Archie Manning and Dave “Boo” Ferriss are acknowledged.
Begin with the brief video so you may study simply how vital sports activities are to the state of Mississippi and what number of sporting legends come from there.
There are some Tremendous Bowl MVP trophies, Olympic gold medals and extra all on show, so that you can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at!
The women preferred cartwheeling about within the duplicate baseball stadium and racing on the brief dash observe.
6. Museum of Mississippi Historical past
Once more, Jackson Mississippi is aware of the best way to put collectively an attractive and fascinating museum.
The Museum of Mississippi Historical past is in the identical constructing because the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and collectively they’re often called the Two Mississippi Museums.
They had been each solely opened in December 2017, which implies the shows are trendy, participating and interactive.
You possibly can inform they’ve discovered the best way to do a museum proper. They’re shortly changing into often called one of the best issues to do in Jackson, MS.
The theme of the Museum of Mississippi Historical past, which covers everything of the state’s historical past, is “One Mississippi, many tales.”
I used to be anticipating the women to be whining about being bored as quickly as we entered, so I used to be shocked to see them race from one show to the opposite taking a eager curiosity, participating with the story and interactive reveals.
Movies share tales of particular historic occasions all through the museum if you wish to deepen the expertise.
The women cherished the Reflections part on the finish the place you’re invited into the recording room to share your personal historical past tales.
7. Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Be ready. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum could be a little overwhelming.
There’s a lot to absorb, a lot of it traumatic.
There’s a part within the museum on lynching, which we had been warned about relating to the women. There’s a curtained part with some disturbing footage about it, which we skipped.
It’s a brutal story that can not be glazed over although. It’s vital to recollect the previous and use it as a reminder of the best way to be higher.
This monument to the heroes and martyrs of the motion reveals how keen the individuals of Mississippi are to embrace the ache of the previous to heal and transfer ahead.
We had been following the Civil Rights Path lots on our travels, in Memphis and Montgomery, so it was nice to additional deepen the story and study some new heroes like Medgar Evers.
In case you’re within the metropolis to go to the museums in Jackson, MS, don’t miss this one!
eight. Medgar Evers Home
I used to be stunned I didn’t know something about Medgar Evers, and I’m glad that I discovered about his Civil Rights activism.
He was a major and influential Civil Rights chief in Mississippi. He tirelessly labored to overturn segregation and keep voting rights for African People and was the Area secretary for the NAACP.
Because of this, his life was continuously beneath risk, and sadly he was brutally assassinated in his driveway in 1963 by a white supremacist.
You possibly can take non-public excursions of his home organized via Tougaloo College.
His home is now a nationwide historic landmark and a time capsule for middle-class African American life within the 1960’s.
Minnie Watson took us via the house and shared particulars of Medgar’s adolescence and profession, and we noticed the bullet holes from when the bullet went via his chest and into the home ricocheting across the kitchen.
You’ll go away with a heavy coronary heart. Honor those that bravely sacrificed to create a greater world.
Expertise the Blues in Jackson, MS
9. Blue Mondays at Hal and Mal’s
This is among the coolest issues to do in Jackson, MS.
Hal and Mal’s is a Jackson establishment for its meals and stay music.
It was opened in 1985 by brothers Hal and Mal in a former 1920s GM&O freight prepare depot constructing within the coronary heart of Jackson downtown.
It’s quirky and retro inside completely matches the heat of a Southern Blues jamming session, which is what you’ll get on a Monday evening at Blue Monday (which is held within the purple room of the restaurant).
We didn’t eat right here, the kitchen was closed, however we noticed loads of individuals bringing in their very own snacks!
On Mondays for a small $5 cowl cost you may expertise a blues jamming session w hosted by the Central Mississippi Blues Society.
The common band performs a sequence of upbeat tunes after which invitations members of the viewers to stand up and sing and play with them. You simply by no means know who would possibly stand up. You maybe?
Blue Monday is pleasant, relaxed and enjoyable and appropriate for youths.
It is among the most fulfilling and soulful issues to do in Jackson, MS. We cherished it.
10. BBQ & Blues at Cathead Distillery
Our first introduction to Jackson was the Cathead Distillery, an previous ethereal warehouse which supplies it a hip industrial really feel.
Wow! Was my preliminary response.
That is my kinda place if that is what Jackson is like then I do know it’s for me. We arrived for the BBQ and Blues occasion.
Exterior sat a meals truck the place you might seize your BBQ nachos or tacos, and inside had been visiting native breweries and a sampling bar of the Cathead liquor.
Cathead is the primary and oldest distillery in Mississippi.
Its title honors the wealthy musical historical past. Cathead was a time period utilized by blues musicians as a nod to artists they respect.
Since its starting, their vodka (together with their honeysuckle and pecan variations) and gin have develop into baseline bottles for any cocktail bars throughout the South.
The BBQ and Blues occasion was the right place for youths and pets!
With corn gap, large jenga and join four video games there was a playful and relaxed ambiance and on the stage in entrance of the large fermentation tanks and copper-columned nonetheless was a five-piece Blues band enjoying some upbeat tunes.
After we went to go away, we randomly began speaking to a fellow, who seems to be the top distiller of the vodka and as soon as lived in Adelaide.
He launched us to one of many homeowners, chatted for a bit and gave us a bag of his distinctive honeysuckle vodka to take residence.
Welcome to the heat and friendliness of Jackson. We’d arrived on the proper place. Undoubtedly one of the crucial family-friendly issues to do in Jackson, MS for food and drinks.
Public hours for excursions and tastings are Thursday and Friday Three-6pm and Saturday 1-6pm.
Examine the web site for occasions, just like the BBQ and Blues.
11. Guitar Lesson at Fondren Guitars
Time to get licking and riffing with a guitar lesson at Fondren Guitars.
Proprietor and native musician, Patrick Harkins sat down with the women to show them just a few easy E chord strums to carry out the blues sound.
He was very affected person and inspiring and had an inventive, soulful vibe.
The women had enjoyable, and it sounded nice.
I used to be hooked listening and, after Savannah’s request for a guitar, I used to be eager about throwing one in for myself.
Getting a guitar lesson on trip is one thing I’ve by no means thought-about earlier than.
Jackson, Mississippi, the birthplace of the Blues, is the right place to have one and is among the most enjoyable issues to do in Jackson, MS.
It brings a singular and soulful expertise to your travels and maybe introduces you to a brand new interest (or potential profession).
Some of the enjoyable issues to do in Jackson, MS in case your children are musical.
12. How about a bit of Southern Soul Pampering?
Kalyra and Savannah adored getting a pedicure on the Soul Spa on the Westin Resort.
I believe they had been made for Southern residing.
Savannah’s suits of giggles over her ticklish toes was extremely entertaining for us all.
Craig and I ducked again to the Spa ourselves with a therapeutic ’ therapeutic massage – sure to immediate shoulder rigidity aid and a divine 80 Soulful personalised facial that left my pores and skin feeling delicate and searching radiant.
Word to self: do that extra typically.
Carve out a good period of time on your journey to the Soul Spa as they’ve saunas, a tranquil leisure room, and one of the best digital bathe ever.
Ramp up the indulgence on a Sunday with limitless Mimosas. Sure, puhlease!
Put some Soul in your Abdomen: Locations to eat in Jackson, Mississippi
It’s not all about ham hocks, deep fried rooster, and okra in Jackson Mississippi.
The meals has depth and soul with scrumptious up to date twists. It was implausible.
Our solely disappointment was that we left with a number of should not miss suggestions left unchecked.
13. Deep South Pops
Put some pop in your popsicle!
Proprietor of Deep South Pops, Jake Franklin provides creativity and wholesome aptitude to a childhood favourite.
They had been so good, Savannah didn’t even know there was avocado in her chocolate cake popsicle.
As a lover of all issues avocado and coconut my popsicle combining them each over delivered with creamy taste. And with every day rotating flavors you by no means have to fret about popsicle boredom.
However wait, this deal with store additionally meets espresso and craft beer store.
Don’t miss the nitro lemon and ginger nitro kombucha on faucet – it was a creamy deliciousness beforehand undiscovered in a fermented drink.
And my first style of a nitro espresso went down very nicely.
My preliminary response was that it jogged my memory of Guinness – that’s as a result of they each got here out of the identical nitro faucet.
One can have you bouncing off the partitions and the opposite slurring out the phrases to Molly Malone. Both approach, you’re sure for an fulfilling time.
If you wish to take your indulgence to a brand new degree, strive the beer floats. If I weren’t gluten-free, I’d be throughout it.
Discover a beer and popsicle match, dunk your popsicle in your beer, and away you slurp.
Apparently, it’s good for the soul, and I do imagine it.
14. Bully’s Restaurant
Welcome to a soul meals kitchen, that has served its group for over 35 years.
From the skin, it’s low-key and humble, however on the within is a number of the finest soul meals you may have within the South.
Bully’s Restaurant obtained the 2016 James Beard Award for America’s Basic Meals. That may be a restaurant that has timeless enchantment and is cherished for high quality meals that displays the character of their group.
The Meals Community featured their tender and flavorful BBQ ribs and named Bully’s Restaurant #four on their High 5 Soul Meals Eating places within the nation.
You possibly can go loopy with some Southern delights like chitterlings, oxtails, ham hocks, neckbones, turkey wings, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and fried inexperienced tomatoes.
Because of an immensely full abdomen after days of excellent Jackson consuming, I settled on a vegetable plate.
They had been the tastiest lima beans, collard greens and black-eyed peas I’ve ever had. And that cornbread! To die for.
Don’t miss Bully’s
15. Tremendous & Dandy
Oh, Tremendous and Dandy, I’ll always remember your Tater Tots You Didn’t Make, coated in truffled créme fraiche, smoked trout caviar, pickled shallots, cucumber, dill.
You wowed me much more together with your Avocado and Mango Salad. I used to be anticipating easy however not bursting with taste.
I don’t know what you probably did, however I slowly savored each chew to get a lot of the marinated cucumber, chopped peanuts, cilantro, mint, crispy garlic & shallots, Delta Blues rice, sambal lime French dressing.
I believe you’ve been my favourite meal in America to this point. The most effective locations to eat in Jackson, MS.
The meals is stylish and modern with enjoyable names just like the worst BBQ ribs in City, and Tater Tots We Didn’t Make.
It gives a lighter, extra progressive tackle American classics together with burgers, snacks, and cocktails.
I cherished the inexperienced house out the entrance, which is ideal for youths whereas the mother and father eat and loosen up.
Tremendous and Dandy simply is.
16. Brent’s Soda Fountain
One other one of the crucial enjoyable issues to do in Jackson, MS, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a deal with for the youngsters, and also you!
Brent’s Soda Fountain has been working since 1946, and fortunately maintains its old-school soda fountain model.
It was initially a pharmacy that served milkshakes to ice cream to the group as they waited for prescriptions to be crammed.
In 2009 it opened as a diner serving burgers, sizzling canines, and different household favorites.
The soda fountain and traditional bar stools stay within the authentic 1946 location, however the kitchen now sits the place the pharmacy as soon as was.
I cherished how Brent’s retains the retro 50’s allure with its turquoise and chrome decor. It oozes southern hospitality. The film The Assist was filmed right here.
The new fudge Sundae was nostalgic to my childhood, and the Nutella milkshake the women selected was simply divine.
Dad and mom, if you happen to can handle to discover a sitter for the youngsters, sneak out the again door to the Speakeasy hidden at the back of Brent’s.
Apothecary is a small, intimate house which maintains its previous pharmacy really feel with the previous medication drawers making a function wall behind the bar.
You possibly can order your medication of alternative and sip your libations in what has the place you may sip your libations in what has been famous as among the best cocktail bars within the South.
17. The Manship
I used to be hesitant to order duck for breakfast, however I’m so glad I took the plunge so as to add one other dimension to the Soulful meals expertise we had been having in Jackson.
The duck leg over polenta, maple glaze, and fried egg was among the best breakfast’s I’ve ever had.
I couldn’t recover from how one thing so easy, but distinctive may ship a lot intoxicating taste.
I snuck a spoonful of Craig’s southern smashed hash browns which had been so creamy and scrumptious.
It’s an eclectic menu that’s seasonal and domestically sourced the place potential.
The meals fuses Southern classics with flavors borrowed from throughout the Mediterranean. Stylish, rustic and pleasant,
The Manship is within the historic Belhaven neighborhood and is a completely wood-fired kitchen, as a result of as they are saying, with out taste how are you going to ignite?
One of many actual locals favourite eating places in Jackson, MS.
18. Iron Horse Grill
The Iron Horse Grill has a wealthy heritage in Jackson.
Having been constructed because the Armour Smokehouse in 1906, it turned the Iron Horse Grill restaurant in 1986, however mysteriously it burned down twice earlier than being deserted in 1999.
In 2013 it rose from the ashes once more when a gaggle of locals dedicated to restoring its former glory serving up meals and music to the individuals of Jackson.
We went with The Iron Horse signature dish the Navajo Hen, breast grilled over open fireplace with sautéed mushrooms & onions and topped with monterey jack cheese.
You possibly can select from all kinds of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and fajitas and so they have a Sunday brunch of waffles and omelets.
Stay music is steadily carried out on the stage on the Iron Horse Grill.
We loved some Sunday Jazz over our brunch.
There’s additionally a Mississippi Music museum on the second ground which is a tribute to the deep roots of blues music within the state.
There’s a timeline corridor beginning within the 1800,s to the present music scene, with distinctive life-sized wax fashions depicting the musical story.
It’s a cease on the well-known Mississippi Blues Path.
19. Sal & Mookies
Sal & Mookie’s was made for households.
I obtained this as quickly as I walked up the steps to the entrance door.
Groups of teenagers crowded across the entrance patio gossiping and indulging in large ice lotions.
The road was lengthy and the tables stuffed with households fortunately gorging on gigantic, New York model connoisseur pizzas.
Don’t fear when you’ve got a little bit of a wait – it’s value it – however you may cross the time watching the cooks mould, spin and flip the18 inch pizza bases from the window wanting into the open-air kitchen.
I’m telling you, there’s some pizza being made every day at Sal & Mookies as we noticed numerous pizza spinning into that brick-lined oven and there was no time for pausing.
You will be as loud as you want together with your children right here, you’ll be proper at residence, and the service is that heat Southern model you’ve come to count on touring within the Deep South.
It’s a disgrace it was raining as sitting out on the deck would have made it an ideal night.
We advocate the Franklin Road pizza with creamy spinach & artichoke unfold, grilled rooster, jalapenos and creole seasoning and the Higher Westside with feta shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes.
And for the youngsters, you may allow them to take pleasure in a Double Stuffed Oreo supreme sundae or line up on the ice cream counter to decide on their favourite scoop.
Okay, adults, you may too.
The most effective issues to do in Jackson, MS, with children.
20. Magic Present at Char Restaurant
Char Restaurant is a cultured steakhouse joint that serves up to date Southern delicacies produced from the best high quality components in a heat and welcoming ambiance.
We loved a scrumptious three-course meal in a non-public room whereas host, and native magician, Joe Presto shared some mind-blowing magic methods.
How did he try this?
The women cherished the present and have since been working towards the best way to flip a fork right into a spoon.
It’s an expertise they’ll at all times keep in mind of Jackson.
21. Broad Road Bakery
Broad Road Bakery is owned by a household who has been baking bread for generations with old-world recipes handed down from Japanese Europe.
All their pastries, bread, desserts and cookies are made by hand.
They even bake gluten-free bread!
You possibly can pop in for a candy baked deal with (corresponding to our ladies favourite, cinnamon rolls), or for some paninis, burgers, ,pizzas and omeletes on their in depth menu.
We visited for breakfast and my suggestion to start out the day is scrumptious spinach, Portobello mushroom, and goat cheese omelet!
22. Keep on the Westin, Jackson MS
At solely eight months previous, the Westin Jackson is the latest of motels in Jackson Mississippi.
And like most issues in Jackson they’ve perfected the artwork of Southern hospitality and magnificence.
We completely loved our four-night keep right here. It was comfy and stylish and the service pleasant and environment friendly.
Over the previous few months, I’ve morphed into somebody who cares about health services in our lodging. I’m coaching onerous each day at our native health club so don’t need to lose the routine or behavior.
The health middle at The Westin was giant and got here totally geared up with every little thing I take advantage of for my health and weight coaching regime.
I used to be impressed.
There’s additionally an indoor pool which the women loved, an onsite restaurant, and naturally, the divine Soul Spa.
We’d stayed at a number of motels earlier than The Westin in Jackson on our Deep South highway journey, and the health facilities had been small and missing in a number of the tools I wished.
Pin This To Share on Pinterest:
MY LATEST VIDEOS
