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What does it imply to be the Metropolis with Soul? This was my first query as I drove into Jackson, Mississippi, and browse that namesake on the welcome signal.
I used to be anticipating gospel handclaps, bluesy guitar riffs, and the rhythm of jazz to echo out of each red-brick facade, however I quickly realized there’s extra to what provides Jackson this nickname than its musical legacy.
Jackson is the capital of Mississippi, although it doesn’t really feel prefer it. It has a captivating, small-town really feel with magnolias blooming outdoors historic buildings, their petals falling like confetti throughout the sidewalks which might be steeped in tales.
It’s equal elements grit and beauty: a spot the place civil rights landmarks sit subsequent to cutting-edge galleries, and the place smoky barbecue joints and dwell music venues are packed shoulder to shoulder day and night time.
With world-class museums that reveal the sophisticated, inspiring, humbling, and thought-provoking historical past of the town, and music golf equipment that stick with it ‘til daybreak, there are such a lot of issues to do in Jackson MS, it deserves your time.
1. Go to The Mississippi Museum of Artwork
The Mississippi Museum of Artwork has been a community-supported establishment for over 100 years. It’s not like different artwork galleries and is extra than simply the gorgeous artwork assortment – it’s a vibrant cultural heart that provides outdoors films, bands, and meals vans, and the café inside is supposed to be stellar.
We solely skilled the artwork inside the museum, which options plenty of native and nationwide artists and brilliantly tells the story of Mississippi.
I really like the mix of outdated and trendy artwork inside every part of the museum, which is damaged down into historic timelines.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 by means of the museum by two instructing fellow college students who helped us acquire extra from the items with the background tales and extra insights that these with a educated inventive eye can see.
I really like how there are interactive sections for the children, and my women, not used to artwork museums, actually loved it.
2. Take the children to the Mississippi Kids’s Museum
In the event you’re touring with youngsters in Jackson, the Kids’s Museum is an effective shout. We’ve been to some Kids’s Museums in our travels, however the Mississippi Kids’s Museum in Jackson was by far the perfect we’ve been to.
Firstly, the spacious, gentle, and vivid design of it attracts you in and opens the best framework for studying and engagement. I didn’t understand how essential 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 mirror this.
It’s extremely partaking, artistic, and academic.
There are climbing partitions, an actual automotive you’ll be able to faux to drive, an enormous Scrabble board, and biking skeletons.
There’s a music and dance room the place you’ll be able to create and file, and an artwork room with volunteers instructing artwork classes.
And there’s a giant digestive system (i.e. big tunnel playground) that gurgles and farts as you progress by means of it till you poop out the tip in the bathroom bowl!!
There’s additionally a Literacy Backyard outdoors, which is a 13,000 sq. toes backyard and playground with artworks, fountains, and climbing towers.
3. Study on the Mississippi Museum of Pure Science
We’ll all the time keep in mind the Mississippi Museum of Pure Science for the two-headed snake.
Have you ever ever seen one earlier than? Me neither! 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 while you thought snakes couldn’t be any scarier. (I really like them!!)
There are many cute alligators and turtles, in addition to reptiles and amphibians, to have a look at, too. There’s additionally an incredible part on power conservation, which leads 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 a couple of nature trails to stroll round, and a few picnic areas too.
4. Step again in time on the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum
The Agricultural Museum is on a big block of land and has a small historic city space, which options cattle, a barn, a big indoor mannequin practice show, cotton bales, outdated crop dusters, and extra.
The museum additionally has a Heritage Middle the place you’ll be able to study all concerning the previous, from the development of the railway and different modes of transport, to how the land was used for agriculture. You may as well see historic artifacts.
My women loved the printing room probably the most.
We realized how printing has developed, and so they had the chance to make use of an outdated printing machine. They realized how phrases akin to thoughts your p’s and q’s got here from the outdated type of printing.
It’s simply really easy to provide phrases for others to learn now with the web world!
Notice to self: By no means complain about how arduous running a blog is once more.
5. See sporting legends remembered on the Mississippi Sports activities Corridor of Fame and Museum
In the event you’re a sports activities fan, try the Sports activities Corridor of Fame.
After I first met Craig, I knew about Jerry Rice about an hour into our dialog. He has 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 a couple of different Mississippi sporting legends, like Brett Favre, Walter Peyton, Archie Manning, and Dave “Boo” Ferriss are acknowledged.
Begin with the quick video so you’ll be able to study simply how essential 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 ladies appreciated cartwheeling about within the duplicate baseball stadium and racing on the quick dash monitor.
6. Find out about essential historical past on the Museum of Mississippi Historical past
The Museum of Mississippi Historical past is in the identical constructing because the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and collectively they’re often known as the Two Mississippi Museums.
They had been each solely opened in December 2017, which suggests the shows are trendy, partaking, and interactive.
Town was based in 1821 and was named after Andrew Jackson. It shortly turned large in political, financial, and social exercise, and has a wealthy civil warfare and civil rights historical past.
You possibly can inform they’ve realized methods to do a museum proper. The theme of the Museum of Mississippi Historical past, which covers the whole thing of the state’s historical past, is “One Mississippi, many tales.”
I used to be anticipating the ladies 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, partaking 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 ladies beloved the Reflections part on the finish, the place you’re invited into the recording room to share your individual historical past tales.
7. Don’t miss the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Be ready. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is usually a little overwhelming.
There’s a lot to soak up, a lot of it traumatic.
There’s a part within the museum on lynching, which we had been warned about concerning the ladies. There’s a curtained part with some disturbing footage about it, which we skipped.
It’s a brutal story that can’t be glazed over, although. It’s essential to recollect the previous and use it as a reminder of methods to be higher.
This monument to the heroes and martyrs of the motion exhibits how prepared the folks of Mississippi are to embrace the ache of the previous to heal and transfer ahead.
We had been following the Civil Rights Path so much on our travels, in Memphis and Montgomery, so it was nice to additional deepen the story and find out about some civil rights activists and new heroes like Medgar Evers.
In the event you’re within the metropolis to go to the Jackson museums, don’t miss this one! It’s the most effective vacationer sights within the metropolis.
Sizzling tip: Ensure that to go to on Sunday and Tuesday, as they host particular reveals on how Mississippi began the Civil Rights Motion.
8. Pay a go to to Medgar Evers Residence
I used to be stunned I didn’t know something about Medgar Evers, and I’m glad that I realized 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 Individuals and was the Discipline secretary for the NAACP.
Because of this, his life was consistently beneath menace, and sadly, he was brutally assassinated in his driveway in 1963 by a white supremacist.
You possibly can take personal excursions of his home, organized by means of Tougaloo College. Excursions by appointment solely.
His home is now a nationwide historic landmark and a time capsule for middle-class African American life within the Nineteen Sixties.
Minnie Watson took us by means of the house and shared particulars of Medgar’s formative years and profession, and we noticed the bullet holes from when the bullet went by means of his chest and into the home, ricocheting across the kitchen.
You’ll depart with a heavy coronary heart. Honor those that bravely sacrificed to create a greater world.
Sizzling Tip: Another sights in Jackson you could need to contemplate studying concerning the historical past: Writer Eudora Welty Home and Boyd Home in Jackson come extremely really helpful as scorching sights. There are additionally the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Middle, the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, and the Outdated Capitol Museum
9. Stargaze on the Russel C. Davis Planetarium
In the event you’re thinking about area exploration, then you definitely’ve acquired to make a visit to the South’s largest and best-equipped planetariums! The Russel C Davis Planetarium is thought for its big hemispheric theater, which has a 4k full-dome digital projection system and actually makes studying concerning the stars come to life.
The museum hosts many festivals and movie screenings, which supply a totally immersive expertise of the land of area.
The Russell C. Davis Planetarium was constructed to coach on all the pieces space-related, nevertheless it has since moved on from that. Additionally it is a venue exhibiting comedy exhibits, trend exhibits, and a lot extra.
Ensure that to take a look at their Fb web page to see what’s on earlier than you go to Jackson.
10. Get musical at Blue Mondays at Hal and Mal’s
No to overlook in your Jackson checklist – experiencing the Blues. In fact, that’s what makes a metropolis have soul!
There are a number of locations in Jackson the place you will discover dwell blues music, however Hal and Mal’s is a Jackson establishment identified for its meals and dwell music. It’s additionally one of the vital family-friendly locations we found to expertise blues music.
In the event you’re in search of leisure in Jackson, this needs to be high of your checklist.
It was opened in 1985 by brothers Hal and Mal in a former Nineteen Twenties GM&O freight practice depot constructing within the coronary heart of downtown Jackson.
Its quirky and retro inside completely matches the heat of a Southern Blues jamming session, which is what you’ll get on a Monday night time at Blue Monday (which is held within the crimson room of the restaurant).
We didn’t eat right here, the kitchen was closed, however we noticed loads of folks bringing in their very own snacks!
On Mondays between 7pm and 11pm, for a small $5 cowl cost, you’ll be able to expertise a blues jamming session hosted by the Central Mississippi Blues Society.
The common band performs a collection 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 may stand up. You maybe?
Blue Monday is pleasant, relaxed, enjoyable, and appropriate for youths.
It is likely one of the most pleasurable and soulful issues to do in Jackson, MS. We beloved it.
11. Sip and luxuriate in dwell music at Cathead Distillery
Our first introduction to Jackson was the Cathead Distillery, an outdated ethereal warehouse that offers it a hip industrial really feel.
Wow! That 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 a BBQ and Blues occasion, one of many many occasions it hosts all year long.
Though the BBQ and Blues occasion was distinctive to our go to, this distillery usually has dwell music and numerous food-related occasions, making it the proper place to go for an evening out.
Outdoors sat a meals truck the place you would 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, as 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 grow to be baseline bottles for any cocktail bars throughout the South.
With corn gap, big jenga and join 4 video games there was a playful and relaxed ambiance and on the stage in entrance of the enormous fermentation tanks and copper-columned nonetheless was a five-piece Blues band enjoying some upbeat tunes.
Once we went to depart, we randomly began speaking to a fellow, who seems to be the pinnacle distiller of the vodka and as soon as lived in Adelaide.
He launched us to one of many house owners, chatted for a bit and gave us a bag of his distinctive honeysuckle vodka to take house.
Welcome to the heat and friendliness of Jackson. We’d arrived on the proper place.
Verify the web site for occasions, just like the BBQ and Blues.
12. Take a 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 ladies to show them a couple of easy E chord strums to carry out the blues sound.
He was very affected person and inspiring and had a creative, soulful vibe.
The ladies had enjoyable, and it sounded nice.
I used to be hooked listening and, after Savannah’s request for a guitar, I used to be serious about throwing one in for myself.
Getting a guitar lesson on trip is one thing I’ve by no means thought of earlier than.
Jackson, Mississippi, the birthplace of the Blues, is the proper place to have one. It brings a singular and soulful expertise to your travels and maybe introduces you to a brand new passion (or potential profession).
13. How about just a little 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 dwelling.
Savannah’s matches of giggles over her ticklish toes had been extremely entertaining for us all.
Craig and I ducked again to the Spa ourselves with a therapeutic {couples}’ therapeutic massage – sure to instantaneous shoulder pressure aid and a divine 80 Soulful personalised facial that left my pores and skin feeling delicate and searching radiant.
Notice to self: do that extra usually.
Carve out a good period of time in your journey to the Soul Spa, as they’ve saunas, a tranquil rest room, and the perfect digital bathe ever.
Ramp up the indulgence on a Sunday with limitless Mimosas. Sure, puhlease!
14. Wander across the Mississippi Petrified Forest & Caveman’s Bench
One of the crucial lovely websites in Mississippi needs to be the Petrified Forest. This 36-million-year-old forest is positioned simply outdoors Jackson within the city of Flora, only a 30-minute drive from downtown.
The forest is taken into account a Nationwide Pure Landmark and gives strolling trails by means of the mossy inexperienced panorama, which provides you a close-up take a look at the petrified logs.
A petrified forest is a type of fossilized wooden – it occurs when plant supplies are changed with sure minerals, which preserves the forest in a frozen state. Alongside the path, you’ll see logs the place nature has determined to place them.
One of many largest sights within the forest is Caveman’s Bench, which is a bench-shaped petrified wooden the place guests can sit and relaxation.
15. Spherical of golf at Lefleur’s Bluff State Park
For outside lovers and golf followers, don’t miss a cease by LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. This public recreation space is simply inside the metropolis limits of Jackson, close to the Pearl River, and is an space of pure magnificence.
It’s house to the attractive Mayes Lake that spans 50 acres, a 9-hole golf course and driving vary, and can be the place you’ll discover the Mississippi Museum of Pure Science.
The world is a lush inexperienced area that provides a soothing escape from the bustling downtown. Guests can go tenting, fishing, or strolling across the many nature trails.
Pack a picnic lunch, or take the children to the LeFleur’s Bluff Training and Tourism Complicated, the most important playground within the Southeast, for soulful type of play.
16. Go wild at Jackson Zoo
One other landmark to not be missed off your itinerary is the Jackson Zoo. It’s not only a heart for wildlife, nevertheless it’s additionally operating conservation efforts, too.
The zoo homes animals of North American and South American species, from unique birds to monkeys. There may be additionally a splash pad included within the value, which younger youngsters will love.
Children will love driving the carousel and practice experience, which is a further payment, however so value it!
Locations to eat in Jackson, Mississippi
Time to place some Soul in your abdomen, because the meals scene in Jackson is subsequent to none. Even the fussiest eater gained’t have the ability to withstand the depth and soul with scrumptious modern twists we present in Jackson.
It’s not all about ham hocks, deep-fried hen, and okra in Jackson, Mississippi. Our solely disappointment was that we had been left with a number of must-not-miss suggestions left unchecked.
Bully’s Restaurant
Welcome to a soul meals kitchen that has served its group for over 35 years.
From the surface, it’s low-key and humble, however on the within, it’s among the greatest soul meals you’ll be able to have within the South.
Bully’s Restaurant acquired the 2016 James Beard Award for America’s Traditional Meals. That could be a restaurant that has timeless enchantment and is cherished for high quality meals that displays the character of its group.
The Meals Community featured their tender and flavorful BBQ ribs and named Bully’s Restaurant #4 on their Prime 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.
As a consequence 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.
Brent’s Medicine Malt Store Soda Fountain
In the event you’re in search of a deal with for the children, and also you, don’t miss Brent’s Medicine!
Brent’s Soda Fountain has been working since 1946, and fortunately maintains its old-school soda fountain type.
It was initially a pharmacy that served milkshakes to ice cream to the group as they waited for prescriptions to be stuffed.
In 2009, it opened as a diner serving burgers, scorching canine, and different household favorites.
The soda fountain and traditional bar stools stay within the unique 1946 location, however the kitchen now sits the place the pharmacy as soon as was.
I beloved 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 recent fudge Sundae was nostalgic to my childhood, and the Nutella milkshake the ladies selected was simply divine.
Mother and father, for those who can handle to discover a sitter for the children, sneak out the again door to the Speakeasy hidden at the back of Brent’s.
Apothecary is a small, intimate area that maintains its outdated pharmacy really feel with the outdated medication drawers making a function wall behind the bar.
You possibly can order your medication of selection and sip your libations in what has the place you’ll be able to sip your libations in what has been famous as the most effective cocktail bars within the South.
The Manship Wooden Fired Kitchen
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 the most effective breakfasts I’ve ever had.
I couldn’t recover from how one thing so easy, but so 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 regionally sourced the place doable.
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 wholly wood-fired kitchen, as a result of, as they are saying, with out taste, how will you ignite?
One of many actual locals’ favourite eating places in Jackson, MS.
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 bunch of locals dedicated to restoring its former glory serving up meals and music to the folks of Jackson.
We went with The Iron Horse signature dish, the Navajo Hen, breast grilled over an open fireplace with sautéed mushrooms & onions and topped with Monterrey 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.
Dwell 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 1800s 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 and one other Jackson vacationer attraction for music lovers.
Sal & Mookie’s
Sal & Mookie’s was made for households. I acquired 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 big ice lotions.
The road was lengthy and the tables filled with households fortunately gorging on gigantic, New York-style connoisseur pizzas.
Don’t fear you probably have a little bit of a wait – it’s value it – however you’ll be able to move the time watching the cooks mildew, spin, and flip the 18-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 plenty of pizza spinning into that brick-lined oven, and there was no time for pausing.
You may be as loud as you want along with your youngsters right here, you’ll be proper at house, and the service is that heat Southern type 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 hen, jalapenos, and creole seasoning, and the Higher Westside with feta shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes.
And for the children, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to too.
Magic Present at Char Restaurant
Char Restaurant is an aesthetic steakhouse joint that serves modern Southern delicacies produced from the best high quality substances in a heat and welcoming ambiance.
We loved a scrumptious three-course meal in a personal room whereas the host, and native magician, Joe Presto, shared some mind-blowing magic methods.
How did he try this?
The ladies beloved the present and have since been practising methods to flip a fork right into a spoon.
It’s an expertise they’ll all the time keep in mind of Jackson.
Broad Road Baking Firm
Broad Road Bakery is owned by a household that has been baking bread for generations with old-world recipes handed down from Jap 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 (akin to our woman’s favourite, cinnamon rolls), or for some paninis, burgers, pizzas, and omelets on their intensive menu.
We visited for breakfast, and my suggestion to start out the day is a scrumptious spinach, Portobello mushroom, and goat cheese omelet!
The place to remain in Jackson: Westin, Jackson MS
The Westin Jackson is likely one of the latest lodges in Jackson, Mississippi – and like most issues in Jackson, they’ve perfected the artwork of Southern hospitality and magnificence.
We totally loved our four-night keep right here. It was snug and fashionable and the service pleasant and environment friendly.
Over the previous few years, I’ve morphed into somebody who cares about health amenities in our lodging. I’m coaching arduous every single day at our native health club, so I don’t need to lose the routine or behavior.
The health heart at The Westin was giant and got here totally geared up with all the pieces I exploit for my health and weight coaching routine. I used to be impressed. We’d stayed at a number of lodges earlier than The Westin in Jackson on our street journey, and the health facilities had been small and missing in among the gear I wished.
There may be additionally an indoor pool that the ladies loved, an on-site restaurant, and naturally, the divine Soul Spa.
Closing ideas
Earlier than visiting, 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 beloved saying Jackson, Mississippi, with that Southern Drawl.
Now, I like it for its variety of thriving arts and music tradition, and open, pleasant folks. I used to be impressed with how this metropolis has embraced its difficult previous and is prepared to evolve into one thing higher.
Oh, and the meals. I can’t neglect the meals in Jackson!
We had among the greatest meals we’ve had to this point within the US – recent, artistic with a contemporary twist on some soulful Southern dishes.
What about you? What are you most excited to do in Jackson? Tell us within the feedback!
Extra Journey Ideas for the South
Are you pondering of visiting different cities within the South? Then you definitely may like to take a look at our different sources:
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