Jackson MS (MS is short for Mississippi) is the capital city of Mississippi in the southeastern region of the United States. This soulful city is best known for its turbulent history. In the United States, Jackson MS has a great history related to the civil rights movement and the nation’s history.
But wait, don’t delve into patriotism and start thinking about if there are any locations to explore in Jackson MS. This is why I am here, despite its natural beauty, Jackson MS is an underrated city. Today, we will discuss things to do in Jackson MS for kids, couples, and adults. Let’s begin this captivating journey.
Interesting Facts about Jackson MS
- Jackson is the only city in Mississippi whose population is more than 100,000 (153,000 approximately)
- The Jackson is named after General Andrew Jackson, a war hero of the New Orleans battle in 1812.
- Jackson City is known for its amalgamation of African-American heritage over the last 100 years.
- It is known as the “City with Soul” due to its vibrant music and gospel.
- The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Jackson.
- Jackson City is known for its hospitality due to the friendly nature of locals.
- Interestingly, the first-ever human lung transplant took place at the University of Mississippi Medical Center on 11 June 1963.
Things to Do in Jackson MS for Kids
Jackson Mississippi has some amazing places that must be explored by the kids. Along with museums and parks, there is a lot of historic place in Jackson MS that not only offers a learning experience for kids. The following are the things that kids must explore (with their parents) –
LeFleur’s Bluff Playground
LeFleur’s Bluff Playground is an extremely beautiful riverside park circle with a massive area of 30,000 square feet. Not only children but parents can also enjoy this recreational playground that includes 80 play activities. The unique feature of this kids-friendly park is that it curates 4 different play activity buckets – based on the age of the kids.
Playground Timings:–
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Activities to Do: We-Go-Swing – The Wedra – Hedra Tower – Shade Sails
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
The Museum of Natural Science lets family, friends, and kids to closer to science while making a connection with nature. If you truly looking for things to do in Jackson MS, you shouldn’t miss this place. Additionally, if you are interested in knowing and learning about dinosaurs, the Mississippi Museum is commencing – the Dinosaur Around the World: The Great Outdoors exhibition from June 8, 2024, to Jan 5, 2025.
What to explore – 2-headed snake, snap selfies with a sloth, and explore the Dinosaur Trail, aquariums, fossils, & nature trails in Jackson.
The Jackson ZOO
We know, kids do love animals, and Zoo is the perfect place to know more about animals. Jackson Zoo is the home of more than 200 animals, including 11 endangered species. Apart from exploring the wonders of the zoo, you can enjoy the events running over the years. For event details, visit the official website of Jackson Zoo.
Opening Time: 10 am to 4 pm (except Monday & Wednesday)
Ticket Price (As per age)
- Ages 13 years old and up: $8.00 each
- Ages 2 -12 years: $5.00 each
- Under the age of 2 years: Free
Also read: Things to Do in Green Bay this Weekend
Things to Do in Jackson MS this Weekend
Whether you want to travel alone or with your family or kids, Jackson City offers something for everyone. You can enjoy the following things in Jackson MS this Weekend –
Jackson Mississippi Scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a game that is played by dividing players into two teams. Each team competes with others to collect as much as items or resources from the list to win the game. While playing the Scavenger hunt in Jackson, all the players are connected with a mobile app that will monitored by a host. The best part is that players are connected with all other players across the country and can see the live data of all competitors.
Playing duration and timings – The game usually takes 2 hours within 2 miles of distance.
Enjoy the Adventure of Parks
As I discussed in the starting, Jackson Mississippi is a home of natural beauty, so there is no scarcity of public parks to enjoy. According to the data of the Jackson Government, it has more than 57 city parks with 2300 acres of land. The following are the top 10 parks in Jackson MS that worth visiting once –
- LeFleur’s Bluff State Park
- Mynelle Gardens
- Smith Park
- Battlefield Park
- Parham Bridges Park
- Presidential Hills II Park
- Manhattan Park
- Garden Memorial Park
- Jamie Fowler Boyll Park
- Laurel Street Park
Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum
Want to enjoy the live agricultural and forestry beauty of Jackson or Mississippi, nothing could be better than the Forestry Museum of Jackson. From decades-old agriculture tools to a true glimpse of village agriculture, you will get everything here. This museum was constructed in 1969 by the commissioner of agriculture and commerce to preserve the culture and heritage of Jackson City. Top activities you may wish to overlook here –
- Ethnic Heritage Center
- Multipurpose Building
- Forestry Auditorium
- Sparkman Auditorium
- Masonic Lodge
- Education Center
For more details, you can visit their official website – https://www.msagmuseum.org/
Conclusion
Jackson MS, often known as a soulful city, is rich in natural beauty and turbulent history. There are tons of things to do in Jackson MS that you cannot bypass (or can’t afford to miss) but you cannot explore everything at once. This guide on places to visit in Jackson MS may help you in finding the best destination this weekend.
