v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Jackson Square (Town Square) and Antler Arches — The literal heart of downtown: elk-antler arches, a fountain, street musicians, and easy access to shops and cafés. It’s touristy but unavoidable for photos and people-watching that actually feels local.
- Mississippi Civil Rights Museum — One of the most powerful, well-curated museums about the civil rights movement in the country; emotional exhibits and personal stories that make history immediate and visitable.
- Museum of Mississippi History — Right next door to the Civil Rights Museum, it fills in the broader arc of the state’s story from Indigenous histories through modern times; good context and strong temporary exhibits.
- Old Capitol Museum — A restored 19th-century capitol building with original architecture and rotating exhibits; you
- Jackson Square (Town Square) and Antler Arches — The literal heart of downtown: elk-antler arches, a fountain, street musicians, and easy access to shops and cafés. It’s touristy but unavoidable for photos and people-watching that actually feels local.
- Mississippi Civil Rights Museum — One of the most powerful, well-curated museums about the civil rights movement in the country; emotional exhibits and personal stories that make history immediate and visitable.
- Museum of Mississippi History — Right next door to the Civil Rights Museum, it fills in the broader arc of the state’s story from Indigenous histories through modern times; good context and strong temporary exhibits.
- Old Capitol Museum — A restored 19th-century capitol building with original architecture and rotating exhibits; you can stand where politicians once debated and get a real feel for Mississippi’s political past.
- Eudora Welty House and Garden — The preserved home of the author offers intimate tours and a lovely city garden; great for literature fans who want a quiet, hands-on slice of Jackson’s cultural life.
- Medgar Evers Home National Monument — The actual house where Medgar Evers lived and worked; a short, humbling visit with powerful interpretation about local civil-rights activism.
- Mississippi Museum of Art — Compact but solid collection with a focus on Southern and contemporary artists, plus a pleasant sculpture garden — a chill place to spend an hour or two between downtown errands.
- Mississippi Museum of Natural Science — Aquariums, native-animal exhibits, and boardwalk trails in the city — surprisingly immersive for a downtown natural-history stop and fun if you like wildlife up close.
- LeFleur’s Bluff State Park — Jackson’s big green lung: trails, a lake, picnic spots and the museum of natural science on site. Easy escape for a run, paddle, or birdwatching without leaving city limits.
- Fondren Arts District — The best place to feel contemporary Jackson: independent galleries, murals, record shops, dive bars and rotating pop-up events. It’s where locals hang out and you’ll find real personality and food that isn’t all tourist menus.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Historical Haunted Bayou Cruise
Hard Rock Cafe Biloxi
Biscuit and Brunch Class with Chef Regina
Vicksburg Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
The Spirit Ghost Walking Tour
Guided Walking Food Tour: Downtown Ocean Springs
The Private Biloxi to New Orleans Grand Tour
Skip the Line: GRAMMY Museum Mississippi General Admission Ticket
Biloxi Blitz Scavenger Hunt
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.