Travel Guide: Jackson, Mississippi

Last weekend I drove to Jackson, Mississippi for a girl’s weekend with my friend, Betsy. This was my first trip to Jackson and I was very excited to explore the “City with Soul”. Betsy and I stayed at The Westin Jackson, a brand new hotel ideally located in the heart of Downtown Jackson. Between the comfortable beds, the beautiful bathrooms, and the cozy robes, we were in a girl’s weekend paradise! Betsy and I put together a highlight of our trip in hopes that it will help any of you planning a trip to Jackson! Below is our list of the 10 must dos in Jackson, Mississippi:

1. Saltine

We visited Saltine for lunch on Saturday afternoon. I knew we were in for an amazing experience when we pulled up and realized it was in an old renovated school. I loved the nautical aesthetic and the menus were in file folders as a nod to the school that once resided there. We started with the brussel sprouts (they are listed as a side but they are big enough for a table to share as an appetizer) and they were amazing. For our entrees I had the shrimp po’boy with french fries and Betsy had the low country boil. The po’boy was huge so I would recommend ordering a half sandwich or splitting it with someone. The best part of the meal was the dessert! We got the cinnamon roll cheesecake (basically a warm cinnamon roll on top of cinnamon cheesecake) and it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.

2. Estelle at The Westin Jackson

We went to Estelle for dinner on Friday night. We had both driven over five hours so it was nice to walk down to Estelle, the restaurant attached to the Westin Jackson. We started with the cauliflower and then I had the grilled redfish and Betsy had the yellowfin tuna. We both enjoyed our meal and the relaxing ambience. There was also a nice lounge area where you can relax for some after dinner drinks.

3. Jackson Farmer’s Market 

We were lucky enough to visit Jackson while the Mississippi State Fair was in town but when it’s not, the Jackson Farmer’s Market is at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. It’s a great Saturday morning activity for after brunch! I loved walking around and taking in the smells, sounds, and sights!

4. Blues Music

Jackson, Mississippi isn’t called the City with Soul for nothing! While you are visiting, you have to attend a blues concert/club. Head to Underground 119, Frank Jones Corner, or The Yellow Scarf for some amazing blues music! I love listening to the music of a city because it gives me a sense of the city’s personality.

5. The Help Tour 

If you’re a huge Emma Stone fan like I am and loved the movie The Help, you can drive a short distance to Greenwood, Mississippi to take the self guided tour of all of the filming locations for The Help. If you’d like a smaller dose of The Help in Jackson, you can visit Brent’s Drugs – a filming location for The Help! When you walk into Brent’s Drugs, you are transported back in time. This is definitely a must visit!

 

Here is the second half of our Jackson, Mississippi travel guide on Betsy’s blog, Goldwill Digger!