Only in Jackson: 5 Must-See Sights

As you pass through the "City with Soul," you'll encounter a wide variety of attractions for both kids and adults, ranging from literary landmarks and world-class museums to a shrine to local sports idols and a historical firehouse. These five must-see attractions are just the tip of the iceberg of what beautiful Jackson has to offer.

1. Eudora Welty House and Garden

The Eudora Welty House and Garden. is a must-see, both for its historic relevance and its natural beauty. If you're not familiar with Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Welty, you can learn about her life and legacy in her perfectly preserved Tudor-style home, designated a National Historic Landmark. An excellent docent tour is available to help you make sense of the stacks of books and other literary relics strewn about the house as if Welty still resided there. The lush gardens outside the house invite you to explore the authentic layout of the yard as Welty herself once enjoyed.

2. Old Capitol Museum

Jackson has two capitol buildings; one represents what the city once was, while the other represents the future. As the oldest building in the city and a National Historic Landmark, the state's Greek Revival building served as the capitol from 1839 to 1903 and now houses a state history museum filled with films and exhibits. From the Civil War to Civil Rights movement, there are a variety of amazing relics on display, including a genuine "Sherman’s Necktie." This refers not to a bowtie, but an iron railroad tie that was heated and twisted around a tree and is considered one of Gen. William T. Sherman’s favorite methods of damaging southern railroads during the war.

3. Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

You're in for a treat at the thoroughly modern Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, stocked with dazzling, hands-on exhibits aimed at getting the youth of today interested in the history of Mississippi sports legends. Interactive exhibits allow you and your kids to try first-hand what it's like to hit a baseball or swing a golf club just like the pros do, or to walk through a locker room hung with jerseys as if it's game time. Old-time stars like Dizzy Dean of the Jackson Mets share top billing here with athletes from the modern era who hail from Mississippi, such as Brett Favre and Jerry Rice. The Hall was named one of the Top 10 Most Amazing Baseball Museums in America by ESPN.

4. Mississippi Children's Museum

This exciting exploratorium has been drawing crowds since its initial opening in 2010 and was quickly recognized as one of the country's best children's museums. Turn the kids loose and watch them learn as they paint, climb, dance and slide their way through the museum's interactive exhibits. The museum teaches via five thematic "worlds" including: Express Yourself, Healthy Fun, Wild About Reading, World at Work and the local-leaning exhibit—Exploring Mississippi. Children can don lab coats and learn about life as a doctor and even play on a jungle gym that mimics the digestive tract. Regular special programs allow your kids to participate in everything from hands-on gardening demonstrations to yoga, tumbling and other physical activities.

5. City of Jackson Fire Museum

A hidden Jackson gem immensely popular with both kids and adults is the City of Jackson Fire Museum. Your kids are likely to scream with joy sliding down the four-foot fireman's pole and watching real-life firefighters at work. If conditions allow, they can climb aboard a modern fire engine and sound the horn. All visitors can participate in an interactive fire safety demonstration, highlighted by crawling under simulated smoke in a stop, drop and roll exercise. If you're a history buff, you'll love the display of genuine historic fire engines, ranging from horse-drawn and steam-powered 1904 engines to those from the 1960s.

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