If you've ever wanted to explore the Pearl River or discover the serene oxbow lakes surrounding Jackson, Capital City Kayak Adventures offers the perfect water-based outdoor experience. Owned by Chris Lockhart, this local company provides guided water tours and unforgettable river adventures in and around Jackson.

"We'll put in at Crystal Lake, paddle upriver or downstream and play around," explains Lockhart. New to kayaking? Don't worry - the experience is beginner-friendly. "We spend about 10 to 15 minutes getting acclimated. You'll be paddling like a pro after that!"

Each guided kayaking excursion typically lasts one and a half to two hours, with everything provided for just $30 per person. All you need to do is show up ready for adventure - and feel free to bring snacks and your furry companions along for the journey.

Jackson's Museum Trail represents one of the city's most popular outdoor recreation destinations. This 2.75-mile paved route stretches from downtown Jackson through the historic Belhaven and LeFleur East neighborhoods, connecting visitors to some of the city's most prominent cultural institutions.

Museum Trail Access Points and Features

The trail accommodates foot traffic and non-motorized transportation only, making it ideal for walkers, runners, cyclists, families with strollers, and children on scooters. Multiple entry points provide convenient access:

• Belhaven Heights Park: Popular northern entry point
• Moody Street: Features the Keith Haring Fitness Court
• Harding Street: Central access point
• High Street: South end parking at the former Dave's Triple B lot
• Laurel Street: North end parking under I-55
• LeFleur's Bluff Education and Tourism Complex: Access to the newest Waterworks Connector section

For mountain biking enthusiasts, an additional rustic mountain bike and hiking trail runs parallel to the paved Museum Trail between Fortification Street and Belhaven Creek, offering a more challenging off-road experience.

Step back in time and experience authentic small-town Mississippi history at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. This immersive outdoor museum recreates life from the 1820s through recent decades when cotton production dominated Mississippi's agricultural landscape.

Small Town Mississippi Experience

The museum's centerpiece, Small Town Mississippi and the Fortenberry Farm, showcases how crossroads communities flourished when railroads, automobiles, agriculture, and social developments converged. Explore authentic reconstructed buildings including:

• Historic general store and filling station
• Working cotton gin and sawmill
• Traditional blacksmith shop and grist mill
• Period church, doctor's office, and schoolhouse

Beyond the historical buildings, visitors can explore agricultural and display gardens, enjoy the interactive Children's Barnyard, marvel at antique tractor displays, and walk the manageable nature trail on the western edge of the campus.

Public art flourishes throughout Jackson, transforming everyday urban spaces into vibrant expressions of the city's cultural identity and creative soul. The JXN Public Art Map guides visitors through an outdoor gallery featuring murals, sculptures, and creative installations across Fondren, Midtown, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Notable Public Art Installations

Standout works include Adrienne Dominick's "Mama Rose Kitchen" on historic Farish Street, celebrating legacy and community connections, and Shon Perryman's "JXN Icons," honoring cultural trailblazers just steps from the Two Museums on North Street. Even longtime touches like the hand-painted traffic signal boxes downtown continue adding charm and character to Jackson's evolving cityscape.

Did you know that approximately 2,300 acres of Jackson consist of nearly three dozen city parks? These green spaces offer playgrounds, picnic grounds, and extensive jogging and walking paths perfect for outdoor recreation and family activities.

Popular Jackson City Parks for Outdoor Activities

• Buddy Butts Park: South Jackson location with scenic walking loops
• Tougaloo Park: Community park in the Tougaloo area
• Parham Bridges Park: LeFleur East location with walking track and newly added Pickleball courts
• Fondren Park: West Fondren neighborhood gem
• Smith Park: Downtown space for events including music, food trucks and more
• Livingston Park: Features Jackson's new 18-hole disc golf course set in a park-like environment with moderately wooded areas

Most parks feature picnic tables, benches, shade trees, and pavilions (reservations and fees may apply for pavilion use). The City of Jackson's website provides an interactive map with detailed amenities and directions for easy park discovery.

The LeFleur's Bluff Education and Tourism Complex features a spectacular 21st-century playground spanning 30,000 square feet - making it the largest playground in Mississippi.

This impressive play structure—with many ADA-accesible options—divides into age-appropriate sections for children from 6 months to 12 years old. All playground elements promote physical activity, providing greater freedom for running, jumping, and climbing while supporting stress reduction and healthy development.

Mississippi Blues Trail in Jackson

Jackson's Mississippi Blues Trail markers tell compelling stories of blues legends and the places that shaped their music. Notable Jackson locations include:

• Malaco Records (3023 West Northside Drive)
• Subway Lounge/Summers Hotel (JSU Parkway – 619 West Pearl Street)
• Jesse Robinson Marker (320 West Pearl Street)
• Alamo Theatre and Dorothy Moore (333 North Farish Street)

Mississippi Freedom Trail

The Mississippi Freedom Trail provides tours of pivotal Civil Rights movement sites. Key Jackson markers include the Medgar Evers Marker at his former home (now a National Park Service Monument) at 2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive, and the former Greyhound Bus Station at 239 N. Lamar Street.

LeFleur's Bluff State Park is an urban oasis spanning 305 picturesque acres of trails, forests, lakes, and museums. This natural refuge offers hiking opportunities with unfiltered views of the Pearl River, the same waterway explored by Louis LeFleur, Jackson's original namesake.

The park's hiking trail features a memorable tall staircase approximately one mile in, ascending to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Along the way, visitors encounter native vegetation and scenic river vistas in this "cloistered refuge from modern existence."

Downtown Jackson's hidden gem, The Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art, spans 1.2 acres in the heart of the city. This versatile outdoor space features:

• Welcoming open lawn areas
• Seasonal foliage displays
• Native Mississippi garden beds
• Permanent art installations
• Soothing water fountains
• Outdoor terrace dining options

The Art Garden opens to the public daily during daylight hours and hosts special events including movie nights, concerts, and Third Thursday gatherings during peak seasons.

The Jackson Zoo provides visitors with recreational and educational experiences dedicated to wildlife care and conservation. Open Thursday-Sunday and $2 Tuesdays from 10 am-4 pm, the zoo offers family-friendly outdoor entertainment.

Founded in 1916 by Jackson's fire department, the zoo began with firemen's pets including squirrels, deer, raccoons, alligators, and rabbits. Today's modern zoo prioritizes animal welfare and participates in national and international Species Survival Programs, helping save endangered species worldwide.

Visit jacksonzoo.org for current ticket prices and visitor guidelines.

Most people recognize Eudora Welty as a celebrated author, but she was also a passionate gardener. The Eudora Welty House features a meticulously maintained 1930s-era garden originally designed by her mother, Chestina, in 1925.

Garden Tours and Literary Connections

Until approximately 1945, Eudora and her mother spent considerable time gardening - digging, planting, and weeding together. Both Eudora Welty's prose and personal correspondence contain rich imagery from the natural world, with mentions of more than 150 plant varieties throughout her stories.

Free garden tours are available Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Enhance your experience with the complimentary 20-minute audio tour that provides deeper insights into this literary and horticultural treasure.