Kid-Friendly Activities in JXN
There's a lot to do in Mississippi's capital city, even if you are accompanied by finicky kids.
Public spaces like parks and museums are kid-friendly and educational and can be fun for everyone. LeFleur's Bluff Playground, the Jackson Zoo, Museum of Natural Science and trails, the Children's Museum and the Agriculture Museum will provide entertainment for the whole family. Read on.
![A child inside a playground structure](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2d9f100a5b0018cb0c776c97fe11ef83 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c8e93dfce24a57c42b4d4b5dd4144fe6 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2105f19fbe71a751049acb3669662dee 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=aa46e3d356d0e07fbc1d4f2e840b7529 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=08049c6775c9684960477fe1feefb351 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=6967d1d0efee9f02f8ec7be3fcf7ccae 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/LeFleur-Playground.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=ef66c543e3908deeefdafbfe9c81215e 1920w)
LeFleur’s Bluff Playground - Riverside Park Circle
The LeFleur’s Bluff Playground is 30,000 square feet of fun for kids up to 12 years old, the majority of it ADA accessible.
For little kids, the Weedra is the first of its kind in the world. The Hedra for older kids is one of five in the world. How about that?
On a hot summer's day, 75% of the playground is shaded, so this is an excellent spot for rest and play.
The playground is located on Museum Drive at the Mississippi Children's and Natural Science Museums entrance and is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
To find out more, visit mschildrensmuseum.org/museum-updates/lefleurs-bluff-complex.
![a family looks at monkeys in a zoo](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d431baf00b34b54b4092bb0d91dc06f5 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=147fb28c89dcf6125f25ba338bc024bf 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=979fdd98997e49fb12ed6be417969e65 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=58a1ca4b4d5173df714341194f0c05ef 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=9e527a2c33651e4d36b8daee07ae9600 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=8dc8debcddbdb62a8fed3e2b4b730cca 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Jackson-Zoo-monkeys.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e6ded78fad02c00cf121bfbe13dc8f4d 1920w)
Jackson Zoo - 2918 West Capitol Street
The Jackson Zoo calls itself a living classroom and has programs that provide teachers with exciting curriculum-based lessons for their students.
It's also an interactive family outing, with 90% of visitors being families with children under 12. There are more than 200 animals in the zoo, including 11 endangered species.
The zoo has hardworking volunteers and staff of more than 30 people, and a membership program that exceeds 2,000 members. There is plenty of room to roam, with 110 acres of land.
The zoo is open from 10 am to 4 pm but is closed on Monday and Wednesday.
Learn more about exhibits and events at jacksonzoo.org.
![a dinosaur sekelton in a museum](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7da25189388da7109d4482a4c3570132 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=51312d62a9785eeac66a1005d169f154 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=376efdb213a741f357368aa0a1672181 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=f5e349b95a41e4a1218a2f381e4983df 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=93de0af9375d530cf7577e3b7016bb5f 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=7c9cc861eeb6a3e02a8b46a64ad1befb 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Science-Museum-Dinosaur.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=21c147ac77f8127ba03beb82490aaa93 1920w)
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science - 2148 Riverside Drive
The Museum of Natural Science and the surrounding walking trails are another family-friendly location and can be found in the 300-acre LeFleur's Bluff State Park. It includes an open-air theater and over two miles of walking trails. The museum also has a 100,000-gallon aquarium with 200 species and 73,000 square feet of exhibition space that explores the wildlife of Mississippi, endangered species and fossils. Other exhibits include the "Swamp," a 1700 square feet greenhouse, a gift shop, classroom space and a 200-seat theater.
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
For more information and tickets, visit mdwfp.com/museum.
![A child and adult play chess](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=a8e50fc936e17b7b2fbd445888796dfe 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7ae4924012c1a77008a0ad49ee4229f8 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=0e7fce2946d7bd982460a818cdb66a81 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=71c7b0b926cf0a9a533c33adf7882a6f 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=7167b69d00667c292c70f0e60cc44730 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=001f5c1f169dcd2b2251a48cf8f084e6 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Childrens-Museum-Playing-chess.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=d608c2ac28e44d5b0c860539488f1c38 1920w)
Mississippi Children's Museum - 2145 Museum Boulevard
The Mississippi Children's Museum strives to "create an unparalleled experience to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning."
The experience includes hands-on exhibits that are engaging and focused on literacy, science, health, technology, engineering, art and math. This museum is perfect for curious little ones, older kids with specific interests and even adult chaperones.
With traveling exhibitions (Dinosaur Train arrives in May), there's always something new to experience.
The museum hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday and Sunday 1 to 6 pm.
Find out more at mschildrensmuseum.org.
![an old car at a replica gas station with buildings in the background](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6bb25ee254ffc14b125954b9786e8312 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=97b9ca6df8a6fb59d0b52c1fe0153911 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=85a65a49ddf339475b63853fb2f05a00 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=5f44c911221c26466e4847adce839e9f 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4ec36afc7765b081387a75d40c71e4a8 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ec5e56307696cddb42cdd71942cedfb9 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-Small-Town-MS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=90666930bc2a8d21b327445c65c8961d 1920w)
Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum - 1150 Lakeland Drive
The Agriculture Museum covers the 500 years of Mississippi agriculture history, from the Choctaws to modern catfish farming and forest conversation. The Heritage Center has three model railroad layouts representing railroading in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Children's Barnyard is the newest addition to the grounds.
The museum also has an old-time general store with products including Coca-Cola, rock candy and moon pies, toys like yo-yos, pick-up sticks and other Mississippi-made products, plus smoked meats prepared on the grounds.
The National Agricultural Aviation Museum is on-site and has recently been refreshed and reimagined.
Next time you are ready for a family outing, check out one of these great spots. Bring a picnic lunch or stop by one of Jackson's excellent restaurants or cafes for lunch.
Learn more at msagmuseum.org.