Best Things to Do in Jackson, TN
Come aboard in Jackson, TN to experience the Casey Jones Village, nature park, hot nightspots and more.
Jackson, named after President Andrew, is a growing city in West Tennessee, situated between Memphis and Nashville and strong in areas like business, education, healthcare, retail and affordable housing. There is also plenty to do, including the following:
In This Article
1. Get Aboard
Take a trip to Casey Jones Village, which celebrates the life of Illinois Central Railroad engineer Casey Jones, who saved the lives of his passengers before colliding with a stalled freight train in Mississippi, losing his own life. The village has attractions like a railroad museum, country store, restaurant, ice cream parlor, confectionery shop, clothing store, amphitheater and mini-golf course.
2. See the General Lee
For something unusual to do, visit Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum. The attraction has more than 20 cars on display that were used in movies and TV. Vehicles on exhibit include the Eclipse from Fast and Furious, Herbie the Volkswagen from The Love Bug, the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard, the ambulance from Ghostbusters, and the Gremlin from Wayne’s World.
3. Tour the Neely
Take a tour of the historic Neely House, a former Murphy Hotel (circa 1901) that has been converted into cozy office suites with modern conveniences. Also on site is Chandelier Café, an upscale restaurant that serves metropolitan food and craft cocktails. The café is open Wednesday-Sunday.
4. Bring Your Glove
Looking for something fun to do on a summer evening? Catch a game of the Jackson Generals, the AA affiliate of the Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks. The team plays home games at The Ballpark at Jackson.
5. Buy a Bottle
Owner Sam Bryant has opened Samuel T. Distillery in Jackson, which is part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. The facility has a tasting room and a comfortable facility for weddings and corporate functions, and some of the spirits names are Tennessee Hills, Highland Reserve, Tennessee Moonshine, TNKilla and Grappa. The distillery is open Wednesday through Sunday for tastings and sales.
6. Bring Your Appetite
Check out some of the interesting independent restaurants in Jackson that represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Popular choices include Bistro Eleven Sixty, Catfish Galley, Coyote Blues, Picasso Bistro & Pizzeria, Sakura Japanese Restaurant, Tulum Fresh Mexican Grill and West Alley BBQ.
7. Go Wild
Spend a few hours breathing fresh air and admiring wildlife, waterfowl, plants and trees that make up Cypress Grove Nature Park, located just minutes from downtown Jackson. The park has a mile of elevated boardwalk through a cypress forest, and another highlight for visitors is an Aerie Trail Raptor Center that serves as a sanctuary for injured hawks, eagles, owls and other birds of prey.
8. Meet Miss Tennessee
Attend the annual Miss Tennessee Pageant that occurs in Jackson every June at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. Jackson also hosts the annual Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant, the official state finals to the Miss America competition. By the way, the current Miss Tennessee is Caty Davis from Lexington.
9. Kick Up Your Heels
Hang out where the locals party at night, with several places offering food and drinks along with entertainment. Some of the more popular destinations are Downtown Tavern, Jimmy D’s Sports Bar, Red Dog Saloon, South Street Comedy Club and The Tap Bar & Grill.