Hotel at a Glance: Cabot Lodge Jackson North

Cabot Lodge Jackson North maintains a high level of hospitality throughout the day, offering guests free hot breakfast and evening receptions that include complimentary cocktails and freshly popped popcorn.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms are comfortable and come with free WiFi.
• Touch sea creatures in a saltwater tank or go on a nature walk at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (6 mi. away).
• Take the Whammy Challenge, seen on Man v. Food Nation: eating a 3-pound Burgers & Blues burger, 1 pound of fries, and a shake in 30 minutes. It’s a few blocks away.
• Go shopping: Nearby Renaissance at Colony Park features stores such as Ann Taylor Loft and J. Crew, as well as several restaurants.

Jackson, Mississippi: Blues-Music Heritage and Civil-Rights History in the State’s Capital

In 1966, Mississippi became the last state to end Prohibition. But in Jackson’s Gold Coast, however, it was like the controversial ban had never even existed. During the Prohibition era, the coast was a sanctum of gambling, bootleg liquor, and blues, which sparked the widespread popularity of Farish Street, an African American district akin to Harlem. There, legendary musicians such as Cadillac George Harris and Jesse Robinson got their starts. Though this infamous district faded soon after Prohibition’s repeal, the city’s love of music never did. Jackson is still home to dozens of juke and blues joints and nightclubs.

Equally as vibrant as the city’s music scene is its past. Delve deeper into musical history on the Mississippi Blues Trail, or view some of the state’s most significant legislation at the Old Capitol Museum amid downtown’s Greek Revival architecture. Numerous Mississippi Freedom Trail markers, including those at Tougaloo College and Medgar Evers’ home, chart the city’s civil-rights history. A new, somewhat historical site related to the movement has also cropped up in the Fondren neighborhood, where scenes from the movie The Help were filmed.