WHERE TO STAY: The Westin Jackson

Meggie and I were very fortunate to have the opportunity to be hosted by the Westin Jackson for this trip and everyone from the concierge, to the valet, to the room service made us feel so special and helped us to have a blast while staying in Jackson. The hotel is located in the middle of downtown Jackson so you are already in the heart of the city, with easy access to so many places.

Because Jackson is known as the birthplace of American blues, this particular Westin hotel has a pretty cool package for anyone musically inclined. When you first step into the lobby, you are immediately greeted by a gorgeous showcase of beautiful guitars. The Music Legends of Mississippi package allows you to, among other things, pick one of these replicated guitars from musicians like Muddy Watters, Elvis Presley, BB King, Jimmy Buffet, and Marty Stewart (all of whom originated in Mississippi) to be delivered to your room along with a custom guitar pick and two tickets to the Mississippi Music Museum. I’m not even a big blues fan and I thought this was pretty cool.

One thing we weren’t quite prepared for was just how cold Jackson was going to be during our stay. So after spending all day exploring, and part of the evening listening to some jazz & blues, Meggie and I decided to take refuge in our room, under the covers, wrapped in our Westin robes, with room service from Estelle, the Westin Jackson’s on site restaurant (more on it below), and live our best life. Best. Decision. Ever. Our room was so spacious with it’s high ceilings & massive bathroom, and had the most comfortable hotel beds I have every experienced (and I’m picky). After a long day on our feet, this was the perfect way to unwind, and refresh before we headed home to Atlanta the next day.

WHERE TO PLAY: Fondren

Fondren is probably the most popular area in Jackson right now. It’s got historic charm, GREAT food, it’s walkable, colorful, and even boasts a tour for fans of the move “The Help”. Meggie and I didn’t take part in the tour, but we did help ourselves to all the rest Fondren had to offer. It was a quick 10-minute car ride from the Westin Jackson, so we were able to get over there quickly, park the car, and then walk about, poke around, and (duh!) take pictures to our little hearts’ content. It had a bit of a Charlestonian feel given the historical look to the streets and storefronts. And just like Charleston, you can easily spend your entire day and night in Fondren without ever having to leave.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is the newest visitor site in Jackson, having opened as recently as December of 2017, and is also just a short drive away from the Westin Jackson. There’s no ignoring the history of Jackson, MS and it’s impact on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Since you’re in the epicenter where so much turmoil took place, take the opportunity to learn and educate yourself. You won’t regret it. The museum is also located right next to the state history museum so if you’re in a really educational mood, go wild and learn what Mississippi was like before it was colonized. Meggie and I made a conscientious decision not to take pictures in the museums out of respect for the subject matter, the museum, and our fellow patrons, so for a glimpse inside, you’ll just have to make your own trip. 😉

Underground 119

You can’t be in the City with Soul and not take in some jazz and/or blues. Ask any 5 native Jacksonian’s which jazz club to go to, and you’ll undoubtedly hear Underground 119 mentioned several times. If it hadn’t been so unbearably cold, Meggie and I could have walked the 1-2 blocks from the Westin Jackson to the club, but instead we hopped in the car again, warmed up our fingers and toes during the drive, and then bellied up to the Underground’s bar for one of the best Old Fashioned’s I’ve ever had. The Underground hosts live music every Thursday through Saturday, and on our visit we were treated to the sounds of Stevie J, who had a soulful take on the Otis Redding classic “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”. The atmosphere was really relaxed, with a primary focus on giving people really good music.

WHERE TO EAT: Estelle

Finally! My favorite part of any trip; the food. Since we were going to be getting in to Jackson late on a Friday night, we figured we’d take the opportunity to try the hotel’s on site restaurant, Estelle. Do a quick Google search of the Jackson food scene, and it won’t be long at all before you see Estelle pop up as a “best of” favorite for a lot of foodies. This place was so good, and the staff so incredible, that we literally ate there every night of our trip. #SorryNotSorry. The first night we were treated like the rockstars we wish we were but definitely aren’t from the entire staff. From specialty cocktails, to a wine presentation from Preston, the manager, to Kenny and the cooking staff allowing me back in the kitchen for some pictures and laughs, to Charity providing us the absolute best service, we were in food heaven. I’ve always been a sucker for duck, and Estelle pairs theirs with a mushroom risotto that rivaled some plates I had in Italy. They literally had a plate of all of my favorite foods in one. But if there is only one item that you try at Estelle’s, let it be the lobster deviled eggs. INSANE!

Now the next night, Meggie and I had intended to grab a late bite out on the town after we grooved at the Underground for awhile. But it was just too cold for these two carolina girls. So we got crafty and decided to live our best lives by going back to the Westin Jackson, changing into our robes, and ordering room service from Estelle. We were not disappointed in the least. Also, everyone should order room service at least once in their life; you just feel fancy.

Saltine’s

I made the executive decision that Saltine’s would be our Saturday lunch spot for one reason and one reason only: their lowcountry boil. Saltine’s is located in the heart of the Fondren area so it helped that it was close to the Westin Jackson and everything we had planned on our daily agenda. Now I’m from the lowcountry, and I’ve even made my own version of a baked lowcountry boil, so I was going into this meal with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. But first things first, the appetizer. Since we were near the gulf and at a seafood restaurant, I decided to throw caution to the wind and try alligator for the first time with their alligator and andouille gumbo. Ya know what? Alligator is surprisingly good. It has a lobster consistency to it, and is tender to the bite. My first bite was a hesitant one, but the rest were executed with enthused gusto. So back to the lowcountry boil. It’s hard to beat a plate of corn, potatoes, sausage, and shrimp and Saltine’s did an amazing job at surpassing my cynical (and admittedly snobbish) expectations. But then, the manager brought us a closing dish of epic proportions. A massive slice of S’mores Cake. The moral of that dish: more cakes should be made with a toasted marshmallow top.

Brent’s Drugs

On our last morning in Jackson, we were both hankering for a good ol’ southern breakfast. Nothing fancy, we wanted the classics. The concierge at the Westin Jackson pointed us back towards Fondren at Brent’s Drugs, a breakfast institution in Jackson since the mid-1940s. Perfect. I went with the old faithful of two eggs, bacon, and potatoes but Meggie flat out won the day with her order of chicken & waffles. I live in Atlanta, so I know chicken & waffles, and I have to tip my hat to the folks at Brent’s Drugs. Brent’s, like the Fondren area it sits in, has held on to it’s historical charm with it’s turquoise booths and bar stools. It turned out to be a great encapsulation of our entire trip to Jackson. You arrive expecting the old south, but you leave with an appreciation for its newer conterpart.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who works at & with the Westin Jackson and to the Westin Jackson for sponsoring this post.

& Thank you to Glass Mansions for allowing us the use of their song “Nightswimming” in our video recap.