Residents of Jackson pride themselves on being the "City with Soul," because they infuse their lives with a passion for what they enjoy. Your front-desk clerk today may be crooning tunes tonight at the old train station, now known as Hal and Mal’s. Or your waiter today may be somebody else’s fishing guide tomorrow. This layering of passion and profession contributes to Jackson’s rich tapestry of artistic, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Located at the crossroads of Interstates 55 and 20, Jackson is Mississippi’s capital, as well as her largest city. Downtown bustles with more than 30 restaurants and bars, and is home to historic hotels as well as the Farish Street district, where blues pours through the walls at F. Jones Corner. The tree-lined Fondren neighborhood, where movie scenes from "The Help" were filmed, struts a midcentury architectural vibe laced with artsy boutiques and venues like Duling School, a 1928 elementary school retrofitted to house shops in the classrooms and a restaurant in the old auditorium. And the Greater Belhaven neighborhood welcomes visitors to house museums honoring Jackson’s literary giants Eudora Welty and Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander.

A full buffet of culinary delights, a dozen top-notch museums, and a packed calendar of festivals and sporting events, including the Olympic-style USA International Ballet Competition, hosted by the city every four years, fuel Jackson’s energy all year long.