JXN Recommendation List for Magnolia Conf
Published on 02 August 2025.
Welcome to JXN
JXN – Jackson, MS – known as the City with Soul.
I’m just one person who has lived here and there are a LOT of things I don’t know about this city, but I do know the places I like to go and the things I like to do. This list exists because I wanted to create a guide for the audience attending Magnolia Conf in October, but really it is a little map of my life in Jackson.
For Distinguished Smokers - The Country Squire
The Country Squire holds a special place in my heart.
I was given my first pipe in 2009 and found myself enjoying a smoke session with friends as a regular happening. The community at the Squire is filled with JXN locals and the shop has global attraction.
My friends and colleagues go to The Country Squire, but there are a few other places that may strike your fancy.
Honorable Mentions
For Lovers of Beer - Fertile Ground
I’m a big fan of Fertile Ground Beer Co – I sometimes refer to it as the “cultural gateway” of JXN. I’ve hosted a number of events here, some including the Jackson Area Web and App Developers Code && Beer social hours.
The taproom is large and inviting. For me, it’s the perfect place to read a book while sipping good beer.
For Your Coffee Fix - Native & Cultivate
JXN has great craft coffee shops!
My favorite place for a cortado is Native Coffee.
One of the coolest and newest places in the city is an experimental coffee space called Cultivate. It’s a partnership between Northshore Coffee Co. and Fertile Ground Beer Co. and there are some concoctions I love getting – like the coffee/beer beverages. They mix a coffee concentrate into one of multiple beer styles. The beers rotate based on availability, but my favorite was the lager before it ran out. I won’t promise what will be there come October because I do not know, but you could follow Cultivate on Instagram or sign up for their email newsletter to stay in the know.
For the Culture Nerds
Mississippi Museum of Art
YOU ARE LUCKY – the conference venue is ALREADY one of the best places for culture in JXN!
The Mississippi Museum of Art has hosted all sorts of great storytellers over the years, and this conference is a unique opportunity to be part of the museum’s history. I hope you explore the exhibits and walk the grounds – whether individually or with a group, you’ll be taking advantage of an excellent space and one of my favorite places in JXN.
Offbeat
Not far from the art museum is a black-owned comic book & record store called Offbeat. Comic books, graphic novels, casettes, compact discs, and vinyls and merch and more!
Mississipppi Museum of Natural Science
If you’re wanting to check out another great museum in the city, I love the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science! It’s got a lot of great exhibits, both indoor and outdoor. The campus is located on Lefleur’s Bluff, which is a nice little hike just behind the museum.
Lemuria Books
If you value the independent bookstore, you’ll want to visit Lemuria in the historic Banner Hall. What you’ll find is floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, helpful and friendly staff, and a community of readers.
For Nature and Moving the Body - The Museum Trail
The Museum Trail is a 1.5 mile multi-use trail connecting downtown Jackson and the Museum District (where the Children’s and Natural Science museums are located). There is a fitness court located near the trailhead off High Street.
For More Ideas - Visit Jackson
The city tourism office is known as Visit Jackson and is an excellent resource for a more exhaustive list of events and places in JXN. I’d highly recommend browsing their site if I missed anything you might be interested in!
See you at Magnolia Conf 2025!
About michaellamb.dev
Michael Lamb is a software engineer working at C Spire. If you have a blog-specific inquiry please create a new issue on GitHub. Feel free to fork this blog and build your own!Get to know who I am in my first post Hello, World!