Where to Stay

The purpose of your visit will go a long way toward determining where you should bed down for the night in Jackson. If you're here to sightsee, your best bet is to stay downtown, where you will be close to the area's greatest concentration of historical sites and points of interest. If you are in the mood to shop, you may want to hang your hat closer to the stores and malls of Ridgeland, just a few exits north of the city proper. And if sports or special events are what bring you to Jackson, you are probably best off at one of the varied lodging options near the fairgrounds, the Coliseum or one of the local colleges. However, the nice thing about a city the size of Jackson is that no matter where you decide to stay, you are never very far from everything.

Downtown Although most of Jackson's government and business deals are transacted in the old neighborhood that centers around the State Capitol, the downtown district boasts surprisingly few hotels. By far, the cream of the crop is the Crowne Plaza, a towering megalith that casts a long shadow over the Mississippi Governor's Mansion and most of downtown Jackson. This first-rate hotel plays host to many of the capital's most elegant black-tie affairs and maintains a popular restaurant with a view of its sprawling lobby. For a bit more tradition, head one block south to the stately Edison Walthall Hotel, a civic icon and a throwback to the days of true hotel opulence. While some of this grande dame's luster has faded over the years, she is still Jackson's consistent choice for impressing clients over a power lunch; the eighth-floor ballrooms are booked months in advance.

A step down in price and pomp will land you at one of the downtown area's several moderately priced hotels, exemplified by the Cabot Lodge just off the campus of Millsaps College. Equally at home hosting mid-sized business affairs and visitors for Parents' Weekend, this is an intelligent choice if you want to be near, but not directly in, the center of town. For an unusual lodging experience, step down the ladder yet another rung and try your luck at the Sun N Sand Motel, a gaudy motor lodge that stands as a living relic to the 1950s.

The Buie House on State Street, a Victorian inn operated by Millsaps College, offers guests the cozy, hearth-warmed individual attention so frequently missing from modern accommodations. The Old Capitol Inn Bed & Breakfast, housed in a renovated YWCA building, is another in-town option that puts guests within walking distance of all of downtown venues.

Closer to the colleges and tucked on a quiet side street, you will find the stark white columns and sprawling lawn that front the Fairview Inn. One of downtown's costlier lodging opportunities, the Fairview is worth the extra expense thanks to the gracious hospitality its staff.

Fairgrounds Far less extravagant, but also less expensive, are the options to be found just east of downtown Jackson in the neighborhood surrounding the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. This location is ideal, of course, if you're in town for the State Fair or any of the year-round events scheduled at this sprawling complex. It is also a good choice for folks attending sporting events or concerts at the Mississippi Coliseum; for downtown visitors who stress economy over location; and as a convenient headquarters for long days of casual browsing at the area's numerous curiosity shops and the Antique Mall of the South.

While most of the accommodations in this neighborhood are recognizable and somewhat interchangeable chain outfits, a few earn special distinction for their facilities and service. The pool at the Clarion Hotel features an expansive sundeck, for instance, while the Ramada Inn Coliseum boasts larger-than-average guest rooms and an enjoyable restaurant. Immediately off the interstate, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites is a reliable, low-frills option that keeps costs down. Across the road, the nicest of Jackson's several Days Inn locations sits side-by-side with the ultra-affordable Red Roof Inn and just a stone's throw away from a relative newcomer in the affordable-suites game, Microtel.

North of Town (Ridgeland) A similar gaggle of known names has congregated in the area around Northpark Mall, just a few miles north of Jackson in suburban Ridgeland. These lodgings line Interstate 55 and the surrounding sides streets, granting easier access to such area attractions as the Ross Barnett Reservoir and Tougaloo College. Don't seek shelter in this area if you want to stroll through the historic parts of Jackson, however, as you will need a car to get you downtown (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Dominating the low skyline of suburbia is the towering Jackson Hilton and Convention Center, located just off I-55 on Ridgeland's main thoroughfare. Large and refined, this facility entertains its guests in the lobby bar and restaurant. A second restaurant on a higher floor offers views of the city in the near distance. Regardless of whether you turn left or right out of the Hilton driveway, you will encounter a reassuring string of chain motels and hotels, including the Days Inn & Suites, Howard Johnson's, and the northside Comfort Inn. Again, these options are relatively interchangeable; for larger rooms and more conveniences, check out the Courtyard by Marriott.

Southwest If you have business at Jackson State University or the Methodist Medical Center, the Ramada Inn Southwest Conference Center is a good bet for a place to stay. Also popular with visitors to Jackson State is the Best Western Metro. Recently redone both inside and out, the Best Western now features a beautiful greenhouse that surrounds an indoor pool and restaurant.