Location: Jackson
Top Things to do in Jackson
The 10 Best Things to do in Jackson, Michigan (MI)
Jackson is a city in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Ann Arbor and 35 miles (56 km) south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Served by Interstate 94, it is the principal city of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Jackson County and has a population of 160,248.
Restaurants in Jackson
1. Jackson Historic Prison Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 79 reviews
Take the Jacktown Double and see Two Huge Prisons in One Great Tour! Experience nearly 200 years of Jackson’s fascinating prison history. Fun and knowledgeable guides take from one memorable character to another. Hear unforgettable stories about life behind bars, colorful characters, painful punishments, escapes, corruption, and reforms. You will visit Michigan's first prison and then go to the huge State Prison of Southern Michigan that was the largest walled prison in the world until 2007. Don't Miss This Tour! Recommended for anyone over 8 years old. This is a 3 hour tour. Shorter tours are available. Open: April 1st through October 31st. Bus Tour Groups inquire about a customized tour for your group. All tours start at Michigan’s First State Prison and proceed from there. Monday through Saturday at 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM. Reservations are necessary for all tours! Reserve your spot online before 5 PM the previous day.
2. Falling Waters Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By C9583VRvaleries
My dad, John Stover, used to take my sister and me on mountain bikes down this old rail to the Wooden Spoon in Concord for breakfast. We’d ride through Bunches of burrs and prickers and of course lots of mud! It was fun at the time, but I am also very content with the new much easier & smoother paved version at this point in my life. This is a great place to ride or walk/ run for all ages and ability levels. It is so nice not to have to worry about getting hit by a car!!! These trails are awesome and I love that Jackson continues to expand the trail system. I think it’s been a fantastic improvement to our community and has opened new and safe opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature. It is the best to see older and younger people out and about enjoying the trails. I included a painting I did about 10 years ago of my daughter and husband riding on this very trail, just west of Weatherwax Rd.
3. EpIQ Escapes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 231 reviews
Enter a locked room with 2-10 people with only 60 minutes to escape. Together you must find clues, solve puzzles and decode riddles to successfully escape before time runs out!
Reviewed By 649connorg - Jackson, United States
I went with my friends to have some mid-week fun and this was an amazing choice! The room we did was very interactive and just the right amount of difficulty! 10/10 would recommend!
4. Antique Mercantile
5. Tilted Arcade Bar
6. Bright Walls Mural
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By MidwestKathM - Detroit, United States
Wow! Walking around downtown Jackson, you can't help but run into a mural or two or three! Since 2018, the Bright Walls mural initiative has brightened up the downtown business district with bright and thoughtful murals by artists, both local and national, plus several international artists from the Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, and South Africa. Looking at several murals up close, we noted the quality of the materials and the creative process. In warmer weather, we could definitely spend time walking and enjoying the murals block after block!
7. Axe Play
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Axe Play is Jackson's premier axe throwing bar! Rent a lane with 4-8 people to compete in a round-robin tournament for 2 hours. A professionally trained axe throwing coach will train you to throw, keep score, and crown a winner! It's exhilarating fun and safe, we promise!
Reviewed By nicolelL304EI - Jackson, United States
I've been to Axe Play 3 times with various groups of friends since they opened and it never disappoints. They give each group their own Axe Master to score and guide them throughout their games. Coming in as someone who never threw an axe before in my life, I can truly say that the Axe Masters at Axe Play gave an awesome intro and overview as well as tips along the way. They strive to adhere to the rules of the World Axe Throwing league as well as ensuring all players following all safety guidelines. After our 3rd time visiting, my fiancé and I loved the experience so much we decided to join their Axe Throwing League! I would highly recommend Axe Play for a unique experience with friends, great drinks, and attentive staff.
8. Ella Sharp Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By MidwestKathM - Detroit, United States
We drove from an hour away to see the Frida Kahlo's Garden exhibit, which we found compelling and well done; we loved the tie-in with school kids and their take on Friday Kahlo! Stayed for the very interesting Jackson county and city history galleries. Enjoyed the Never Enough Time exhibit of clocks of all shapes and sizes, as well as the Barns: Preserving Architectural Heritage exhibit and the Gallery of Wildlife Art. We loved the variety and scope of the temporary exhibits. We'll keep an eye on new exhibit announcements and look forward to a return visit. Kudos to the museum on a job well-done of keeping guests safe during these COVID times, with taking guest contact info, requiring masks, limiting the number of guests in a gallery, and lots of signs reminding us to social distance. Thank you!
9. Grande Golf Club
10. Cascade Falls
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