for Families 'discover our soul'... visit jackson!

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It's a family affair! As a family we spent time checking out where to eat and where to play while safely exploring and discovering the 'city with soul' Jackson, Mississippi! Read and save this blog as a reference for kid-friendly lunch and dinner options with weekend fun for the entire family. Check out highlights in our video below!

let's start with lunch!

In the middle of the day, kids have lots of energy to burn, and figuring out an ideal place for children to eat lunch during a pandemic can be a headache. Thanks to Aplόs, located in the Highland Village Shopping Center there is an open patio available for dining where kids can run and play while enjoying lunch. Lilli loves it there!

This Mediterranean eatery is known for its simple 'fast-fine' casual cuisine. The menu consists of spit fired meats showcased on Mediterranean wraps, salads and Italian Neapolitan pizzas. ​It's an 'easy order', something for everyone. Speaking of, The word “Aplόs” means “simple” or “easily understood” in Greek.  

QUATTRO FORMAGGI mozzarella, ricotta, fontina, feta, roasted garlic

APLOS SUPREME tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, red onion, olive, roasted red bell pepper, pepperoncini,

Can you say more cheese please?! We opted for a couple of their tasty pizzas along with seasonal veggies and Greek fries (Lilli's Favorite)...
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A great thing about Aplόs it’s open 7 days a week 11am-8pm...
An even greater thing, its
Happy Hour EVERYDAY 3p-6pm.
$5 RED WINE (select offering) $5 WHITE WINE (select offering) $5 WELL LIQUOR $2 OFF ALL BEER 1/2 OFF PIZZAS (dine-in only. Kids’ pizza not included)

As parents we love it here too! This place is not only good for lunch but could easily be a family favorite for dinner as well!

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to the zoo we go!

I have fond memories of visiting The Jackson Zoo. I vividly remember taking my nephews for a  'Day out with Auntie.' I was thrilled to now be able to visit with my own family in tow! Both Lilli and Ryan were super excited, as neither had ever been.
After first entering, you are met with a fun carousel. Lilli enjoyed it so much, she rode it twice back to back.  The second time around she invited us to join her on the fun!

The Jackson Zoo is home to over 250 animals from all over the world. Visitors have the opportunity to get up close and intimate with most of them. There are many exotic animals; pumas, zebras, monkeys, flamingos to name a few. Knox, the friendly Reticulated Giraffe was ready to greet us. Eko, the Sumatran Tiger gave us a personal walk thru. Meeko, the Asiatic Moon Bear graced us with a show. We were in complete awe.  Make sure to watch our highlight video above to see all of these cool encounters!

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Zoo is open to the public with a limited capacity on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays from 11 am to 4 p. m. When visiting, health and safety is a top priority. Advanced tickets are required and social distancing is practiced. All visitors and Zoo employees are required to wear face masks. We received these comfy masks from Visit Jackson to wear promoting their 'Stay Safe Exploring Jackson MS' initiative. #VisitJacksonMS #SafelyExploreJXN #VisitMSResponsibly

We all had a blast at the Jackson Zoo! I definitely recommend checking it out while the weather is permitting. Follow the latest happenings on their website and Instagram pages. If you would like to schedule a visit, you can do so by clicking here.  

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What's for dinner?

This award winning BBQ eatery is sure to have you happy and full of good food. Some come for the 'pig' and some of the local craft beer, either way you will not be disappointed. Located in the hip neighborhood of Fondren, Pig & Pint offer next-level BBQ options. Don't worry, they serve other meats besides pork, lol. 

We tried a couple of eclectic menu items, like the smoked tuna dip served with pork rinds and tortilla chips. This small plate was intriguing, upon tasting delightful. Ryan ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT w/ smoked chicken. It was yummy. I kept it traditional with a half rack of 'dry' ribs with sauce options on the side. They were delicious. We had a variety of homestyle sides to share as a family. 

Pig & Pint is Ryan's favorite barbeque restaurant in Jackson, and I am happy to have somewhere safe to bring the family. We appreciate the outside dining on the grand picnic tables.  For those looking for a safe and socially distant dining experience, Pig and Pint has expanded their outdoor dining area and made it very comfortable for all who wish to visit, even during peak hours.  

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Whether your are a visitor, or you have recently relocated and are trying to learn the city with soul, we hope your family are enlightened and encouraged to safely explore Jackson! #SafelyExploreJXN #VisitJacksonMS  #VisitMSResponsibly

Disclaimer: This post is part of Visit Jackson! 'Discover Our Soul' sponsored campaign.
​I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors,  
​https://www.visitjackson.com/​