Ellington

If you're planning a day trip from Jackson, consider yourself lucky: The state capital sits at the crossroad of two major interstate highways, making it easy to get to nearby cities, north, south, east or west. Here are a few points of interest to help you make a decision.

Hattiesburg (91 Miles)
African American Military History Museum (305 E. 6th St., 601-450-1942, http://www.hattiesburguso.com)
Laser Mania (905 Hardy Street, 601-543-0072, http://www.lasermania.com)
Peps Point Water Park (382 Peps Point Road, 601-582-8461)

Tupelo (105.42 Miles)
Elvis Presley Pool (2107 Country Club Road, 662-841-6535, http://www.tupeloparkrec.com)
Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo (2272 Coley Road, 662-844-8709, http://www.tupelobuffalopark.com)

Birmingham (91.38 Miles)
Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame (2150 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., 205-323-6665, http://www.ashof.org)
Amistad Murals at Talladega College (627 W. Battle St., Talladega, 256-362-0206, http://www.talladega.edu/amistad-murals)
Birmingham Zoo (2630 Cahaba Road, 205-879-0409, http://www.birminghamzoo.com)
Desoto Caverns Park (5181 Desoto Caverns Parkway, Childersburg, Ala., 256-378-7252, http://www.desotocavernspark.com

New Orleans (157 Miles)
Haunted History Tours (97 Fontainebleau Drive, 504-861-2727, http://www.hauntedhistorytours.com)
National World War II Museum (945 Magazine St., 504-528-1944, http://www.nationalww2museum.org)
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum 724 Dumaine St., 504-680-0128, http://www.voodoomuseum.com)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band (726 St. Peter, 504-522-2841, http://www.preservationhall.com)