Tupelo, MS, is best known for being the birthplace of Elvis Presley. As such,
it won't be surprising that it boasts a ton of great attractions that pay homage to The King
himself. This ranges from his birthplace to the various murals painted of him,
to the diner where he used to eat as a child. But Tupelo is a lot more than simply a museum
for Elvis. It's a vibrant and lovely city that hosts various attractions, restaurants,
museums, and historic sites. In this video, we're taking a look at what we think are the
top spots to visit when you find yourself in this scenic southern town. So stick around,
as Viewcation presents: The Best Things to Do in Tupelo, Mississippi!
Elvis Presley Birthplace Fans of The King will tell you
all about their trip to Graceland, the legendary home of Elvis Presley. But the biggest Elvis fans
will probably be even more moved by a visit to the house where he was born. On January 8,
1935, Presley entered the world in this modest home in Tupelo. Elvis’s dad built
the home with his own two hands, and the process only cost him 180 bucks. These days,
the house has been transformed into a mecca and a museum of all things Elvis. The house itself
sits as the primary building within Elvis Presley Park. Within the boundaries of the park include
the building where Elvis and his family went to church every week. And perhaps more importantly,
it’s where Elvis was exposed to southern gospel music, which heavily influenced
his writing and performing in later years. We recommend jumping on the Grand Tour, which
grants you access to all of the buildings on the property. This includes The Elvis Presley Museum,
the Chapel, and the birthplace building. The museum tells the tale of Elvis’s life
and boasts some of the outfits he wore on stage, a famous statue called “Becoming”,
and more. It’s a fantastic place to check out, regardless of your level of love for The King.
Bike Around Town You won’t be surprised
to find out that the city of Tupelo has more attractions dedicated to Elvis Presley than simply
the birthplace museum. There are some great spots all over that you can check out, and doing it on
a bicycle is a fantastic method. If you’re staying at Hotel Tupelo, you can actually check a bike out
for the day, free of charge. But there are also other rental spots in the area. Biking through
a city is a great way to see it since you can maneuver in spaces that cars can’t while taking
it at a pace that’s much quicker than walking. And that means you can really explore the city,
while not watching it simply whiz by as you hit the gas in your car. Some great Elvis-relevant
spots to check out while on a self-guided bike tour of Tupelo include the Lee Country Library,
notable because it’s where The King got his very first library card,
as well as Tupelo Hardware Company. It’s a store where Elvis’ grandmother bought him
his first-ever guitar. And you can also pop down in Johnnie’s Drive-in for a meal, and a
story about how you sat in the very booth where Elvis gobbled down his favorite dinner meals.
Natchez Trace Parkway If biking isn’t really your think you might
want to seek out some of the best drives in the area. And there’s no better place to cruise than
the Natchez Trace Parkway. Of course, at 444 miles in length, it obviously covers far more ground
than simply Tupelo and the surrounding area. But if you’re coming to town from Tennessee, Alabama,
or other parts of Mississippi, and want to head to Tupelo, this Parkway is one of the best routes
to take. It’s called the Natchez Trace Parkway because it runs along the Old Natchez Trace.
This was a corridor that the Native Americans in the region used for travel. So as you drive
around this incredibly scenic and photo-worthy road, you can imagine you’ve traveled back to
the pre-automobile era and are making the journey with a local tribe. When you hit milepost 266,
you’ll want to park and check out the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center. It’s full of
interactive exhibits about the region and its history. Plus, there are a bunch of great hiking
trails that start there, so if you are looking for some exercise to break up a long car ride,
you can pop on your hiking boots and head out from there. At milepost 261.8, there’s also a
great Chickasaw Heritage Center, where you can learn more about the history of the local people.
Oren Dunn City Museum Located in Ballard Park,
the Oren Dunn City Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Tupelo,
as well as the region that surrounds it. There’s a focus on the Chickasaw tribe,
and how it played a large role in establishing the early history of the city. It also shows exhibits
about the famous Battle of Tupelo, a Civil War battle that saw 1,326 killed and wounded soldiers
from the Union and Confederacy. There is also info about the cyclone of 1936 that tore up the area,
as well as discussions of the momentous accomplishments in the area in the fields
of agriculture and industry. Train enthusiasts will enjoy checking out their model railroad,
as well as their stationary train car. And there are a variety of other exhibits
featuring dioramas, fossils, and much more. Plus if you’re in town in May,
you’ll be able to head to the Oren Dun City Museum to join in the festivities of the Dudie Burger
Festival. And if you’re there in October, you’ll be able to check out the annual Dogtrot Festival.
Mill Village and the Frisco Caboose History lovers will enjoy taking a walk
around Mill Village, which is the historic district of the city. It’s centered around
a historic cotton mill, which was constructed in 1901. It stopped functioning as a mill in 1937,
but the building still stands. These days it’s primarily used as an event venue and a tourist
attraction. But simply walking around the area containing the old mill is worth of your time.
It has many old buildings that house local businesses, gorgeous hand-painted murals,
as well as railroad tracks. And speaking of railroads, if you’re a train lover, you’ll dig
the old caboose that sits alone near the Old Mill. Train aficionados refer to it as a “BN caboose in
Frisco colors.” There’s nothing in particular that ties it to Tupelo history that we know of,
but it’s a really cool and random sight that you’ll enjoy getting up on your Instagram page.
Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo When you’re ready to see some animals,
there’s no better place in Tupelo than the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. What’s extra
cool about this spot is that they have placed a particular focus on exhibiting animals that
locals wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see in Mississippi. This means you can check out a camel,
a white tiger, and some ring-tailed lemurs. There are also yaks, capuchin monkeys, African lions,
and much more. We recommend hitting up the Monster Bison Bus, which is a guided tour that takes you
in and around the Buffalo Park. There you’ll get a chance to spot some endangered and rare animals
like Watusi cattle, buffalo, and zebras, among others. While on the tour, the guides will give
you a great lesson on the park’s past, as well as fun facts about buffalo and other animals.
Check Out the Street Murals Tupelo has developed into one
of the best cities for street murals in the entire south. On myriad streets around the city,
you’ll find walls covered in incredible art from local artists. Of course, since it’s the
home of Elvis’s birthplace, a lot of the art is Elvis-centric. So any Elvis fans will be able
to get their fill of mural photos featuring the king. There’s one that has since become super
famous – it has a drawing of Elvis and says “Greetings from Tupelo.” It was created by
a graffiti artist named Ryan Christenson, who created it while he was in town for the local
Elvis Festival. But the art in town isn’t strictly limited to Elvis-based. There are picture-worthy
pieces all over, and it’s worth spending an afternoon trying to check them all out!
The Farmer’s Depot In downtown Tupelo sits
the Farmer’s Depot, an open-air farmer’s market that is generally open from May to
October. It’s a great spot to walk around and visit the many vendors offering local produce,
flowers, and handmade baked goods. You can either walk and simply taste the local food,
or grab an assortment of ingredients to take back to where you’re staying and cook a meal.
Or perhaps you’re more in the mood for a picnic, in which case, the Farmer’s Depot is the perfect
spot to grab the picnic necessities. One cool and more unusual aspect of this farmer’s market
is that they offer both cooking classes for adults, as well as activities tailored to
kids as well. So you could legitimately spend several hours there. It’s not open every day,
however. You can head to the Farmer’s Depot on Tuesdays from 3 to 6, and Saturdays between 6am
and noon. And on the first Saturday of the month, you’ll be able to enjoy live music.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Have you ever been to Tupelo, MS? If so, did we miss any of your
favorite? If not, do you think you’ll ever get there? Let us know in the comments section below!