It’s no secret to anyone that Nashville is commonly referred to as Music City and rightfully so. Music lovers travel from all over the world to Nashville to take in the vibrant live music scene and explore the music history that surrounds the city. Often many of those visitors will also make the drive to Memphis to do the same and even drive a little further south into Mississippi to visit the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
Nestled off of Highway 45 in the Northeastern part of the Magnolia State is Tupelo, a city that’s history sits around the legacy of Elvis. Tupelo is a short three and a half hour drive from Nashville and is a great choice for a weekend getaway from all of the noise brought in by drunken bachelorette parties and tourists stumbling up and down Broadway. Opening the GPS on your phone will provide you with multiple routes to get to Tupelo from Nashville, but if you really want to experience a remarkable and beautiful drive, then hop on the Natchez Trace Parkway and enjoy the ride.
The 222-mile drive on the All-American Road is free of traffic lights, billboards, and commercial vehicles. As you are winding down the road, you are bound to catch yourself over and over commenting on just how beautiful of a drive it is. Along the route, there are multiple stops one can make to learn some of the history associated with the drive. Travelers can visit the Meriwether Lewis Historic Cabin and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitors Center along the way to Tupelo.
It goes without saying that the biggest tourist attraction in Tupelo is the childhood home of Elvis and one would be doing themselves a disservice without visiting the Mecca to one of music’s biggest names while in town. Elvis lived in the home from the time he was born until he was three years old when his family was evicted when his father was unable to pay back the $180 loan he took out to build the home in 1934. On the grounds where the home sits, fans can follow the Walk of Life, a concrete circle that contains granite blocks denoting each year in his life with important facts about the King of Rock and Roll. From there, visitors can also visit the church that Elvis and his family attended while living in Tupelo. The Assembly of God church was moved to the Elvis Presley Birthplace Park so fans from all over the world can visit the first place to expose Elvis to Southern gospel music that became such a massive part of his musical repertoire.
Elvis aficionados will also want to visit the Tupelo Hardware Store where his mother bought him his first guitar ever, the Elvis Homecoming Statue and then take themselves on the self-guided Elvis Bicycle Tour. If the thought of exploring the history of Elvis doesn’t get your toes tapping, there is still plenty to do in the birthplace of Diplo.
Covering over 210 acres, the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo is home to more than 260 animals, including a large herd of American bison. Visitors can observe the bison in their natural habitats and explore the zoo’s animal exhibits where they can learn about the different species and even participate in interactive animal demonstrations.
Downtown Tupelo is home to a wide variety of boutique shops and department stores as well as bars and restaurants. From May to the end of October, you can visit the Farmers’ Depot every Saturday morning to find fresh, locally sourced produce, baked goods, flowers and more. A newer addition to the downtown scene is the Fairpark District. Fairpark comprises over 50 acres that were once the home of the Tupelo Fairgrounds. The area is now an urban paradise filled with shops, restaurants, a park, and a hotel.
When planning your trip to Tupelo, look into the Hotel Tupelo as your place to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Hotel Tupelo is located in the heart of downtown and is the place to stay for anyone coming for a visit. The hotel is dog friendly and your four-legged friend will be treated with custom Elvis treats from local dog bakery Dog House Pantry. Guests are encouraged to ride around the city on the hotel’s complimentary bicycles.
For adult visitors that are leaving the little ones at home, you are going to want to participate in the Tupelo Cocktail Trail. There are 8 stops along the trail for consumers to get their cocktail card stamped. Once you have completed all eight stops you can redeem your card for a FREE #MyTupelo cocktail shaker courtesy of the Tupelo Visitors Center.
This trip would not be complete without some great places to grab a bite. Here are some suggestions that are sure to cover everyone’s needs and wants.
Breakfast
Connie’s is always the first and last stop for me when it comes to food in Tupelo. Nearly every morning on my way to high school, I would stop by for a chicken biscuit covered in gravy and a blueberry donut or 12. Seriously, you cannot visit Tupelo without a trip to Connie’s for breakfast. I made that the law.
Lunch
If you’re looking for a good lunch option, then look no further than NOON. This vegan friendly cafe sits in the back of the FarmHouse, an event space and d.i.y. boutique, just outside of downtown. The Cauliflower Teriyaki Bowl with Tofu served with a delicious maple teriyaki sauce is a must-try at NOON.
Buried in a small strip mall across from the Mall at Barnes Crossing sits the most unassuming restaurant. The neon pig sign nearly blends in with the brick facade and if I had not looked up places for hamburgers, I would never have discovered this gem. Neon Pig is so many things including an old-school butcher shop, restaurant and seafood shop. You will be hard pressed to find a fresher meal anywhere as they butcher a whole cow from Homeplace Pastures in house every week as well as breaking down other local animals. Neon Pig truly believes in community and Tupelo as they buy directly from local farmers and businesses.
Once you walk in, you see the signs saying their Smash Burger was voted the best burger in America. Thrillist.com named the burger containing a combination of filet, ribeye, sirloin, and bacon served on a ciabatta bun with bacon bits, cheddar cheese, onion and comeback sauce the best burger in America in 2015 and while I tried a more traditional burger on my recent visit, I would not argue with one single vote Neon Pig received. I have had a difficult time getting the taste and flavor of that burger out of my mind ever since I took the first bite and I will happily make a trip back to Tupelo just to try it again.
If you are a lover of vegetables then you would be foolish to skip out on the veggie plate. The plate includes a wide variety of local, cooked vegetables and house-made pickled veggies.
Dinner
If you want a dinner spot with great bar food and live music then your search is over. Blue Canoe is that laid back, funky spot where everyone feels like a regular by the way the staff takes care of them. Nashville visitors have to try their Nashville Style Hot Fried Soft Shell Crab Sandwich while I highly recommend the Brown Bag Bologna Sandwich and the Pot Roast & Cornbread Waffle.
Live music kicks off at 9:30 on the weekends, so once you have cleaned your plate sit back with one of the 35 beers on tap and enjoy some live music that’s not catered to tourist and woo girls. If your dining experience fulfills you like I know it will then make sure to spread the love and buy a round for the kitchen. For $12 you can buy the hard working guy and gals in the back a round of beers.
Anytime of the year is a great time to visit Tupelo wether you are in town for Elvis Week, a play at the Lyric Theater or a concert at the Cadence Bank Arena. Since Tupelo is only a short drive from Nashville and has so much to offer what are you waiting for?
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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