Visit Historic Tupelo, MS During Your Trip to Memphis, TN

Memphis is conveniently located on the Mississippi River, close to the borders of both Arkansas and Mississippi. Although Memphis has so many activities that you may not want to leave, venturing out in the surrounding area is an excellent idea for a day or afternoon trip. Tupelo, Mississippi is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but it is also a great Southern town well worth visiting.

One popular site in Tupelo is the Elvis Presley Birthplace. The little two-room house saw the birth of one of the most important musical figures that America will ever know. The house is a part of the Elvis Presley Park, which houses a museum, a memorial chapel, and a life-size statue of Elvis at age 13. The museum houses clothing, personal items, artifacts, pictures and more of Elvis’ life. This museum pays homage to Elvis’ life without the glitz and glamour of Graceland.

An interesting non-Elvis related site in Tupelo is the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. A businessman invested to create the largest buffalo herd east of the Mississippi River. In addition to the herd of buffalo, visitors will see exotic animals like kangaroos, tigers, lions, and giraffes, including an extremely rare white buffalo. Besides the animals, the zoo also contains an Indian dig site in the village of Etoukouma. Rides are available through the zoo, and small children will enjoy the Merry-Go-Round and the petting zoo. Camping is also available on site.

For a nice night out, spend the evening in historic downtown Tupelo. With a variety of authentic Southern restaurants, you can enjoy a relaxing dinner and then explore unique shops and sights downtown. Downtown contains various historical sights like the Lee County Courthouse and Lyric Theater. Visitors can also explore various Civil War sights. Depending on the night, you can catch live music in some of the downtown cafes and bars, or there might be a festival or special event going on.

Tupelo is just about an hour and a half from Memphis, but the drive through the scenic and green Mississippi countryside will be well worth it when you enjoy a day in this unique city.

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