Travel South Magazine Travel South low (kasey daleo's conflicted copy 20 | Page 130

TUPELO, MS
Located in the foothills of Northeast Mississippi,
Tupelo is the epicenter of America’s music, where,
in 1935, the world’s greatest entertainer was born
in a two-room shotgun shack.
The gospel tunes he sang in his boy-
hood church, the soulful blues that he
heard coming from the juke joints in
the Shakerag district, and the country
music that he listened to on the radio
from his front porch, enabled Elvis
Presley to blend the sounds and de-
liver what we all know as Rock ‘N’ Roll,
to the masses. Visitors can immerse
themselves in America’s musical her-
itage, by beginning their journey in a
town called Tupelo.
The Tupelo Visitors Center is the per-
fect starting point for any trip to the city
where anything is possible. From in-
teractive exhibits that highlight the
city’s top attractions and a collective
timeline of Tupelo’s rich history, to dis-
plays focused on Elvis’ childhood in
Tupelo as told like never before, the
Tupelo Visitors Center will fully pre-
pare visitors for exploring this unique,
southern town.
Travelers to Tupelo can experience
the first part of Elvis’ incredible story
by visiting the birthplace where he
took his first breath, the church where
he sang his first song, and the hard-
ware store where he strummed his
first guitar. A statue commemorating
his 1956 Homecoming concert
stands in Tupelo’s Fairpark District,
and a driving tour highlighting 11 sig-
nificant places in Elvis’ childhood is
also part of the visitor experience.
Getting to Tupelo is as much a part of
the experience as spending time in
the city where anything is possible.
The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway
over 10,000 years ago. Reaching from
Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Ten-
nessee, this national scenic byway is
headquartered in Tupelo and still in-
vites guests to find their own adven-
ture, whether on two wheels or four.
With quality accommodations, over
160 restaurants, three distinct shop-
ping districts, and exciting events
throughout the year, imagine what you
can do here!