I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me for recommendations recently for things to do to just get them out of the house (as safely as possible). While we are not advocating for non-essential travel at this time, we have been exploring our local areas very, very carefully and wanted to share what we’ve been up to. This is a list of activities and places in Northeast Mississippi, in and around Tupelo, that we believe, with care, can be visited with safety AND social distancing in mind during this pandemic.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links with no change in price for you.
Please keep yourself and others safe. Visit these places at your own risk. Wear your mask unless there are absolutely no other people in your presence. Remember to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes, and don’t touch your face. If you arrive and there are too many other people, leave or wait until they clear out. Make smart decisions to keep yourself and others healthy, and respect all local rules and regulations. These activities may not be in everyone’s comfort zone, and we respect that.
The destinations included in this post are meant to be easy day trips from the Tupelo area. This is to limit rest stops, bathroom breaks, and prevent overnight stays during this pandemic. So many of these sites are historic, so they may also be good options for field trips (a note for current homeschoolers!). Also, I’d like to note that I have not included safari parks and the like because I don’t like to advocate for captive animals. Farms are one thing, but, c’mon… we’ve all seen Tiger King.
Tupelo
Elvis Presley’s Birthplace
Visiting the small two-room house where Elvis Presley was born is the most popular attraction in Tupelo, Mississippi. While the inside of the house may be too small for social distancing, the grounds are free for visitors to wander. Take selfies with the house and all three statues on the property (don’t forget to pose in your Elvis glasses!). Meander down to the reflecting pond, and check out the car just like the one the Presleys drove to Memphis.
Elvis’ Tupelo Self-Guided Bicycle Tour
This tour can also be completed in a car, so check it out even if the temps are soaring in this Mississippi summer. Head over to the My Tupelo website to get your bicycle tour map that will take you to locations like Elvis’ elementary school, junior high school, and Tupelo Hardware (where Elvis got his first guitar! See the Elvis marker outside.). My Tupelo provides information on bike rentals if you don’t have your own.
Elvis Guitar Trail
If you’ve driven through Tupelo, chances are you’ve noticed one or several of the painted guitars located in front of local landmarks and businesses. For a fun outing, follow the map provided by My Tupelo, and try to see all of these Elvis-themed photo ops! Take a photo with each one and don’t miss the historic and informational markers found at many of the locations.
Tupelo’s Public Parks
If you just want to spend some time outside, visit one of Tupelo’s parks. Take a picnic or just go for a walk. Visit the geese at Ballard Park, pose with the Elvis statue at the Tupelo Fairpark, or see the Vietnam Veterans Replica Wall at Veterans Park. While these parks should provide room to social distance, please remember to share the trails, wear your mask around others, and we’d advise to stay away from playground equipment right now.
Food Truck Friday
Hungry? Head over to the Tupelo Fairpark (downtown on Main Street) on Fridays for some food truck deliciousness. From about 11 to 1:30 each Friday, you’ll find several of Tupelo’s food trucks serving up local favorites. You can take a blanket for a picnic in the park or challenge yourself to get one dish from each truck. Trust us, it’s all delicious! Our absolute favorites are the Cheesesteak Rolls from Edible Bliss and the Aloha Chicken Tacos from The Gypsy.
Natchez Trace
While the Natchez Trace is a historic road leading from Natchez, Mississippi all the way to Nashville, Tennessee, the visitor center is located in Tupelo, Mississippi. We don’t recommend going inside the center right now, but we do suggest enjoying some of the sights and trails that The Trace has to offer (more info on the National Park Service site). In the area, visitors can explore the Chickasaw Village Site, walk on the Old Trace (a trail leads to Confederate Civil War graves) and view Native American earthen mounds at Bynum Mounds and Pharr Mounds.
Tupelo National Battlefield
The Tupelo National Battlefield is part of the National Park Service and is an interesting stop on Tupelo’s Main Street. In the midst of restaurants and businesses, visitors will find this small battlefield with cannons and information about the Union-won battle. To learn more about the Civil War, visit Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield in Baldwyn, the Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth, and Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee.
Tupelo’s Murals
Is street art your thing? Tupelo has a number of murals located throughout the city just waiting for you to stop by for a photo op. Along with Elvis-themed murals, of course, you’ll find the Book Stack Mural, Chickasaw Heritage, Buy Local Produce and more! I’m currently working on a map, so I’ll share soon! Until then, feel free to drive or wander around town to see how many you can find!
Queen’s Reward
Visit Mississippi’s only meadery for some socially distanced wine tasting. Mead is wine made from honey, and, honey, it’s good. We have been so impressed with Queen’s Reward from the start of the pandemic (they began producing hand sanitizer) and have always made us feel safe. Seating is available outside with tables REALLY far apart (this is the only place where I feel safe eating/drinking because we’re so far away from others), so we’ve stopped by to try some of their summertime mead slushes. You can also place orders for curbside pickup.
Pick Up Some Food from One of Tupelo’s Best Restaurants
Buying from local restaurants instead of chains is very important right now. We recommend calling in your order for curbside pickup or going through the drive thru. Outdoor seating is safer than indoor seating, but I’m just not okay with eating in the same vicinity as other people. We’re perfectly okay with eating in our car or taking our food back home. For some ideas on where to grab your next meal in Tupelo, check out our posts: The Best Places to Eat in Tupelo, Mississippi and Black-Owned Restaurants in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Mississippi Blues Trail
See the Mississippi Blues Trail markers in and around Tupelo in the Mississippi Hills region. Learn the origins of the Blues as you make your way along this trail of important places and people’s stories. You can explore the Mississippi Blues Trail all over the state (and a few places out of state as well!) to learn how Mississippians created the iconic sounds of the Blues.
Geocaching
This activity can be done practically anywhere! Use a GPS device or your phone to find listed coordinates and look for the hidden cache. This can be a film canister, old ammo box, plastic container… anything that’s weatherproof and can hold a register and goodies. Take a piece of treasure (usually a coin or small toy), but be sure to leave one for the next treasure hunters to find! Find supplies on Amazon. Head over to Geocaching.com for more information or to download the app.
Near Tupelo
Fulton
- PlayGarden Park– A fun stop to see some whimsical sculptures placed all around the park. Can you find them all?
- Piezons Pizza– Get the best pizza in the area at Piezons. Call in or place an online order, then call when you arrive, and your delicious order will be brought right out to your car. Best pizza crust ever! We recommend the cheese sticks as well.
- Underground Railroad Bicycle Route– This bike trail starts at the Gulf Coast and goes all the way to Canada, memorializing the Underground Railroad and historic sites along the way. The trail runs through Fulton, Mississippi, so grab your bike and head out on a learning adventure.
Baldwyn
- Brices Cross Roads– Take the driving tour of Brices Cross Roads to learn about the Civil War battle that happened on this site.
Corinth
- Civil War Interpretive Center– This destination is an indoor museum, but you may choose to visit on a day that’s not very busy. Alternatively, we recommend the driving tour at Shiloh National Military Park about 25 miles away in Tennessee.
- Corinth Contraband Camp– This park (902 N Parkway) commemorates the place where former enslaved people found refuge and began their own communities as free people in the Union-occupied town.
- Corinth Civil War Driving Tour– Corinth.net offers an audio guided tour of the Civil War sites around town.
- 60 Sights in 60 Minutes Historic Walking Tour– If you feel like stretching your legs, take this one hour walking tour to see the historic buildings around Corinth.
Iuka
- Mineral Springs Park– Stop by the home (1001 Battleground Drive) to the first prize-winning mineral water from the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. Water still flows in the park today!
- Covered Bridge– While visiting Mineral Springs Park, check the covered bridge that spans Spring Creek. You can walk or drive across.
- Woodall Mountain– The highest point in Mississippi can be reached via hike OR you can drive to the top. Be sure to sign the register!
Tishomingo
- Tishomingo State Park– Get outside at Tishomingo State Park where hikes take you across swinging bridges, past waterfalls, and through some of the most beautiful landscape in Mississippi (especially lovely in Fall!).
- Bear Creek Mound– This 900-year-old Native American mound is a stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
New Albany
- Tanglefoot Trail– Feel like going biking? New Albany is the trailhead for the Tanglefoot Trail, a rails to trails bike path that goes 43.6 miles to Houston.
- Sugarees Bakery– Stop by the podium outside Sugarees to pick up your order of sweet treats. You can order online or give them a call for curbside pickup. If you’re lucky, you may get to watch a demonstration through the window! They also ship, so satisfy your craving for caramel cake, strawberry cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, or one of their other delicious offerings!
- Park Along the River– This picturesque park (217 Carter Avenue) offers open spaces and walking paths that cross the Tallahatchie River via a photo worthy footbridge. Also home to the New Albany Disc Golf Course.
- Ingomar Indian Mounds– See the Native American earthworks that are the Ingomar Indian Mounds (County Road 96, off of Hwy 15 South), constructed sometime between 100 BC and 400 AD.
Holly Springs
- Historic Buildings Driving Tour– Pick up a guide from the Holly Springs Tourism & Recreation Bureau (195 E. Van Dorn Avenue). This tour takes you to historic homes, churches, and more throughout town.
- Hill Crest Cemetery– Hill Crest is a beautiful historic cemetery that is worth a stroll to see its interesting headstones and memorials.
Oxford
- Yokna Sculpture Trail– Follow this trail around Oxford to see an outdoor exhibit featuring 18 sculptures from local, regional, and national artists. The pieces are rotated out, so your experience will change every year!
- Rowan Oak– Visit the home of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Faulkner. Visitors are welcome to walk the grounds (open dawn to dusk). You may also want to stop by the final resting place of William Faulkner at Saint Peter’s Cemetery.
- Ole Miss Campus– Take a stroll through the campus of the University of Mississippi (but think twice if it’s crowded with students). Enjoy time in The Grove, do your own walk on the Walk of Champions, see the sculpture of James Meredith, and take in the architecture of the historic buildings.
- Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunt– From the square through Ole Miss campus, Let’s Roam’s scavenger hunt (“In Search of Glory”) will have you seeing Oxford in a new way. Read our review of the experience.
Nearby in Alabama
Cherokee
- Coon Dog Cemetery– This unique cemetery is an interesting visit. People from all over have their beloved coon dogs buried here.
- Cherokee Kayak Trail– Spend a day kayaking on Bear Creek. For more information about the tail or renting a kayak, contact Cherokee Town Hall at 256.359.4959.
Phil Campbell
- Dismals Canyon– This gorgeous little piece of Alabama is home to gorgeous waterfalls, boulders that will make you feel tiny, and GLOW WORMS. Bioluminescent worms, called “Dismalites” light up the canyon walls at night. They aren’t active year-round, but the surroundings are worth a visit and hike anytime.
Haleyville
- Natural Bridge Park– Visit this natural wonder to walk underneath a naturally formed sandstone bridge; the longest east of the Rockies!
- Home of 911- Haleyville is the home of the first ever call to the emergency service we all know as 911. The building no longer exists, but you can visit the historic marker in front of CVS (1901 11th Avenue).
Tuscumbia
- Spring Park– This park is beautifully landscaped and is home to the largest man-made waterfall (from natural stones). Fantastic place to take some photos or have a picnic.
- Coldwater Stagecoach Stop– This pioneer cabin built somewhere around 1815 was once a stagecoach stop. It’s one room houses artifacts from the frontier days. You may choose to visit the grounds only.
- Helen Keller Birthplace– Ivy Green is the birthplace of Helen Keller. Socially distanced tours are available. If you don’t want to go inside the home right now, you may opt to just see the grounds.
- Benches on Parade– Similar to the Elvis Guitar Trail in Tupelo, visitors are invited to see the artist-made benches around Tuscumbia.
- Rattlesnake Saloon– Dine under a Native American bluff rock shelter at this unique restaurant. Only outside seating is available during the pandemic, and you can check out the safety measures on their website before going. You can opt for a take-out order as well.
- Rock of Ages Trail– Take a driving tour of the historic churches of Colbert County. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Florence
- Old Railroad Bridge– Walk across this historic (1903) bridge for great view of Pickwick Lake.
- Florence Indian Mound and Museum– See this Native American ceremonial mound. Opt out of the museum if you’re not comfortable going indoors.
This post will continue to be updated as we come across more adventures in our area of the Mississippi Hills. Feel free to leave us some suggestions!
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links with no change in price for you.
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Have you started to explore your local area? What hidden gems have you found? Will you be using this list to plan some outings? Are there other towns you’d like us to include in this list? Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below!
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