Family Safari Not So Far Away ItineraryStop 1: Tupelo Buffalo Park Start your adventure at the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo by boarding the Monster Bison bus and touring the buffalo herds grazing throughout the park. The buses will pull into the protective pens and give you the opportunity to hand-feed the buffaloes. If you want to get more hands on, stop by the petting zoo and see a variety of different animals such as rabbits, turkeys, pigmy goats, pot belly pigs, and miniature horses. After exploring the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo you will have felt like you have been on a Family Safari in your own backyard. Visit www.tupelobuffalopark.com for more information or call 866-272-4766. Stop 2: Ballard Park Still feeling the need to explore the great outdoors? Grab a picnic lunch from one of Tupelo’s fine restaurants and drive 3 miles to Ballard Park. Picnic in this serene and beautiful setting that features a lake, playground and walking track. The kids can feed the ducks and play on the playground while you enjoy a beautiful walk around the fitness track at Ballard Park. Even though the ducks are about as exotic an animal as you are likely to encounter in Ballard Park, you can embark on this family adventure looking for a rare breed that has become nearly extinct – family time together! Stop 3: Oren Dunn City Museum Turn your Family Safari into a cultural adventure by scurrying on over to the Oren Dunn City Museum which is only a hop, skip, and a jump away in Ballard Park. Oren Dunn City Museum features exhibits on the milestones in Tupelo history such as the 1864 Battle of Harrisburg and the 1936 Tupelo Tornado. The Museum grounds house a large collection of buildings that highlight Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi history: 1870s dog-trot cabin, church and school, two Tupelo Fire Trucks, 1948 Lee County Book Mobile, Memphis trolley car turned local eatery Dudie's Diner, and Frisco Caboose. Visit www.orendunnmuseum.org or call 662-841-6438 for more information. Stop 4: GO adventure Still looking for adventure? Get back in the car and drive 6 miles and take a fitness adventure and experience GO, an exciting and challenging adventure for children and adults of all ages. GO offers an alternative approach to fitness. Fitness can be fun and can excite everyone to continue their love of fitness through adulthood. Their mission is to build character, confidence and discipline through creative athletics and the arts. Your mission will be to keep up with your children and have a lot of fun along the way. Visit www.gocreativeathletics.com or call 662-620-6400. Gettin’ Down in DowntownThis itinerary is perfect for the traveler looking to explore an iconic downtown and learn about some true icons. Stop 1: Birthplace of Elvis Presley I hope you brought your blue suede shoes, because we begin this tour at Elvis Presley’s Birthplace. Located just off Main Street, the birthplace and museum are an impressive tribute to Tupelo’s native son. Tour the house where Elvis was born, a museum that houses an extraordinary collection of Elvis memorabilia, take your picture with the “Elvis at 13” statue and learn so much about Elvis’ early life through the other interpretive exhibits. For more information, visit www.elvispresleybirthplace.com or call 662-841-6521. Stop 2: Tupelo Automobile Museum 1.5 miles from the Elvis Presley Birthplace Hours of operation: Tuesday-Saturday (March-October) 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Plan 2 hours Boogeying on toward downtown we find ourselves at the Tupelo Automobile Museum. There are more than 100 automobiles ranging from an 1886 Benz to a 1994 Dodge Viper that take you through the history of the automobile. This impressive collection of automobiles is valued at more than 6 million dollars and even contains a car once owned by Elvis Presley. For more information, visit www.tupeloauto.com or call 662-842-4242. Stop 3: Fairpark District for an afternoon of shopping, lunch and family fun 1/2 mile from Tupelo Automobile Museum Plan to spend the afternoon After you leave the automobile museum, it’s a good time to park the car and stroll through the Fairpark District. You can dance in the fountain on the actual site were Elvis performed his first hometown show in 1956 after first becoming a star - or maybe the family playground in a serene setting is more the speed for you. Now is a good time to pack up some souvenirs. Downtown Tupelo has an eclectic mix of great shopping – everything from antique to unique. Grab a bite while you are here – downtown dining is the best with varied styles from a bistro to a sidewalk café. While you are in the Fairpark District, don’t miss your chance to explore Tupelo Hardware. That’s right – a hardware store. This rustic hardware store has not changed much since Elvis’ mother bought his first guitar there over 50 years ago. Still selling guitars and icons of one’s childhood such as Red Ryder bb guns and Radio Flyer wagons, this hardware store holds more than a good story about Tupelo’s most famous native son. It’s a peek back into the past. Before you know it, a day has passed and it’s time to rest and take a look at the rest of itineraries to see where tomorrow leads you. Mall Crawl - ItineraryThe Shopping Stop: The Mall at Barnes Crossing Shopping District Mall hours of operation: Mon-Sat 10 am to 9 pm, Sun 12:30 pm to 6 pm Plan to stay the day in the Mall area Located at the intersection of U.S. 78 and U.S. 45, the Mall at Barnes Crossing opened in 1990 and has since been joined by eight other shopping centers with major anchor stores located in the immediate area. Four full-service banks, two motels and two medical clinics are also located in the area. The Barnes Crossing Mall itself has over 90 stores, plus specialty shops Belk’s, JCPenny’s, Belk’s Men & Home Store and Sears. Family fun comes in the form of a beautiful carousel for the little ones, an arcade for those who love to play games, a movie theater, and a 600 seat food court when you get hungry. The area has a variety of dining choices. You can find a complete list at www.tupelo.net and please see our coupons for special offers. Applebee’s, Lenny’s, Abner’s, Chick Fil A, Pizza Hut, Outback, Vanelli’s, Chill’s, CiCi’s Pizza and the recently opened Chuck E. Cheese are just a few of the family-friendly dining choices in the area. The shopping outside the mall is excellent as well with big name offerings such as Old Navy, Kohl’s and Pier One Imports to name just a few. So, put on your shopping shoes and hit a variety of treats all in one area. You’ll be glad you did. |
