When we tell people we’re from Tupelo, a small city (35,000 or so people) in the middle of nowhere, Mississippi, we hear all kinds of reactions. But the most common response is, “Oh, I’ve got a buddy over that way.” Or, “I went to school with a fella from there.” Or even, “I spent a little time there back in the ‘90s.” It seems like everyone knows someone from Tupelo. 

It’s probably because Tupelo is such a special place. But don’t take our word for it, take a weekend and find out for yourself. Here’s our definitive guide for a great weekend in Tupelo:

Jason and Amanda serve up eclectic hospitality at Cafe 212

On any given weekday, something like 10% of the population of Tupelo passes through Cafe 212 in Downtown Tupelo.

The brightly colored cafe buzzes with the business of the day — artists, bankers, writers, lawyers, contractors, and city employees plotting Tupelo’s future or this weekend’s concert.

It’s hard to spend more than $10 on a single meal, and the food is the perfect amount of fresh and hearty to fuel you up for the afternoon without weighing you down.

They’ll Let You Be a Local Here

But the best part is that the folks at Cafe 212 will treat you like a local (a Tupelocal even) while you’re there.  

Three visits and Jason will call you by your name, five and he’ll have your order memorized. 

“No jalepeños today?” 

What was I thinking? “Thanks for asking. I’ll have extra jalepeños today.”

It’s a Weekly Staple of the Tupelo Diet

The food is simple but fresh. Pick a sandwich or a salad, chips or soup, and add a piece of peanut butter pie or cookie if you’re feeling special. 

It’s so affordable and delicious that there is only one answer, “Do you want to meet me at the cafe for lunch?” The answer is, “Yes.” 

The staff sees nearly every elected official, banker, newspaper reporter, pastor, and small business owner on a monthly (if not weekly) basis.  

Friday’s at Cafe 212 are for Momma’s Chicken Casserole

Order what you want during the week, but Fridays are for chicken casserole. It’s the only day they serve the casserole, a favorite around town. Most people have it marked on their calendars, so be sure to have your order in before 12:30. When it’s gone, it’s gone. 

Don’t fret if you miss the last casserole tray because the rest of the menu is still available. 

If you’re feeling especially festive, the Blue Suede Grill is an homage to Elvis’s favorite sandwich, featuring bananas, peanut butter, and honey on grilled wheatberry bread.

The Best People in Town

Jason and Amanda are truly the best folks in town. They care about their staff and their customers on a personal level. They invest in the community. And they just radiate goodness. 

Tell them the folks at Carmigo sent you if you decide to pop in. 

And if you don’t hit it off with the Cafe crowd, you might not be the kind of person who likes Tupelo. That’s ok. We’re not for everybody. Plus, we like it plenty for the both of us. 

See where the legend of Elvis began

No matter how much Tupelo grows and changes, it will always be known as the birthplace of the King of Rock’n’Roll — Elvis Presley. 

Elvis defined what it means to be a global rock star and is larger-than-life in almost every way, but while spending a little time in Tupelo, visitors can see that he was also a regular kid. No more special than any other, less even based on the circumstances of his birth.

He grew up on the “wrong side of the tracks,” walked to school, and worked in the local diner. He sang at talent shows and attended fairs at the fairgrounds, where a life-sized statue of him now lives. 

He got into trouble and skinny-dipped in the local watering hole where kids still swim today. He bought a guitar on a whim at a local hardware store. He strummed it at church. He took a little music from church, a little bit from his neighborhood, and a little bit from his family. The rest is history. 

The Elvis Presley Birthplace

The birthplace museum attracts a steady stream of visitors from all over the world, especially around Elvis’ birthday and death day, attracting a reported 50,000 tourists each year. 

The legend says Elvis’s parents Vernon and Gladys were able to build this house in the mid-30s for only $180 but had to move out just a few years later when they couldn’t make payments. They moved a lot over through Elvis’s childhood and eventually to Memphis after Vernon was arrested for forging a check someone gave him for a pig — allegedly trying to turn the $4 check into a $14 or $40 one. 

The museum is set in a beautiful park with impressive statues, and it is a great way to spend a morning.

Fairpark Statue

Across the street from City Hall is a “larger-that-life” representation of the King during his 1956 homecoming concert, which was held at the old Tupelo Fairgrounds in approximately the same place. 

The statue is looking toward his birthplace, only a block from the hardware store where he purchased his first guitar. 

It’s a great spot to snap a photo and document your trip.

Driving Tour

The Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau assembled a driving tour of some of the significant sites from Elvis’s childhood. 

Included in the 14 stops are the still-operating diner where he worked and ate, Milam junior high school, where he sang to his classmates, and the theater where he shared his first kiss.