With unparalleled attractions and delicious dining, plan your summer road trip to the that’s positively the place for new outdoor experiences.

Visit the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo to get up close and personal with the park’s residents. Spanning 210 acres, the park boasts more than 260 animals. The safari drive-through experience lets visitors observe the animals in their natural habitat and feed them from the comfort of their vehicle. Another park to visit is Ballard Park, where a new, all-inclusive playground, walking track, and scenic lake make it a must-do for families. Explore Tombigbee State Park with its walking trails, water activities, fishing, disc golf, and kayaking.

Spend more time outdoors by exploring 10,000 years of history along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Visit the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 to learn about the history of this scenic byway. Hike through the Blackland Prairie at the Chickasaw Village Site at milepost 261.8, the future home of the Chickasaw Heritage Center.

If you’re eager to keep exploring, Tupelo’s extensive trail system offers something for every type of adventurer. Check out the Music Bend Nature Trail, which is also a certified Mississippi Arboretum that includes 42 distinct tree species labeled along the trail. Explore the Elvis’ Tupelo Self-Guided Bicycle Tour that takes you to 15 places that were an important part of Elvis’ childhood in Tupelo.

Dining al fresco is a summertime delight, with so many options to soak up the sun. Café 212, a local lunch shop with an eclectic atmosphere, offers patio seating and gourmet sandwiches in Downtown Tupelo. Have a bite on Romie’s Grocery’s back patio for a southern meat and three plate at lunch or hand-cut steaks and Mississippi catfish for dinner. Enjoy sweeping views of Fairpark on the rooftop at Park Heights Restaurant with upscale dishes and craft cocktails gracing the menu.

Visit tupelo.net to plan your itinerary and imagine what you can do here!