Whether or not you’re a die-hard blues fan or simply seeking to discover the cultural roots of the South.
This journey to Mississippi guarantees unforgettable experiences and soulful tunes at each cease.
This Mississippi Blues Path highway journey presents a deep dive into the guts of the Mississippi Delta.
Celebrating the blues and its profound impression on the beginning of American music.
Right here is my highway journey journey information to the Mississippi Blues Path.
What’s the Mississippi Blues Path?
The Mississippi Blues Path is a sequence of historic markers scattered all through the state that inform the story of the blues.
It’s a sequence of over 200 markers throughout the state that celebrates the birthplace of blues music.
The path covers every little thing from how the music began and who made it well-known.
You possibly can go to locations like B.B. King’s birthplace, Clarksdale’s Crossroads, and the place Elvis purchased his first guitar.
It’s an opportunity to see the place well-known musicians lived, performed, and formed the blues, probably the most influential music types on this planet.
Inside this information, I’ll deal with the southern a part of the Mississippi Blues Path.
Begin on the Gateway to the Blues Museum
My first cease alongside the South part of the Mississippi Blues Path was the Gateway to the Blues Museum.
The museum goes into the roots of blues music.
We noticed historic devices, memorabilia, and interactive reveals celebrating the musicians who helped outline the style.
It’s an awesome place to start out for some perception into the historical past and impression of the blues.
Exterior, yow will discover sections of the outdated railroads that transported cotton from the fields.
My favorite a part of the museum was studying about how the Blues from Mississippi Impacted and impressed the brand new wave of Rock and Roll that hit the UK coast in 1958 with Cliff Richard, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.
Seize lunch at Airport Grocery
We stopped for lunch at Airport Grocery earlier than heading to the Grammy Museum.
Airport Grocery presents a country environment with a bluesy aesthetic. It has a full bar, pool tables, and cozy, informal eating.
Airport Grocery is a superb spot to strive native classics, reminiscent of scorching tamales, crawfish tails, fried pickles, fried catfish and fried okra.
There are a great deal of Mississippi dishes to attempt to take pleasure in right here on the Airport Grocery.
Cease off on the Grammy Museum
Do you know that Mississippi has produced extra Grammy winners than another state within the US?
Massive names like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Britney Spears, and, in fact, Elvis Presley all come from right here, which is why the Grammy Museum is an integral a part of the Blues Path.
We toured the museum and explored the reveals celebrating the historical past and impression of music legends.
It’s full of fascinating shows about Grammy-winning artists and the music trade all through the years.
Additionally, you will discover interactive recording studios, musical devices you possibly can play and a dance ground.
Discover the town of Clarksdale
After arriving in Clarksdale, we checked in on the Vacationers Lodge. This can be a incredible lodge to base your self on whereas staying within the metropolis.
The constructing used to deal with railway employees up to now and has now been reworked into a contemporary, fashionable lodge with a fantastic rustic appeal and beer on faucet.
Clarksdale is a crucial cease on the Mississippi Blues Path as a result of it’s thought of one of many blues’ birthplaces, with deep connections to legendary musicians.
This city is the place you’ll discover the well-known Crossroads; It’s the place Highways 61 and 49 meet,
Legend has it that blues musician Robert Johnson made a cope with the satan there to turn into essentially the most terrific blues guitarist of all time.
In response to the story, Johnson went to the crossroads one evening together with his guitar, and the satan tuned it for him, granting him unimaginable musical expertise in change for his soul.
Whether or not you consider the story or not (And the precise location), it’s an iconic a part of blues folklore.
To be taught extra concerning the city, we took a strolling tour to discover its historical past and function in shaping this style of music.
Different nice locations to cease by our our Meraki Roasting Co. for a tasty cup of joe, Deek’s Mississippi Saxophones & Blues Emporium (Ask properly if he can be open to a blues jamming session), and Cat Head Delta Blues & People Artwork for vinyl procuring.
After exploring Clarksdale, we headed to Floor Zero Blues Membership, one of many prime spots for dwell blues performances. Actor Morgan Freeman co-owns the membership.
It’s an awesome spot to seize a rye whisky on the rock and hearken to some nice music. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have Tremendous Chiken carry out just a few of his songs whereas enjoying the Diddley bow.
Then we went throughout the highway and loved dinner at Hooker Grocer, an area diner identified for its farm-to-table eating expertise.
I extremely advocate ordering the shrimp and grits right here. It’s laborious to search out them ready completely like they do in Mississippi.
A few of us went to the Bluesberry Café for much more dwell music within the night till the solar went down. It was an effective way to expertise the neighborhood spirit by dwell music.
Within the morning, you’ll want to head over to Grandma’s Home of Pancakes for breakfast—this can be a native favorite and a should in the event you’re visiting.
Take a go to to the B.B. King Museum
Positioned on the Mississippi Delta, the B.B. King Museum celebrates the life and legacy of B.B. King, considered one of historical past’s most influential blues musicians.
The museum is at B.B. King’s birthplace, as soon as surrounded by Mississippi cotton fields.
On the entrance, a video takes you again to his youth, displaying how on a regular basis sounds, just like the clanging of railway tracks and the noises of trains gathering cotton, impressed his music.
It offers you an actual sense of how his surroundings formed his distinctive sound.
Often called “The King of the Blues,” he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1987.
King’s iconic songs, like “The Thrill is Gone,” helped form the sound of contemporary blues and earned him worldwide recognition.
Our tour took us by his unimaginable journey, from his youth in Mississippi to turning into a worldwide blues legend.
The reveals embody private artefacts, devices, and tales about his musical profession.
My favorite a part of the museum was the tour bus and tales from life on the highway.
When the tour completed, we loved a lunch of catfish and iced tea on the museum, considered one of his favorite native dishes that he cherished to eat.
Tupelo, the subsequent cease alongside the Blues Path
After lunch, we returned on the bus, heading to Elvis Birthplace Museum and Tour.
After arriving in Tupedo, the primary cease was visiting the Elvis Birthplace Museum.
This museum is devoted to the early lifetime of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock’ n’ Roll, and offers an intimate take a look at his humble beginnings.
The museum is situated the place Elvis was born in a two-room home.
Right here, you possibly can discover reveals detailing his childhood, household life, and the influences that formed his music profession.
There’s additionally a memorial chapel, which has moved from its authentic location to the museum grounds.
Elvis began singing gospel within the chapel, which was the precise constructing the place he used to sing.
Additionally, you will discover a museum stuffed with memorabilia and even the church Elvis attended, supplying you with an actual sense of the place he got here from and the way he turned a worldwide music icon.
After the tour, we checked in at Lodge Tupelo, a contemporary and cozy lodge within the coronary heart of the city. Make sure you try Jobo’s, which has wonderful meals on the lodge bar.
That night, we went to Queen’s Reward Meadery, a novel native meadery that crafts honey-based drinks.
We loved loads of tastings of their handcrafted meads, together with meals, dwell music, and outside video games. The hen and waffles had been incredible.
It was an effective way to finish the day, taking in some native flavours and having fun with the energetic environment with a little bit of music and good firm.
We had been on our last day of the Mississippi Blues Path.
We had an early begin to attempt to cram in just a few extra iconic websites.
Move by the Tupelo {Hardware} Tour
Earlier than leaving Tupelo, you’ll want to cease on the Tupelo {Hardware}.
This small, historic retailer holds a outstanding place in music historical past as a result of it’s the place a younger Elvis Presley purchased his first guitar.
The legendary story goes that Elvis initially got here in together with his mom to pick a birthday current.
Elvis needed a toy shotgun; his mom tried to purchase him a bicycle.
Tupelo {Hardware} had neither in inventory, so after some persuasion, Elvis left with a guitar as a substitute.
That call, made on this very retailer, modified music historical past eternally. And as they are saying, the remaining is historical past.
It’s a must-visit for any Elvis fan, as you possibly can stroll across the similar house that formed the King of Rock’ n’ Roll’s future.
The store has been round for over 100 years and nonetheless seems to be very like it did again then, with cabinets stuffed with instruments and provides, however its connection to Elvis makes it distinctive.
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Have a incredible journey exploring the Mississippi Blues Path.
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