A vacation getaway that pleasantly surprised me was a long weekend in Memphis, Tennessee. I had no expectations and it was probably one of my first trips after my college years that really sparked my love of travel. I met up with a friend and this became the first of many, many trips over the years.
This blog is newer so I’ll use this space to make a library of travel recommendations to share. I am currently blogging about favorite places that I’ve been, so click here for more travel ideas. Who knows, I may even revisit some of my favorites after this trip down memory lane. I’ve travelled to a lot of places and this trip still stands out in my mind as a favorite. It was epic.
Keep reading below for highlights. Or visit this website, Memphis Travel, to help plan your stay.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Marriott, downtown and found the reservations on Priceline. Nowadays, I recommend looking up an Airbnb or search for a good deal on a hotel. I’m sure there will be many options to chose from.
Experience the Culture
Visit The Peabody Hotel for brunch, mimosas, and the daily Duck March into the hotel lobby fountain. Yes. That’s right. A fun and darling experience! Check the schedule for march times. It’s quite the ceremony that you do not want to miss. Learn more about the Peabody Ducks here.
The Randevouz is a must do. It’s a Memphis Original and an alleyway BBQ favorite in the basement of an old building. I love that it doesn’t look like much from the exterior. On the inside, it’s award winning BBQ and is very popular in this area. It’s a long wait, so plan to go early and grab a drink at the bar while you wait.
The Arcade is still one of my favorite breakfast places in all the land! I still rave about the sweet potato pancakes, nothing compares. It’s Memphis’ oldest cafe and is an old-school diner style experience and ALL of the food is relish. They claim you should “Eat like The King” and this menu will explain why. Hop on the trolley and travel across town to this gem.
Festivals are plenty in this area. I was there in the springtime and there were many festival options to chose from. It’s a great way to experience the culture and try some of the local food. The festivals I went to were Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival and the Southern Hot Wing Festival. Very fun and a lot of people. Great local music and beer tents add to the experience.
Take the Memphis Trolley. It’s a really charming old-school trolly that still exists to take you around town. The route is very direct, but at least take it to get in the vicinity of where you are going. You’ll love it.
Make your way down Beale Street, Home of the Blues. There are many bars and restaurants to chose from, with live music everywhere. Be aware that the scene during the day is very different than it is at night. It’s almost like the world’s largest outdoor bar at night and is heavily secure.
See the Sights
Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. It explores the Civil Rights Movement and it’s impact on our culture today and is an eye opening experience. Learn about historic events that took place right here in the heart of Memphis.
Go to Graceland and visit the Home of Elvis Presley, The King. Take a tour of his home, the grounds, and learn about his history and see things just as he left them. The tour was great, one of my favorite quotes from it was, “When I was younger and had itty bitty side burns and a shaky leg.” It’s really a wild experience, I was pleasantly surpirsed. Nothing like I thought it would be, very well done.
Watch the Memphis Red Birds play ball, if you visit in season. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. I have a stadium checklist going and this is makes for a fun event, if there is a game going on. Grab a hot dog, a beer, and cheer for the local team. They have a fun mascot too, which adds to the entertainment. He flew in by helicopter at the game I was at, the season opener. In addition, he was also the Duck Grand Master for the Duck March earlier in the day.
Visit Mud Island and take a bike tour. You can get there by monorail. It takes you over the Mississippi River and offers incredible views of this gem of a city.
xx
