Combined, Memphis

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The wife and I just had a fabulous time in Memphis during Labor Day weekend. To our surprise there was a Southern Culture festival going on at the same time!
We arrived Friday night and checked into our room at the Extended Stay America (25 bucks/night--Priceline!) The staff was super friendly though not very good with directions. After cleaning up a bit, we drove downtown which was BUSTLING with activity at 11PM. This is significant to us as we reside in the Jackson, MS area which generally shuts down after sundown. It was wristband night which means you can pop in and out of most of the Beale Street clubs for 1 $10 fee. We opted to enjoy the music from the streets, look and laugh at people, and enjoy a beverage during our walk. Saturday morning we had a late breakfast in our room, then went back downtown where we enjoyed free music throughout the day on Main Street, we took the trolley ride (~1 hour to go around the river $1/person), then enjoyed Peabody Place. Peabody Place is another thing we love because there's nothing like it in Jackson. We spent an hour in Jillians between the bowling alley and the video arcade, then we saw the movie Barnyard in the Muvico theatre. Overall atmosphere was fun fun fun. By the way, we did have the kids starting Saturday. Saturday evening dinner was at Rafferty's in East Memphis on Winchester which was GREAT! Couldn't help notice Memphis is apparently a LATE eating town, meaning many more people were strolling in at 9 when we were leaving than 7:30 when we came in. Sunday was breakfast in the room again, then we went to my old church, Greater Imani in Raleigh, TN, then back downtown for more music and southern culture stuff (quilt makers and art, and Choctaw dancers, etc.). We ended up in Bartlett later where the son and I played Tennis in the Bartlett park, the wife walked around the track, then we caught RV and Fast&Furious Drift at the dollar theatre. Great time, would recommend it as an easy fun weekend kinda place for anyone in surrounding state area.

You definitely won't miss downtown Memphis. There's so much to see & do down there. The Peabody, Peabody Place, Autozone Park, the Pyramid, the Cook Convention Center, Mud Island, Beale Street, and Sun Studios will all be found in the downtown area. Soon you'll also have the FedEx Forum which will be the home of the Memphis Grizzlies. If you make it to where this picture was taken you'll be in Tom Lee Park. You can get some great views of the Mississippi River & downtown Memphis.

You cannot go to Memphis and not go to GRACELAND it just made all the hairs stand up at the back of my neck.To be able to see where Elvis lived and to see the jungle room where he recorded some of his albums. Its the place to go if you are an Elvis fan... You must also go to Sun studios where it all started for Elvis and also a lot of the greats like Roy orbison Jerry lee lewis Carl perkins Johny Cash and many more. Also you must see the Memphis Belle which is kept on Mub isiland. And walk along Beale street.

You HAVE to go to Graceland, at least once. Why else would you go to Memphis? I'm not a rabid Elvis fan, but I still enjoyed the tour. You also need to spend an evening on Beale Street, the birthplace of Rock and Roll and the home of the Blues. The street is blocked off to traffic, and the place comes alive at night. The street is lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, Elvis stores, and other fun places to visit. There are street musicians, music coming from the shops, and a lively fun atmosphere. A must do and see when you're in Memphis.
Got to experience the blues in its native form. Fun times to be had by all, if you're in the mood.

1. Mud Island River Park -
2. Dixon Gallery and Gardens
3. Memphis-Brooks Gallery
4. Children's Museum
5. Memphis Zoo
6. Civil Rights Museum
1. superb replica of the Mississippi River - fun to walk it. Beautiful view; right on the banks of the river.
2. lovely private collection of art; beautiful gardens.
3. lovely setting; beautiful building and art.
4. always a repeat performance if you are travelling with children.
5. terrific zoo - excellent viewing stages.
6. unique; tells the story of the fight for integration quite wonderfully.

Memphis has many tourist attractions, there's no way it can be limited to just one. Graceland, Memphis has a great zoo (my family and I are members), the Pink Palace Museum, the Chucalissa Indian Village, Mud Island, the Botanical Gardens

I had to post this picture because it shows Mud Island, The Hernando-Desoto Bridge, and a Memphis Queen Riverboat as seen from Riverside Drive.