Memphis borders the Mighty Mississippi River.
Memphis, Tennessee is a cultural and historic hub worth at least a weekend. Here’s a quick guide to its very best attractions.
The city of Memphis, on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River just north of Tennessee’s southern border, is known for many things: its bluesy soul, sweet-and-sticky barbeque, and endless entertainment. Believe the hype – this city has it all. It’s historic and trendy, funky and fun, and it has a kicking arts scene. I visited Memphis for two days and a night (that’s all we could spare), but I wish I could have stayed longer – it’s worth a full weekend, at least.
This is a great city for seeing a show (whether it’s music or theater), visiting a museum, overeating, and partying hard. But make sure you carve out time for more sober sights – most notably, the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
What to see:
Memphis' historic Beale Street is where the party's at!
If you’re in Memphis to party, visit the historic Beale Street after dark. The revelry pours out of clubs and bars into the street. You have your choice of music – Memphis blues, hip hop, and pop are among the sounds you can hear.
Sidewalk stands sell beer, jello shots and other concoctions, and there are myriad options for late-night bites. If that sounds like too much excitement, stroll down the street during the day for a tamer experience. You should know that sightseers under the age of 21 will not be allowed on the street at night.
Visitors also flock to the National Civil Rights Museum, housed in the former Lorraine Motel and neighboring buildings. The museum serves as both a history of the African American civil rights movement and a memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King, who was killed in the motel on April 4, 1968. The exhibits are extremely informative and the topic a worthy one, but this isn’t the best place to bring kids. The exhibits require a lot of reading and don’t have many hands-on activities. If you’re with kids or looking to save time or money, you can read displays, reflect and snap pictures of the motel from the outside.
If you’re a fan of Elvis or architecture, visit Graceland, about 9 miles south of downtown Memphis. Graceland was Elvis Presley’s home from 1957 until his death in 1977. The 14-acre estate and the surrounding area includes the mansion, several exhibits, three restaurants, lots of shopping, and the Heartbreak Hotel, where die-hard fans can sleep while in town (rates start at $115 per night). The mansion tour includes the living area, media room, bar and billiards room, and the famous “Jungle Room” (Elvis’ jungle-themed man cave). The second floor, including the bathroom in which Elvis died, is not open to the public. Budget travelers, beware! You will pay $31 for a tour of the mansion, plus extra for parking. (That’s why I didn’t visit on my trip to Memphis.) There’s a free shuttle from downtown Memphis to Graceland every hour. For more details, visit the Graceland website at www.elvis.com.
If you’re looking for art, consider the unique (and inexpensive!) Metal Museum or Tennessee’s oldest art museum, the Brooks Museum of Art. Also consider visiting the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (staxmuseum.org), the Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium (for science and history; memphismuseums.org) and Mud Island River Park (to learn all about the Mighty Mississippi; mudisland.com).
Central BBQ in Midtown has top-rated barbeque, including the pulled pork barbeque sandwich topped with crunchy slaw.
Where to eat: If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck! A delicious meal in Memphis is relatively cheap, and you have lots of options to choose from. For sweet and tangy barbeque, try Central BBQ in Midtown. (Vegetarians and nonvegetarians will love the portabella barbeque sandwich with smoked gouda – it’s incredible!) Beale Street and Memphis’ downtown have lots of options. I got delicious food and excellent service at Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen near the corner of Beale and Second streets. For a delicious treat, check out the cute and quirky Muddy’s Bake Shop in east Memphis.
How to get around: If you’re exploring the downtown area, the historic street car run three different circuits that have stops in front of many of the top attractions. If you’re visiting Graceland, a shuttle runs every hour from downtown to the estate. Because I stayed a ways from the downtown area, we drove, and had no problem finding street parking, even near the biggest attractions.
