We may be revealing our age here, but whenever we think of Memphis, the hit song by Marc Cohn immediately pops into our heads - Walking in Memphis. Catchy song, but that’s not what we’re talking about on the blog. We’re sharing our recent experience in Memphis over a short weekend. Known as the Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, Home of the Blues, Barbeque Capital of the World, home to Elvis’ iconic mansion and site of Martin Luther King’s assassination, you can jam out, fill your tummy, and be educated and inspired with just 48 hours in the southern city of Memphis, Tennessee.
Graceland
Bought by Elvis Presley for only $100,000 in 1957, Graceland is the second most visited private residence in the United States - first is the White House. Since it was open to the public, more than 20 million visitors from around the world have toured the home the King of Rock ‘n Roll purchased when he was only 22 years old.
The basic Graceland tour costs $41 per adult and takes about 90 minutes, and you’ll see the entire downstairs portion of the lavishly-decorated mansion. The upstairs remains closed to visitors as it was during Elvis’ time living in the house. You’ll see the infamous “monkey room” decorated in navy blue, white and yellow, and adorned with lightning bolts inscribed with the initials TCB - Elvis’ motto was Taking Care of Business in a Flash. The room was where Elvis could watch three TVs at a time and would hold private screenings of movies. Perhaps this is the first known instance of a man cave!
TCB - Take care of business, and visit Memphis’ most popular attraction, Graceland.
There’s also a billiard room where the walls and ceiling are covered in fabric which took three people 20 days to hang. This was where Elvis and his boys would get rowdy. You’ll also see the Polynesian-inspired living area where Elvis and his collaborators would write, sing and play guitar. A man of many talents and interests, Graceland also housed a racquetball court, horse stables, meditation garden and firing range. The tour ends at Elvis and his parent’s final resting places where you can appreciate what you’ve learned of the legend who was born in rural Mississippi to an impoverished family and became a teen heartthrob, record chart topper, army private, movie star, Vegas headliner and nationwide touring entertainer.
BBQ
Southern cities are known for their hospitable, charming people and delicious food. Memphis in particular is world-renowned for its distinctive style of barbeque. Site of the World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest each May, people in Memphis are serious about their barbeque. One of the four predominant styles of barbeque in the country (the others being Kansas City, Carolina and Texas), the Memphis genre primarily uses pork and is slow-cooked in a pit. Ribs can be served dry - sprinkled with seasoning - or wet, i.e., doused in tangy sauce.
When in downtown Memphis, check out Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous for great BBQ!
With more than 100 barbeque eateries in the city, it’s inevitable that you’ll be able to find a spot to chow down, whether you’re downtown or in the suburbs. Located within walking distance of Beale Street and in a basement across from the Peabody Hotel, Charles Vergos Rendezvous has been tempting diners with its signature dry-rub ribs for 70 years. If there’s one place to eat barbeque, this is it. It’s a Memphis institution frequented by locals, dignitaries and celebrities alike. Although the ribs are the specialty on the menu, Rendezvous provides tasty options for vegetarians, like the delicious nachos piled high with crisp tortilla chips, red beans and rice, cheese dip, barbeque sauce and jalapenos. Non-barbeque lovers (gasp!) won’t regret ordering the Greek salad featuring a dressing developed in Greece and passed down in the Vergos family. You can taste the tradition and love!
Beale Street
Memphis = music. Blues. Country. Soul. Rock ‘n Roll. Memphis has a rich, deep music legacy, and Beale Street is the place to listen to live performances whichever musical style moves you. Akin to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Beale Street is 1.8 miles of music, merriment and mischief. There are more than 20 restaurants and clubs offering distinct atmospheres and lineups - one of the most famous, of course, is BB King’s Blues Club. There are also eight shops selling unique curios, sweet treats, kitschy souvenirs and vinyl records - you are on historic Beale Street after all!
Enjoy live music at Silky Sullivan’s on Beale Street. It’s reminiscent of Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Overwhelmed by the possibilities? Don’t fret. There’s an official Beale Street mobile app which provides live music updates, lists restaurant, bar and shop information, and leads you through interactive experiences with the Brass Notes Walk of Fame.
Although family-friendly during daylight, patrons must be 21 years of age or older, or accompanied by a parent/guardian, after 9 pm. When the real fun starts, or after 11pm, all patrons must be 21 years of age or older and possess a valid form of identification.
National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis is a city steeped in the history of the national civil rights movement. Memphis was part of the Underground Railroad, a network of safe havens that allowed slaves to escape into free states. Memphis is also home to the historic Sun Studio where Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash recorded, and more importantly where owner Sam Phillips was one of the first producers to hire African-American artists. And Memphis is the unfortunate site where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, specifically the Lorraine Motel which is now the National Civil Rights Museum.
Visitors commence their experience in the original Lorraine Motel structure where Dr. King was shot on the balcony of Room 306, and continue in exhibits located in buildings across the street. The museum educates, informs and inspires visitors with 260 artifacts, films, oral histories and interactive media telling the tragic, moving story of five centuries of the civil rights movement. Guests should allow at least two hours to experience fully what the museum has to offer.
The National Civil Rights Museum is a place where we can reflect on how far we’ve come as a country, and perhaps examine how much more work needs to be done.
The Peabody
Where should you stay when exploring Memphis? If money is no object, we recommend the historic and luxury Peabody Hotel. Strategically located in the heart of downtown, the Peabody is within walking distance of major attractions. Celebrating its 150-year anniversary, the landmark offers superb service, an array of amazing amenities including an AAA Four-Diamond rated restaurant and live music in its grand lobby, and the peculiar ceremony of the Peabody Duck March. At 11 am, the resident ducks are transported from the hotel rooftop to the lobby fountain. After a few hours of splishing and splashing, the ducks march from the fountain and are led back to the rooftop at 5 pm. The duck march is an incredibly popular Memphis experience, and you don’t have to have a room booked at the Peabody Hotel to enjoy it. Arrive at least one hour early as the lounge in the lobby gets busy quickly. If you can’t find a great spot on the main floor, move up to the second floor for unobstructed views of the duck march tradition!