Memphis

A little bit history and a little bit rock and roll

Duration: 2 days

Budget: $500 plus airfare

Memphis quickly became one of my favorite small to medium sized cities in America. If you love historic and current live music, it is a dream (it's the home of Elvis). But it is also home to much civil rights history. My weekend visit only scratched the surface of what the town has to offer.

Getting (there and around)

The Memphis airport is about 10 minutes to Graceland and 20 minutes downtown, so very easy to get your visit started.

This might be a town that is best for tourists using rideshare or taxis and a little public transit. It is easy to get around town on the city bus. I'm not generally a fan of buses because they can be confusing in a strange city without fixed (prefer rail). However, there is an easy fixed bus route that can take you from Sun Records, downtown nightlife and connect to the National Civil Rights Museum for $1 per ride or $3.50 per day. Parking can be expensive both downtown and at Graceland and the rideshare is both cheaper and easier.

Staying

The Guest House at Graceland is the nice hotel right by Graceland. If you are a big fan, perhaps you want to do it. The property looked really nice, but the price was really high due to events there. I was able to stay at one of my standard and solid interstate hotels for a very good price about 10 minutes away at the border of Mississippi. It was great to be close to Graceland for an early start, but downtown is only about 15 minutes away and will make a better landing pad for an entire weekend.

The Madison Hotel was where I stayed one night downtown. It was a newly renovated hotel a block from a bus stop that could take me all over and just a few blocks to walk to Beale Street (though a rideshare might make you feel safer). It was a good location and nice appearance, but the rooms were very small (would get uncomfortable for two people) and parking was expensive. The rooftop deck was fantastic and a nice place to spend a happy hour.

Another option for families might be the Big Cypress Lodge in the Memphis Pyramid. It is an outdoor themed lodge in a glass looking pyramid shaped building with a Bass Pro Shop.

Doing

Graceland, the residence for Elvis Presley, is a must even if you are not a big fan. He is one of the biggest cultural icons the country and world has ever seen. The overall grounds are split by a highway with Elvis' mansion on one side and a museum on the other. There are a number of types of tickets you can purchase and none of them are cheap. My recommendation is to get the package with the museum, mansion and (about $70). During an April visit, any VIP packages to skip to the front of the line would have been a waste of money. They moved steady and didn't really wait. Surely there are more popular weekends where it might be a consideration.

If you go first thing in the morning, get over to the mansion right away to avoid crowds and save the museums for taking at your own pace. The quirky décor and dedicated entertaining rooms were the highlight. The house isn't extremely large, considering today's standards for the rich and famous, and it can be covered in a reasonable amount of time.

The museums are separated exhibits over a number of buildings, covering different eras and themes. For example, one is dedicated to cars. It can take a good portion of the day looking at famous clothing and learning about Elvis' life. The ability to tour inside his planes was actually fun and memorable.

For more music, check out Sun Records Company studio. This is where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and a number of other icons started recording Rock and Roll. It is on the way back to downtown Memphis. If you go, no advanced tickets are needed. There is a small gift shop in the entry and for $15 you can take a tour.

One of the more famous tourist activities in Memphis is to watch the ducks at the Peabody Hotel. If you are a senior citizen and like watching ducks walk in the park, this is probably your cup of tea. I just didn't get excited about seeing an elevator open, then watching a few ducks walk 20 feet to a fountain.

The National Civil Rights Museum is something that should be prioritized while in Memphis. There are a number of permanent and rotating exhibits covering a range of different aspects of the civil rights movement. Outside is the Lorraine Motel, which was the site of Martin Luther King's assassination.

Beale Street is a few blocks of bars playing some of the best rock, blues and jazz you will hear live. I enjoyed the scene here even better than the famous strips in Nashville. It is a great place to walk in, listen for a bit, then move on to the next place. This is where you want to go out on the town with your friends as it can be a big party.

Eating

If going to Beale Street, check out any number of places with a great vibe. I enjoyed the Rum Boogie Café, where a lot of famous acts have stood on the stage.

While on Beale for dinner, you can get a great meal for a good price at King's Palace. I was able to get a filet mignon complete meal for about $30.

If you are planning on getting lunch at the Graceland museum, it will basically be expensive fast food. But when in Rome... get the peanut butter and banana sandwich fried in bacon grease (Elvis' favorite).

Day Planning

Day 1: Get an early start going to Graceland and spend a good portion of the day. Then head over for more music history at Sun Records. Check out live music and dinner on Beale Street.

Day 2: Watch the duck parade at the Peabody Hotel (if that is your thing). Visit the National Civil Rights Museum and end by taking in the Lorraine Motel.