What to do in Memphis,TN besides Elvis

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jasnake65

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Turning 50 next week and the wife surprised me with a trip to Memphis. I always talked about going to Graceland and listening to some blues and bbq. Help me out if you can,places to eat, music, things to do or not. Side trips...gun shops? I can ship home...lol
 
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The Rendezvous in Memphis if you want some great ribs. The zoo is pretty cool as well, also Beale has some cool spots as they always have music going on especially at night.

As far as the gun shops, most of the pawn shops have great collections that you could probably find some gems. Have a fun and safe trip.
 
Three words: B...B...Q! After I went there I had to go through detox because my system was packed with pork.

The river walk and Civil War museum are little treasures.
 
As in most towns, there are places you should avoid. My son worked for many years for a company with its HQ in Memphis, so he went there very frequently, usually a couple of times per month. He never felt comfortable about going out at night, and always dreaded the prospect of possibly being assigned there permanently. Anyway, just be careful.
 
Lived in Memphis my whole life, 60 years. First The Rendezvous wouldn't even make the top 10 of Memphis BBQ. Interstate, Central BBQ, The Commissary, Cozy Corners, The BBQ Shop and even Corky's all have better BBQ IMHO. Don't limit yourself to BBQ, there are several great restaurants throughout Memphis.
You have to go check out The Pyramid, it's now owned by Bass Pro and they have poured a ton of money into it. It's now a shop/hotel/museum, and big time tourist attraction. Since it's new it's very crowded on weekends.
The river walk is worth some time, from there go check out Mud Island, The Peabody Hotel and perhaps catch a ballgame at the Triple A Memphis Redbirds ballpark.
The zoo is one of the best in the nation, check out the pandas.
If you like to gamble there's always Southland Park just across the river or some bigger casinos 30 miles south at Tunica.
Several small gun shops in Memphis, perhaps Classic Arms in Cordova is the best with Guns and Ammo second.
About 80 miles east of Memphis sits Shiloh, a must for any Civil War enthusiast. Several smaller battlefields throughout Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi.

Last remember one thing, know where you are going, there are several parts of Memphis you don't want to wind up lost in.
 
sheepdawg said:
Lived in Memphis my whole life, 60 years. First The Rendezvous wouldn't even make the top 10 of Memphis BBQ. Interstate, Central BBQ, The Commissary, Cozy Corners, The BBQ Shop and even Corky's all have better BBQ IMHO. Don't limit yourself to BBQ, there are several great restaurants throughout Memphis.
You have to go check out The Pyramid, it's now owned by Bass Pro and they have poured a ton of money into it. It's now a shop/hotel/museum, and big time tourist attraction. Since it's new it's very crowded on weekends.
The river walk is worth some time, from there go check out Mud Island, The Peabody Hotel and perhaps catch a ballgame at the Triple A Memphis Redbirds ballpark.
The zoo is one of the best in the nation, check out the pandas.
If you like to gamble there's always Southland Park just across the river or some bigger casinos 30 miles south at Tunica.
Several small gun shops in Memphis, perhaps Classic Arms in Cordova is the best with Guns and Ammo second.
About 80 miles east of Memphis sits Shiloh, a must for any Civil War enthusiast. Several smaller battlefields throughout Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi.

Last remember one thing, know where you are going, there are several parts of Memphis you don't want to wind up lost in.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sheepdog, you reminded me of all the places that I couldn't remember the name of. Rendezvous is known for getting by on their reputation for a long time. Cozy Corner is not to be missed. The Memphis Redbirds are also there if you're a baseball fan. We stayed at the Peabody but there is no reason to other than the ducks, and anyone can go in and see them.
 
At the Peabody, be there in the morning or the evening when they bring the ducks down from their penthouse suite to swim in the fountain in the lobby, and take them back up in the afternoon. The Peabody lobby is a good place to spot visiting celebs and bluesmen, some of whom you might recognize.

I have never been there when Mud Island is open, but it is supposed to be pretty cool: a hydrological model of the Mississippi River, whatever that is.

The Blues Cafe was the best music venue I found.

At least drive past Sun Records, and the Lorraine Motel, where MLK was shot. They were supposed to be developing some kind of memorial there, but I don't know how far along that is.

At graceland, don't miss the museum across the street where they have his motorcycles, especially the full-dress Honda Dream. My favorite Elvis souvenirs: Elvis plate, that goes on the shelf right next to my Ike and Mamie plate from Gettysburg; Elvis ball-point with a picture of Graceland and the ghost of Elvis floating back and forth in front of it, suspended in liquid; and not least, cloissone pin replica of ELVIS1, his pwrsonal license plate.
 
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I hear the new bass pro is worth the visit. Interstate BBQ is good, but I wouldn't go at night, and don't expect much in the way of ambiance :)

For more "fancy" eating, try the "Restaurant Iris", but they usually book up several weeks in advance, and it is $$$$$

Visit Sun Studios, STAX, and the soul museum, eat lunch at Coletta's (get hte BBQ pizza)

Basically, everything sheepdog said..

Also, Just a little south of Memphis is Tunica, MS. Besides the casino's , they have a neat museum that would be worth the drive.
 
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I have never been to Tunica, understand there are several casinos there. I know that Harrah's, which I think was the largest in Tunica, was going to close. Did it?
 
Honestly, I do not know if Harrah's closed or not.. I do know there are still a bunch of them down there .. The only reason I ever go to the casinos, was to eat :)
 
Yes Harrah's closed, Horseshoe is my favorite with Gold Strike and Fitzgerald's a close second. The old Southland dog track in West Memphis has turned into a casino is cutting into Tunica's action. I really won't miss Harrah's

The original Cozy Corners had a fire and while it's being rebuilt it's temporary home is across the street.

Go to Coletta's in Bartlett, not the original. You don't want the sun setting on you at the original.

Sun Records is good, a ton of history occurred there. About 200 yards east of there is the old Forrest Park. Go see Nathan Bedford Forrest's grave before the city digs him and his wife up and moves them to some out of the way place. Memphis is very PC about the Civil War now.
 
Things to do in Memphis
Eat
Beale Street
W.C. Handy's home
Blues
The Hooker Hotel

If you get done with these suggestions you can eat again.
 
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I believe Gibson Guitars is still conducting tours at their Memphis facility.

That's since the feds raided them (twice) for bogus "wood use"! Of course it's all better now because the feds apologized and gave them most of the confiscated fret boards back. But I digress!
 
Corky's to me is not good at all,

The best Memphis Delta style BBQ is the world is not in Memphis (ate at every BBQ place you can name) it is in a little hole in the wall place in DeValls Bluff, Arkansas called Craig's. It might not be what it was years ago but that place can smoke with anyone, and I promise you if you have ever had one then you know what I mean.

Rendezvous is good, I like dry rub ribs with wet sauce but the mustard slaw is a little different. Not to everyone's liking....
 
Live outside of Memphis. Rendezvous is a tourist trap with so so BBQ. Other places mentioned are all great. Mud island and the Mississippi river model used to be really neat but a letter to the editor in the Memphis paper recently said it was not as neat as before. Mud Island is close to the new Bass Pro so it would be worth it to check out if you go to Bass Pro. Neighbor was there and said you could spend a couple of days in the Bass Pro and the observation deck was worth what they charge for it. Beale Street will have all the music you need.
 
The hotel is real and a very interesting place in Memphis-----------

The Hooker Hotel is a fabulous new vacation rental designed, built, and decorated in true Delta style by local artisans. The 745 square foot, ground level (no stairs) flat is newly constructed in the circa 1897 Clarksdale Telegraph Building at Second & Delta in the heart of the Historic District downtown. Featuring 2 large private bedrooms with King size beds with PosturePedic mattress and Magic Fingers,hardwood floors, diner booth from a classic Nashville diner, elegant leather sofa & oversize chair, 4foot X 5Foot custom shower with Speakman faucets, new bath and vanity, Central heating and air conditioning,refrigerator, gas oven & stovetop,coffee ...
Read more
 
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