Memphis

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Memorial Day in Memphis

A May 2004 trip to Memphis by DrewD

Lorraine MotelMore Photos

There is nothing like Memphis, the heart of the "mid-South." I went here with three Aussies. Having grown up 2 hours west of River City, this was a chance to show the legendary town, and the South, to some non-Yanks.

  • 6 reviews
  • 5 photos

Peabody HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Old Man River
The iconic Peabody, complete with The Duck March, the beautiful lobby, and grand rooms, is a necessary stop for any visitor. The downtown location, finally revived after decades of disrepair, is a great jumping off point to other Memphis attractions. This is the only hotel that can provide either the first-timer or lifelong resident with the Memphis experience.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

Peabody Hotel
149 UNION AVE Memphis, Tennessee 38103
901-529-4000

RendezvousBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This is a tourist trap and Southern cliché, but alas, THE best barbeque in Memphis, and therefore, on planet Earth. The dry-rub ribs are absolutely to die for, and they have onion-ring loaf and cold beer. It is what I would order for my last meal. The barbequed pig is a magical animal, and Rendezvous is its home.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

Rendezvous
52 South Second St Memphis, Tennessee 38102
(901) 523-2746

B.B. King's Blues ClubBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "BB King's Blues Club"

They have pretty decent food, but go for the drinks and the blues. Get the barbeque sausage with cheese and beer - a Southern tradition that helps keep the midnight munchies away. It's right on Beale Street, a nice snapshot of America's true music home.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

B.B. King's Blues Club
143 Beale St Memphis, Tennessee 38103
+1 901 524 5464

National Civil Rights MuseumBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The National Civil Rights Museum"

Lorraine Motel
Unfortunately, the museum itself was closed that day, but just walking around the Lorraine Motel grounds sends shivers down your spine. All Americans of all races should visit at least once in there lives. I've been by many times over the years, and each time it touches me profoundly. "Early morning, April 4, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life, they could not take your pride."
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street Memphis, Tennessee 38103
(901) 521-9699

Sun StudioBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Sun Studios
This is the original site of Elvis' early recordings and where U2 recorded much of "Rattle and Hum" on The Joshua Tree tour - a little piece of rock-n-roll history. It is a tourist stop with a T-shirt shop, but a must-see for visitors.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

Sun Studio
706 Union Ave. Memphis, Tennessee 38103
(901) 521 0664

GracelandBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Long Live the King
I've been three times in my life, each time discovering a little more. Honestly, it’s a great piece of American kitsch that any visitor will love, especially the 60-year-old Australian mother of my partner. Be careful with the jokes, though, as most of the people there treat Graceland as some sort of modernist mecca instead of the tacky home of Americana that it is. Unfortunately, they now only have tape-recorded tours, replacing the absolutely charming high-school Southern girls that guided you through the King's home years before.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by DrewD on April 25, 2005

Graceland
3734 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee 38116
(901) 322-3322

About the Writer

DrewD
DrewD
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.