As the home of the king of blues, B.B. King, and the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, Memphis, Tenn., is a city filled with music. From strolling down Beale Street with blues music all around you to visiting historic recording studios and touring the legendary Elvis Presley’s home, a visit to Memphis, Tenn., is a music wonderland.
Music fans will love exploring Beale Street while visiting Memphis. Just wander along the famous street and you will find a number of places to stop and listen to blues, as well as rock, soul and all kinds of music. As the sun goes down, the neon lights of the businesses begin to glow and the crowd grows. It’s soon bustling and filled with energy and excitement.
A visit to Memphis isn’t complete without a stop at Graceland, the beloved home of Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley died 33 years ago but his home remains a destination for thousands of people every year. Graceland is a national historic landmark and the 14-acre site includes the mansion, the graves of Elvis and his parents, a museum, automobile collection and Elvis’ airplanes.
The audio tape that is offered for your self-guided tour through the home is wonderful. As you walk through the home, you hear information on the rooms, mementoes and displays that you pass by. Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie, offers narration of her time in the home, which is especially touching. The home has remained unchanged since Elvis’ death and a walk through the home really is like stepping back in time when shag carpet and pastel décor was in style.
The tour ends at the gravesites for Elvis and his parents. It’s a very peaceful, quiet spot and visitors are quiet as they walk by the graves, which are covered with flowers and mementoes left by fans.
You should allow plenty of time to explore Graceland and the entire complex. It’s a fascinating look at the life of Elvis Presley and his impact on music.
Elvis fans have heard of Sun Studios, where in 1954, Elvis recorded “That’s All Right Mama” and it’s another stop on a visit to Memphis. Sam Phillips established Sun Studios and launched the careers of Elvis, as well as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and many others. The studio is still a working studio and is open daily for tours.
It’s a very unique experience to be able to stand in the spot where Elvis made his music magic. A microphone used by Elvis is still in the museum and visitors can stand behind it for a photo.
Another stop for music lovers should be the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, where photographs and mementoes from the famous Stax Sound are located. Stax Records was called Soulsville USA for the sounds of Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Otis Redding and others were recorded here. Among the exhibits in the museum are Isaac Hayes’ 1972 gold-trimmed baby blue Cadillar and the interior of a 100-year-old Delta church.
WHERE TO EAT
Memphis is known for its wonderful Southern food with ribs and fried chicken two favorites of visitors and locals alike.
For rib fans, a stop at The Rendezvous is a must. Featured on television shows and publications across the country, the restaurant features wonderful dry ribs. You know you’re in a real Southern restaurant, when you find no unsweetened tea is served. It’s sweet tea only and it’s wonderful. The ribs are a messy delight.
I’ve had a lot of fried chicken but none tops what you will find at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Crisp and just hot enough without being too hot, it is wonderful. Be sure to try some of the fried pickles as an appetizer.
Lunch at The Arcade, a 1950s style diner, was lots of fun from the glimpse of the booth near a side door where Elvis was frequently spotted to the yummy fried peanut butter banana sandwich. The business was founded in 1919 and is Memphis’ oldest restaurant.
For a meal you won’t soon forget, stop at Chez Phillippe in the grand Peabody Hotel. Cuban-born, French-trained chef Reinaldo Alfonso features what he calls “Nuevo Southern Cuisine.” Our meal started off with the chef’s homemade “chacruterie platter,” which features meats he cured and smoked. For an amazing entrée, try the shrimp and grits for a real Southern treat.
Make sure to stop by the Peabody Hotel at 11 a.m. or 5 p.m., when a tradition takes place each day. Since 1932, the March of the Ducks has been featured. The ducks march to and from the grand lobby fountain to the tune of John Phillip Sousa’s “King Cotton March.”
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Other things to do in Memphis include:
•Touring Slave Haven, a home built in 1849 by Jacob Burke believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves. A tour of the houses includes a visit to the small cellar where slaves waited to escape.
•Taking an afternoon Mississippi Riverboat cruise and hear a narration about the history of the area and other tales of the river. It’s more than a cruise. It’s a learning experience.
For more information, go to www.memphistravel.com or www.tnvacation.com.
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