Memphis packs a lot into a small city: blues, barbecue, rock and roll history, and the Mississippi River. Here's an easy plan for your first weekend.
Downtown is about a 20 to 25 minute drive from our homes, straight down I-40, so it's easy to head in for the day and come back to a quiet neighborhood at night.
Friday night: Beale Street
Start where the music is. Beale Street comes alive after dark, with live blues pouring out of the clubs and neon lights up and down the block. B.B. King's Blues Club is a classic first stop. Grab a table, order some food, and let the band do the rest.
Saturday: history, music, and ribs
Morning: National Civil Rights Museum. Built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968, this is the one stop every visitor should make. Give yourself two to three hours. It's powerful and moving.
Lunch: fried chicken or barbecue. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken downtown is spicy, crispy, and worth the wait. If you want barbecue instead, Central BBQ has a downtown spot just around the corner from the museum.
Afternoon: Sun Studio. This small studio is where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King recorded early hits. The guided tour is short, fun, and full of stories.
Dinner: Rendezvous ribs. Tucked down an alley downtown, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous is famous for its dry-rub ribs. Check the hours before you go, since it isn't open every day.
Sunday: Elvis and the river
Graceland. Tour Elvis Presley's home, his cars, and his planes. It's a big day out, so buy tickets ahead and plan for a few hours.
The Peabody ducks. At 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., a line of ducks marches down a red carpet into the lobby fountain at the Peabody Hotel. It's free to watch, and it's pure Memphis.
Sunset on the river. Ride to the top of the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid for a view over the Mississippi, or walk out onto Big River Crossing, a walking and biking path across the river into Arkansas.
Where to stay
After a full day downtown, it's nice to come back to space, quiet, and a real bed. Both of our homes sleep 6 and sit in a calm neighborhood close to I-40, so downtown is an easy drive away.
