Memphis is a pretty cool town. While you may not find it ideal for an extended stay, a day or two. or a long weekend could be perfect. The city of Memphis can provide your family with a steamboat full of fun activities. The city is steeped in history, be it the civil right movement, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination or the musical styling of B.B. King, Johnny Cash and some dude named Elvis (among many other legendary performers), and should provide an exciting weekend for families interested in music, American history and amazing food.
The National Civil Rights Museum is the finest monument I have ever stepped foot inside. It is an emotional, eye-popping experience to stroll through the Lorraine Motel and eventually come to the exact site of the tragic end of Dr. King’s life. The images and content of the museum pull no punches, rightfully so, and is a brutal lesson in the brutal history of our country. You may want to consider saving this museum for older children unless you are prepared to (or already have) explain what happened 40-50 years ago and what continues to occur in some places today. While a somber time overall, the museum stands as a testament to the power of the human spirit and will to better the world for future generations. Every American needs to walk these hallways at least once in their life.
Memphis is the birthplace of blues music and still home to the famous Sun Records studio and label. The studio offers tours of the very room Cash, Presley, and hundreds of others cut some of the most iconic songs of all time. Speaking of Elvis, his decadent palace of 1970’s excess is here in Memphis, as are his planes and cars. Admission is steep and the décor tacky and dated, but for those still in love with The King – Graceland is a must see. For those with a more practical appreciation of music and the craft of instrument making, the Gibson guitar factory just off Beale Street is a prime destination.
Speaking of Beale, take a stroll down this famous stretch any time of day and hear the sounds of guitars wailing away as guys still cry into their beers about the women in their life who done ‘em wrong. While meaningful modern blues music doesn’t exactly come out of Beale St. anymore, the spirit of that time and that genre is alive and well and available everyday of the week in the dozens of bars and dining spots along this classic street. Stop in, order some catfish, ribs, red beans and rice, or pulled pork and enjoy the music!
If sports is more your family’s cup of sweet tea, catch a Memphis Redbirds baseball game in the summer. They are the Triple A minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and play in the newer and gorgeous AutoZone Park, a stones through from the famous Peabody Hotel (where the ducks still parade through the lobby every day at 11am and again at 5pm) and Beale St. The Memphis Tigers are also in town, playing quality basketball and not-so-good football at the Liberty Bowl (which is a bit outside of town).
Keep in mind that Memphis gets insanely hot in the summer (June to September), so if the city is of interest to you, try and go in the fall or spring when the weather is pleasant.
The Best Hamburger in the World
Elvis – The King of Rock-n-Roll