5 Places to See in Memphis

You know what I just realized? I don’t have a crazy amount of pictures from my day spent in Memphis.  That’s probably due to the fact that we were having so much fun.  Sometimes you just forget about taking tons of pictures.  Or maybe it was that it was more about the experience?  The first thing we got to do was tour the Fedex Forum, where the Grizzlies play.  Let me just tell you how cool it is to be the only ones standing in the middle of the basketball court in a giant arena like that. Sorry, that was a sidenote.  Also, it could be because I was so full of BBQ.  Regardless, there are 5 main places you have to visit when you go to Memphis.  And you can definitely squeeze all of these into one day!

1. BBQ - Let me just tell you Memphis Barbecue is seriously some of the best barbecue that I’ve ever had, if not the best.  But I don’t think I really can make that last part of the statement because I haven’t tried that many types of barbecue.  In my lifetime, however, it was delicious!  Try out Central BBQ and Blues City Cafe.  If you have room after all that 'cue, get the apple dumpling at Blues City Cafe.  It is absolutely delicious.

2. BEALE STREET - You will already be on Beale Street when trying out Blues City Cafe, which by the way, has the best gumbo cheese fries.  Yes, i just said gumbo, cheese fries.  Take a walk around after.  First of all you need to walk off all that BBQ and check out the famous BB Kings and all of the other great places on Beale Street.  Ps, they have to-go drink counters.  Just putting that out there.

3. CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM/LORRAINE MOTEL - I’ve always wanted to go to the place where Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered.  That actually sounded terrible, but to be able to go to a place where such a tragic event happened to such a great person was so humbling.  I never knew this was located in Memphis.  It is actually located directly across the street from Central BBQ.  The Lorraine Motel is now part of the Civil Rights Museum.  This is definitely a must see stop in Memphis.

4. PEABODY HOTEL DUCK WALK - To be honest, I couldn’t hear the man tell the story about the history of why there is a Duck Walk at the Peabody hotel.  Basically, twice a day the ducks walk from the center fountain in the middle of the hotel on a red carpet to the elevators to go to their rooftop sanctuary.  It is probably one of the cutest things to witness.  Make sure to get there early.  People line up early and if you get there late you may not be able to see the little ducklings.

5. BASS PRO SHOPS -  I don’t think I can accurately describe what it is like to walk into the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis.  First of all, the building looks like the Luxor hotel pyramid in Las Vegas.  It was where the pro basketball team played for years but when they vacated, Bass Pro Shops took over.  It is actually the largest retail store in the world, but it also is home to a hotel, live animals (including an alligator), a bowling alley and even an observation deck on the very top.  Also, I’ve never seen that much Camo in my life.  Go here, you have to see it to believe it.

Notable mention goes to Graceland.  If you're an Elvis fan I've heard this is the place to go.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to visit on my short stint.  Maybe next time!

Bottom line: if you get a chance to go to Memphis, even just for a day, go!  Memphis is so full of life, culture and history.

Yours Truly // Shannon