Memphis
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll | Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll
Why visit
Beale Street's blues bars, Sun Studio's working tour, Graceland's gloriously tacky Elvis-mansion experience, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music form the essential musical pilgrimage. The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is one of the most powerful museums in the US. Memphis barbecue. Dry-rubbed pork ribs at Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, pulled pork sandwiches at Central BBQ. Deserves the trip alone. Watch the famous Peabody Hotel ducks march at 11 am and 5 pm.
When to avoid
Do not visit Memphis expecting every worthwhile stop to be close together or easy to improvise. Do the practical reading of Memphis first: hours, routes, weather, crowds, and how far the neighborhoods really sit from one another. In Memphis, distance, heat, parking, car dependence, and uneven transit can matter more than the list of sights. In Memphis, plan routes realistically and use rideshares or a car where transit is weak.
