Take Me West, To Tennessee!!

We journeyed down to the sixteenth state of the Union to explore its rich history and its modern charm. A land full of cordial and prideful people that love family, history and that good ole Tennessee whiskey. Long before the Pacific Coast Highway threaded along the California coast this was America’s west.

International city may not be the first thought that comes to mind when thinking about Memphis and the rest of western Tennessee. Heck, you may be still be thrown off by reading the word west in the title of this story. However, your prejudgment, as was mine, is misinformed. History’s truth rests on the shoulders of the author. As with most school books, much information needs to be updated and edited. What has been taught about Memphis in history class is a partial view of a vast and enchanting land. Let us peel open the curtain a little more, and explore the Memphis that we have come to cherish.

If you are landing at Memphis International Airport from New York or LA, prepare to be space shocked. There are no people bumping into you on the escalator. Your Uber is easy to find. No barista with a bad attitude when you order a macchiato with extra whip before heading to baggage claim. And if someone does happen to bump into you accidently – they say sorry. The charm of the city begins immediately upon arrival.

You don’t have to take our word for it. But, if you are looking for your next weekend getaway or affordable family vacation, Memphis is one of our top five US cities to visit. There’s plenty to do, eat and experience. Very few destinations are able to capture the significance of a historical past with all the buzz of a modern city.

You can’t come to Memphis without eating. Plan on gaining a few pounds and adding a few notches to your belt. This is a city in which all meals are considered important. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are plates full of flavor and options. We say go for it and head over to Huey’s Downtown and bite down on what locals and fans abroad call the best burger in Memphis. Bring a bib or a shirt you don’t mind getting a little dirty. The burgers are that good.

Music is all around. Even the sidewalk sings! When you think of rock ‘n’ roll there is no mistaking the role that Sun Studio played in the popularity of the soundtrack of American teen angst. Careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and B.B. King were born and bred in this studio. Elvis Presley’s first microphone is still in the house.

However, there’s no rock ‘n’ roll without soul music. And there is no other studio with legends like Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell, who passed away in 2010, counted amongst its storytellers as Royal Studios. If you are lucky, Willie’s grandson “Boo” will give you a guided tour filled with stories, some with dirty words, of what makes this recording studio important to soul and American music history. Not much has changed with the decor since it began cranking out hits on Hi Records and Hi Rhythm Section. That’s what makes this a must do on your journey. Music isn’t made the same anymore. These days everything is so polished and bland, it’s missing the royal treatment.

Although they don’t sing or have any hit records, the Duck Walk at The Peabody is a must see on your list. The tradition started back in 1932 when the general manager of the hotel placed three decoy ducks in the center fountain. Almost a century later the fakes have been upstaged by the real thing. Complete with a duckmaster and red carpet, the well tailored fouls prance in unison for guests from across the globe. After their, always packed, shows twice a day, they rest up in the Duck Palace presumably responding to fan mail.

Then head over to Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The facility is huge so carve out enough time in your day. The facility is filled with iconic memorabilia from artists like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and one of Isaac Hayes’ cars floating on a car turntable.

Memphis is the south and has been that way since the border moved west and all the way through the Civil War. The land has seen its fair share of turmoil and brutality. Much of this conflicted history is the main ingredient to the soundtracks of the times bellowed from voices suffering from Jim Crow and southern racism in blues and soul music. But, Memphis does not shy away from her ugly truths. They are acknowledged, documented and taught in schools and to anyone willing to listen.

Perhaps the greatest scar of modern history is the former site of the Lorraine Motel, one of the few establishments that allowed Blacks to lodge during their travel through the south during the Civil Rights movement. It is the site of the tragic end to the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4th, 1968. The location is now the National Civil Rights Museum. There are interactive exhibits and special programmings that take the historical significance of that time period into account. We found ourselves overwhelmed with emotion when coming upon the bedroom where Dr. King spent his final hours.

The underground railroad is far from a tangible experience for anyone today. The closest we ever get are in the stories, albeit limited, in our history classes. The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum sits on the site of one such location. There’s an eerie feeling as you descend the stairs into the cramped and dark cavern under the house. The atrocities experienced by those that found this cold damp cell as a reprise are unimaginable. Yet, they prevailed. Because of places like this, the journey to freedom came closer.

Memphis’ storied past is riddled with imperfections. However, the people who live here acknowledge the scars of the past and are doing their part to forge a more inclusive society. This is a city deep rooted in history but geared up for a bright future.

HOTEL NAPOLEON

179 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38103

901-526-0002

hotelnapoleonmemphis.com

THE GUESTHOUSE AT GRACELAND

3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, TN 38116

901-443-3000

guesthousegraceland.com

THE PEABODY MEMPHIS

149 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38103

901-529-4000

peabodymemphis.com

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES SOUTHAVEN CENTRAL – MEMPHIS

7237 Southcrest Pkwy Southaven, MS 38671

662-996-3333

ihg.com

MAJESTIC GRILLE

145 S Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103

901-522-8555

majesticgrille.com

HUEY’S DOWNTOWN

77 S 2nd Street, Memphis, TN 38103

901-527-2700

hueyburger.com

BLUES CITY CAFÉ

138 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103

901-526-3637

bluescitycafe.com

THE GRAY CANARY

301 S Front Street, Memphis, TN 38103

901-249-2932

thegraycanary.com

Beale Street Memphis, TN 38103

901-526-0115

bealestreet.com

Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis, TN 38116

901-332-3322

graceland.com

926 E McLemore Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

901-942-7685

staxmusem.com

Tennessee Board of Tourism–

1320 Willie Mitchell Boulevard Memphis, TN 38106

901-775-3790

royalstudios.com

13640 Yager Drive Moscow, TN 38057

901-485-1220

ghostriverrentals.com

450 Mulberry Street Memphis, TN 38103

901-521-9699

civilrightsmuseum.org

750 Cherry Road Memphis, TN 38117

901-636-4100

memphisbotanicgarden.com

2000 Prentiss Place Memphis, TN 38112

901-333-6500

memphiszoo.org

826 N 2nd Street Memphis, TN 38107

901-527-7711

slavehavenmemphis.com

191 Beale Street Memphis, TN 38103

901-205-2526

memphisrocknsoul.org

421 S Main Street Memphis, TN 38103

901-527-2583

blues.org

149 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38103

901-529-4000

peabodymemphis.com

706 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38103

901-521-0664

sunstudio.com