Graceland is definately a main place to go, but Memphis is so much more than Elvis' home! The former Lorraine Motel is a place you should really get to if you want to know about the stuggles of Civil Rights. It is the sight of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and has been renovated to The National Civil Rights Museum, which cronicles the Civil Rights Movement from the abolishment of slavery to modern day struggles. It is a moving place, both sad and inspirational.
Memphis is also a great place to chill out and listen to some great music. Beale Street is awsome -- if you're thirsty and have some extra cash on hand, go for "The Diver" at Silky O'Sullivan's (You'll all have to share). But to find the best bar-b-que and blues music, don't be shy and ask the locals (this will take you away from the big tourist traps and you're sure to get a lot of southern hospitality). Sit back with a beer or a whiskey and coke and enjoy the blues music that the city is known for!!!!!

I thought I might throw out a quick suggestion for a splurg item. A football game, the Sunday you will be in Memphis, The Tennessee Titans will be playing The Baltimore Ravens.

If you are going to visit the United States during football season, you should really get to at least one football game. Actually, you would probably have a lot more fun at a college football game, but they are usually played on Saturday and it looks like you spend Saturdays on a plane.

quote:

Originally posted by whiskeytangofoxtrot:
I thought I might throw out a quick suggestion for a splurg item. A football game, the Sunday you will be in Memphis, The Tennessee Titans will be playing The Baltimore Ravens.

Go RAVENS!

Eat barbeque!! The top three: Corky's, Rendevous, & Jim's interstate Barbeque. The Rendevous has a dry rub and Corky's and Jim's are a wet sauce. Check out the difference!! They are really worth checking out all three! Also, go to the zoo. Memphis has a nice zoo, with pandas!! It isn't really big, but it is a nice couple of hours to relax at. Memphis has some neat museums. Check them out. Oh, yeah, ride the trolley downtown and go to the art gallery section. I love memphis! It's a great place and people are nice.

Four interesting attractions

1)Find a resturaunt that serves a true southern breakfast Waffels, Eggs, Grits, Greens, The Works

2) Mud Island, Then BBQ

3)Pyramid arena, Then BBQ

4) Sun Studios, Then BBQ

If you must do Graceland, make it a quickie. I think you paid homage enough to Elvis in Vegas. There's a lot more to the Memphis music scene than Elvis and country. Check out some blues.

OK, I know it sounds funky, but one of the more interesting places to visit in Memphis is Elmwood Cemetery. Lots of monuments and more Civil War Generals are buried there than any other place. Great "gypsy" area also.
Here's a link

http://www.elmwoodcemetery.org/main/whatsnew.htm

Don't forget the bar-b-que -- it's the best.

I've visited Memphis several times & these are my top picks:

Memphis Music & Blues Museum - 97 South Second Street. This place has an amazing collection of rare blues recordings, vintage posters, guitars, video exhibits and photos, Open 11am-6pm Tuesday through Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday; Closed Monday. Phone901) 525-4007, FAX:901-526-8376. It's probably like no museum you've ever been in, tucked into a downtown storefront.

Mud Island is a really cool replica you walk through.

http://www.mudisland.com

Sun Studio - you can stand on the spot Elvis stood when he was recording. But so much more, Rock 'n Roll history! Get your cheapest, most compact souvenir in Memphis here, a Sun Studio guitar pick.

http://www.sunstudio.com

Haven't tried Rendevous but I love Corky's, wet, chopped on a bun with cole slaw on top.

http://www.corkysbbq.com

Beale Street, absolutely!

http://www.bealestreet.com

My favorite spots to listen to the Blues are Rum Boogie Cafe, where you might try the sausage plate or a Blue Plate Special with "sweet tea", & is filled with music memorabilia,

http://www.rumboogie.com

King's Palace for gumbo,

http://www.kingspalacecafe.com

and BB King's, for fried pickles & just because I love BB (not that he'll be there).

http://www.bbkingblues.com

I love the ducks, too, on the way to the Peabody's massive brunch, which will be out of your price range unfortunately.

http://www.peabodymemphis.com

You guys have to go horseback riding in Memphis! i don't care where or when or how much it costs, you guys have to go! You have not lived in America until you have rode a horse in the countryside, and Memphis is the perfect place. Besides, you can usually haggle with the place to get it cheaper.

memphis could be a great place to go horseback riding, but the perfect place isn't memphis. It's Lexington KY! too bad they can't go there.

Speaking of southern hospitality, you have to make your way south into Mississippi. "Tunica is Las Vegas east of the Mississippi river" you'll have lots of fun, but since you've already gone to Vegas, go east into Oxford, MS. It was named after Oxford, England, and is home to The University of Mississippi... Ole Miss to us! Come and see the famous Grove, William Faulkner's house Rowan Oak, and the Square! You will find shopping, bars and food like you've never seen before! make sure you eat at Handy Andy's, Ajax, Two Stick, Volta, Madre's and pearl street!

Somebody had mentioned that the Titans are playing in Memphis. They are not in Memphis, they are in Nashville. Ya'll should really come to Nashville there is a lot more to do here than in Memphis.It is not to far from Memphis. After all it is the Country Music Capital of the World!

Are you sure Nashville isn't far from memphis. i thought it was a 3-4 hour drive. Anyway, Nashville is a great place.

for the BEST bbq in town y'all should go to the commissary in germantown (a suburb of memphis), it doesn't get all hype like the rendevous and is better in my opinion. the rendevous has some killer ribs, but the commissary has ribs, bbq and all the fixins plus a killer banana pudding. the address is 2290 germantown rd, germantown tn 38138 for easy findings. it is a must check out while in town. oh yeah prices are reasonable and they have a menu on their web site (www.commissarybbq.com)

They need to go to the Lorraine Hotel where Martain Luther King Jr. was assasinated. They have to try Memphis BBQ. They should ride the trolly to explore the entire city, it's cheep! Too bad its not May; they would have a blast during the Beale Street Music Fest!