Hi Guys thank you for all of your suggestions. I can't wait to do them and also get to know the locals. I've also heard so much of the southern hospitality..and At the airport yesterday I felt so welcome already, one guy came up to me just to give a compliment! I also spoke to one very friendly airport staff, african america middle aged guy, who sincerely helped us with all of our crew's bags.. a total of more than 20. And then also a funny warm Police officer who suggested a few places where we should go in Memphis. Now I really feel like mixing with the locals more, what do you think the odds are of the 5 of us being invited to a real american home BBQ? That would just be soo fantastic! =)

Posted this on the Austin Discussion but voting isn't over yet:

If you guys go from Austin to SF.You can take US-10 from Amarillo. Its the freeway that was built alongside Rt 66. I don't know what the best route from TX to CA is, but I've driven from Arizona to Los Angeles and San Francisco multiple times. The drive from PHX to SF is much better than the drive to LA. US-95, the 2 lane backroad highway on the East Side of California is amazing. Much better than the strech to get to LA. The road to LA is boring.

I've always had to rush the drives and hate LA traffic, so I've taken US-95 up the back way. It's always been summer, so I've been lucky enough to take Tioga Pass twice, driving through Yosemite and then go across to San Francisco. In winter I don't know the best way through the mountains. But the backroad is amazing. When you see it, you'll really get to see the natural beauty of California & The West. Spend $50 on a National Park Pass, slow the trip down a little and take advantage of the drive.

Trust me, you've never seen anything like a sunset in New Mexico or the clouds on the East side of the Sierras. There's a Japanese Internment Camp from WWII somewhere near Mt. Whitney & Mammoth, CA that I've always wanted to, but never had the time to stop in. My vote is for you guys to go from Austin to San Francisco, vs. Austin to LA, not because of what you'll do when you get there but what you'll see along the way.

If your looking for a hot night spot, be sure to check out B.B. Kings place at 143 Beale St.

A Schwab's Dry Goods Store at 163 Beale St. is an awesome place to check out. It's been around since 1876, and their motto is "if you can't find it at A Schwab, you are better off without it." Something you gotta know about this place is that every visitor gets a free souvenir!

Other good shopping places, besides all the malls is right along Main St. between Civic Center Plaza and Union Ave. There's a pedestrian mall of restaurants, galleries and boutiques.

Be sure to go to Buntyn Restaurant for some excellent batter-fried chicken and they also serve large helpings of mashed potatoes with thick brown gravy. The place is located at 3070 Southern Ave, open Monday - Friday from 11am to 8pm. Call them at 901-458-8776

Another good restaurant to check out is Rendezvous Ribs (52 S. 2nd St.). It's ranked as one of the best rib joints in the city and it's a very large place, so plenty of sitting area! They consider themselves the pork BBQ capital of the known universe, so that's really saying something.

If you need some coupons then go to http://www.memphistravel.com/coupons.asp

There are some coupons that you could probably use for places you'll be going to.

As for Korean restaurants, I talked to my friend who lives in the area and the only one she could come up with was The New Seoul Korean Restaurant at 3643 South Mendenhall Road
Memphis, TN 38115-4802, 1 901 794 8632. She had never eaten there, but had heard some reviews that it was pretty good. Good Luck... there is some great food in Memphis, so eating within a budget can be difficult!

There is some park near the river, i forget what its called,but its supposed to look like the Mississppi River

I have a great idea! You guys should go on the river boat called the Mighty Mississippi. I don't know where its located. Ask some of the locals. I only went on the website, never been there. Glad to help, I guess.

Its called the Mississippi Queen and its on the river at the park

If they go to nashville, they should go north a few hours in Kentucky to see mammoth cave national park. It is the largest cave system in the WORLD!

You guys should go on the Mississippi Queen, then. River boats are fun!

One place i would recommend going to is the Lorraine Hotel. It's the hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

Zach,

We were on the same flight from Miami to Memphis yesterday and I was sitting beside you on the bus to the aircraft.

I work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in downtown Memphis. You definitely need to see about visiting. It is the leading pediatric hospital in the world for children with catastrophic diseases. Anyone who visits is amazed at how this is not a sad place! The kids are having fun and you and the crew will leave touched, I guarantee it. The hospital's number for Public Relations is 901-495-3306. They can get you set up for a visit. The website is stjude.org.

If the TJs decide to come, ask for me when you get here. I work in the ACU (Outpatient department). I'd love to say "Hello."

Donna Evans

Thursday night the University of Memphis will be playing a basketball game at the FedEx Forum (next to Beale st). Your chance to see real American culture...more than 10,000 come to see unpaid college kids play basketball. Pickup cheap last minute tickets outside the game from scalpers off the street.

Don't miss Gus' Fried Chicken! Great hole in the wall.

Chris Christopherson played at the Orpheum sunday night, you missed a great old county show

I see that you all like the history portion of our great nation. In regards to this, while in Memphis, it is absolutely imparative that you visit the Lorraine Motel, now the Civil Rights Museum. The Lorraine Motel is the site of Martin Luther King's assasination.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting this place when I was on a 4th grade field trip. It stuck with me and I am now 28yrs old. I truly feel that right along with Graceland, the Lorraine Motel is an absolute must on any stop to Memphis.

Come to the Sound Fuzion concert at The University of Memphis!! It is a premier group that really showcases the young talent in the Memphis area quite well. Tickets are 10 dollars and the concert usually runs around and hour and a half to two hours. The show is this Thursday, November 16 at 7:30 pm at Harris Auditorium which is on campus of The University of Memphis. The Music Building is right off of Central Ave. Please come!