Any advice for trip to Springfield IL and Memphis TN?

[jackemail]

Oooh! Thanks so much! I'll PM you by the end of the month, I hope to finalize our plans and decide if we're really going to go. Money is the only thing stopping me, it's been a tough year and I'm not sure we should be spending the money to go. But we didn't have a vacation last year at all or the year before, so I'm hoping we can go. If we go, we'll definitely go to the zoo, that's one of the main reasons we're going, my DD loves panda bears!

So, I'll be in touch with you soon, thanks again!

If finances are an issue, either skip Graceland or just go with the basic package which allows you to see the house and gravesite---those are more than enough---and print a coupon from the website.

If you go to the zoo, it will take much of the day anyway, because there is a lot to see and shows to catch (love the sea lion show and the zookeeper chats). And it is nice to sit by the river downtown and watch boats/barges go by! (and that's free!)

LOVE the pandas--but they are the biggest do-nothings at the zoo. They do sleep a lot, the lazy things.

 

[traces7]

If finances are an issue, either skip Graceland or just go with the basic package which allows you to see the house and gravesite---those are more than enough---and print a coupon from the website.

If you go to the zoo, it will take much of the day anyway, because there is a lot to see and shows to catch (love the sea lion show and the zookeeper chats). And it is nice to sit by the river downtown and watch boats/barges go by! (and that's free!)

LOVE the pandas--but they are the biggest do-nothings at the zoo. They do sleep a lot, the lazy things.

Yeah, we might skip Graceland. I'm not a big Elvis fan, was just thinking of going there just because everyone always talks about it. But we mainly want to see the pandas at the zoo (funny that they just laze around!) and the Civil Rights Museum.

 

[jackemail]

Did you check out memphistravel.com ? It has a list of free downtown walking tours (if you stay downtown). It also has, in the coupon/discount section, many discounts to tourist attractions and lots and lots of hotel discounts.

 

[traces7]

Did you check out memphistravel.com ? It has a list of free downtown walking tours (if you stay downtown). It also has, in the coupon/discount section, many discounts to tourist attractions and lots and lots of hotel discounts.

Thanks I've checked it out a little bit, but not a whole lot yet. The hotel coupons seemed to be for hotels other than the ones downtown. Are these ok do you think? I'm not sure which areas to avoid exactly.

 

[princessdi81]

I'm from Spfld, Il and would suggest the Drury Inn, Hilton Garden Inn or Crowne Plaza all of which are on Dirksen Parkway. The area itself isn't the greatest, but they are clean and safe hotel options. Plus, they are pretty close to the Lincoln sites. If you want to stay Downtown, I'd recommend the Hilton, but you pay out the nose for parking.

I actually just got back from Memphis on Sunday, and we stayed at The Marriott Downtown - got a really good deal and loved the hotel, though parking is pricey. We went for the International BBQ Festival down at the Riverfront, and actually walked back to our hotel (about 3 miles) at midnight - it wasn't as bad as some people make it out to be. Also, they have a great trolley line that is convenient as well. The Peabody is really nice, but quite pricey. Most of the hotels downtown seem safe and clean. I'd highly recommend a walk down Beale Street during the day on a Saturday if possible - it was really cool. Even kids would enjoy it!

Good luck, and PM me if you have any other questions!

 

[jackemail]

I actually just got back from Memphis on Sunday, and we stayed at The Marriott Downtown - got a really good deal and loved the hotel, though parking is pricey. We went for the International BBQ Festival down at the Riverfront, and actually walked back to our hotel (about 3 miles) at midnight - it wasn't as bad as some people make it out to be. Also, they have a great trolley line that is convenient as well. The Peabody is really nice, but quite pricey. Most of the hotels downtown seem safe and clean. I'd highly recommend a walk down Beale Street during the day on a Saturday if possible - it was really cool. Even kids would enjoy it!

Good luck, and PM me if you have any other questions!

THANK YOU for saying Memphis is not bad, crimewise, and for mentioning the trolley. Hope you had a wonderful time at the BBQ fest!

 

[jackemail]

Thanks I've checked it out a little bit, but not a whole lot yet. The hotel coupons seemed to be for hotels other than the ones downtown. Are these ok do you think? I'm not sure which areas to avoid exactly.

I just glanced at the hotels, but will look again sometime to see if there are any downtown ones. As the other poster said, most of the downtown "name" ones are fine, and there is a lot to see downtown. The Civil Rights Museum is also downtown, and the zoo would only be about 15-20 minutes from downtown.

If you do find a hotel with a good rate, just ask and I can tell you if it's in a better area. The ones I glanced at on the website seemed to be okay, BUT I didn't look at all of them.

 

[traces7]

I'm from Spfld, Il and would suggest the Drury Inn, Hilton Garden Inn or Crowne Plaza all of which are on Dirksen Parkway. The area itself isn't the greatest, but they are clean and safe hotel options. Plus, they are pretty close to the Lincoln sites. If you want to stay Downtown, I'd recommend the Hilton, but you pay out the nose for parking.

What about that area isn't the greatest?
I think in Springfield I found good rates for Microtel and Baymont Inn. How are those?
In Memphis so far I was thinking of Comfort Inn Downtown or Courtyard Inn Downtown.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I'm also from Springfield. The Baymont Inn should be fine. I stayed there a couple of years ago when the power was out at my house. I live about 1.5 miles from there and it is just south of the city (at an exit of I-55). There are a couple of local restaurants (coffee shop/diner, sub shop, Chinese, sit down restaurant) within a block, plus about 5 chain restaurants (Cracker Barrel, McD's, Wendy's Taco Bell, Subway). This would be about a 10-15 minute drive to downtown (Lincoln's Home, Lincoln Museum, Ghost Walk, Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana Thomas House). It is also very easy to get on the highway to get to Lincoln's New Salem. (If you have a GPS, be careful with Lincoln's New Salem - there is a current city named New Salem that is over 1 hour away from here - we found this out the hard way last month when we had our Boy Scouts camping at New Salem for the Lincoln Pilgrimage ).

If you have any other Springfield, questions, just pm one of us Springfieldians, we are a friendly group.

 

[jackemail]

What about that area isn't the greatest?
I think in Springfield I found good rates for Microtel and Baymont Inn. How are those?
In Memphis so far I was thinking of Comfort Inn Downtown or Courtyard Inn Downtown.

I know the COnfort Inn downtown is quite good....will have to look into the other.

 

[Irish9697]

Meant to say hey to my fellow Memphis jackemail!!!

If you're a native like me, I'd venture to guess that you also get a slight tear in your eye over:

"long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee"

and

"touched down in the land of delta blues in the middle of the pourin' rain"

 

[jackemail]

Meant to say hey to my fellow Memphis jackemail!!!

If you're a native like me, I'd venture to guess that you also get a slight tear in your eye over:

"long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee"

and

"touched down in the land of delta blues in the middle of the pourin' rain"

Waving to Irish!!! Yep, 58 years here...so I know all the words to both songs!

Glad you joined in!

 

[traces7]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. I think we've finally got our trip figured out. It will just be me and my 11 year old DD going.

We'll stay one night in Springfield probably at the Baymont (63.99 night w/AAA rate). We want to see the Lincoln Museum, Lincoln home and Lincoln tomb. Hopefully we can do it all in that short time. We'll get there about noon on Sunday and probably leave about noon on Monday.

Than we're going to Memphis for 2 nights, probably arrive about 6 p.m. on Monday. Probably going to stay at the Comfort Inn Downtown (98.99/night w/AAA rate). We hope to go to Memphis Zoo, Civil Rights Museum and Graceland. Probably leave around noon on Wednesday.

Than we're going to visit my sister in Jackson TN, about an hour from Memphis, stay there overnight and head home on Thursday. (This is the part I'm nervous about, 580 miles to home). I'm not a real good distance driver, we may stop overnight if I can't make it.

Just a couple more questions, I'm sure I'll have more later. Is there a rush hour in Memphis, I was just concerned we'd hit that. Also I know you can take the trolley in Memphis to the Civil Rights Museum. I thought I saw somewhere that there's a shuttle to Graceland somewhere.

Anybody have any comments? Do these hotels and rates sound good? I haven't made reservations yet.

Thanks for all the help. I'm sure I'll have more question as June gets closer.

 

[traces7]

Forgot to say---if you decide to definitely come to Memphis and go to the zoo, PM me with your address. I have two 1/2 price admission coupons, good any time, and would be happy to mail them to you (I have a zoo membership and don't need them.)

Hi jackemail I was trying to PM you and I couldn't get it to work. It said you could not receive PMs, unless I was doing it wrong, which is very possible. Can you help? I would love to get the tickets! Thanks so much!

 

[mamajoan]

Gotta say we went to Memphis last year... had a great time. Nice folks all over the city. It is an urban center so the usual crime stats come with it.. but "bad" does not come to mind when I think of Memphis...

"awesome food" does come to mind! We went to places for BBQ mentioned on Food Network... and to Uncle Lou's chicken.. too... sooo tasty!

We went to the Civil rights museum. It took my breath away.
Also went over to Graceland, just did the basic package. It was fun.

We stayed downtown at the Marriott. Nice hotel, close to everything too.

May I suggest you stay in St. Louis on your way back home? At least stop and do the Arch.
btw... St. Louis is on the most dangerous city list too. LOL... again it is an urban center
You can always stay on the Metro East side- Illinois of the river near OFallon, Edwardsville, Collinsville... about 15 minutes from St. Louis.

Hope you have lots of fun on your trip!

 

[jackemail]

Hi jackemail I was trying to PM you and I couldn't get it to work. It said you could not receive PMs, unless I was doing it wrong, which is very possible. Can you help? I would love to get the tickets! Thanks so much!

I just PM'ed you--you are right, mine was "off".

 

[jackemail]

Gotta say we went to Memphis last year... had a great time. Nice folks all over the city. It is an urban center so the usual crime stats come with it.. but "bad" does not come to mind when I think of Memphis...

"awesome food" does come to mind! We went to places for BBQ mentioned on Food Network... and to Uncle Lou's chicken.. too... sooo tasty!

We went to the Civil rights museum. It took my breath away.
Also went over to Graceland, just did the basic package. It was fun.

We stayed downtown at the Marriott. Nice hotel, close to everything too.

QUOTE]

Appreciate the positive comments about Memphis...it IS a nice city.

 

[traces7]

Gotta say we went to Memphis last year... had a great time. Nice folks all over the city. It is an urban center so the usual crime stats come with it.. but "bad" does not come to mind when I think of Memphis...

"awesome food" does come to mind! We went to places for BBQ mentioned on Food Network... and to Uncle Lou's chicken.. too... sooo tasty!

We went to the Civil rights museum. It took my breath away.
Also went over to Graceland, just did the basic package. It was fun.

We stayed downtown at the Marriott. Nice hotel, close to everything too.

May I suggest you stay in St. Louis on your way back home? At least stop and do the Arch.
btw... St. Louis is on the most dangerous city list too. LOL... again it is an urban center
You can always stay on the Metro East side- Illinois of the river near OFallon, Edwardsville, Collinsville... about 15 minutes from St. Louis.

Hope you have lots of fun on your trip!

Thanks, I hope we'll have fun too! I think we'll leave St. Louis for another trip. We'll go past there on the way down, but on the way back we're coming from the other way, since we're stopping at my sister's. So, it wil be a little out of the way. But I've always wanted to go in the arch. We drove past it once on another trip. We like urban areas too. My DD and I have been to Chicago several times and I always feel safe.

 

[traces7]

The last day for the LPGA is Sunday the 13th if there is not a weather delay. It gets over pretty early.So Sunday afternoon arrival should be okay. I meant to say New Salem is 4-5 hrs not 45hrs.
Have fun, We have a great little city.

Disney27: Do you know anything about the Civil War encampment that will be downtown on June 11-13? We'll be arriving about noon on Sunday June 13 and hoped to go to the Lincoln Museum that day, think it will be too busy? Looks like the encampment might be something interesting to see, if it's not too crowded.
Thanks again!