Memphis, TN ?

[tower_of_terror_luvr]

Marlowes=YUMMY

 

[DisneyLover83]

How is the Elvis Hotel? I'm looking for a hotel now. Trying to go somewhat cheaply. I don't cut into my Disney trip money.

Please do not stay near Graceland, it is in the middle of a terrible area. The PP who mentioned a few hotels (Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, etc) near Poplar are really good suggestions for an affordable hotel in a safe area. Also look into Tunica, MS at one of the casino's. Tunica is a quick drive down 3rd street or I-55 but the Poplar area is closer, safe and affordable so that would be my first choice

 

[Aunt Flancy]

My son and I visited Memphis a couple of years ago and loved it. I won two free nights at the Peabody so it was great. We really enjoyed the Rock N Soul Museum, Gibson Guitar Factory Tour, Sun Studios, STAX Museum, Graceland, and the zoo.

 

[dawson5]

You must be thinking of Chucalissa:
http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa/

I agree the zoo is excellent and worth the admission price.

It's indoor and outdoor right? The link doesn't show too many pictures. I remember walking quite a bit and large displays. It's been probably 30 yrs since I've been there.

and you have to get the wax figures of animals from the zoo. I hope they still do that. My brother and I used to love those.

My great grandmother used to live on Maclean (?sp). We would visit every summer, sometimes twice.

 

[tinatark]

We went a few years ago - just a day trip - stayed at the Marriott downtown - explored Beale Street and went to Graceland the next day.

Honestly, I would have much preferred to have stayed in an outlying area and driven in to Graceland, then back home. The area around the Marriott (downtown, on the trolley route) was a ghost town - the Marriott is probably the worst Marriott we've ever stayed in. While we were exploring, we went to the new mall area close to Beale St./downtown - it was just depressing, so many closed stores, and it was a very new mall.

 

[ShelleyTN]

I live in Collierville. memphisloveskids . com is a great website, it lists upcoming events.

 

[digitaldevice]

Thanks again for the info!!

Looks like Holiday Inn Express Hotel Memphis Medical Center Midtown might be the place. It's close to most everything, has free parking and good reviews.

What is parking like downtown? Street parking or garages? What's the typical cost?

I was in 2 garages in downtown Chicago last weekend and parking was $41.00
LOL. So I hope it's less than here.

 

[scrdofbugs]

I love Leonards!!

And you were referring to Chucalissa in Millington for the Native American museum.

Actually, Chucalissa is not in Millington. It is in Memphis. Here is the link.

http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa/

The park in Millington is Meeman-Shelby Forest. There is not much there but nature. They do have some Frisbee Golf. Here is the link: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/MeemanShelby/

The Pink Palance is nice and there is an IMAX. Here is the link:
http://www.memphismuseums.org/museum-overview/

The Red Birds Ball Park is nice.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t235

The Lichterman nature center.
http://www.memphismuseums.org/lichterman-overview/

I also second the comment about all the cops Downtown. They have really been cleaning up the area so the tourist are safe. The Graceland area is still a little unsafe to me. I don't recommend it at night. Wolfchase area is liek any normal shopping area. There will be crimes.

Here are some things that are FREE:

• Art Museum of the University of Memphis
3750 Norriswood, (901) 678-2224
Free admission Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Call museum for dates as it closes on university holidays and between exhibits.

• A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store
163 Beale, (901) 523-9782
Schwab's Dry Goods Store, in the family since 1876, is the only remaining original business on Beale St. Schwab's fills three floors with voodoo powders, handcuffs, clerical collars, saucepans and the largest collection of hats in town.
Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm.


• Beale Street Flippers
Watch as members of the Beale Street Flippers turn upside down and backwards - sometimes using only one hand!

• Beale Street Historic District
One of America's most famous streets, it is where W.C. Handy penned the first Blues song. Contains restaurants, nightclubs, parks, museums and shopping.

• Beale Street Walk of Fame
Between 2nd and 3rd, musical notes embedded in the concrete mark the Walk of Fame, where some of Memphis' finest musicians are honored.

• Beautiful Sunsets
There's nothing as relaxing as a sunset on the Mighty Mississippi as the riverboats go by.

• Biblical Resource Center
140 E. Mulberry St. on historic Collierville Town Square, (901) 854-9578
A non-profit, non-denominational center featuring replicas and artifacts from the times of Hebrew and Christian scriptures. The Center includes an Exhibit Gallery, Museum Store, Bible Lab, Teacher Lab and Reference Library.

• Biking Routes
Cyclists can now enjoy 60+ miles of city streets for on-road, shared roadway bike route tours. There are five "neighborhood" route tours and one longer "Memphis" route tour. These routes are intended for recreation as well as commuter use and link neighborhoods, commercial areas and many city attractions. Destinations include downtown, Memphis riverfront, city parks, museums, gardens, nature center and the Memphis zoo. www.cityofmemphis.org/

• Center for Southern Folklore
123 S. Main, (901) 525-3655
Houses exhibits and photographs on the arts, music and culture of the area as well as a café serving hot water cornbread, vegetarian greens and peach cobbler plus a coffee/beer bar. Check their website for special events and weekend concerts.
www.southernfolklore.com
Mon-Fri noon-7pm; Sat noon-11pm

• Church Park
Along Beale Street
Built by the city's first African-American millionaire, Robert Church, as a haven for African-Americans during the early 1900s.

• Cooper-Young Antique District
An antique lovers dream.

• Cooper-Young Entertainment District
Visit the revitalized Midtown district at Cooper and Young streets, featuring unique shops, boutiques, galleries and specialty restaurants. Also home to the First Church of the Elvis Impersonator.

• Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
65 Union Avenue, (901) 531-7826
Cotton was king, and in this impressive museum at The Memphis Cotton Exchange, it retains its royal splendor. The Cotton Museum is located in the Memphis Cotton Exchange, founded in 1873, and still a viable member organization. Although there is a charge for the museum, The Cotton Museum Hall of Fame, located in the lobby, is free to the public.

• Cotton Row
Along Front Street
Located along the docks of the Mississippi River, this was the hub of the South's cotton industry.

• Danny Thomas - ALSAC Pavilion
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
332 N. Lauderdale, (901) 495-3508
Learn the history of the hospital and its founder through a self-guided tour. Sun-Fri, 8am-4pm; Sat 10am-4pm.

• Elmwood Cemetery
824 S. Dudley, (901) 774-3212
Founded in 1852, this is the final resting place for some of the city's most celebrated citizens including Robert Church, Mayor "Boss" Crump, and victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic. Grounds open daily, 8am-4:30pm. The cottage is open Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm and Sat from 8am-12pm.

• Graceland Gates
Have your picture made at the gates of Graceland - home of Elvis Presley.

• Heritage Collection Art Exhibit
First Tennessee Bank, downtown.

• Historic Collierville Town Square
Established in 1867 after the Civil War left the original town of Collierville in ashes, the historic Collierville Town Square is the only Town Square in Shelby County. Browse the boutique shops, dine in one of five fine restaurants, enjoy a picnic in Confederate Park or shop for hard to find hardware at the oldest store in Collierville, McGinnis Hardware (est. 1887).

• Jack Daniel's Distillery (This is not in the city..it would be a quite a drive)
Lynchburg, TN
Nation's oldest registered distillery. Observe every step of the sour mash whiskey-making art. Open daily except for major holidays.

• Levitt Shell
View the historic outdoor amphitheater that staged celebrities like Elvis, Al Green and Jerry Lee Lewis. Check their website for current schedule.
http://www.levittshell.org

• Martyrs Park
With a majestic view of the Mississippi River, the park is home to a stunning statue commemorating the suffering and courage of citizens who tended the sick and dying during the epidemics that devastated the city in the 1870s.

• Memorial Park Crystal Shrine Grotto
5668 Poplar, (901) 767-8930
Open dawn to dusk, view scenes from the life of Christ depicted in natural rock crystals.

• Memphis Botanic Garden
750 Cherry, (901) 636-4100
Free admission on Wednesday from 12 noon until close.

• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
1934 Poplar Avenue, (901) 544-6200
Free admission on Wednesdays from 10am-4pm.

• Memphis Pink Palace Museum
3050 Central Avenue, (901) 320-6320
Museum exhibits are free on Tues from 1pm-4pm.

• Memphis Paranormal Investigations
Offering FREE local Ghost Hunts most of the year. Space is limited, so apply for a spot on the team in advance. Must be 21 years or older as this is a REAL ghost hunt! All equipment will be provided for the night as you visit the final resting places of the dead. RESPECT is in order and only the BRAVE apply.

• Memphis Public Library - Music Collection
Want to dig deep into our music history? There's no better place than our new public library. The Memphis Music collection is comprehensive, well-organized and easily accessed by anyone, regardless of race, creed, religion or musical taste. Check out CDs, tapes, books and more. 3030 Poplar Avenue.

• Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
191 Beale St, (901) 205-2533
Free admission on Tues from 2pm-7pm for Shelby County Tennessee residents only.

• Memphis Zoo
2000 Galloway, (901) 276-WILD
Free admission on Tues from 2pm-5pm for Tennessee residents only. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.

• Mud Island
125 N. Front Street, (901) 576-7241
Free admission to the grounds from Memorial Day until Labor Day. (Please note there is a cost for the Mississippi River Museum.)

• National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street, (901) 521-9699
Free admission Mondays from 3pm-5pm.


• Overton Square Entertainment District
Stroll along Madison Avenue and Cooper Street, a shopping and entertainment area in the heart of Memphis, featuring nightclubs, restaurants, live music, dancing and unique boutiques.

• Peabody Hotel
149 Union, (901) 529-4000
The march of the famous Peabody ducks is free and takes place daily at 11am and 5pm. Afterwards, take the elevator to the roof to see the ducks' home and the wonderful views of Memphis.

• Pinch Historic District
Along North Main
Stroll along the entertainment area, located between the Cook Convention Center and North Parkway and enjoy numerous restaurants and live music venues.

• Playhouse on the Square
Offers "Pay What You Can" night when new productions open, usually on weeknights or Sat mornings.

• Shelby Farms
7161 Mullins Station, (901) 382-0235
Largest park of its kind in an urban setting, the park offers picnic tables, sporting activities, nature trails and a home to a variety of wildlife, including free-roaming bison.

• Shopping
Memphis has many unique shopping experiences. From antiques to shopping malls, there is something for you.

• Southland Park Gaming & Racing
West Memphis, AR
Free general admission to live and simulcast greyhound and thoroughbred racing 7 days a week, year round.

• South Main Arts District
Located along the trolley line on South Main Street, downtown. This culturally rich neighborhood is anchored by the newly-renovated, historic Central Station and the beloved Arcade restaurant on the south end, the Orpheum Theatre on the north, and on the east and west by the National Civil Rights Museum, art galleries, hip restaurants, renovated warehouses-turned-lofts, open markets and trendy shops.

• Statue Tour
From W.C. Handy at Handy Park and Elvis Presley on Beale Street to B.B. King in the Riverside Drive Visitor Center, statues help tell the story of Memphis' rich history.

• Sun Studio Shuttle
Free shuttle service from Graceland, Sun Studio and Rock 'n' Soul Museum. The shuttle service is complimentary but each attractions has admission costs.

• Walking Paths
Thirty-four parks have walking trails or nature trails. The longest (1.5 miles) are located at Frayser (2907 N. Watkins) and Gaisman (4223 Macon). Downtown residents stroll through Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive.

• Walking Tour
There are several published walking tours available to help you experience Memphis' history.

• W.C. Handy Park
Beale Street
Stroll down Beale Street to Handy Park which features free concerts and traveling musicians.
*Prices are subject to change without notice & from what is listed on this website.


I hope this helps!!

 

[scrdofbugs]

Thanks again for the info!!

Looks like Holiday Inn Express Hotel Memphis Medical Center Midtown might be the place. It's close to most everything, has free parking and good reviews.

What is parking like downtown? Street parking or garages? What's the typical cost?

I was in 2 garages in downtown Chicago last weekend and parking was $41.00
LOL. So I hope it's less than here.

I want to say the last couple times I was downtown at the Fed Ex Forum or dining I paid $10 or $15 but there were games going on so that makes parking more. I don't think I have ever heard of $41.00 for parking. There are some street parking. Some open parking lots that you put money in a machine and there are some garages.

Here is some info I found:

parking
With more than 40,000 parking spaces in Downtown Memphis, anyone can find a parking space less than 2 blocks from your destination! And according to a report by Colliers International, Downtown Memphis offers the cheapest daily parking rates of any city in the nation!

Quick parking tips:
For the South Main area, park for free at Central Station. There are also plenty of on-street meters where parking after 6 pm and on the weekends is free.

For Beale Street and Peabody Place areas, head to the garages along Peabody Place to the three garages and several surface lots. The garages at 100 Peabody Place and 250 Peabody Place offer $1 validated parking for 3 hours if you spend $5!

For the Civic Center area, you'll find plenty of parking along Front Street between Jefferson and Poplar.

 

[tiredsigh]

Thanks again for the info!!

Looks like Holiday Inn Express Hotel Memphis Medical Center Midtown might be the place. It's close to most everything, has free parking and good reviews.

What is parking like downtown? Street parking or garages? What's the typical cost?

I was in 2 garages in downtown Chicago last weekend and parking was $41.00
LOL. So I hope it's less than here.

*I* personally used to work in the medical center area. I would not send tourists there to stay. But, you have been given many options and you are a grown up

 

[pipermae]

Hi! I haven't read all the replies, so if I repeat a bunch I apologize. I currently live in Memphis and attend the U of M (GO TIGERS!) and have lived here all 22 years of my life. For BBQ, Rendezvous has decent ribs but I think it's over rated. Corky's is okay, but very commercialized - if you're going to eat at one, eat at the one on Poplar. Central BBQ is really good, I'd recommend going there. Germantown Commissary is also a good one, but if you're planning on staying downtown, it's a bit of a drive. I've heard Neely's is pretty good, but I've never actually been there myself.

As for touristy things to do, there's Graceland (it's pretty expensive to go inside of it, but you can always drive past it. Plus Krispie Kreme is just down the street and when the hot sign is on calories don't count!), the zoo (there's a new section for the bears and it's very nice!), the Pink Palace (I just went last week, there's really not much going on there right now), depending on when you're going something may be going on at one of the three major theatres in town (check out the Cannon Center, Orpheum, and Germantown Performing Arts Centre websites for show dates), also the University of Memphis music department has concerts and recitals virtually everyday until the semester ends (and an opera coming up), the plants at the Botanical Gardens will be blooming in a few weeks (it's still chilly and wet here), and those are just to name a few things.

I've stayed at some hotels around here for one reason or another. Last week I stayed at the Memphis Marriott Downtown which is right next to the Cannon Center and it was lovely. Most of the Double Tree hotels around here are great, too. Being a Hospitality student I've got some picky tastes about hotels and how I'm treated and how things are kept, so I wouldn't steer you wrong.

If you have any other questions or are curious about anything in particular, feel free to PM me or you can ask here so others can see what I say. I hope I helped some!

 

[funkyeuph]

Cafe Piazza in Collierville (suburb) is nice. Great Italian food, killer barbecue pizza.

My favorite is Central Barbecue (the one on Central, not the one on Summer Ave.)

Gotta hit Gigi's Cupcakes and/or Muddy's Bake Shop for desserts. Both of those are in the University of Memphis neighborhood.

 

[amez]

I'm not sure how many people you are going with but we stayed last summer at the Drury Inn in Horn Lake-it was a very easy drive to attractions and shopping. I went with my mom, nephew and three of my children and felt very safe here. The rooms are smaller suites, but their was enough room and it was a very good price.

We went to Graceland (my mom really wanted to go), The Pink Palace Museuem, and the Children's Museum. We drove through the Beale Street area, but there was a street fair going on and no parking close by so we didn't stop and do anything down there. We ate at Neely's - it was great!

We went at the end of June and it was super hot so we took things esp slow for my mom. We would have done more, but the heat really slowed us down.

We requested a Memphis tour guide (free) and it had tons of info, and pricing.

Amy

 

[digitaldevice]

Thanks for all the info. Everything is ready to go.

We went with priceline and got Marriott Downtown Memphis. Looks like a nice place. $75.00 a night will work.

 

[Cibahwewah]

Interstate Bar-B-Q & Restaurant
Rendezvous Charles Vergos
Central B B Q
Leonard's Pit Barbecue
Neely's Bar-B-Que Restaurant
Corky's Bar-B-Q

BB Kings Blues Club
Sun Records
Graceland

Good lord, child! You're going to be in a meat coma. You'll be craving green vegetables for sure!

It's indoor and outdoor right? The link doesn't show too many pictures. I remember walking quite a bit and large displays. It's been probably 30 yrs since I've been there.

and you have to get the wax figures of animals from the zoo. I hope they still do that. My brother and I used to love those.

My great grandmother used to live on Maclean (?sp). We would visit every summer, sometimes twice.

No wax animals, but they do have pressed pennies (51 cents each)
You can easily spend 3-4 hrs there if you see everything.
The newest exhibit is Teton Trek with grizzlies, elk, wolves, etc.
And yes, it's better than [insert city name here]'s zoo.
The only one I've been to that is better was San Diego.

*I* personally used to work in the medical center area. I would not send tourists there to stay. But, you have been given many options and you are a grown up

I lived on Mud Island and worked in the medical center too.

Marriott Downtown is a good choice. You'll have the trolley to access all the downtown touristy stuff--Civil Rights Museum, Peabody, Autozone Park (Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball), Beale Street, Mud Island, etc.

You have to do Graceland just for the sheer tackiness of it all.

Lastly, I'm impressed that there are so many fellow Memphians that are DISers. Should I put a LGMH on my car? I already have a Tinkerbell license plate and antenna topper--and I get teased by my colleagues for being a Disney freak.

Also, to whoever said Memphis was uncivilized--pooh to you too!

 

[jgates]

We really enjoyed the guitar factory tour, Sun Studios tour & Rock N Soul (?) museum. Next trip we do plan on touring Graceland.

We did stay at Horseshoe at Tunica - when you have driven 13 hours already to get there, the 25 minutes from downtown was peanuts! And the rooms were free (my other fav place to go is Vegas LOL so room was comp) and we got to see Buddy Guy in concert. So all worked out well.

 

[tiredsigh]

Thanks for all the info. Everything is ready to go.

We went with priceline and got Marriott Downtown Memphis. Looks like a nice place. $75.00 a night will work.

Right on the trolley line! The trolley can take you around downtown and parts of midtown.

 

[digitaldevice]

The Gibson guitar factory tour is on the list. As a guitar player this is a must stop. Do they give free samples LOL.

Graceland is last on the list.

 

[gohogs34]

After living in Memphis for 25+ year and now have lived in Tipton County for 20+ years, I find it hard to see what is worth traveling to Memphis to spend a vacation for. I guess if you live here and hear/see all the crap that goes on might be the difference when I say that. For BBq, I think it is somewhat over rated. The big names aren't that tasty. I would find it hard to tell someone where to stay at a safe hotel in this area. Really downtown has been/ is brought back to life and would stay down there before some other places. I recommend to people to stay at Tunica. Go see Graceland ONCE, but don't stay in that area. Millington is the area we live near and a few new hotels have been added and is a safe area. Drive and obey the speed and laws in Millington, cops all over!! You can get to any areas of Memphis from here in 20 minutes and have some big chain restaurants and a local S/S walmart. Anyway have fun and lock your doors and DO NOTTTT leave anything in your car in the open. THEY will take it. But that is in any town, any city and any state.

 

[gohogs34]

This site has been a great tool for using "name your own prices" at Priceline.com. You can pull up the city you are wanting to stay at and see what others have paid for the area and star rating you are looking for.
http://biddingfortravel.*********/