A Quick Memphis Trip

     One night at around 10 pm, my roommate and I were sitting around our dining room table talking about our work schedules when we realized we both had the next few days off. One of us suggested we spontaneously go on a little trip, and since I had a friend living in Memphis, Tennessee I figured that would be a pretty good choice. Neither of us had been to Memphis before or really given it much thought, but a free place to stay is a free place to stay. I quickly texted my friend to ask if he’d be okay with us staying with him on such short notice and thankfully he was. When I say this was a spontaneous trip, I mean we left right then and there. We started our 6 hour drive from Kennesaw to Memphis at 11 pm and got there at 4 am. I have to say both my roommate and my friend in Memphis are All Stars for allowing this trip to happen so late at night.

Memphis sign located at Mud Island

​Here is what we did while we were there:

 Elvis Presley 
Before I get into what we were able to do with the whole Elvis experience, I have to say upfront that we did not go to the Graceland museum. We tried but as a few college students, we decided it wasn’t worth it to pay that much money for the experience. However, I imagine it is a great family attraction especially for those who love Elvis Presley. Although, we did get to see his house from the street which is completely free. It is also a popular place for fans to sign the wall surrounding his yard. This is a tradition that has been going on since he was still alive, so it is cool when you start to spot the signatures that have been around longer than you have. If you want to add on to your Elvis experience there is a diner called The Arcade where you can sit in Elvis’ favorite booth and eat like The King himself.

the booth Elvis would sit in at The Arcade

Bass Pro Shop
​​A rather unique place in Memphis happens to be a massive Bass Pro Shop. This is definitely not your typical tourist attraction (or your typical Bass Pro Shop), but I guess Tennessee just does it different. This Bass Pro Shop is located in a giant shiny pyramid making it very hard to miss. Once inside it is easy to see that they really tried to make it seem more like an outdoor adventure that has some merchandise mixed in rather than a store with some outdoor decor in it. There are live fish swimming around, places to eat, and a bar to get drinks at. However, it doesn’t stop there. You can even stay in the Bass Pro Shop, and I’m not kidding. The rooms have a cabin feel and even a little porch equipped with rocking chairs because why would you not want to rock in your chair while you overlook the inside of a Bass Pro Shop. To top it all off, this store has the tallest free standing elevator in the world, and it is only $8 to ride. If you dare to ride the elevator up to the top, you are gifted with a great view of the city of Memphis. Overall, the Bass Pro Shop is something you HAVE to experience if you go to Memphis. 

top of the pyramid

Got Memphis BBQ 
We obviously had to get some of the famous Memphis Barbecue while we were there. Thankfully, my friend knew the perfect place to go. He took us to his favorite BBQ place called Central. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water! The food definitely didn’t disappoint. Trying cities’ famous foods is one of my favorite parts of trips, and I cannot stress enough that you should make some time for some BBQ while you are there. 

 Walked around Downtown/Beale Street
I always love a good downtown, and Memphis had a pretty great one to explore! There were so many cute shops and yummy places to eat just like most downtowns have, but there were a few things that made Memphis unique. For instance, Memphis has Beale Street which is a street lined with several bars and neon signs. It is easily the most iconic and lively street in Memphis. However, since our trip happened during Covid-19, we stayed out of the bars. Despite this, it was still really cool to walk down the really colorful and poppin’ street. Another quirky little thing that Memphis has is a giant pair of overalls. If you are like my roommate and me, then you love finding the weird stuff in cities that people don’t come for but should still make time for. For us this was a comedically humongous pair of overalls hanging in a store called A.Schwab’s. There isn’t much to say for them other than that they are giant, but it is such a funny little anecdote to be able to say you stood next to them. 

giant overalls!

Beale Street at night

Watched the Sunset
​Once again, my friend came through with a cool Memphis spot. He took us to Riverside Street, specifically Tom Lee Park, where we had a great view of the sunset over the Mississippi River. I’d recommend taking the time to come chill here and catch a sunset or two during your trip as well. 

Duck Parade!
​To go along with all the weird Memphis attractions, there is a small duck march that happens every morning and night at the Peabody Hotel. In between this time the ducks swim around in the lobby fountain. However, the real show is the duck march that takes place. At 11 am and 5 pm everyday, the little ducks walk their own red carpet to and from the elevator and fountain in front of all of those who wish to cheer them on. It is such a wholesome experience and was easily one of the highlights of our trip. My roommate and I still randomly think about it to this day. 

Lorraine Motel
​You might be wondering why a motel would be on this list, but it is actually a historical location. This motel is where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated back in 1968. It has been renovated, but it isn’t somewhere you can stay. It is actually part of the National Civil Rights Museum. I would recommend taking the time to visit this location because not only is it an educational experience but it is a great reminder of how far we have come and how far we still have to go. 

        Memphis may not be at the top of your list of places to go unless you’re a big Elvis fan, but it is a great trip if you’re looking for a destination that doesn’t take too long to really experience. It’s range of attractions makes it a great spot for anyone, and it doesn’t take much out of you to explore. Therefore, if you are able to reserve a few days for a Memphis trip, then I’d recommend doing so. Thank me after you’ve had the barbecue. 

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