TrekAmerica’s City Guide to

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

Welcome to Memphis! If you’ve got a little rock and roll in your soul, you’re in the right spot – music is what Memphis was made for. With Graceland, Sun Studio and jumpin’ Beale Street on the agenda, you’ll discover a lively music scene that spans from past through to present.

But alongside the tunes, there’s plenty more to see here – from performing ducks and baseball games to the Civil Rights Museum and plenty of street art, put on your blue suede shoes and get exploring!

DON’T MISS!1. GRACELAND We’re starting out with the obvious! The home of one of music’s all-time biggest stars is a fascinating look into his life and career.

2. SUN STUDIO Take a tour of ‘the birthplace of rock’n’roll’, and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Presley, Cash and Lewis, who all recorded here.

3. NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM An immersive experience through the Civil Rights movement including the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated.

5. ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM Delve even deeper into Memphis’ rock’n’roll history with this epic col-lection of memorabilia from musical pioneers.

6. BEALE STREET

This infamous street is a destination in itself, with both music and people spill-ing out onto the pavements all day long.

7. STAX MUSEUM

Another music museum, the Stax Mu-seum of American Soul Music focuses on – you guessed it, the soul scene!

8. VICTORIAN VILLAGE Once known as “Millionaire’s Row”, the Victorian-style homes in this histor-ic area offer impressive architectural designs.

9. MEMPHIS ZOO

Take a walk on the wild side! This zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals including big cats, elephants and pri-mates.

10. A SCHWAB

This Beale Street store is packed to the rafters with curiosities, a small muse-um and the most delicious homemade sodas!

4. AUTOZONE PARK

Catch a game at this Minor League Baseball stadium, home to Memphis Redbirds and voted Ballpark of the Year.

OVERVIEW

THINGS TO DO FOR FREE

1. Watch the Duck Parade The ducks of The Peabody Hotel are an attraction all of their own, marching daily at 11am and 5pm to the hotel lobby fountain.

2. Shelby Farms City Park One of the 20 biggest urban parks in the US, Shelby Farms is made up of lakes, natural forests and wetlands – and you might even spot a bison!

3. University of Memphis Art Museum See a genuine Egyptian mummy, amongst other things, in just one of this museum’s many fascinating exhibition galleries

4. Take a mural tour The Memphis street art scene has exploded over recent years, and you can discover all kinds of awesome murals around the city.

5. Stroll across the Missisippi Big River Crossing is the longest public pedes-trian/bike bridge across the Mississippi River, with awesome river views. Once the sun sets, the bridge lights up in vibrant neon hues.

Best Selfie Spots‘I Love Memphis’ Murals (Various Locations) There are currently six of these murals across the city to be found and pictured. Don’t forget to hashtag #ilovememphis!

Graceland Steps (Elvis Presley Blvd) Well, obviously - ‘check out my new pad!’ captions greatly encouraged...

Twilight Sky Terrace (79 Madison Avenue) For incredible views of Memphis and the Missisippi River, grab yourself a drink on the terrace and say ‘cheers’!

The outdoors,indoors

See that giant pyramid? That’s Memphis’ Bass Pro Shop - inside, you’ll find a fascinating megastore

dedicated to everything outdoorsy - from full size jetskis to arcade-style

shooting games and real, live alligators

The Garden District

Crescent City Farmers Market

Algier Ferry

New Orleans Museum

of Art

Frenchmen Street

FOR THE FOODIES From BBQ to brunch, Memphis is packed with absolute foodie gems. Check out a couple of our faves...

Our favourites:Rendezvous (52 S 2nd St, TN 38103)A Memphis institution! Charlie Vergos and family have been serving up classic Southern BBQ grub here since 1948, when he discovered a coal chute in the basement of his sandwich shop.Gus’ Fried Chicken (310 S Front St, TN 38103)GQ Magazine once named Gus’ world famous fried chicken one of the top ten meals worth flying for - check it out, and believe the hype!

The Beauty Shop (966 Cooper St, TN 38104) How does bruaint, 50’s-beauty-salon-style restaurant sound to you? We like to channel our inner Priscilla Presley when we eat here...

NightlifeQuite obviously, Beale Street is your destination for a big Memphis night out, packed with bars and clubs with revellers spilling out onto the street, where you’ll often find performers and impromptu dance parties. B.B. King’s Blues Club is perhaps the most famosu destination, but Rum Boogie and Alfred’s are also both top spots for live music.

Beyond Beale, you’ll find a diverse range of nightspots - if you’re looking for a spot of Salsa, Rumba Room offer a great atmosphere and free dance sessions. For something truly hip and offbeat, Mollie Fontaine Lounge is a bar/dance club in an old Victorian property - the kind of place that there might just be more than one sort of ‘spirit’ on offer...

MARC COHN

Walking in Memphis

ALANNAH MYLES

Black Velvet

CREEDENCE

CLEARWATER REVIVAL

Proud Mary

JERRY LEE LEWIS

Memphis Beat

The Memphis playlistBLAST THESE ON THE VAN STEREO

TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD! B L U E S

MEMPHIS

And anything by Elvis!

Contact details – website and international Tel no in the footer.

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iTrek to soak up the Deep South

MAY Party alongside the Missisippi! Previous headlines of this three-day, multi-stage festival include Kings of Leon, Jason Derulo and Ed Sheeran.

JANUARYFans worldwide flock to take part in the Elvis Presley Birthday Celebration, with a calender of events celebrating the life and music of The King.

SEPTEMBERThe city’s best music, art, crafts, cooks, heritage talkers and storytellers come together for the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS