Memphis, Tennessee is a synonym for music and great American artists.
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The first European explorer to visit the Memphis area was Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1541. By 1819 modern Memphis was founded and thanks to cotton plantations and river traffic along the Mississippi, the city became among the largest world markets for cotton and lumber. Memphis has become one of the nation's leading commercial centers with the world's second-busiest cargo airport. The International Port of Memphis is the fifth-busiest inland water port in the U.S.
But Memphis is all about music and while there first there is a music tour and everything else can wait. The first stop is Sun Studio, the place where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded their historic albums. The is open for tours 7 days a week and recording sessions begin at 7pm so if you are musically inclined you can records your own music on the very spot. Be it a hit or not, you will have a record made exactly where Elvis made his.
While we are talking about Elvis, Graceland is the second stop. The tour will get you back in time when he lived and made his great songs. You may eat at the Delta’s Kitchen at The Guest House or Vernon’s Smokehouse and then attend a show with musicians, comedians and other performers. After that, head to Stax Records, a former theater transformed into a studio where workaday people could be heard, where some of the biggest musicians started their careers. After that, go to the Harahan Bridge.
The bridge connects downtown Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas. One mile long, this this is the longest pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi. At night, Big River Crossing and the Hernando DeSoto Bridge put on a light display. Next stop is the Mud Island River Park with replicas of the Lower Mississippi River, from Cairo, Ill., to New Orleans, La. The the Gulf of Mexico pool, as it is called, is about five blocks long that end in the Gulf of Mexico pool. A great free fun.
Nature plays a big role in Memphis. Riverboats tours are popular way to see the town and river parks host a range of free events, from free yoga, live music and games, to disco rolling skating or a dance party. And don't forget to visit Peabody ducks. The Peabody Memphis hotel is the host of the unique event. The red carpet rolls out from the elevator to the fountain in the lobby and the ducks start their Duck March from 11am to 5pm each day to visit the fountain in a tradition that started back in 1930s.
Outdoor, you will find a park that's five times bigger than New York's Central Park. On 4,500 acres there are Treetop Adventure Course, paintball, the Woodland Discovery Playground, Water Play Sprayground, you can rent a kayak to tour some of 20 lakes, or you can ride a horse. The park has a good restaurant. The Memphis Botanic Garden has more than 20 gardens where you can just enjoy the nature, feed the fish, or enjoy a concert and you may hear some big names. And the chance is, if you come in good weather, that you will see a weeding in this popular spot.
If you are there with kids, you'll thank god there's the Children's Museum of Memphis. It's a children's paradise. There are a cityscape with small businesses, an interactive model of Times Square, displays, a real airplane cockpit, a big heart with giant arteries to climb, the painting and sculpting art studio, picnic space, and of course snacks are available all around. There are numerous activities there, all safe, all for kids of all ages, so it would be shame not to visit it.
We must no forget the food. There are some dishes you just have to taste. The famous breakfast the San Diegan you may taste at Brother Juniper’s. Gibson’s Donuts with their signature flavor, maple bacon, are open all day long if you want something sweet. Central BBQ is the place for lunch, although we could recommend somebody else because Memphis has barbecue spots on every corner. Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen is the place for dinner and you may enjoy good beer in many spots around the town to round your day. ■
