Memphis trip
Apr 8th, 2006, 03:41 AM
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Memphis trip
Am planning a trip in July 2006. Will be 2 mature(That means 60+) adults
Will leave Harrisburg , Pa on Monday and drive to Asheville, N C . Plan to spend Monday and Tuesday nites in Asheville and will visit Biltmore, Downtown area , and ???, Will leave early Wednesday A. M. and will drive to Memphis thru Nashville. where expect to stop for nice lunch?? (Nashville)
Will spend Wednesday and Thursday nites in Memphis and expect to visit Graceland, Beale street, and Zoo. May visit Peabody also for ducks. Maybe a dinner cruise on Mississippi. (Should Memphis be 3 nites??)
Will leave Memphis on Friday A. M. and drive to Louisville area. Will spend Friday nite in Louisville or Lexington and would like to see Churchill Downs track plus horse farms. (Any to actually visit??)
Saturday A.M. will leave Louisville area and expect to be back home Saturday evening.
Suggestions and/or comments are greatly appreciated. P. S. Other attractions to see??? Thanks [email protected]
Will leave Harrisburg , Pa on Monday and drive to Asheville, N C . Plan to spend Monday and Tuesday nites in Asheville and will visit Biltmore, Downtown area , and ???, Will leave early Wednesday A. M. and will drive to Memphis thru Nashville. where expect to stop for nice lunch?? (Nashville)
Will spend Wednesday and Thursday nites in Memphis and expect to visit Graceland, Beale street, and Zoo. May visit Peabody also for ducks. Maybe a dinner cruise on Mississippi. (Should Memphis be 3 nites??)
Will leave Memphis on Friday A. M. and drive to Louisville area. Will spend Friday nite in Louisville or Lexington and would like to see Churchill Downs track plus horse farms. (Any to actually visit??)
Saturday A.M. will leave Louisville area and expect to be back home Saturday evening.
Suggestions and/or comments are greatly appreciated. P. S. Other attractions to see??? Thanks [email protected]
Apr 8th, 2006, 05:08 AM
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Sounds like fun! I've heard that the Kentucky Horse Park is a great place to visit in Lexington. Here is the link so that you can check it out.
http://www.imh.org/khp/
http://www.imh.org/khp/
Apr 8th, 2006, 10:53 AM
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I would strongly advise against a dinner cruise in Memphis. We spend a fair amount of time there, and have never heard a single good thing about those cruises. If I were you, I'd stay in the downtown area - our current favorite is the Marriott Residence Inn, though there are other good options - and drive out to Graceland. I might add that Memphis will be steamy hot in July and you might wish to reconsider the zoo. I'd also advise a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, which is in the downtown area. Downtown Memphis is fun at night - I think you'd love watching the ducks come down in the morning (in my opinion, it's more fun than watching them go up in the late afternoon). Have fun1
Apr 24th, 2006, 01:21 PM
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We visited Memphis last October and had a great time. We actually stayed at the Peabody hotel - it was very clean/nice hotel, although not quite our style (we prefer more 'modern' accommodations), but I'm sure anyone that appreciates the older more ornate building/style would love the hotel.
If you end up being around the Peabody around the time the ducks march, you might go by there, but I wouldn't make it a point to do so. I mean, it is what it is - ducks walking to the fountain. Kind of cute, but I wouldn't call the 20 second experience the highlight of my trip.
The highlight of the trip was definitely Graceland. It was probably the most impressive museums/exhibits I have ever been to as far as the quality of the audio-tour, the information given, the vast amounts of memorabilia, etc. It sounds like you will have your own car, so I would advise you to drive yourself, opting out of any "tour" to Graceland. We did not have a car and took a tour bus - we felt very rushed and could have easily spent an additional hour or two more.
Beale St. really only seemed to be popular at night, so if you combined Graceland during the day and Beale St that night, you could have the next day to do any other museum tours you wanted to do. I am sure there is more to do in Memphis if you wanted to stretch it to 3 nights, but if you hit Graceland, you've hit the biggest highlight (in my opinion).
Have fun! TCB
If you end up being around the Peabody around the time the ducks march, you might go by there, but I wouldn't make it a point to do so. I mean, it is what it is - ducks walking to the fountain. Kind of cute, but I wouldn't call the 20 second experience the highlight of my trip.
The highlight of the trip was definitely Graceland. It was probably the most impressive museums/exhibits I have ever been to as far as the quality of the audio-tour, the information given, the vast amounts of memorabilia, etc. It sounds like you will have your own car, so I would advise you to drive yourself, opting out of any "tour" to Graceland. We did not have a car and took a tour bus - we felt very rushed and could have easily spent an additional hour or two more.
Beale St. really only seemed to be popular at night, so if you combined Graceland during the day and Beale St that night, you could have the next day to do any other museum tours you wanted to do. I am sure there is more to do in Memphis if you wanted to stretch it to 3 nights, but if you hit Graceland, you've hit the biggest highlight (in my opinion).
Have fun! TCB
Apr 24th, 2006, 05:44 PM
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I agree that the National Civil Rights Museum is worth visiting. It's a very moving and informative experience. The end of the tour, when you end up in Martin Luther King Jr.'s room, is just so heart breaking.
For more "fun", check out the Rock and Soul Museum. It's fantastic! If you have any interest in blues and rock-n-roll, this museum is a can't miss type of place. You get your own MP3 player to listen to as you tour the exhibits and there are juke boxes throughout the museum that have all kinds of great music you can stop and listen to along the way. The songs go along with the particular time period you are learning about in the museum. It's all really well done. The museum is located at the Fed Ex Forum.
For more "fun", check out the Rock and Soul Museum. It's fantastic! If you have any interest in blues and rock-n-roll, this museum is a can't miss type of place. You get your own MP3 player to listen to as you tour the exhibits and there are juke boxes throughout the museum that have all kinds of great music you can stop and listen to along the way. The songs go along with the particular time period you are learning about in the museum. It's all really well done. The museum is located at the Fed Ex Forum.
Apr 24th, 2006, 05:45 PM
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In Nashville, a stop at the Opryland Hotel is always great..sooo big and has many unique features. I live in Memphis and recommend dining at Bhan Thai on Peabody at Bellevue intersection, minutes from downtown. In a lovely old home, it's my favorite restaurant in town...but I am no "foodie", just a regular gal. Rendezvous is famous for bbq ribs, but I have not been, and I like Corky's for bbq sandwiches and pecan pie and Huey's for burgers. Be aware that Graceland is in a bad part of town, so don't stay in that area, just visit it. Krispy Kreme nearby! I think the most convenient downtown hotel is the Hampton in that is connected to Peabody Place mall. The Stax museum and Sun Studio are neat, too. If you like to walk at sunset, go to Harbortown and walk along the river on the greenway. Beale street is great for walking, too, and if you are baseball fans and the Redbirds are in town during your stay, catch a game at Autozone park, really nicely done architecturally speaking.My husband mentions there is some sort of underground railroad tour. Enjoy!
Apr 25th, 2006, 06:19 AM
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Another vote for:
ducks at the Peabody (have a drink in the lobby or dessert at the cafe)
National Civil Rights Museum (at the former Lorraine Motel -- where MLK was shot)
Sun Studios (cool tour and a cafe next door)
Stax Records
Graceland (definitely do it yourself -- you can see as much or as little as you want, like the plane, his car collection, etc. Be sure to pick up lots of tacky souvenirs for your friends!)
Pink Palace (an art museum in the middle of town)
Rhodes College (my alma mater and an absolutely beautiful campus to visit)
I also like staying downtown or you can stay Midtown. There is a Radisson near the Peabody that is cheaper and more modern.
Rendezvous is the most famous bbq in town. They are known for their dry ribs. Ask for directions -- it is in a little alley near the Peabody. I also like Corky's for sandwiches.
In Nashville, I would visit downtown and skip the Opryland Hotel -- it's way out by itself and just a huge hotel with an indoor atrium. You might enjoy the old Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry used to play.
I like Granite Falls for lunch -- near Vandy. Vandy is another of my alma maters and another beautiful campus to visit.
Have a great time!!
ducks at the Peabody (have a drink in the lobby or dessert at the cafe)
National Civil Rights Museum (at the former Lorraine Motel -- where MLK was shot)
Sun Studios (cool tour and a cafe next door)
Stax Records
Graceland (definitely do it yourself -- you can see as much or as little as you want, like the plane, his car collection, etc. Be sure to pick up lots of tacky souvenirs for your friends!)
Pink Palace (an art museum in the middle of town)
Rhodes College (my alma mater and an absolutely beautiful campus to visit)
I also like staying downtown or you can stay Midtown. There is a Radisson near the Peabody that is cheaper and more modern.
Rendezvous is the most famous bbq in town. They are known for their dry ribs. Ask for directions -- it is in a little alley near the Peabody. I also like Corky's for sandwiches.
In Nashville, I would visit downtown and skip the Opryland Hotel -- it's way out by itself and just a huge hotel with an indoor atrium. You might enjoy the old Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry used to play.
I like Granite Falls for lunch -- near Vandy. Vandy is another of my alma maters and another beautiful campus to visit.
Have a great time!!
Apr 25th, 2006, 06:37 AM
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Memphis = Pork BBQ
I've been to Memphis 50 times in the last 20 years and IMO it has the best pork BBQ. The Rendevous and Corky's while good to a Yankee are not the best places in town. For ribs go to Leonards, Germantown Commissary or Central BBQ. I actually think Tops which has about 8 locations has a better sandwich than Corky's. But also try Central BBQ for sandwiches as well as Interstate and The BBQ Shoppe. If you want a truly unique BBQ experience go to lunch at Cozy Corner and have the BBQ cornish game hen. Now I'm hungry for Memphis BBQ but fortunately I'll be there on business next Tuesday.
I've been to Memphis 50 times in the last 20 years and IMO it has the best pork BBQ. The Rendevous and Corky's while good to a Yankee are not the best places in town. For ribs go to Leonards, Germantown Commissary or Central BBQ. I actually think Tops which has about 8 locations has a better sandwich than Corky's. But also try Central BBQ for sandwiches as well as Interstate and The BBQ Shoppe. If you want a truly unique BBQ experience go to lunch at Cozy Corner and have the BBQ cornish game hen. Now I'm hungry for Memphis BBQ but fortunately I'll be there on business next Tuesday.
Apr 25th, 2006, 07:47 AM
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I grew up in Memphis (only moved to Florida about two years ago). I agree with the pp to AVOID the dinner cruises - total waste of time, and some can be pretty shoddy. Graceland is a good way to spend a few hours, but I would DEFINITELY add the National Civil Rights museum to your itinerary. Another fun thing is to take a carriage ride through the historic district - most of the drivers can tell you all kinds of interesting tidbits about the old houses and their former occupants.
As for food - I'm not a big fan of Corky's. I love memphis bbq, but to me, they are pretty bland. Tops is decent, so is Rendezvous...some of the best places are the little cafes downtown.
As for food - I'm not a big fan of Corky's. I love memphis bbq, but to me, they are pretty bland. Tops is decent, so is Rendezvous...some of the best places are the little cafes downtown.
