908Girl

I'm going to be in Memphis with a friend in January. I love tacky tourist traps, so if you can recommend any must-see spots, I'd be eternally grateful. I'd also love to hear about the best local places to shop, eat, drink, hear music, etc. And, what neighborhoods, if any, are unsafe? Additionally, how far is it to the Arkansas and Mississippi borders?

mclaurie

You need a map, sugar.
http://local.google.com/?q=38103&ie=...32873&t=h&om=0

Just drive over the bridge downtown and you're in Arkansas. Head south and you're in Miss.

I used to be in Memphis every week but it's been some time. Rendezvous for ribs. Peabody hotel in the afternoon for the parade of the ducks. Beale St. Here's a good older thread.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34650121

LCBoniti

And if you realy love tacky tourist traps, don't forget Graceland!

SusanCS

I absolutely agree with the above post! Graceland is without doubt the tackiest tourist trap I've ever seen. I'm thrilled to have gone, and more thrilled to be able to scratch it off my "to do" list

In Memphis, Beale Street is a must - but you really should see it on a weekend night. During the week it can be a little boring. The Rendezvous is a BBQ restaurant in an alley across from the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis that's famous for dry rub barbeque.

You MUST schedule time in the Peabody Hotel for the duck walk in the morning...it's priceless and better enjoyed with a bloody mary. The ducks live on the roof, descend on an elevator, and are escorted via a red carpet to the tiny pool in the hotel lobby.

Ike

I live in Mississippi just south of Memphis but I don't frequent downtown Memphis very much or at all really. I think I've been down that way once in the past 10/15 years. As a young man I used to visit the Peabody and that area quite often. It's gone down a lot since those days but in all fairness Memphis has done a lot to build back downtown. Stella and Grill 83 are two good downtown restaurants. You should visit the Peabody and Beale St. also. There are numerous bars and "joints" on Beale St. with good local music. The Rendevous is a must also. I went there over 40 years ago and nothings changed.

IMO the better area to visit at least where we visit is East Memphis and Germantown/Collierville. There are several shopping centers in that area you would enjoy. Saddle Creek is nice and also there's a new place near Collierville Avenue at Carriage Crossing. Beware Memphis has it's share of crime problems. Use your head and stay away from troublesome looking places but you can find trouble just about anywhere in town. Just use your head. I love Memphis but I don't go looking for trouble. The best restaurant in Memphis is Erline Jensen's. There are many other great places to dine also. You can find nice shopping also at Wolfchase Galleria and Oak Court Mall. Have a nice trip and best wishes.