Need an interesting place for one night near Memphis
 

My husband and I have planned a trip to Clarksdale for a music festival from April 10-14. At the end of the trip we'll be staying in Memphis from April 14-16 and then fly home. This is our first visit to the South. Our original plan was to fly into Memphis on the 9th, hang out there a bit the next day and then drive to Clarksdale. My husband's conference ends a day earlier than we thought so we're now arriving on the 8th. It turns out that our B&B in Memphis doesn't have a room for the extra night at the beginning. It seems kind of silly to stay in one place on our arrival, move to another for the next night in the same town and then move again to Clarksdale. One possibility is to find another place to stay in Memphis for the first two nights, but I'm just not sure that there is enough to do there for almost 5 days. We absolutely want to go to Graceland, Sun Records and Stax. Otherwise, we're not sure.

One other thought is to stay in Memphis one night and then drive somewhere else for the second evening. The only criteria is that wherever we stay is around a 2 hour drive from Clarksdale. That opens up a whole lot of places though and I have no idea where to even begin. Our interests include the Civil War, or someplace with great local color and oh, we love to eat good local foods. We are planning on taking some day-trips while we're in Clarksdale since most of the music events are in the evening.

I know that this is a really broad request as far as places to stay but I'd love suggestions, someplace else in Tennessee or in Mississippi. Or let me know if I'm wrong about staying longer in Memphis.

Spend a night at the Peabody if you can afford it.
http://www.peabodymemphis.com/

Thanks Tom. The Peabody is full the night that I want.

Oxford, MS meets your criteria. Great music and foodie scene, folklore studies at Ole Miss, William Faulkner house, grave of Calvert Vaux, co- designer of Central Park. You can get there by several routes, the one through Holly Springs taking you through a nice town that just happens to have a bizarre Elvis museum, though it is since my time in the area.

I would stay at a hotel on or near Beale Street. This is the area that is safe and walkable at night. http://www.bealestreethotels.com/bea...et-hotels.html

Ackislander, Oxford sounds just like what I was looking for. I love the idea of a bizarre Elvis Museum. Any suggestions on interesting places to stay or eat around there? A nice BB or really nice hotel?

For Memphis on the back end, we have reservations at a B&B called Talbot Heirs which is across the street from the Peabody. It got fantastic reviews on Tripadvisor. I think the first night we'll go with something less quaint since we get in late and I think we'll probably pick up the car rental and go. There should be time for a good breakfast though. Ideas?

Restaurant suggestion in Oxford: City Grocery. It's on the Square, and the Square is full of interesting shops and a very good bookstore. It's worth a stop.

Agree with bakerstreet. On the Square Books may be one of the more interesting independent bookstores in the country.

I remember when it was a hardware store, but I'm not complaining.

Oxford is sounding better and better. I checked out the menu at City Grocery and I'm already getting hungry. A great bookstore, count me in. Any other suggestions for sightseeing in the area? When we're in Clarksdale we plan on taking a few day trips and then we'll come back for music in the evening.