We have been invited to join our friends who are taking their aging mother to fulfil her dream in March. Any advice - what to see - where to stay - interesting stories? Obviously not on the top of our destinations list but looking on the humorous side and acknowledging the joy it will bring to Nanny.

You will enjoy Memphis. I was pleasantly surprised at the tour of Graceland (check their website).

Also in Memphis is the famous Peabody Hotel (& the marching ducks), Mud Island, the National Civil Rights Museum, and tours of one or both of the famous recording studios: Stax or Sun.

Also, ribs at Jim Neeleys barbecue restaurant (MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!)

Actually, some parts of the Graceland tour are quite moving even for non-Elvis fans (I'm a huge one). I lived in Memphis for a year and forced all family and friends to go there and each one enjoyed it. The car museum is really fun. You have to go to Charlie Vargas' Rendesvous for a real Memphis ribs experience. And Automatic Slim's for a fun food experience.

well said sharon. i was all for the touristy, glitz of it. (elvis fan, myself!) but was surprised at the intimacy of it! it's really very sincere, and real. the rendezvous ribs are the best, the civil rights musuem is enormously informative and moving. you can even ride the street trolley for a while to give your feet a rest. and sun studios was really cool.

I visited Graceland this year for the first time in 20 years. They now have individual headsets with educational information like you would find in a museum. While I liked this, my aging parents would find this frustrating. You might want to see if there is guided tour instead for your Nanny.

If you stay downtown, you can visit the recording studio and take their bus to Graceland.

The Rendevous is a tourist trap and in fact, they don't even cook their ribs the same way other good Memphis rib places cook them. Stay away from Corky's as well, highly touted but quality has gone down dramatically.

Ribs - Central BBQ, Leonards or Germantown Commissary.

Pork Shoulder - Central BBQ, The BBQ Shoppe, Tops

One of the best things to try is the BBQ cornish game hen at Cozy Corner. It's only open during the day, you'll know why when you get there.

Just returned from Memphis - went specifically to visit Graceland. Thought the tour is done very well. I think you'd enjoy it even if you aren't an Elvis fan. Very interesting and very well orchestrated. I agree on Rhondevous - ugh as far as BBQ. Dry and a tourist trap. We did however really enjoy Corky's - great sauce and lots of variety to choose from. The Peabody & the ducks are soemthing to see. Beautiful hotel also and sold out when we were there. Ideally I would stay in downtown Memphis but when we went we could not find a room. We stayed in East Memphis suburbs at Homewood Suites which is great but the 15 drive back and forth cramps your style - plus parking is expensive and hard to find. All in all it was a great weekend and I'd recommend Memphis. We also took the Sun Tour which is short but interesting especially to people interested in the early singers like Johnny Cash & Roy Orbison, along with Elvis.

I've been twice in two years and brought my kids. We stayed over only once. Ate at Corky's, liked it, but would be glad to try another place. Couldn't get into Rendezvous so we went to Isaac Haye's supper club and it was great. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and it was fun, had a balcony and could see over toward Beale Street. Memphis was a lot more fun than I would have thought. I loved the music, the bbq, Graceland, the museums, the ducks and house cocktail at the Peabody. Have a great time!

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Just returned and surprisingly enjoyed my visit more than expected. Graceland was more interesting than I thought it would be - more personal with headsets providing information and stories as told by Elvis family members. Stayed in Tunica (20 minute drive) at The Grand. Could not beat rate $39 per night for a Vegas caliber hotel. Plenty of choices for eating, shopping and entertainment. Best of all, Nanny fulfilled her dream!