Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Possible Memphis itinerary

Am reporting back. In fact, this itinerary worked pretty well as a basis, though some tweaking was needed because some attractions remained closed for a few days because of weather issues (extreme cold and a tiny snow dusting). And the buses, while not a garden of earthly delights and sometimes populated with a few harmless "characters," were not that bad. Changes have been noted from the initial itinerary. Did a good bit of Beale Street area walking in between attractions on some of these days.

--One day (not a Tuesday):
Memphis Fire Museum
Graceland
Sun Studio

Given how late the shuttle leaves from the Rock and Soul Museum for Graceland (ca. 10:30 AM), this left time for a visit to the Memphis Fire Museum first. The Fire Museum was pleasant enough, with some good info about fire related issues (including history about major local fires and some nice vintage fire apparatus), but is especially good for youngsters. Graceland was great, and seeing all the exhibits (the planes, car museum, exhibits about Elvis's movie career and '60s comeback concert, several personal effects and furnishings, including record releases and awards) and the house took several hours -- well worth it and really fascinating. Graceland is mostly self-guided. Took the shuttle from Graceland to Sun Studio. The latter was remarkable; the original recording studio from the '50s is still intact in all its worn glory, and the tour was very informative. The shuttle continues back to Beale Street. No need for buses today.

--Still another day:
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Art Museum at the University of Memphis
Pink Palace

This day went according to plan. Took the #2C bus to Oak Court Mall and walked from there to the Dixon. Took the #2C bus back at the end of the day. Walked between the other two exhibits, a bit of a hike but that was fine with me. Liked the Pink Palace best, a good sized local history and science museum that contains among other things a model of an original Piggly Wiggly shop (the chain's founder built this mansion but never lived here). The Dixon Gallery is a house museum similar to the Frick and Gardner and Taft, though its permanent collection is not as impressive as these (actually best for ceramics and pewter, plus whatever temporary exhibits it has) -- the gardens are likely great but not in winter. The U. Memphis Museum was tiny and worth a miss, with a small Egyptian collection and not much else.

--Another day (Thursday):
National Civil Rights Museum
Belz Museum
Cotton Museum
Memphis Brooks Museum (open into the evening)

Had to shift some things around because of weather related closings. The Civil Rights Museum is huge and very informative, housed in the Lorraine Motel (where Martin Luther King was shot) and the former rooming house from where James Earl Ray shot King, both of which are gutted and retooled for exhibits. A must, as was the nearby Belz Museum, which contains wonderful statuary and monumental jade and ivory carvings, mainly from the 18th and 19th century -- not something many standard art museums tend to collect. The Cotton Museum was interesting, discussing the history of the crop in Memphis and the selling process for it, including a futures board used for many years. From here, took the Main Street trolley to the central MATA terminal and the #50 bus to the Memphis Brooks Museum. It's good, if not as good as similar museums of its type. Worth a visit, though. Took bus back to the MATA terminal and trolley.

--And another day:
Soulsville: Stax Museum
Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum/Burkle Estate
National Ornamental Metal Museum
Peabody Ducks
Memphis Rock and Soul Museum

Took the #17 bus back and forth from Stax with no problem. The Stax Museum is very good and interesting, with loads of detailed info about Memphis's equivalent to Motown. Turns out the #8 bus doesn't go to the Burkle and no bus goes near the Metal Museum (took a cab to the Burkle, another from here to the Metal Museum, and a third back to Beale Street). The Burkle is rather charmingly run-down and discusses the Underground Railroad and the plight of slaves without candy coating. The Metal Museum is housed partly inside, partly outside, not bad if not a must, a modest collection of old and new artwork and artifacts made of worked metal, not to mention a nice bluff view across the Mississippi River. The Peabody Ducks were a hoot -- a "duck wrangler" accompanies the birds from the lobby fountain to an elevator upstairs to a Sousa march -- touristy and fun (but watch for pickpockets, as loads of people crowd around the pathway and I got bumped a few times). Walked from here to the Rock and Soul Museum, which nicely ties up info from Graceland, Stax Museum, Cotton Museum, and Civil Rights Museum into a cohesive local history whole.

--One final day:
W.C. Handy House
Woodruff/Fontaine House
Memphis Zoo and Aquarium/Overton Park

These three attractions finally opened up after the cold weather eased up. Walked between the first two and cabbed it to the Zoo, then took the #53 bus back to downtown. The Handy House is a useful corrective after Graceland -- Handy's residence was a 3-room single-floor shotgun house which has been rehabbed and moved to Beale Street -- simple, humble, maybe best for music aficionados, though (I liked it). The Woodruff/Fontaine is a lovely Victorian with period furnishings and clothing -- looks a lot like the Addams Family's house from the outside. The Zoo is pretty good, though some critters weren't out because it was still chilly out -- and the aquarium part is tiny. Nice enough, though.

In short, I got around fine with the bus, walking, and a few cab rides. Very interesting city to visit, with some sightseeing musts.