What to do in and around Memphis
 

Hello!

I am considering going to Memphis for about 5 days in May. What is there to do other than go to Graceland? Any neat little towns nearby? Any must see, must do or must eat?

If you're going to be in the city over a weekend, checkout the Memphis in May festival. It's a big do going everyweekend through May. You need tickets in advance, especially for the Music Fest.

www.memphisinmay.org

The Memphis Zoo just became the 3rd zoo in the US to have Giant Pandas on display. They just came in from China in the last week or so, so the lines will be long.

Beale Street is a row of nightclubs near the waterfront that all play live blues. It's an area to blues music what New Orleans' Bourbon Street is to Jazz

Lots of casinos about an hour south in Tunica.

Memphis is mucho famous for BBQ. Try Rendevous and order ribs. Memphis ribs should be tender enough to pull the bone out without utensils.

Check out the ducks at the Peabody hotel, and Sun Studios for some great rock n' roll history. If you are an Elvis fan, check out the Elvis Presley Cafe on Beale, the foods not bad. Also the Rum Boogey Cafe on Beale has some great music with no cover and the food is not half bad.

Mud Island is fun for a day.

Use the Search function of this forum - enter the phrase "off the beaten path" (without the quote marks!) and choose Tenessee as the area of interest. It should bring up a post called "Off the beaten path - Memphis - trip report".

Lots of great ideas in that thread - it was so good I actually saved it for future reference.

I am from Memphis and let me say that I think the ducks walking the carpet are not worth seeing. I mean it's whatever floats your boat, but they are just ducks. The Rendevous is great but only for their ribs, not anything else. There are many other restaraunts downtown. Try Cafe Samovar on Union for good eats, it's a Russian Cuisine place.

The zoo is ok. Memphians just hate it because it is over priced and ridiculous because places like St. Louis have a free zoo that is much nicer. But I guess the Pandas are worth seeing.

Memphis in May - Music Fest is crazy. If you don't like crowds, don't go. Especially drunken, crazy crowds! Barbeque Fest is alright but it's better if you know someone with a booth. Otherwise there's not much to do. The Sunset Symphony is great. memphisinmay.org for more info.

There are not many "must sees" in Memphis. I don't care for the city but I've lived here all my life. It's good if you like to party or if you like Elvis. Enjoy!