TRAVEL: A Weekend in Memphis

*I was recently hosted in Memphis with Tennessee Vacation for this press trip. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

As you may have seen on my Instagram, I was in Memphis just a couple of weeks ago for a weekend of fun with Tennesee Vacation. It was my first time exploring the city, so I was really looking forward to all it had to offer me and boy, did it deliver. From the food to the entertainment, to learning all about its history, I enjoyed every moment of this trip. I had so much fun, that I’ve decided to share a travel guide, sharing how to make the most of your weekend in Memphis! 😁

WHERE TO STAY

MADISON HOTEL

During my weekend in Memphis, I had the pleasure of staying at the Madison Hotel. It is currently being renovated and rebranded to The Hu, so I couldn’t get many photos outside of the room. There’s also supposed to be this epic rooftop bar that I wish I could have experienced, but it was closed for repairs. The hotel; however, is very convenient to many hotspots around downtown Memphis, convenient meaning within walking distance!

THINGS TO DO

BEALE STREET

Beale Street is the Home of the Blues and is also Tennessee’s top tourist tourism attaraction. From places to eat, drink, shop, and experience next-level entertainment, Beale Street has it all. Everyone is so nice and no one is treated like a tourist!

On Beale Street, you will also find the New Daisy Theatre, which was where the Six Degrees to Tennessee Roots Jam concert I attended was held. It was quite a moment to experience, with Memphis being the city where a number of artists were born. Each artist’s genealogy was traced back to Tennessee through their performances. Various artists across different genres performed a mix of songs and covers of artists including The Isley Brothers, Estelle, Dustin Lynch, Elle King, JJ Julius Son from Kaleo and a few others.

Left to right: @thebeautybeau, @pipmegan, @hunterpremo

OTHER THINGS TO DO

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

One of the highlights of my trip was getting to visually enjoy the National Civil Rights Museum, also known as the Lorraine Motel. For those unfamiliar, this is where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took his last breath before his assassination. He was murdered on the balcony of room 306 (behind me on the far left). It was truly a sad experience, but it also made me happy at how far we’ve come since then and how MLK played a major role in that!

Yes, this is similar to what classrooms used to look like back then. Having these desks and chairs really made me felt like I was living in that moment. It also helped show me how blessed we are to have come so far in integrated education since then!

This bus may or may not look familiar. Yes, it’s what buses looked like in earlier years, but this particular one is the infamous Rosa Parks bus, the one in which she refused to give up her seat. Just another touch of history at this National Civil Rights Museum which you just have to see in person. It was such a humbling experience.

Before leaving, the final stop is to the area which Dr. MLK took his last breath, room 306. Just peeking through the window of his hotel room gave me chills; everything seemed so surreal. It’s a feeling I can’t explain, other than telling you a wave of sadness came over me. 😞

The museum also has a gift shop on the top floor, where you can purchase souvenirs and other trinkets before you leave.

STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

Stax Recording Studio was founded in 1957 (then called Satellite Records) by Jim Stewart. Together, him and his older sister, Estelle Axton, invested in Stax to grow it into a soul phenomenon, known all across the world. What I learned at Stax that I previously didn’t was how soul music itself was heavily influenced by different genres. From country music, to pop and rock, soul is a nice blend of all of these, which related well to many listeners. Within only 3 years, Stax signed a deal with Atlantic Records, which helped to make any future record releases for any of their artists much easier to distribute into stores. Shortly after, Otis Redding becomes one of Stax biggest stars to ever cross their path!

Long story short, Stax experiences so much success when they decide to venture to Europe, and in that moment is when they become more noticed in the United States for their talent. Remember during this time, race was a factor in this industry and Europe welcomed them with open arms, no concern for race. Eventually America got on board and recognized them for the talented artists and group they were. They soared high until the devastation of Dr. MLK’s assassination and the plane crash that killed Otis Redding and other prominent Stax members, which was the start of everything falling apart. Atlantic Records ended up being sold to Warner Bros., in which a new agreement couldn’t be reached. With the original contract with Atlantic Records stating the ownership of “any rights of reproduction, in all Stax’s Atlantic-distributed recordings between 1960 and 1967,” Stax ended up losing mostly all of its recordings and had to start from scratch with the remaining artists.

In 1972, the IRS began an investigation of Stax, as well as their distribution deal with CBS crumbling. With this, there was no way Stax could get their records into consumers hands, which caused them to quickly plummet into debt. As a result, they were forced into bankruptcy, where Stax officially closed its doors in 1975.

In 2003, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music was born and opened to allow folks to relive the days of when Stax was alive and prospering and to also allow them to experience the joy of good old soul music, which you can see I dove in headfirst below! 😆

In the museum, this area is where you can play and listen to thousands of songs from decades ago. I definitely felt like I was living in the moment!

As with the National Civil Rights Museum, the Stax museum has a gift shop to purchase any souvenirs you may want, including albums of your favorite soul artists you may have rediscovered!

BLUES HALL OF FAME

This Blues Hall of Fame museum honors all of those who have contributed in any way to blues music including recording, performing and documenting. It was opened in 1980 and is just across the street from the National Civil Rights Museum!

ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM

The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum was created by the Smithsonian Institution and is an exhibition about the birth of soul and rock music.  Here you will learn about how artists across various genres, races and backgrounds overcame racial tension and socio-economic barriers to introduce the world to a new meaning of beautiful music.

ORPHEUM

At the Orpheum in Memphis, you can attend various performances, Broadway shows, concerts, and multicultural events. The space totals over 39,000 square feet!

AUTOZONE PARK

The AutoZone Park is home of the Memphis Redbirds. Though it is a minor league team, the actual stadium has the lighting quality of a major league facility. It is truly a state-of-the-art facility which has to be experienced at least once during the season!

CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE

Looking for a place in Memphis to eat, shop and stay overnight?! Look no further than the Crosstown Concourse, where you can do all 3! The possibilities are endless in these selections here. You’ll have to check it out for yourselves! 😏

BIG RIVER CROSSING

The Big River Crossing is the longest pedestrian bridge in the country across the Mississippi, which makes it the perfect place for exercise. It’s nearly a mile in length! It runs from Memphis, TN to West Memphis, AR. You can bike, run or walk across. Everyone is welcomed! 🙃

BASS PRO SHOPS AT THE PYRAMID

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is anything but your average Bass Pro Shops location. Aside from being one of the largest pyramids in the world, it houses an indoor swamp, a bowling alley and a hotel. You may also wonder why this was built in Memphis. Well believe it or not, the city of Memphis was named after a city in Egypt. Since Egypt is where the infamous Giza pyramid is located, Memphis decided to keep some of that history in Tennessee, by constructing this pyramid in the heart of the city. It was originally the home court for the University of Memphis basketball team and the Memphis Grizzlies, but they both ended up moving their courts after the FedEx Forum opened next door. The megastore of Bass Pro Shops was born inside this pyramid in 2015.

FEDEX FORUM

The new home of the Memphis Grizzlies and Tigers is the FedEx Forum. This massive structure also houses plays, concerts and a plethora of other entertainment to experience!

PLACES TO EAT

CAFE KEOUGH

Café Keough is the perfect place for breakfast, coffee or if you just want to work a few hours in a cool spot. It’s within walking distance from the Madison Hotel as well, right past the corner of Madison and Main.

BEALE STREET

CENTRAL BBQ

If you want award-winning barbecue, Central BBQ is the place for it. It boasts fall of the bone meat and delicious smoked meat. This place makes me wish I wasn’t a vegetarian!

PANCHO’S

Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant has been on my bucket list ever since I tried their amazing Cheese Dip. They have many, many options to choose from on the menu, including vegetarian ones. I seriously couldn’t stop eating the cheese though, haha!

CATHERINE AND MARY’S

One of the first things you may notice when you first walk through the doors of Catherine and Mary’s are the paintings. Naturally curiosity got the best of me and I wondered who these people were. Turns out 2 of them are Catherine and Mary. 😅  2 chefs, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman began what is known today as Catherine and Mary’s, heavily influenced by their grandmothers, Catherine and Mary. Their dishes are a nice blend of Italian and Southern cuisines. My brunch was incredible. Everything was so fresh too!

FLYING FISH

This gem was also within walking distance of my hotel. They had so many of my favorite Southern dishes. I loved it so much, that I went here twice during my trip. I ordered the fried catfish sandwich the first time and then the grilled catfish the 2nd time. Be sure to get the spicy version with the secret spices. You won’t regret it! 😉

Other Places in Memphis to Eat (recommended by locals)

Aldo’s Pizza Pies

Arcade Restaurant

Beauty Shop

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Hattie B’s

Hattie B’s

Soul Fish Cafe

The Majestic Grille

Other Historical Sites in Memphis

I really hope you beauties enjoyed my Memphis travel guide sharing everything I did during my weekend, along with other extra options! Regardless if you’re traveling alone as I did, as a couple or as a family, there is something for everyone to experience and eat. Let me know if you have any questions at all and I will be happy to answer as best as I can! 😊

Photos: @robbshoots