For the traveler in search of the rich taste of Americana and the utmost in southern comfort, Memphis is the place to start. This is Music City and it’s for its famous son Elvis Presley as well as the sultry sounds of the blues. Throughout the city, you’ll find music especially on the the Beale Street Entertainment District. This district contains distinctive neon signs, live blues music, and an iconic retro aesthetic. Memphis combines  history with a vibrant music culture as you’ll find in our in-depth guide to experiencing all that this destination has to offer.

Memphis’s is arguably most known as the home of one Elvis Presley. Although Presley wasn’t born in Memphis, his family moved from Tupelo, Mississippi to Memphis in 1948. Throughout his career, Elvis referred to Memphis as his home. Visitors can explore Elvis’s ties to the city amongst spots such as the Arcade restaurant, Sun Studios, and Graceland.

Beyond being one of the music capitals of the US, Memphis also played a significant role in US history. During the civil rights movement, the city housed  Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists who held protests. One well-known protest known as the I Am A Man march, is memorialized next to Clayborn Temple. This march which was a part of the 1968 sanitation strike and the unfortunate deaths that resulted from the strike. Shortly after the marches in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated  at the Lorraine Hotel. The Lorraine Hotel has now become integrated within the National Civil Rights museum, offering self-guided tours of the civil rights movement and King.

Sun Studios: The Beginning of the Elvis Legacy

Known as the birthplace of Rock and Roll where legends such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, and others are recorded, a tour of Sun Studio offers an exciting as well as  educational  experience to get a feel for Memphis’s original music scene. Sun Studio’s first opened its doors in 1950 by Sam Phillips and is the location where Elvis recorded his first song as an  18 years old. The historical importance of this location for music lovers has made it one of the most famous recording studios across the globe. Their guided 40-minute tour begins upstairs where patrons can view numerous artifacts Elvis and other artists. The tour itself offers an immersive element as patrons listen to songs that were recorded in the studio years ago. After browsing through the museum’s display, the tour heads downstairs to the historic studio to view the actual recording studio where musical instruments reside. There’s even the iconic piano where the iconic pianist Jerry Lee Lewis burned his cigar into one of the keys.

Graceland: Elvis’s home

To understand the lasting legacy Elvis has on Memphis, a visit to Graceland is a must. Graceland is considered a landmark as it contains 120 acres showcasing Elvis’s lifetime accomplishments. There are multiple ticket options but the Ultimate VIP Tour provides the most comprehensive view of Elvis’s accomplishments and life through a tour of his mansion with an expert, tour of his custom jets, and full access to multiple museums showcasing his automobiles, possessions, performance costumes, and a view of the Elvis movie exhibit. This package contains everything for the ultimate Elvis fan. Graceland itself is quite expansive but the most rewarding aspect of touring this attraction is walking through Elvis’s home. The famous Jungle Room featuring bright green carpet, fauna, and warm lighting served as his final recording studio. Each room in the Presley mansion contains a different visual aesthetic, painting the picture of the creative mindset of the King of Rock and Roll. Besides the mansion, visitors can view Elvis’s extensive car collection which contains his iconic 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special and a display of over 100 pieces of his clothing. This includes his iconic jumpsuits which he wore during performances, capes, belts, jewelry, and more. Patrons should allow up to three hours for the tour due to the amount of artifacts from Elvis displayed at Graceland.

Memphis’s Ties to the Civil Rights Movement

The historic importance of Memphis’s connection to the civil rights movement can be explored through the National Civil Rights Museum which was established in 1991. The museum itself is located at the Lorraine Motel which is the infamous site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Patrons begin in the museum with a display dedicated to education on slavery which is then followed by a video presentation. Following the video, a self-guided tour throughout the museum showcases the history of the civil rights movement based on the different states in which protests, tragedies, and the overall fight for equality took place. What makes this museum impactful are the immersive experiences that accompany each exhibit. The latter part of the museum takes patrons to the part of the motel where MLK was assassinated on the balcony of Room 306. The motel room is preserved as if he was still occupying it which adds a layer of reality to the museum. Outside, a wreath and a plaque dedicated to his honor reside outside of the motel room balcony, allowing his legacy to live on.

Memphis’s Culinary Scene

Another aspect of Memphis that has become increasingly popular is its culinary scene which contains historical restaurants that even Elvis Presley dined at. The famous Arcade Restaurant has been a staple of Memphis’s dining scene since 1919, known for its generational ownership and ties to Elvis. Labeled as the oldest café in Memphis, the Arcade restaurant maintains its retro diner décor as well as its all-day breakfast menu. For Elvis fans, his legendary booth is still present and patrons can request to dine in it. The Arcade’s menu features beloved dishes such as the sweet potato pancakes served with two eggs any way, hashbrowns or grits, and bacon or sausage. For an additional charge, decadent chocolate gravy can be added to the pancakes as well as any dish to add another layer of sweetness. Patrons who want to experience the diner Elvis style can order their favorite dish, a fried peanut butter n’banana sandwich. A delicious twist is to add bacon to this sandwich allows for the savoriness of the bacon to complete the sweetness of the banana and the creaminess of the peanut butter.

Lunch at the Beauty Shop ties in the retro and vintage feel of Memphis for a unique experience. The Beauty Shop was formerly the site of Priscella Presley’s hair salon and now maintains a 50’s beauty shop aesthetic. Inside, vintage Belvedere hair dryers serve as seating for a few tables, allowing lunch to become a truly immersive dining experience. The restaurant is a female-run run with Karen Carrier serving as the executive chef and owner and Shay Widmer who is the additional chef on staff. The Beauty Shop’s menu offers brunch, lunch, and dinner selections depending on the time of day. For the lunch menu, the BLFGT&A sandwich served with house-made chips is an exceptional choice. This sandwich features a traditional BLT with the inclusion of avocado and a fried green tomato.

For a fine dining experience that is the definition of gastronomy, a reservation at the Lobbyist is a must. The cuisine offered changes seasonally and highlights local meats and fresh produce from the Memphis community. Under the creative mind of chef Jimmy Gentry, there’s a focus on incorporating influence on a global level within each dish which invites new flavors to come together. A few highlights from the menu include their eggplant and red-beet cardamom dessert. Their eggplant dish which is found under the vegetables section is paired with sofrito, burrato, and olive oil, creating a unique inclusion of Latin American flavors to compliment the mildness of the eggplant and the creaminess of the burrata. As for their red beet-cardamom ice cream, this dish is paired with black pepper and a marshmallow that encompasses the entirety of the ice cream. The red beet cardamom ice cream provides an aromatic flavor to compliment the bite of the black pepper and the sweetness of the lightly flambéed marshmallow exterior.

Accommodation

As for accommodation in Memphis, The Arrive Hotel is high on our list as it offers a chic aesthetic and is walking distance to Beale Street. The interior design is vibrant as it focuses on a colorful palette of blue and orange tones mixed with differing floral and geometric patterns found in the upholstered Queen Anne sitting chairs to the carpeted hallways. A mural of a map of Memphis adds a layer of community to the boutique hotel within the lobby. Featured in this hotel is a cocktail bar named Bar Hustle, a bakery named Hustle & Dough, and even a downstairs bar featuring shuffleboard tables for a late-night activity with friends. The rooms each evoke an industrial feel through exposed brick walls and concrete flooring. The studio room in particular contains a king bed fitted with Bellino Fine Linen, a work desk, an Apple TV, and a marble bathroom. Also featured in this room is intricate floral wallpaper which provides a focal point for the bed, brick walls, black industrial shower fittings, and mid-century furniture which all come together to create a unique ambiance.

Memphis is infamous for its ties to Elvis Presley and other Rock and Roll artists as well as blues musicians. Walking down Beale Street is an experience of its own as the bright neon lights and retro aesthetic of the entertainment district transport you into another time. The live music of musicians within the various bars and clubs on this street echoes outside, providing an electrifying ambiance. Staying in this city allows you to feel the history within the buildings of Memphis and appreciate the significance of the city. Along with a substantial music scene, Memphis is heading the culinary scene through its historical breakfast spots such as the Arcade restaurant to places that celebrate gastronomy such as the Lobbyist. Whether you intend to learn about the history of Memphis during your holiday or you intend to bask in the culinary atmosphere, Memphis is the place to visit. For more information on how to arrange your holiday in Memphis, check out http://www.tnvacation.com, http://www.ttmworld.co.uk, and http://www.memphistravel.com.