Memphis, Tennessee has been a destination for visitors for years. Originally, that push was because Memphis is home to Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, the iconic singer. Thousands of people each year take a pilgrimage to the Graceland, only to find the bustling city of Memphis has quite a bit to offer, Elvis fan or not
What most of those who live in Memphis know (and is becoming more and more known to visitors) is the city has an incredible food and music scene and is a growing hotbed of art. That’s what we’re going to cover in this quick guide to Memphis.
Ready to start exploring?
Amazing Food Scene
Now, when you think about Memphis, the sweet image of barbecue might come floating into your head. In this case, you’re right. Memphis is one of the absolute best places to really dig into barbecue in all of the United States.
The places to choose from are endless, but consider hitting up the world famous Memphis in May festival, home to a championship barbecue contest. To enjoy some killer meals, you can find options including Gus’s Fried Chicken, McEwen’s On Monroe, or Roxie’s Grocery.
Memphis has a wide ranging food scene that works on all price levels. You can find some of the best barbecue you could imagine at everything from food trucks, to hole in the wall joints, and award winning restaurants.
Tons of Music
While Nashville might be the more famous of Tennessee’s famous cities, there is plenty of music to enjoy when you’re in Memphis. Beale Street is the main musical thoroughfare, and home to the starts of both rock and role and the blues.
To listen to some of the best of the music scene in Memphis, you can hit up the Beale Street Music Festival, which is part of Memphis in May. For a cozy feel, check out Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall or the Blue Note Bar and Grill.
There are a couple of great musuems that focus on music in Memphis as well, such as the Stax Museum of American Soul, and the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum. Of course, no trip is complete without of tour of Graceland.
When to Visit and Getting Around
Most people head to Memphis in the spring and fall, when the seasons are more comfortable (it can get hot and humid in the summer), so plan for the normal “shoulder seasons” to be quite busy then.
Public transportation in Memphis is not quite as prolific as you might find in other cities. While there is bus service, most people find it easier to simply drive to their destinations, or take a cab back and forth.
Memphis does have an international airport, just seven miles outside the city that has flights from most airports inside the US. To get from the airport to downtown, there are plenty of rental car options, taxi stands, and public transport via the bus system.
Have you been to Memphis? What are some of your best tips for making the most of your trip there? Let us know what you think in the comments!
