Graceland
Once the home of the King of Rock and Roll himself,
Elvis Presley, Graceland is the second-most visited house in the
United States after the White House. Thousands descend on Memphis
to tour the icon's house and grounds, paying respects at his grave.
Kept as close as possible to how it was then Elvis lived there,
visitors can go on audio-guided tours of the home and trophy
building. Guests are also privy to his massive collection of cars,
including his renowned 1055 pink Cadillac, and two private jets.
Along with general memorabilia and history, guests at Graceland can
also order some 1950s and 1960s diner-style food, including the
king's infamous deep-fried peanut butter, banana and bacon
sandwich.
Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley
Joseph Novak
Sun Studio
Sun Studio is enshrined in musical folklore for launching
legends like Elvis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison on the road to
stardom. Visitors to Sun Studio are privy to a great deal of
memorabilia, rare outtakes from recording sessions and can even
touch Elvis' first microphone. It still hosts live sessions and
recordings with current artists, while for peckish customers
there's always the Sun Studio Café, a 50s-style diner and still a
favourite musician hangout. Free shuttles are on hand to transport
visitors to and from either Graceland or the Rock 'n' Soul
Museum.
Sun Studios
David Jones
Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum
Put together by the Smithsonian
Institution, the Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum is a collection of
rare recordings, vintage films and interactive exhibits celebrating
American musical pioneers. The building is located on the corner of
the legendary Highway 61 and equally famous Beale Street, home of
urban jazz and blues. From gospel to blues and rock, the museum
displays memorabilia from performers such as Ike Turner's piano,
B.B. King's guitar and some of Elvis's outfits. Each of its seven
galleries has a specific focus, ranging from rural culture and
music to the influential Sun Records. The Bravo Gallery focuses on
the performers and industry players who contributed to a successful
civil rights movement.
Rock N' Soul Museum
Thomas R Machnitzki
Pink Palace Museum
The Pink Palace Museum is devoted to
culture and natural history. Visitors can also explore dioramas,
exhibits and audio-visual displays tracing Memphis' past from the
arrival of the Spanish explorers through to the Civil War and
yellow fever epidemics. An award-winning medical exhibit highlights
the city's development into a healthcare centre for the United
States, while dinosaurs, fossils and medical history also feature.
There's a planetarium at the Pink Palace, as well as an Imax
theatre, nature centre and science centre. Nearby are two further
houses of historical interest - the Magevney House, an 1830s
clapboard house built by Irish immigrants, and the Mallory-Neely
House, a 25-room abode built in 1852. Both still have their
original furnishings.
Pink Palace Museum
Thomas R Machnitzki
Mud Island River Park
Mud Island on the Mississippi offers fascinating insight into
the famous river with a series of immersive and informative
attractions. The Mississippi River Museum focuses on the history of
the Mississippi, as well as the engineering, discovery and
settlement of the river and its banks. There's also a display of
the Memphis Belle, a famous B-17 bomber from World War II. But the
highlight is the River Walk, five blocks long and representing a
journey of 1,000 miles (1,609km) from Illinois to Louisiana, ending
in a scaled down Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can rent paddle boats,
canoes and kayaks, as well as mountain bikes, for exploring.
Mud Island River Park
Thomas R Machnitzki
Memphis Botanic Garden
The delightful Memphis Botanic Gardens are
found on a 96 acre (39 ha) site at Audubon Park. Each of 26 gardens
are designed according to themes or species, ranging from the
Japanese Garden of Tranquillity to the magnificent Municipal Rose
Garden. Favourites include a children's garden, the Sensory Garden
designed to be enjoyed by the disabled and the Iris Garden, at its
best in April and May. There are also popular events such as the
weekly farmers markets on Wednesdays from April to October, while
there are evenings of wine tastings on Tuesdays from February to
October. Three annual plant sales are hosted by the gardens, with
proceeds going to various educational and horticultural programs.
There are also live concerts in summer, perfect for picnics.
Botanic Garden
Daderot
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music details the history of
the most successful soul music studio in history. Continuing the
legacy of Stax Records, the museum pays tribute to all the artists
who recorded there, including the likes of Isaac Hayes, Otis
Redding and the Staple Singers. There's a rare and astonishing
collection of two thousand interactive exhibits, films and
artefacts, as well as general memorabilia and galleries. The museum
also gives nods to other influential labels in the genre like
Motown, Hi and Atlantic, with giants like Aretha Franklin, Ray
Charles and the Jackson Five receiving praise despite not being
part of the Stax stables. It's also important to realise Stax as a
cultural phenomenon, starting out at a time when segregation will
still a grim reality in the United States.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Victor Chapa
Memphis has a humid subtropical climate,
and experiences four distinct seasons with cold winters and hot
summers. Spring and autumn can be varied and unpredictable and
severe weather, like thunderstorms and strong winds, is possible
during these transitory seasons. Summers are very humid thanks to
moisture encroaching from the Gulf of Mexico, and while the
temperature rarely reaches great heights; it tends to feel hotter
than it is. Summer temperatures average between 70°F (21°C) and
92°F (33°C). Winters, by contrast, can be fairly cold with
temperatures averaging between 32°F (0°C) and 52°F (11°C). Memphis
averages 3.8 inches (9.7cm) of snow a year. There is plenty of rain
to keep the region green, most falling in thunderstorms.
Memphis International Airport
Location: The airport is situated seven miles (11km) southeast from
Memphis.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
The terminals are connected by walkways and are within easy
walking distance of one another.
Getting to the city:
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) public buses leave
regularly for the city centre from a bus station near Terminal C,
and there are also services to many out-of-town destinations. Taxis
are available outside the terminal buildings. Some hotels provide
shuttle services and some shuttle companies serve the wider area.
Car rental companies are represented at the airport. Uber and Lyf
operate at the airport, pickup areas are located outside the
terminals.
Car Rental:
Rental car agencies are located in the Ground Transportation
Center, on the lower level of Terminal B. Car rental companies
represented at the airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar,
Hertz, National, Enterprise, and Thrifty.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available outside the Terminal B baggage claim area on
the ground level between 6am and one hour after the last flight of
the day. Approved taxi companies include Dynasty Transportation,
Premier Transportation, SFAX, and True Concierge.
Facilities:
There are numerous restaurants, bars and cafes and a variety of
shops, including an Elvis gift shop, shoeshine services, book
stores, and a meditation centre. 24-hour ATMs are located in
ticketing levels of Terminal B. Disabled facilities at the airport
are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in
advance.
Parking
Parking at Memphis International Airport is free for the first
30 minutes. Short-term parking is $2 for the first hour, and $1
every 30 minutes thereafter up to $24 per day. Long-term parking
has a similar pricing structure, with a $15 daily rate. Economy
parking is $1 for the first 90 minutes, and $6 per day.
Memphis in May
The Memphis in May Festival is designed to
not only highlight the charms of Tennessee, but also that of a
different guest country each year. The Barbecue Contest is the
first of the big three events happening in May, with grill
demonstrations, tours through teams' barbecue spaces and tasty
sampling at BBQ Alley. Next up will be the Beale Street Music
Festival, delivering an outrageous party over four stages and
hosting Cajun music acts along the mighty Mississippi. Lastly, more
sporty travellers will no doubt delight in the Great American River
Run, with both a 3 mile (5km) and 6 mile (10km) route cutting
through the crisp and chilly autumn air.
Venue:
Various
![Memphis, Tennessee]()
Memphis, Tennessee
Thomas R Machnitzki
Elvis Week
Former home of rock and roll legend Elvis
Presley, Graceland in Memphis is one of the most famous and most
visited tourist attractions in the United States. Each year on the
anniversary of his death, thousands upon thousands of avid fans
flock to Graceland for a week of scheduled events, like the
Candlelight Vigil, a 1950s style dance party and a fun run in aid
of charity. Special guests like former band members, co-stars and
bodyguards conduct talks about the King, with topics ranging from
his films to his relationship with gospel music. A contest for the
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Performer runs throughout the week, on top
of live music and special movie screenings.
Venue:
Graceland mansion, Elvis Presley Boulevard
![Elvis Presley Pink Cadillac]()
Elvis Presley Pink Cadillac
Corkythehornetfan
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Public transport is not very reliable in
Memphis and the most efficient way to cover the sprawling city is
by renting a car, although you may find traffic congestion on major
roads. The city is simple to navigate and parking is generally easy
to find. To hire a car, drivers must be 21 years old, with most
agencies having higher rates for under-25s. Some require an
International Driving Permit as well as a valid driver's
license.
Public transport is available, consisting
of slow and infrequent buses. But there are also shuttle buses that
operate around the main attractions in the city centre, which
visitors may find more convenient. The famous vintage electric
trolleys are a popular way for tourists to get around the city
while taxis, Uber and Lyft all operate in the area.
Memphis is synonymous with music, with
tourists making the trip to visit this melting pot of talent which
gave so much to the blues and rock n' roll genres. Music lovers
will find every bit of this colourful city memorable, with heroes
including Johnny Cash and the king himself Elvis Presley, and the
significance of Beale Street.
Indeed, the most popular attraction in
Memphis would be Graceland, the mansion belonging to Elvis. It's
the second-most visited house in the United States, with thousands
of fans passing through its doors throughout the year.
Other favourites would be the Memphis Rock
n' Soul Museum, a unique interactive museum detailing the history
of rock and soul in America, along with the Stax Museum of American
Soul Music that pays homage to the legendary artists recorded at
the original Stax Records like Ottis Redding, Wilson Pickett and
Elvis Presley.
For those who are interested in more than
just the music scene, the Memphis Botanic Gardens are a wonderful
outdoors experience and can be enjoyed any time of year. Mud Island
in the Mississippi River is great fun for the whole family, and
Memphis Zoo is one of only a handful in the US that houses giant
pandas.
Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley
Joseph Novak
Sun Studios
David Jones
Rock N' Soul Museum
Thomas R Machnitzki
Pink Palace Museum
Thomas R Machnitzki
Mud Island River Park
Thomas R Machnitzki
Botanic Garden
Daderot
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Victor Chapa
Memphis, Tennessee
Thomas R Machnitzki
Elvis Presley Pink Cadillac
Corkythehornetfan
