It’s always a race against time in Memphis as the city of blues is blessed with copious eye-rolling and astounding attractions to discover. Thumping jazz and melodic blues, resonant rock ‘n’ roll, luscious and aromatic barbeque food are a few perks of the bluff city that one should never give a miss to. No matter how long you stay in the city, it promises you to give memories that always stand the test of time.
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Day 1 in the City of Blues
8:00 am: Healthy breakfast in the wake of a walk!
Welcome the sun with a brisk walk in Overton Park nestled in Poplar Avenue. A little bit of workout in morning is the best way to tranquilize your mind and soul. After a walk for good half-an-hour, it’s time to get jam-packed with some energy. You can walk East on Poplar Avenue towards North Tucker Street and reach Cafe 1912 (243 Cooper Street, Memphis). Indeed a best place to stop by if you are a true French food aficionado. It is 3-minute away from Overton Park.
10:00 am: A sneak peak into Mississippi River Valley's remnants!
After a good dose of energy, it’s time to explore some ins and outs of Lower Mississippi River Valley at Mississippi River Museum which is comprised of 18 galleries. A great place to have a close look at more than 5,000 remnants of the valley.
Address: 125 North Front Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Phone: 901.576.7241
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday (10 am-5 pm); remains closed on Mondays
Distance and time from Overton Park: 3.3 miles or 8 min drive
12:00 pm: Hopping sight-seeing tour!
After leaving Mississippi River Museum, start heading south on North Front Street towards Adams Avenue. Memphis Tours, located at North 3rd St, would be your next stop. These are the sightseeing tours that will take you to the iconic and must-visit spots in Memphis. Explore the top picks of the city with satisfactory Memphis sightseeing tours. They also provide you with some delicious snacks during your tours. Keep on munching and exploring the Timber-land.
Address: 22 North 3rd Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Phone: 901.527.2797
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday (8 am-4 pm); remains closed on Sundays
Distance and time from Mississippi River Museum: 0.4 miles or 9 min drive
3 pm: Gratify your hunger!
It’s time to revive your energy. People with great tempt for American cuisines go Felicia Suzanne’s (80 Monroe Avenue L1, Memphis) with bells on. It is highly recommended restaurant serving cooked-to-perfection cuisines with Southern flair. It is 6-minute away from Memphis Tours. You can also drop by Huey’s Downtown which is located at 77 S 2nd St, Memphis. This place manages to serve most delectable burgers in the town. Here you can enjoy your feast while listening to live music. It pleases your taste buds as well as ears. Perfect combo! It is 6-minute away from Memphis Tours.
4:30 pm: Pop in The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum!
Why Memphis is called birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll? Why Memphis is fondly called ‘The City of Blues? How the music flourished in the bluff city? A traveler visiting Memphis for the first time comes up with such pertinent questions about the city. The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is the place which unearths the nexus between music and the city. Get to know the music-rich history of Memphis and music wizards thereof.
Address: 191 Beale Street and Highway 61 at FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Phone: 901.205.2533
Operation Hours: Daily 10 am-7 pm
Distance and time from Huey’s Downtown: 0.3 mile or 6 min drive
6 pm: Go heavy on music and beverages!
To enjoy the real music of Memphis, pop in Handy Park which is situated on most buzzing Beale Street and hosts live musical concerts and shows, and a lot of other grand and spectacular events. Fling yourself into the music performances and enjoy the beverages served at Handy Park.
Address: 200 Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Distance and time from The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: 121 ft or 1 min drive
8:30 pm: Dinner is calling you!
Running out of steam? Don’t panic! Memphis is packed with finest restaurants and eateries to stop by. One such name is Majestic Grille (145 South Main Street, Memphis). Beaux Art decor, extraordinarily good eats, theatrical performance, art forms, and dance performances are what Majestic Grille is famous for. You can also swing by Kooky Canuck (97 South 2nd St, Memphis) for scrumptious burgers, catfish, ribs, salad, and wide-ranging drinks from its bar. Dining at Kooky Canuck will delight your taste buds. It is 6-minute away from Handy Park.
10:00 pm: Shake your leg!
Memphis nightlife is something that people eat, sleep and breathe it. To enjoy most out of it, B.B. King’s Blues Club fits the bill. You will get here an overdose of foot-tapping American blues presented by renowned bands, and mouth-drooling barbequed eats.
Address: 143 Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Phone: 901.524.5464
Operation Hours: Monday-Thursday (11 am-12:30 pm); Friday & Saturday (11 am-2 am); Sunday (11 am-12 am)
Distance and time from Kooky Canuck: 0.2 mile or 4 min drive
12 am: Gorge on late-night food!
To gratify the late-night hunger pang, you can swing by Earnestine and Hazel’s and munch on its delicious Soul Burgers. Its live jazz and blues performances are apt to keep you awake until you retire.
Address: 531 South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
Phone: 901.523.9754
Operation Hours: Monday-Friday (5 pm-3 am); Saturday (11 am-3 am); Sunday (5 pm-3 am)
Distance and time from B.B. King’s Blues Club: 12 min drive
A Map Guide on Day 1 in Memphis
Day 2 in Rock ‘n’ Roll City
8:30 am: Start off with coffee!
Roll out to a cup of coffee at Cafe Eclectic situated at 603 North McLean Boulevard, Memphis. You can also sit and eat its healthy breakfast to keep you going.
Address: 603 North McLean Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee 38107
Phone: 901.725.1718
Operation Hours: Monday-Saturday (7 am-10 pm); Sunday (9 am-3 pm)
9:30 am: Get nose-to-nose with adorable animals!
Now you have ample energy to start off another day in the bluff city. You must be champing at the bit in the wake of being spellbound by your first day experience in Memphis. Spend some time with the most adorable creatures at Memphis Zoo. It is one of the four zoos in US which features Giant Pandas, “Ya Ya” and “Le Le.” Get a chance to take a click of more than 3,500 beautiful and exotic animals, representing more than 500 species.
Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, Tennessee 38112
Phone: 901-333-6500
Operation Hours: Daily 9 am-5 pm
Distance and time from Cafe Eclectic: 0.6 mile or 12 min drive
12 pm: A trip to iconic Graceland!
After leaving Memphis Zoo, head on to I-240 South from Prentiss Place and N Pkwy and stop by 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard. The beauty of a white-mansion, Graceland will mesmerize you altogether. It was once home to the great music maestro, Elvis Presley. Now, it exhibits all of his belongings, namely, trophies, photographs, medals, clothes, and also showcases the gargantuan collection of his vintage cars.
Address: 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee 38116
Phone: 901.332.3322
Operation Hours: Monday-Saturday (9 am-5 pm); Sunday (9 am-4 pm)
Distance and time from Memphis Zoo: 10.3 miles or 16 min drive
2 pm: Its munching time!
After a visit to iconic Graceland, it’s time to feed your belly. Swing by Piccadilly (3968 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis) and enjoy your feat in an intimate setting. Grab a bite to its finger-licking seafood, chicken and salad. It is 7-minute away from Graceland. You can also visit Big Bill BBQ (4101 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis) for its remarkably delicious barbequed food at reasonable prices. The hospitable staff will greet you with a big smile. It is 5-minute away from Graceland.
4 pm: Traipse around Memphis Brooks Museum of Art!
Move on to I-55 North and drop by Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. This museum boasts great art works and object which symbolize the diverse world culture and history. The exhibition and collection of pre-eminent art objects at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art are well worth your time and visit.
Address: 1934 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Phone: 901.544.6200
Operation Hours: Wednesday & Friday (10 am-4 pm); Thursday (10 am-8 pm); Saturday (10 am-5 pm); Sunday (11 am-5 pm); remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Distance and time from Graceland: 9 miles or 15 min drive
6 pm: Shop till you drop!
Shopping junkies love to splurge in Memphis, and when it comes to shopping, Oak Court Mall steals the show. It is flooded with the collection of A-list designers, and all the top-notch stores. Shopping at Oak Court Mall is considered the smartest choice of the new-age man.
Address: 4465 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38133
Phone: 901.682.8928
Operation Hours: Monday-Saturday (10 am-9:30 pm); Sunday (10 am-6 pm)
Distance and time from Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: 5.1 miles or 11 min drive
8:00 pm: Satiate your hunger!
Don’t let your hunger pang subvert your spirit; take a break, search for a restaurant of your choice, and get back your tempo. Stop by Sakura Japanese Restaurant (2060 West Street, Germantown) for its unparalleled spice garlic and sweet mango sushi rolls. Head on to Bar-B-Q Shop Restaurant (1782 Madison Avenue, Memphis) for spaghetti and pork sandwiches and delectable ribs with dry seasoning. It is 11-minute away from Oak Court Mall.
10:00 pm: Party mode is on!
It’s time to shake your leg in the Rock ‘n’ Roll city. Stop by Hi-Tone which is considered one of the finest cocktail lounges and venues for live music. Get a taste of the amalgamation of extensive freshly made drinks at Hi-Tone.
Address: 412-414 North Cleveland Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Phone: 901.278.8663
Distance and time from Bar-B-Q Shop Restaurant: 1.6 miles or 4 min drive
12:30 pm: Open bottles at P&H Cafe!
For your after-party fun, you can head towards Madison Avenue from Hi-Tone and swing by P&H Cafe. This dazzling place is mellow with pool tables, beer section, and menu is flecked with myriads of delicacies. Ending the journey by sipping beer at P&H Cafe is a great way to bid adieu to Memphis with a zeal in heart to come back again.
Address: 1532 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Phone: 901.726.0906
Operation Hours: Monday-Friday (3 pm-3 am); Saturday (5 pm-5 am); remains closed on Sundays
Distance and time from Hi-Tone: 1.1 miles or 5 min drive
A Complete Map Guide on Day 2 in Memphis