Heading on fast-moving trip to this spring to Little Rock, Memphis, St. Louis

A

anna_x

Well-known member
We are going to Little Rock for a family event, and we want to spend two days in Memphis. Never been to either place. In LR, a niece will advise us. Is anyone familiar with Memphis?

Are there overview tours? A must-see museum, or music venue? After that, we head to St Louis, Iowa, and Chicago on short visits to see elderly relatives while they are still around.

 
Anna, Music City Missy would be a good bet, but she's on vacation until early Feb.

She doesn't have internet connection where she's at. I'm hoping to hook up with her in Nashville next weekend and will relay your request.

 
I used to play in the Memphis Symphony and lived there for a while...

First, pronounce it like the natives: MILL'um-phus.

I thought it was a truly bizarre place and couldn't wait to leave. However, there are some fun things to do. Granted this is what I remember from the last century when I lived there. One of the most amazing things about Memphis is the azaleas in the spring. Hopefully your visit will coincide with their blooming. The Ginormous Azaleas of Memphis in full color bloom are unbelievable. The city is engulfed in clouds of bright pink, fuchsia, lilac, magenta, and purple.

Graceland--it is what it is. Home of Elvis and current pilgrimage shrine. Try not to laugh at how incredibly tacky everything is if you do go.

Beale Street--downtown nightclub area, home of the Memphis Blues and Memphis Barbeque. Nightclubs, restaurants, The Orpheum Theatre which had been completely renovated when I lived there and I played in the Gala Grand Reopening Concert with the MSO.

Overton Square/Park: Square--lots of quaint shops, Playhouse in the Square, and restaurants in the Midtown area, a couple blocks south of Overton Park; Home of Memphis Art Museum and Memphis Zoo. The Central Park of Memphis. Near the university (MSU).

Mud Island (technically a peninsula). Tram access from downtown. A spit of land in the MIssissippi River with Riverview walk, view of downtwon city view, a complete replica of the Mississippi River. The opening of "The Firm" with Tom Cruise opened on Mud Island as well as featuring some other locations in the city.

Pink Palace--the former mansion of the founder of Piggly-Wiggly. Memphis History, Science, Natural History, Planetarium, Museum.

National Cemetery--cemetery opened during the Civil War to bury the dead. Civil war graves and monuments.

And last but not least: The Peabody Ducks. You can't visit Memphis without stopping by The Peabody to see the ducks playing in the fountain. They arrive on a red carpet in the morning for their day "at the beach" and leave in the afternoon to retire to their rooftop penthouse. Tradiitonal English Afternoon Tea at The Peabody is a real treat!

https://www.peabodymemphis.com/ducks-en.html

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/b6/df/b5b6df37caac283db50f43adefb32433.jpg

 
Great write-up, Thanks, Richard!

We will get there Saturday morning (March 30), probably staying a bit away from downtown, and leave Monday morning. There is a convention going on and hotels looks kind of high.
We were told by a niece to eat at Rendevous and go watch the duck parade. It looks as though we can walk to quite a bit within a few blocks so that is what we will do, despite my cranky knee and sore foot. We could take a tour bus but then we wouldn't be close enough. We will pass on Graceland but are considering the Soul Music museum, Sun Studios, or STAX. The civil war cemetery would be very interesting.
We are hoping to see spring blooms too. I really appreciate your responses and suggestions. Thanks!

 
MILL'um-phus? That is interesting. How did the locals come up with that pronunciation?

It is not anywhere near how it is spelled. There are no " ll's" in Memphis.
You gave such a great write-up about it, however I would love to hear the other side of it....the bizarre side!

 
Who knows? Tribal dialects can evolve into very odd pronounciations...

the bizarre is best not gone into here. Have you seen Bette Davis in Jezebel? I was Amy, Memphis was Bette.

 
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