Four Days in Memphis

4/9/2015
Four Fun-Filled Days in Memphis | memphistravel.com
Meeting & Event Planners Travel Professionals Memphis Sports Council Conventions Press Room Members FOUR FUN-FILLED DAYS IN MEMPHIS
If you got some vacation time coming up and
you’re looking for a great four-day getaway, you
should put Memphis on your list. We’ve got the
perfect itinerary to help you experience culture,
music, soul and some of the best food you’ll ever
put in your mouth. Just give us four days, and we
can show you the best the Bluff City has to offer.
Day One
Metal Museum
(http://www.memphistravel.com/national-ornamentalmetal-museum)
Kick off your trip in an unexpected way by making your first stop the Metal Museum. Nestled on
the bank of the Mississippi River, this is the only museum in the country dedicated to the craft of
artisan metalwork. You can experience a variety of temporary exhibits as well as the permanent
collection that features wonderful, hand-crafted pieces of art. The Metal Museum boasts a
functioning blacksmith and, in Mark Twain’s opinion, one of the most spectacular views of Ol’
Man River in existence.
Memphis Zoo
Get wild and crazy at one of only four zoos in the country to house giant pandas. The Memphis
Zoo is a fantastic attraction for kids of all ages (http://www.memphistravel.com/go-wild-memphis-zoo) .
Experience over 76 acres of wildlife while viewing 3500 animals, representing 500 different
species. Grab a schedule so you can catch all the zookeeper chats, and make sure to give yourself
3-4 hours so you can see everything.
South Main Arts District
Finish out your day with dinner and drinks in the South Main Arts District in Downtown
Memphis (http://www.memphistravel.com/satisfy-all-your-shopping-needs-south-main) . Make a dinner
reservation at Grawemeyer’s (http://www.memphistravel.com/grawemeyers) and chow down on some of
Chef Michael Patrick’s signature cuisine like meatloaf sliders, Gruyere spaetzle and crab cakes
with homemade relish. Save room for dessert from the Cheesecake Corner (http://www.memphistravel.com/cheesecake-corner) .
This popular after dinner spot is the perfect place to settle in with a nice glass of wine and a slice
of decadent cheesecake. There’s always at least a dozen flavors to choose from, like caramel apple,
butter crème, coconut pecan, strawberry daiquiri and cookie dough. While $8 seems like a hefty
price tag, the servings are enormous – plenty to share. Cap off the evening with a drink and live music at Earnestine and Hazel’s. Touted as one of the
country’s top dive bars (http://www.memphistravel.com/5-awesome-memphis-dive-bars) , this mainstay is a
popular hangout for locals and visitors. The building used to be a brothel, which only adds to the
character and charm.
Day Two
We’ve got the perfect prescription to help you devote your second day to the King. From breakfast
to dinner and everything in between, you can learn about Elvis’ life and work, hit some of his
favorite hot spots and see a side of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll that you’ve never experienced before.
Arcade Restaurant (http://www.memphistravel.com/arcade-restaurant)
There’s no better way to start the day than consuming a hearty breakfast. Dig into a stack of sweet
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potato pancakes or devour a freshly made omelet at this South Main eatery. This was one Elvis’
favorite hangouts, and he would often sit at his favorite spot (last booth on the left), grab a bite to
eat and jot down song ideas.
Graceland, Home of Elvis Presley
You can’t come to Memphis without making the trek to Elvis Presley’s Graceland
(http://www.memphistravel.com/graceland) . While the house may not seem very big by today’s
standards, in the 1950s, it was downright opulent. While you’re there, check out his two private
planes and all of his fancy rides in the car museum.
VIP ticket holders also have access to special exhibits which chronicle Elvis’ rise to fame, and
other areas of his personal life.
Sun Studio (http://www.memphistravel.com/sun-studio)
See where Elvis made history at Sun Studio. This is the place where music greats like Johnny
Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and of course the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself,
got their start. Local musicians make excellent tour guides as visitors peruse a large collection of
memorabilia and artifacts, including original recordings, a replica of Sam Phillip’s tape machine
and handbills. The tour concludes in the studio itself, which still looks much like it did on that
fateful day in 1954 when Elvis recorded his version of “That’s All Right,” and rock ‘n’ roll was
born. If you’re very careful, you can even take your picture with one of the microphones that Elvis
actually used during his recording sessions.
Coletta’s Restaurant
Celebrating the life of Elvis Presley can build up an appetite. Assuage your hunger with Elvis’
favorite pizza (http://www.memphistravel.com/colettas) at this long-standing Memphis establishment.
Coletta’s Restaurant has been serving up authentic Italian fare since 1923, and Elvis was one of
their favorite customers. He was really partial to the barbecue pizza: two cheeses, a pile of pulled
pork shoulder and Coletta’s signature barbecue sauce heaped on a hearty crust. It is the perfect
way to end your Elvis-themed day.
Day Three
During the third day of your trip, explore some of the city’s unique historical ties. From the era of
slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, Memphis was the lynchpin for several important historic
events.
Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange (http://www.memphistravel.com/cottonmuseum-memphis-cotton-exchange)
Memphis’ position on the Mississippi River made it a key player in the cotton trade from the early
1800s through the mid 1900s. The Cotton Museum, situated on the ground floor of the original
Cotton Exchange building, traces the role and influence of the Bluff City on this major crop.
Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour that features archive video footage, photography and
interactive exhibits. See the ins and outs of cotton production, the economic impact of harvesting
and distribution and how Memphis was integral to the entire cotton industry.
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum (http://www.memphistravel.com/slave-havenunderground-railroad-museum-burkle-estate)
Memphis was one of the country’s largest slave trading cities in the 1800s, and because of its
location, it was a critical point along the Underground Railroad. German immigrant and
abolitionist, Jacob Burkle, offered his home to be one of the resting points for slaves escaping to
freedom. The Burkle Estate, known today as Slave Haven, gives an in-depth look at how slaves
lived during that time. Visitors can even go down into the basement where the slaves hid,
sometimes for up to weeks at a time, until it was safe for them to move to the next location.
Withers Collection Museum and Gallery
Ernest Withers was a prolific photographer during the 1950s and 1960s
(http://www.memphistravel.com/civil-rights-movement-and-memphis-music-captured-through-lens-ernest-withers) .
He was able to capture moments that no other photographer was able to do at that time. He went
behind the scenes of the Negro baseball leagues, he got up close and personal with Dr. Martin
Luther King and covered the Emmett Till murder trial. See his first-hand account of the Civil
Rights Movement from behind the lens of the camera at this unique visual museum.
B.B. King’s Blues Club/Itta Bena
We’ve got two options for dinner to round out this day. If you want a rockin’ good time, head on
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down to Beale Street and check out B.B. King’s Blues Club for live bands and thoughtful, casual
Southern fare like corn and jalapeño fritters, shrimp Louie salad and black-eyed pea hummus.
For a more relaxed time, go upstairs (using the unmarked entrance on 2nd Street) and settle in at
Itta Bena (http://www.memphistravel.com/itta-bena) . Named for B. B. King’s hometown of Itta Bena,
Mississippi, the menu at this upscale eatery focuses on Low Country classics like shrimp and grits,
she-crab soup and Gulf snapper with andouille hash.
Day Four
We may have just saved the best for last. Fill your final day with the unique beauty of some of
fantastic East Memphis hotspots.
Memphis Botanic Garden (http://www.memphistravel.com/memphis-botanic-garden)
This 96-acre retreat offers 23 specialty gardens and is open all year long. Memphis’ temperate
climate allows for a huge variety of species throughout this magical space. Kids will love My Big
Backyard, an educational play area with a tree house, classroom, picnic tables and a wading creek.
For adults, check out the Live at the Garden concert series which has featured headlining acts like
Earth, Wind and Fire, Pat Benatar, Seal and Duran Duran.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
This picturesque museum is part art gallery, part botanic garden and all splendid
(http://www.memphistravel.com/dixon-gallery-and-gardens) . The interior space showcases eight to ten
visiting exhibitions covering everything from modern works from local Memphis artists to famed
expressionists and everything in between. The exterior area boasts vast gardens, an arboretum
and numerous sculptures. The Dixon also features weekly educational programs and family days.
Hog & Hominy/Acre
Keep enjoying the fabulous sights and sounds of East Memphis by dining on the patio at one these
popular restaurants. Hog & Hominy is a casual hangout that features a bocce ball court and rustic
Italian cuisine (http://www.memphistravel.com/7-reasons-why-you-need-eat-hog-hominy) . Chefs Andrew Ticer
and Michael Hudman have filled the menu with wood-fired pizzas, creamy gelato and unique
handcrafted cocktails. Chef Wally Joe fuses his Chinese background with classic Southern ingredients and techniques at
Acre (http://www.memphistravel.com/acre-restaurant) . This labor of love took almost five years of design
and construction and features Koji chicken with Brussels sprouts, grilled octopus and even a
whole suckling pig with all the fixings (with advance notice). Either way you go, you’ll get a
delicious taste of city in a trendy, up-and-coming area of town.
Award Winning
Hotel
In the heart of Downtown
Memphis
Received the 2014
TripAdvisor Certificate of
Excellence. Our staff takes
pride in offering exceptional
experience to our guests.
Click Here
http://www.memphistravel.com/trip-ideas/four-fun-filled-days-memphis
EXPLORE THE
ULTIMATE ROCK
RESIDENCE
Visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland
Take an unforgettable
journey through the most
famous rock ‘n’ roll residence
in the world. Click Here
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4/9/2015
Four Fun-Filled Days in Memphis | memphistravel.com
B.B. King's Blues Club (/bbkings-blues-club)
Rendezvous, Charlie
Vergos' (/rendezvous-charlievergos)
ACRE Restaurant (/acrerestaurant)
(http://maps.google.com/maps?
(https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1060425,-89.982825,11z/data=!10m1!1e1!12b1?source=apiv3&rapsrc=apiv3)
ll=35.106042,-89.982825&z=11&t=m&hl=en&gl=US&mapclient=apiv3)
5 km Map data ©2015 Google
[tip: you can use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out on map].
http://www.memphistravel.com/trip-ideas/four-fun-filled-days-memphis
Arcade Restaurant (/arcaderestaurant)
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