Day 1-3: Memphis (Eric)

Day 1-3 (May 30-June 1, 2021): Our first destination on our epic road trip with our cat, Bitey, brought us to Memphis. I am writing this from the rooftop of our hotel, and the view alone has helped me to achieve a much needed peaceful break from an incredibly stressful school year. 

Memphis is another city that exceeded my expectations. It has the elements that we’ve grown to love about traveling to different cities. It has a downtown filled with a variety of sights and great places to eat. 

Bitey has also been enjoying the views from our hotel room. 

In this post, I will be sharing a few of our favorite places we’ve visited while here in Memphis  
Beale Street is like the Bourbon Street of Memphis, and while not something that Jenny and I are normally interested in, it was worth wandering up and down to check out the eclectic mix of bars, music halls, and food places that line this street. BB Kings Blues Club was incredibly popular. So much so that we gave it a pass. The other place that caught our eye was an Irish bar that had live goats called Silky O’Sullivans, but it wasn’t open when we walked by. 

After an amazing dinner at a restaurant called Flight (our favorite restaurant in Memphis - not cheap but excellent food), we walked across a pedestrian bridge to see Mud Island River Park. While the maintenance of the park seems to have declined a little, we thought it was definitely worth wandering around. The one thing I didn’t take a picture of because it was hard to capture was a reproduction of the flow of the Mississippi River that spanned the length of the park. It ended in a large wading pool that was supposed to represent the Gulf of Mexico where the river ends near New Orleans. It was worth seeing. The views of the actual Mississippi from both the bridge and the park were also beautiful. 

One of the more surprising destinations we visited was the Bass Pro pyramid. We initially decided to visit the store because we both needed new sandals. But the store itself is a sight to see with ponds filled with fish, ducks, and even alligators. It is worth checking out if you’re in the area. We didn’t make it up to the observation deck and restaurant at the top of the pyramid, but after wandering through the whole store, we ended with more than just new shoes. The whole experience far surpassed my expectations. It’s not just a store; it’s an adventure. 

No trip to Memphis could be complete without a trip to Graceland, and while Jenny and I are not huge Elvis fans, it was cool to see the place the King called home for most of his all-too-short life. He was clearly a man with interesting tastes and a love for the unique which I’m sure helped propel him to greatness. If you look carefully at the Jungle Room picture (the one with the green shag carpet), you can see Jenny and me reflected in the mirror. For Elvis fans, Graceland is a must see. For everyone else, it’s worth a visit if you happen to be in Memphis. 

One of our food experiences was dinner at the Peabody Hotel made famous because they have ducks who hang out in a fountain in the lobby. The sight is worth checking out even if you don’t eat there. 

Rendezvous is also worth a visit for the ribs. It’s a cool place in a basement with a lot of character and good food. 

I saved the most powerful experience for last, and this one words and pictures will not do justice. The Lorraine Hotel, the sight of Martin Luther King’s assassination, has been converted into the National Civil Rights Museum. As Jenny and I wandered through the exhibits, we were both moved to tears several times over the cruelty of humanity. However, it is also a testament to the human spirit for endeavoring to overcome this cruelty through peaceful, non-violent means. I cannot capture the emotional impact this place had on me, and I am saddened to know that African Americans still fight for equality to this day. If you’re in Memphis, this place is a must see.