Memphis’ January Events Offer Fun For Families
Families flock to Memphis each year for its exciting events and attractions, and this January, Memphis has a fantastic show planned for its visitors with Shrek: The Musical! Children and adults alike will love the stage adaptation of the popular Dreamworks movie about the lovable ogre and his chatty donkey sidekick. The show runs from January 18-23 at the Orpheum Theatre. If you love Shrek, be sure to include Shrek: The Musical in your Memphis vacation!
Memphis is known for its delicious barbecue, and your vacation won’t be complete without sampling BBQ ribs and other southern fares at the Blues City Café! This famous establishment has a rich history on Beale Street and was featured in the Tom Cruise film The Firm. Enjoy live entertainment in The Band Box section of the restaurant, or simply enjoy the food and ambiance of Beale Street.
If you are interested in guitars, you will love taking a Gibson Guitar Factory Tour during your vacation in Memphis. You will be amazed at the skills of the factory’s artisans, and you will have a one-of-a-kind experience seeing every step in the production of Gibson’s famous guitars. You will be impressed at the workmanship it takes to produce each instrument.
Get a Full Taste of the Blues through Memphis’ Dining and Historic Sites
In addition to stunning sightseeing cruises and Elvis-themed sites, Memphis is known for its contributions to the heritage of the Southern United States. Much of this southern identity can be traced through the years of blues music performed in and around the city. On your next visit to Memphis, get a full taste of the Music City blues through the city’s variety of blues-themed attractions and historic sites.
Though first heard in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the 1930s or 1940s that blues music became a more recognized genre. Artists like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Elmore James perfected the genre with a series of top hits on into the 1950s. One only needs to walk down historic Beale Street in Memphis to be reminded of blues with street performers and night clubs. One such night club is B.B. King’s Blues Club. You can enjoy a breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this historic club, but the real fun takes place after the sun goes down. The club features live performances from local and national talents alike, including the occasional performance from B.B. King himself. Ribs, burgers, catfish, and other favorites in southern cuisine make up a full list of menu items.
Right across the street from B.B. Kings Blues Club is the Blues City Cafe, where the late Chef Bonnie Mack is remembered. The restaurant features mouth-watering ribs, steak, chicken, catfist, and more. The food alone is enough to draw a crowd, but the evening entertainment also keep guests coming back for more. The Band Box is a section within the restaurant where entertainers perform. The Free World, a local band, provides many of the sounds you can expect to hear during any given evening.
The Civil Rights Movement marked a time of African American opression and struggle, a major theme found within blues music. Perhaps no greater museum exists to help remember that struggle than the National Civil Rights Museum. With exhibits of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., among others, you’re sure to get an in depth look at some of the powerful moments in years past that have perhaps helped continue to spawn the complexities and emotions that make up blues music. The National Civil Rights Museum serves as a reminder and memorial to those very moments.
Summer Loving: Romantic Vacation Ideas in Memphis
Ready for a getaway for just you and the one you love? If sunset cruises, deluxe accommodations, and a relaxing time away from all your stresses sound good, then these Memphis vacation ideas are perfect for you. Whether you just have a weekend to spare or are looking for a longer trip, we have the options for you.
Planning your vacation is easy with one of our vacation packages. The Memphis Romantic Anniversary/Honeymoon Package is a three night vacation that includes the Graceland Platinum Tour, a sightseeing cruise, and a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. The Graceland Platinum Tour will let you explore the Graceland mansion, Elvis’ custom airplanes, and the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and the Sincerely Elvis Memorabilia Museum. The sightseeing cruise is a 1.5 hour paddleboat cruise down the Mississippi River and provides ample time for sightseeing and picture taking. You have your choice of lodging, so you can book a luxurious suite in downtown Memphis to complete your vacation.
If you would rather plan your own trip, we offer a variety of attractions that are perfect for your trip. Dinner cruises are the perfect activity for a romantic evening, and the Memphis Riverboats Sightseeing Dinner Cruise is a great option that combines a delicious dinner and dancing with sightseeing opportunities. An evening spent on a dinner cruise is sure to be a relaxing experience you will long remember.
If you want to spend an evening together exploring Memphis’ nightlife, then booking a hotel in Memphis’ downtown close to Beale Street is the perfect option for you. Whether wanting to spend an evening in a romantic jazz bar or dancing the evening away at a club, Beale Street has plenty of options for you. The Madison Hotel and River Inn of Harbor Town are two deluxe Memphis lodging options that offer the perfect facilities for a romantic vacation and are close to a variety of downtown Memphis attractions.
Music, History, and Ghosts: Memphis City Tours
Memphis is more than an homage to Elvis Presley; it is also a city filled with history. A city tour is a great way to spend time in the city and come away with a deeper understanding of the guiding forces that created this beautiful and unique city on the Mississippi River.
The Memphis City Tour is an encompassing tour that covers all of the highlights of the city. Your knowledgeable guide will be an abundant source of information about the history and culture of Memphis as he takes you to city sites including Beale Street, Downtown Memphis, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, and Elvis Presley Boulevard. Other historic landmarks you will see include Sun Studio and the Lorraine Hotel, which is now a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. You will be able to tour the city in comfort and learn more than you ever expected with this extensive tour.
For the undiscovered side of Memphis, take the Memphis Ghost Tour. This tour is a fully-guided walking tour through some of the city’s spookiest sites. Your guide will take you to historic landmarks like the Orpheum Theater, W.C. Hendy Park on Beale Street, and Cotton Row. Your guide will fill you in on the sordid past of these city landmarks, providing you with a one-of-a-kind view of the dark past of Memphis.
If the musical side of Memphis interests you, the Memphis Mojo Tour is a great choice. Led by a Memphis musician, this tour is an interactive drive through the city with stops at musical and city landmarks include Sun Studio, Stax, the Lorraine Motel, and Cotton Row. You will not have to worry about being bored as your musician guide lets you join in the fun by making music with tambourines, shakers, and bongos. This tour combines the best of Memphis’ musical heritage as well as historical and cultural landmarks.
Whatever your interest in Memphis, any of these tours is sure to provide a memorable look at this unique city. Whether planning a family vacation or just a weekend getaway, these tours are great choices.
Beale Street Heats Up with Hot Sounds During the Beale Street Music Festival
If there is one thing Memphis is known for it is the soulful sounds that the city has produced throughout the years, and once again the unique sounds of Memphis will be paid homage with the Beale Street Music Festival. For three days, from May 1 through 3, Beale Street will be flooded with revelers and rockin’ sounds. With the festival just days away, the line-up is set with a number of popular acts making an appearance. Below is a short list of some of the notable performers attending:
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Snoop Dogg
- Bonnie Raitt
- Elvis Costello
- George Clinton
- Medeski, Martin & Wood
- and More
While this popular event is definitely beginning to pack Memphis to capacity, there are still a number of lodging options available for those planning a last minute visit. Follow this link to browse and reserve lodging options still available throughout the city of Memphis.
Other than music, Beale Street is also well known for its one-of-a-kind ribs. And with the festival taking place on Beale Street, it’s extremely easy to enjoy the Memphis delicacy without missing any of the music. In particular, Blues City Cafe will offer ribs and southern cuisine that will be sure to please the taste buds and provide the sustenance needed to tackle a full day of concert going.
And for those that don’t plan on attending every day of the festival, but are still looking for music oriented entertainment, you’re always welcome at The King’s house. Though Elvis is no longer with us, his legacy is still alive and well, and with a tour of his Graceland mansion Memphis visitors can get closer than ever to Elvis Aaron Presley and his extraordinary life.
Beale Street Music Festival Attracts Top Musical Acts from All Genres
May 1st through May 3rd is time for the Beale Street Music Festival, an opportunity to see dozens of top name acts from around the country perform. Memphis has a long tradition of musical greatness with Elvis and blues artists like BB King putting Memphis on the musical map. That tradition continues every year with the Beale Street Music Festival. This years blockbuster lineup features great artists from every genre from hip hop to funk to country to hard rock and everything in between. Some of this year’s performers include James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Jr., Snoop Dog, Hinder, Three 6 Mafia, Saving Abel, Korn, Los Lobos, Elvis Costello, and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. With dozens of nationally known artists performing this is clearly one of the best musical festivals in the country.
During your visit to the Beale Street Music Festival you may want to tour some of the musical sites around Memphis. A trip to Sun Studios will give you a chance to see where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and others blazed musical trails. Sun Studio has rare memorabilia like the microphone through which Elvis Presley recorded his first song in 1954. See the heritage, and walk where it all began with a tour of Sun Studios.
Another stop you won’t want to miss is the Gibson Guitar Factory. Watch luthiers fashion these special guitars through each stage of production from binding and neck-fitting to painting, buffing and finally tuning. Gibson guitars have been played by musical legends like Elvis, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Pete Townsend, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Sheryl Crow, Carlos Santana and others. Come see the Gibson Guitar Factory and travel in the shadow of rock legends.
With the Beale Street Music festival drawing in thousands of visitors, May is a great time to come to Memphis. Enjoy the madness, the magic, the melodies and the musicians as you make your way to Memphis in May. The sights and sounds of Memphis are calling. Make your room reservations and make your way to the Beale Street Musical Festival!
