Come to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in Early February!
Memphis is most famous for the blues, and you can have the ultimate Memphis blues experience by attending the 2011 International Blues Challenge on February 1-5! Watch as blues musicians from all over the world do their best as they compete for cash and prizes. Since this event takes place in various venues on Beale Street, you are sure to have an exciting time as you attend various performances by the world’s most talented blues musicians including Clover Blue, Danny J. Buck, and The Breeze Kings. If you love the blues, this is an opportunity that you certainly won’t want to miss!
While you are in Memphis, you can learn about the history of the city with a visit to the Pink Palace Museum. This unique attraction chronicles the history of Memphis and features a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly, which is the first self-service grocery store. You can also learn about natural history at this museum with the Pink Palace’s dinosaur exhibits. There is nothing quite like the Pink Palace Museum, and with its various exhibits, people of all ages are sure to find something to enjoy!
Memphis is home to the notorious location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, and Memphis pays tribute to the Civil Rights leader with the National Civil Rights Museum. At the museum, which is located at the site where Dr. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel, you can learn about various events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement and about the many people who are responsible for various civil rights events, like Rosa Parks and Booker T. Washington. This museum is so detailed that it covers events from the years 1619 to the present day, so you are sure to find a lot of fascinating information!
Holiday Weekend Ideas in Memphis, TN
It’s not too late to make reservations for a spectacular Fourth of July weekend spent exploring the unique city of Memphis. From dining on world-famous barbecue to visiting some of the area museums, you will find that Memphis offers a variety of attractions to keep you occupied. Check out the following recommendations for the weekend and start planning your holiday trip!
A dinner cruise on the evening of July 4th offers a great location from which to watch area fireworks shows. A dinner cruise is a romantic activity any time of the year, but cruising the Mississippi River on July 4th will make for an extra-special evening. The Memphis Riverboats Dinner Cruise provides an evening complete with dancing, live music, and a delicious Southern-style meal. You will also enjoy views of the Memphis skyline lit up, which is a truly beautiful sight.
With the special holiday weekend, the time is right to remember those who have given their lives to better America. The National Civil Rights Museum is dedicated to men and women who played important roles in America’s path toward civil rights. Located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, the museum honors his memory as well as pays tribute to other activists including Rosa Parks and Booker T. Washington. There are also exhibits on the March on Washington, the Little Rock 9, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A truly eye-opening experience for all ages, this museum is one of the most powerful attractions in Memphis.
One of the best things about America is its great food, and Memphis is full of excellent restaurants and diners, including a Hard Rock Cafe. With American music memorabilia and American favorites, the Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to eat and celebrate America at the same time. Memphis’ Hard Rock Cafe is dedicated to the music history of the area and includes artifacts from Elvis Presley, Stax Studios, and many other area artists and studios. In addition to the memorabilia, you can find your favorite American fare here, with everything from classic burgers to saucy barbecue. Your whole family is sure to have a meal to remember at this iconic American restaurant.
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.
History Comes to Life in Memphis, TN
History comes to life in Memphis, Tennessee. If you are looking to take a vacation and get in touch with the past, there is no better place to visit than Memphis. With a historic walking tour, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, you can explore the country’s cultural and social history as you wander the streets of Memphis.
Historic Memphis Walking Tour
Memphis’ rich past can be examined on an informative 90 minute walking tour that will allow you to view the old Shelby County Jail, the Battle of Memphis site, the Mageveny House, Cotton Row and other historical landmarks. Walk along Beale Street and other historical thoroughfares as you make contact with the city’s vibrant history.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Just a few miles off of Beale Street is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, home to hundreds of pieces of memorabilia about Memphis’ soul music past. Stax Records was pivotal in bringing soul musicians like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes to national prominence from their humble Memphis roots. Music fans will love the museum’s many displays and its celebration of the Memphis neighborhood that became referred to as Soulsville, USA.
National Civil Rights Museum
If music is Memphis’ claim to fame, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King lives on as the city’s moment of infamy. However, the Lorraine Motel, were Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, has been converted to the National Civil Rights Museum, which now pays tribute to Martin Luther King and other heroes of the movement who captured the nation’s attention and transformed America from a deeply racially segregated society to the nation we live in today, where Dr. King’s dream has begun to unfold. Look back in time through the Little Rock High School incident, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and so much more by paying a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.
