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.
Explore Unique and Interactive Museums in Memphis
Aside from great dinner cruises and city tours, Memphis offers a wide variety of great museums to take advantage of on your next visit. From child-friendly exhibits to unique museums, adding a visit to one of these great museums is a great way to fill your Memphis itinerary.
A well-known aspect of Memphis’ history is its special role in America’s civil rights movement. This museum is dedicated to preserving and spreading Memphis’ role in this movement. Located on the site of the former Lorraine Hotel, the place where Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot. The museum features exhibits on epic civil war events in Little Rock, Arkansas; Montgomery, Alabama; Washington, D.C.; and more. This museum will provide a sobering perspective on the trials and events of America’s path towards reforming civil rights.
The Children’s Museum of Memphis
If you are traveling with young children, a stop by the Children’s Museum of Memphis is a must. Featuring special, interactive exhibits suitable for kids of all ages, your family will enjoy the hands-on features of this exciting museum. With special seasonal exhibits and occasional workshops, you will never know what you are going to find at this museum, making a great addition to your vacation. Whether your children are interested in the human body, engineering, or art, they will certainly will not be bored at this museum.
If you are interested in a unique look into the history of Memphis, this museum will be a perfect stop while visiting Memphis. Featuring exhibits on Piggly Wiggly and Clyde Parke’s Miniature Circus, this museum is full of interesting exhibits about the history of Memphis. Whether you have visited Memphis frequently and know a lot about the city or not, this museum is sure to provide you an entertaining view and fill you in on many details of Memphis’ unique history.
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.
