Alert
Close

Last chance! Play brain games for a chance to win $25,000. Enter the Brain Health Sweepstakes

AARP Membership: Just $16 a Year

Highlights

Open

Grocery Coupon Center

Powered by Coupons.com. Access to grocery coupons

Bad consumer experience?

Submit a complaint to AARP's consumer advocate

Geek Squad

Exclusive offers for members

Technical Icon

Spanish Preferred?

Visit aarp.org/espanol

10 Steps to Retirement

Do something every day to help you achieve your goals

Memphis

  • Zoom
  • Print
  • Comments
  • Bookmark
  • Recommend
Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, TN — Frommers

Like the Mississippi River it overlooks, Memphis is constantly evolving and changing pace. It is the city of Graceland, Elvis Presley's over-the-top mansion, but it's also the birthplace of blues, rock 'n' roll and soul. Here, W. C. Handy put the first written blues music down on paper, Elvis made his first recording at Sun Studios, and Otis Redding and Al Green expressed the music in their souls, vividly documented at the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum. Slip on your blue suede shoes and hit the laid-back streets.

Things to Do
Elvis Presley sites are a must-see in Memphis, and if a home is a man's castle, Graceland was The King's. Glimpse the graceful charm of pre-Civil War society at the Hunt-Phelan mansion, and ponder the slave trade at the Auction Square monument. The lush oasis of Overton Park, where the city picnics and plays, is also home to the Memphis Zoo, the Memphis College of Art, and the Brooks Museum of Art.

Shopping
Shopping in Memphis is spread out, but unique discoveries abound, such as antiques and collectibles in the Cooper-Young neighborhood and designer labels in Grove Park. Take home blues CDs from the record shops on Beale Street or rummage through a goldmine of music at Shangra-La Records, a Memphis institution. Pick up a pair of Elvis shades at the Sun Studio gift shop. You'll find paintings and photography by artists from the Mississippi Delta, plus baby gifts and home decor, in South Main Historic District.

Nightlife and Entertainment
Smoky jazz, blues and country bars line famous Beale Street, the home of the blues, especially at B.B. King's, where the legendary guitarist plays several times each year. Away from Beale Street, sip a cocktail and watch the sunset over the Mississippi from the rooftop garden of the Madison Hotel, or take in an opera or Broadway musical at the Orpheum Theatre. Don't overlook the surprisingly lively bar scene in East Memphis steakhouses.

Restaurants and Dining
Eating in Memphis is to experience some serious Southern comfort, and the slow-cooked, pulled-pork sandwiches served at the landmark Corky's Bar-B-Q are a favorite. Try traditional fried chicken, catfish and grits. Downtown, dine al fresco on anything from sushi to tapas in Cooper-Young, or seek out tacos along Summer Avenue. White tablecloth dining -- think steak -- is best in East Memphis, and for something more casual, choose among a cluster of welcoming little eateries around the square in Collierville.

Topic Alerts

You can get weekly email alerts on the topics below. Just click “Follow.”

Manage Alerts

Processing

Please wait...

progress bar, please wait
  • Zoom
  • Print
  • Comments
  • Bookmark
  • Recommend

Tell Us WhatYou Think

Please leave your comment below.

You must be signed in to comment.

Sign In | Register

More comments »

Select a Destination

Las Vegas                      New Orleans

Chicago                         Washington, DC

Phoenix                         Orlando

Miami                             Dallas

Seattle                           Chicago

Bora Bora                     Easter Islands

Fire Island                    Galapagos Islands 

Santorini                      Martha's Vineyard

San Juan                      Virgin Islands

Capri                             French Polynesia

Grand Canyon                 Badlands

Algonquin                        Yellowstone

Yorkshire Dales                Kruger 

Gettysburg                       Glacier Bay

Walt Disney World           Flinders Ranges

DISCOUNTS & BENEFITS

From companies that meet the high standards of service and quality set by AARP.

train couple on train, grand canyon railway

Members get 25% off of rail packages & 15% off train tickets on Grand Canyon Railway.

exterior shot of a British Airways jet flying over a body of water

Members save up to $400 on round-trip tickets on British Airways. Restrictions apply.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Members save up to 20% off the best available rate at nearly 7,000 Wyndham hotels.

Member Benefits

Members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change. Join Today

Community

lake louise

Vacation Photos

Ah, vacation! Get ideas for your next getaway, or just enjoy a mental escape, browse Community photos. View

cruising

Cruising Tips

Rank top cruising destinations, from Nova Scotia to the Mexican Riviera. Discuss