Perhaps it was being in the presence of the King at Graceland, the smell of Barbecue everywhere in the air, or perhaps it was our visit to the famous Sun Studios, but we really enjoyed Memphis!

I think in reality, it’s all about where you stay. We found an excellent art deco building called The Exchange in the heart of downtown Memphis to call home for a couple days. Nearby were awesome Bars and Bistros, The Peabody Hotel, The Mississippi River (which I’d never seen before), and was just a short walk to the famous Beale Street. Some might say Beale Street is tacky and cliché, but we loved it! What’s not to love about eating pork, drinking beer, listening to blues, and watching some kid do a series of epic back-hand springs/back flips down the street (as seen in The Firm and many other films)?

Honestly though, if you’re in Memphis, don’t miss Graceland. It really was a sight to see. They’ve kept everything how it was when Elvis and his family lived there. We had in our minds we’d pay it the obligatory visit, but once we got there we understood why it’s on people’s bucket list.

Also, on the must see list is the National Civil Rights Museum. It’s very sad, it’s harrowing, and it’s surreal, but you have to take in how far we’ve come in Civil Rights and how much further we need to go. On the tour, is literally the motel room at The Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King JR was assassinated. It will give you goose bumps to hear his last speech and see where he was shot.

Sun Studios founded by Sam Phillips is a must see. It’s a short tour and you literally get to go inside the room where all the recording music magic happened from the greats including Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and of course the King himself, Elvis! I’ve been to Jerusalem and now I’ve been to Sun Studios so I can vouch for this quote of theirs- “If music were a religion then Memphis would be Jerusalem and Sun Studios its most sacred shrine.”

Lastly, if you do ever find yourself in Memphis, make sure you get over to East Memphis and check out Cooper St. It’s got a great vibe and if you’re looking for a meal, hit up The Beauty Shop or grab a cup of coffee at Java Cabana.

Now onto a town called Clarksdale, Mississippi to stay at an epic looking place called The Shack-up Inn for some more Barbecue & Blues!

Dione, May 21st, 2015