A Weekend in Memphis

Memphis A Weekend in By Hayli Zuccola

Often overshadowed by its sister city to the northeast, Memphis, Tennessee, combines the nightlife of New Orleans with the musical prominence of Nashville with the addition of outdoor adventures and unforgettable sights—the combination of which makes it an underrated gem of the Volunteer State. Clocking in at 9 hours from Lake City, it also tops the list for an ideal weekend getaway that caters to everyone’s interests.

HOME OF THE BLUES

Blues and rock and roll are the heart and soul of Memphis— the city that’s become synonymous with cultural icon Elvis Presley. Even those who aren’t a fan of the “Heartbreak Hotel” singer’s discography will appreciate a stop at the 120-acre Graceland. At the core of the park is Elvis’ 14-acre estate, which off ers a glimpse into the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s life. If exploring the entirety of the late musician’s home doesn’t spark curiosity, every morning from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. visitors are invited to wander the Meditation Garden at Graceland where Elvis and his family are buried. Beyond the mansion, guests can walk to nearby exhibits displaying Elvis’ planes, cars, clothes and other memorabilia.

After a stop at Graceland, embark on a 45-minute guided tour at the nearby Sun Studio: the renowned recording studio that captured the legendary voices of singing sensations B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and more. For a broader, yet, more in-depth look at musical mementos from the past, head over to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum created by the Smithsonian Institution. Since opening its doors in 2000, the museum has welcomed over 1 million visitors from around the world who fl ock to the gallery that’s dedicated to preserving the history of the rock and soul genres while honoring their birthplace city of Memphis, which has been referenced in more recorded songs than anywhere else in the world.

NIGHTLIFE

Decked out in colorful neon lights and beaming with sounds of the blues, Beale Street is without a doubt the Bourbon Street of Tennessee. Throughout the 1.8-mile stretch is an eclectic mix of music venues, live entertainment and plenty of Southern barbeque, but among the hustle and bustle is a place that combines a little bit of all three. Located in an over

100-year-old saloon, Silky O’Sullivan’s—named after the self-proclaimed “Father of Barbeque”—not only offers comforting classics like beef brisket and pork po’boys, it provides a space for live music and some rather unusual entertainment in the form of Irish goats playing on the back patio. If kicking back with an Irish coffee and watching a herd of goats jumping with joy doesn’t sound appealing, there are dozens of other eateries, record shops and gift stores all over Beale Street just waiting to be discovered.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Searching for a more mild adventure away from the nightlife of Beale Street? The Memphis Zoo, which is home to over 4,500 animals ranging from the tiny poison dart frog to the mighty grizzly bear, is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

What’s more, the Memphis Botanic Garden, which is just a short drive away from the zoo, offers guests an abundant 96 acres to roam while encountering 30 specialty gardens featuring colorful camellias, blooming azaleas and fragrant herbs.

ICONIC MEMPHIS

The Bluff City’s most notable residents—ones who never shy away from a crowd of adoring fans—are the Peabody Ducks. For nearly 90 years, the Peabody hotel in Memphis has delighted guests and onlookers with the famed Duck March. Every morning at promptly 11 o’clock, visitors peer

behind velvet ropes while the Peabody Duckmaster escorts five North American mallards down a red carpet toward the lobby fountain. The tradition, which began as somewhat of a lighthearted prank back in the 1930s, became a more formal affair in 1940 under the leadership of former circus animal trainer Bellman Edward Pembroke, who taught the ducks their classic waddle march and served as their ducky director for 50 years until his retirement, according to peabodymemphis.com. After a 6-hour shift, the ducks are ushered back to the elevator and brought to the Royal Duck Palace where they continue living in the lap of luxury. At the end of a long work day in the hotel lobby, the pampered waterfowl spend their off-duty hours in a $200,000 manor located on the rooftop of the Peabody. In addition to glass and marble embellishments, the structure houses a mini-replica of the hotel and provides the feathery inhabitants with their very own fountain, adorned with a bronze water-spitting duck. Following a short three-month tenure, the ducks retire to the farm where they came from and a new team of ducks is brought in—giving multiple ducklings a taste of the high life.

Apart from the cute, animated symbols of Memphis, another city landmark is the 321-foot pyramid. Designed as a tribute to their Egyptian namesake, original ideas for the structure—that’s base is the size of five-and-a-half football fields—included a Grammy museum, a college football hall of fame, an aquarium and even a radio station. Nevertheless, the Pyramid officially opened in 1991 as a concert venue and hosted performances from Prince, Bruce Springsteen, the Fresh Prince and the Grateful Dead. The Pyramid then became a basketball arena for the Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers before it stood vacant for nearly a decade.

In 2015, Bass Pro Shops took over the unusual locale, which today features a 103-room hotel; a 600,000-gallon water tank home to over 1,800 fish; a cypress swamp with alligator pools and duck aviaries; and a 28-story elevator ride that takes patrons to the top of the pyramid overlooking the city and the adjacent Mississippi River, according to memphistravel.com. From a foodie’s answer to the best Southern barbeque in the state to an Elvis-enthusiast’s top bucket-list destination, Memphis offers a little something for everyone whether that’s gawking at a parade of ducks or strolling through Beale Street. Whatever you’re searching for, you’ll likely find it during a weekend in Memphis.