Any suggestions on where to go when taking trip to Tennessee?

Bobwade

[BOBWADE]

I am planning a trip to Memphis in a few weeks with my family and wanted to see any of my FR brothers can give me some suggestions. I plan on going to the Rendezvous Restaurant for ribs but also want to hit a few other local attractions. Also, I wonder if there is any particular place to go for a more traditional slow smoked barbeque meal. My son is into history so anything historical may also be nice. Please feel free to make any suggestions that may be family approriate. My kids are 8 and 2. Thanks

[Kirkwood]

How are you getting there? Driving?

[rabscuttle385]

I am planning a trip to Memphis in a few weeks with my family...

Please do let me know how the trip goes. I've been to Nashville to visit friends at Vandy and Belmont, but at some point I may want to explore what lies west of the city.

[BOBWADE]

Driving from central Missouri. Probably driving my Taurus. Hope to stay a couple nights and see some history.

[purpleraine]

Sun Studios tour in Memphis.

Ribs in Memphis. Someone here will tell you a restaurant. I ate at 3 and they were all good. Can't even remember the namse.

[Patrick1]

You should ask locals about the BBQ. Graceland is a must see for the pure American culture and history of it. Like being beamed back into the 70s. The Civil Right museum is also good. They made the old motel where King was killed into a very good museum. With kids there are plenty of things to do on the river. You can sneak off to Tunica and gamble and play golf too.

[Radix]

Stay away from the Jerry Lee Lewis house tour.

My daughter told me that it was absolutely weird, and the former music star absolutely creeped her (and her boyfriend) out.

[garyhope]

Tennessee is a beautiful state. Lots of green and some nice small towns. Don’t forget Nashville. Be careful in Memphis. The Peabody hotel in downtown Memphis with the ducks that come down the elevator everyday.

Drive around the state, head East toward the Smokies. Take small farm roads.

Kentucky is nice too.

[WKB]

Tn Ping

[BOBWADE]

I made the trip with some friends last year and hit Beal street and the Redezvous. Missouri Tigers played at Ole Miss and we stayed in TN so we could catch Beal street. Thought about taking them to Graceland and the Sun studio tour but also thought that something historical might be nice. Civil war battlefield or something.

[Kirkwood]

Attractions specific to west tennessee.

http://www.tnvacation.com/west/

[trimom]

Tickets to a RedBirds game (Farm team baseball). Great stadium and family atmosphere. Pack the sunscreen.

The Pink Palace is a museum with lots to see/do if you have a rainy day. Imax theater, as well.

And consider the Duck Walk at the Peabody Hotel. The kids will love it.

[Nailbiter]

Natchez trace, I am not sure of distance from Memphis, but have driven portion twice.
Truly memorable

[GoDuke]

King’s Palace Cafe on Beale St. for blackened catfish. (If it’s still open.)

[trimom]

Just west of Nashville (about 45 minutes from the airport) is a lovely state park, Montgomery Bell, with very nice trails, etc. Consider it for a day trip next time you are in Nashville.

[BOBWADE]

I had a friend that was into civil war re-enacting. He went to Natchez when filming with the movie “North and the South” back in the early eighties. He has a “follow me to Nellie’s t-shirt” from the trip. ;^)

[Kirkwood]

If you have plenty of time and are tired of driving, look into a Mississippi riverboat tour. You might be able to find a tour down to Natchez and Vicksburg.

[dinoparty]

Shiloh battlefield. Best battlefield in the country to visit, IMO.

[BOBWADE]

My Late grandfather owned a nice little farm which adjoined the Shiloh battle field state park. He had property in Mississippi and Tennessee. I went to visit him in the 70’s and again in the 80’s before he passed away. Don't really remember where his farm was it was rally cool.

[MediaMole]

The Civil War battlefields are great. Stones River was one of my favorite sites. There are several battlefields near I-65 in the Murfreesboro area that can be explored without taking days.

The Jack Daniels tour is also fun.

[Nailbiter]

reading the signs on the roadside.
I was led to believe that tracks from westward wagons could still be seen.
I looked they did appear to be wagon tracks.
However I was taken by roadside pull overs, picnic areas.
Most beautiful areas I have ever run across

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

My son is into history so anything historical may also be nice

It's about 90 miles east of Memphis but I would recommend the Shiloh battlefield. It is one of the best preserved Civil War sites in the country.

[lonestar]

The Peabody hotel in downtown Memphis with the ducks that come down the elevator everyday.

Agree!

[i_dont_chat]

The state of Tennessee, for all practical purposes is like 3 separate states:
West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and East Tennessee

West Tennessee is the least interesting and least attractive as far as the lay of the land. The famous bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis are wonderful. Memphis is a beautiful city, but (excuse me if I offend anyone) I would describe the city as being manic/depressive. It is too polarized; too drastic in both directions. I don’t enjoy Memphis and I lived there 10 years.

Memphis has great (and usually free) musical events. Beale Street, the Peabody ducks, and the BBQ (Corky’s is my favorite).

We enjoyed weekends at Chickasaw State Park.

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/Chickasaw/index.shtml

Middle Tennessee consists of rolling hills and fertile valleys. Very beautiful, as if a fine-art painting. Nashville is a typical big city; lots of Country Music atmosphere.

East Tennessee is fantastic. Fantastic driving routes through the mountains. Great vistas of placid lakes. It has huge waterfalls (Rock Island), great system of dams and national parks.

http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/RockIsland/

Smoky Mountain National Park (on the Tennessee/North Carolina border) is not to be missed. Gatlinburg is a delight.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm

Maybe not the best time for an auto trip — but maybe it is — fewer people on the highway.

Have a great time.

[cubreporter]

Agree and...there is a restaurant on the river somewhere around that same area that we visited. Catfish and big fireplace. Really neat. Seems if memory serves me correctly there is an existing cabin that was the original. Whole area was flooded at one time. Information with photos is inside the restaurant. Really, rugged, neat atmosphere. Good food too. :) Have a fun and safe trip.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Memphis also has a wonderful zoo. Make sure you take sunscreen if it’s going to be a scorcher - there’s NO shade at that zoo! Yes, the BBQ is great in Memphis. Graceland is a must and the Peabody Hotel. Eastern Tennessee is a lot nicer when it comes to heat and the scenery though.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Corky’s - is that the one that has the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches that are to die for?? :~P

[meyer]

I don't know a lot about Memphis, but I do know that you had better eat some good barbecue while you are there. Real Barbecue.

There's a lot of Elvis attractions - do a little internet search and you'll find quite a bit of information as to where you should or should not go.

I wish I could tell you more - as I said, I'm not very familiar with Memphis.

[BOBWADE]

Thanks for the links and the good suggestions. I think we may travel across to the Shiloh battlefield and then come back for Graceland.

[trimom]

Oh, my, I had forgotten about that....is it tucked in behind a parking structure, in an alley and not far from the ball park?

[angkor]

>>>>Also, I wonder if there is any particular place to go for a more traditional slow smoked barbeque meal

Avoid Corkey’s. Chewy stick-to-the-bone ribs that you must gnaw like a caveman. I was very disappointed.

[angkor]

>>>>Graceland is a must see

I’ll second that.

I stayed at the Peabody Hotel downtown just for the ambiance and history and it was OK.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

I dunno! People at a place where I used to work in Memphis would order out BBQ at lunch and I always had pulled pork sandwiches. They were yummmmyyy!! :~D

[i_dont_chat]

Sounds like The Rendezvous. In a back alley, a couple of blocks from The Pea-buddy Hotel. Not Peabody — the Pea-Buddy.

The Rendezvous has great BBQ ribs and live music.

[gocats]

Corky’s has great BBQ make sure you see a redbirds game the stadium is great, and they serve BBQ nachos the best you ever ate. Always park in a parking garage the crime is awful. Don't waste a lot of time at the zoo its ok and they have a panda but its not great.

[HAL9000]

I agree with several of the suggestions already mentioned: Rendezvous ribs, Beale Street, Sun Studios, Graceland.

If you’re there on Sunday around noon, take the elevator to the top floor of the Peabody Hotel for a good brunch. Also, try to catch the March of the Ducks there.

[Volunteer]

Take your kids to see the Ducks at the Peabody. It is worth the trip alone.

[angkor]

>>>>Corky’s - is that the one that has the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches that are to die for?? :~P

As mentioned I give Corkey's a thumbs down, but maybe it was an off night for them (but I'd just driven 12 hours and by gosh I was the customer).

Suggest you take a look at www.roadfood.com. About 20 Memphis restaurants are listed, and this is the REAL THING.

The breakfast joint right next to Corkey's in the eastern suburbs offers these delights:

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1261

[ViLaLuz]

When I lived there, I used to love to eat at B.B. King’s on Beale St. Good food and good blues. There was also a good Mexican chain there called El Porton. It may not be open anymore. Also, for good ribs that aren’t overpriced like the Rendezvous, try Jack’s Rib Shack. They might not be open anymore either. Good bars with bands: Stage Stop (hard rock), Shooters and Neon Moon (country club). Those places may not be open anymore—I lived there in the early 90s. The zoo is outstanding. Definately check out the Peabody Hotel for the ducks and cocktails.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Ick! Not much one for biscuits and gravy. Just give me the southern BBQ!!! lol

[angkor]

and a minor film trivia note, in The Firm (Grisham), Tom Cruise is give a welcome party to his new Memphis law firm on the roof of The Peabody.

[angkor]

>>>>>The Pea-buddy Hotel. Not Peabody — the Pea-Buddy.

Funny they told me the exact opposite when I was there:

Pea-Body, not Pea-Buddy.

[Kirkwood]

Yeah Corky’s is a franchise chain. That’s like going to McDonald’s. Better to find a real restaurant.

[angkor]

>>>>>Ick! Not much one for biscuits and gravy. Just give me the southern BBQ!!! lol

Well, they had a shortage of photos so I showed what was there (I’m not a biscuits and gravy man myself),

better to go check the site itself, www.roadfood.com

[atomicweeder]

The National Civil Rights Museum is very impressive. It's incorporated into the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was shot.

You can explain to you son that Dr. King dedicated his life to bring equality to blacks.

Equality that is abused and exploited by multi-millionaire hucksters like Sharpton, Jackson, and Obama.

[freedommom]

You really need to visit one of the best restaurant's in all of USA. The main cook has been there 28 years.The Blue & White restaurant in Tunica, Missippi
is always crowded and the food is sooo good. I went there last year when I visited the casinos in Tunica and found this WONDERFUL restaurant. We were going to leave the next day BUT we ended up staying 2 more days. We ate EVERY meal at that restaurant. You cant miss the restaurant it is south of the casinos on Hiway 61 in the town of Tunica ,Miss
painted a gaudy electric blue and white. There are also reviews on the net about the Blue and White.

[Austein]

I was born and raised in Memphis. Some tips on BBQ: Corky’s is the same stuff you can get anywhere. The Rendezvous is great is you like dry rub. But the best place, is Interstate BBQ. You have to be a little brave to enjoy this place because it’s not in the safest part of town. It’s best to bring a native who’s not scared. But it’s worth it. Also, get up one morning and eat at the Arcade Diner (Memphis’s oldest) downtown, hop the trolley, and visit the Civil Rights Museum. It’s truly a moving experience.

[jacksonstate]

Civil rights museum, Mud Island, Pink Palace, Beale Street. I took my kids there last year and we had a very enjoyable and educational visit.

[southland]

I agree on Shiloh... A lot of history.

[Tainan]

Definitely go to the Peabody...see the famous ducks and, while you're there, ask the bartender what road starts right from there at the hotel. Great story.

Also, go to the Commodore Hotel and ask the bartender if they've seen my girlfriend...her name is Dixie.

You'll find that in Memphis, the best places don't always look like the best places.