Going to Memphis - Recommendations?

Lived on Mud Island for two years, and the two most important things are:
Eat at Gus’s.
Eat at Central BBQ and order BBQ nachos with homemade chips (secret off-the-menu stuff)
I might post more tomorrow but those are the two big things you have to hit.

Those are most of the things I can think of. The Orpheum is pretty neat if there is something you want to see playing. There is a blacksmithing/metal museum near Gus’s and the breweries in town are pretty solid. Shelby farms park on the east side of town is supposed to be fun.

And of course, there’s the IKEA if you’re into that sort of thing and don’t have one near you. There is decent hiking at the parks north and south of town too.

Of things you haven’t already mentioned: The Stax museum was a lot of fun in less-obvious Memphis music history. We ate at Rendezvous and it was decent (BBQ nachos were the unexpected star) but I was later told by a Memphis native that it is overrated and next time I should go to Germantown Commissary for ribs.

Wait and go during Memphis in May.

Do not stop or get gas or even think about getting off the highway in south or north Memphis. Memphis has the dubious distinction of having the most dangerous neighborhood in the entire USA and it is the 10th most dangerous city. Tourist areas are basically OK though.

Tracked down some maps of the dangerous areas for you
http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/33061487/mpd-murder-map-reveals-most-deadly-areas-in-the-city

I had stopped in South Memphis (visually looked just like “normal” decay, nothing special) and a cop pulled over and stayed there while I retied some stuff and told me my life span there would be about 5 minutes, and/or did I want to walk home with no car, wallet, etc.? (I drive through there a number of times a year driving to my mothers up north).

Get some ribs from Rendezvous and pulled pork from Porky’s. I graduated from high school in Memphis, first class to graduate in the Pyramid (back when it was new and an arena)

Sun Studios is a MUST.
I heard great things about Stax, check that out too.
The two hour-ish riverboat cruise on the Mississippi was real nice. Informative and fun.
About 45 minutes-ish away in Mississippi are numerous casinos. Check that out if gamblin’ is your thing.

Beale Street was meh… Maybe it was just our experience, but it wasn’t anything special.

Since you are staying downtown, you might check out Big River Crossing if you are into hiking and don’t mind an urban hike for a change of pace: http://www.bigrivercrossing.com/about/

While more and more big river towns now have a dedicated foot bridge over their rivers, the shear size of the Mississippi River makes this a pretty cool trek and makes a nice photo op when you are above mid-river. Even if you aren’t much of a hiker, it might be worth going out a couple of hundred yards or so. (it’s free)

Be advised that if you decide to take the full journey, that once you completely cross the River, you are only about half-way across the bridge.

• Attractions:
  • The horse carriages seem pretty gimmicky, but if you can find someone that looks old and nerdy then they can give you a really cool history tour. When we finally did one, I learned a lot about the city and architecture that was super interesting, definitely worth the money. I don’t know if they are all like that or if we just got lucky though.
  • Before you go, watch The Firm starring Tom Cruise, it was filmed in Downtown Memphis and there’s a big scene with the Mud Island museum/gondolas.
  • Then do the Mud Island museum/gondolas. They’re pretty neat.
  • I heard the cotton museum was actually pretty interesting but I never checked it out.
  • Graceland is at least worth driving by. It is expensive as shit ($60 each I think) but the tour is really cool, it’s like stepping into a time capsule. If you can afford the ticket, I would suggest it.
• Food:
  • If you’re looking for seafood, Pearls Oyster House is really good. The cooked oysters there are great.
  • People really like The Arcade for breakfast. It’s a standard diner, but it is super old and historical I guess.
  • There are a lot of neat bars and clubs on Beale, but if you’re looking for a cool dive place, check out Absinthe. It was never crowded when we went (I think because it looks like a broom closet from the outside), and in the back you can sit by the window and look down on Beale and watch the street flippers.
  • CENTRAL BBQ NACHOS WITH HOMEMADE CHIPS
  • GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN
  • If you do go to Rendezvous (the overrated touristy favorite), get a bag of BBQ popcorn.
  • Kooky Canuck, though Canadian, has good burgers and poutine.
• General advice:
  • If you park at 110 Peabody place by the Flying Saucer, the fairs are as good as you’ll probably get and you’ll be in walking distance from pretty much anything downtown.
  • Going off the safety concerns, we never felt unsafe when Walking in Memphis but the tip I learned when I first moved there was “don’t go down a street named after a state.” Not bad advice.
  • Don’t get gas anywhere near downtown. Literally the most jacked up prices I have ever seen.

I can’t believe this hasn’t been mentioned yet, but just go walking. Apparently there’s a place on Beale St. where you can just levitate and walk with your feet ten feet off of the ground. Sounds pretty special.

Blue suede shoes may be required for this activity.