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The place we’re at: I’m overlaying my highway journey within the American South in Could of 2022.
It was the top of the highway — journey. We’d been stunned by Alabama’s charming coastal city Mobile, soaked up peak small city southern charm in Mississippi’s Tupelo, and at last had a while, after the whirlwind that was TravelCon’s closeout conference, to discover our last cease, Tennessee’s residence of blues, Memphis.
Not like the opposite states on our itinerary, I’d been to Tennessee earlier than. I’ve taken a few spins round famous Nashville, and been fortunate to journey twice to Manchester for Bonnaroo, together with a memorable edition with my mom. However nonetheless, Memphis was model new — and felt completely distinctive from the opposite elements of the state I’d seen.
And I’m so glad I had some actual time to discover it. At all times tack on a number of days to a convention, should you can! After I’m in talking, networking and studying mode I’m completely within the zone — I get completely immersed and mainly by no means depart the convention middle, ha. So whereas some ducked out and juggled sightseeing in there, I knew I wouldn’t.
Fortunately my co-pilot Katie from Traveling Spud was on the identical web page, so after hugging goodbye to all our blogger mates we headed to a brilliant cute Airbnb and spent a pair days co-working and sightseeing. For as soon as, we did a very nice job of strictly scheduling ourselves for working mornings and sightseeing afternoons. Whereas we didn’t get any train in beside strolling, which might have simply been maybe too many gold stars awarded, I really feel this was considered one of my higher examples of a piece/journey balanced journey.
Our Airbnb was in stylish Midtown, and we had been drawn to the locally-inspired decor and the lovable cozy vibes we deliberate to recharge in on the finish of a busy journey.
We’d been alternating Airbnbs and resorts, my fave combo for balancing that feeling of being spoiled with nice service after which having some privateness and sensible comforts like a washer and the flexibility to warmth up leftovers (am I the one one obsessive about leftovers? Anybody? Anybody?)
Earlier than we might test into our lovely residence for the following few nights, we had been in that dreaded zone between late checkout and early test in — which we actually made essentially the most of! We saved our luggage downtown and set off for an influence stroll to Mud Island, a small peninsula we’d been searching at from our downtown lodge all weekend.
Katie talked me into one significantly entertaining cease en route — The Bass Pro Shop. Yup, it’s in an enormous pyramid. No, after listening to and studying many excellent explanations, I don’t completely get why. I used to be a heavy skeptic of visiting however I figured as a gal who spends a month yearly in Egypt recently, I couldn’t miss this tie in, no?! Memphis is known as after a metropolis in Egypt, y’all.
It was fairly trippy to go inside — had we had extra time, we would have purchased a ticket to the perspective on the high. Or, extra doubtless, now that I do know it exists, I’ll spherical up whomever I’m with after one too many drinks on Beale Road and produce them to the onsite underwater-themed bowling alley (truthfully, my total journey was virtually ruined by my too-late discovery of this attraction.)
The island itself, and its colourful Memphis signal, had been pleasant — we significantly cherished the scaled mannequin of the Mississippi River we had been in a position to stroll alongside. I’d name this a should do for anybody who wants some contemporary air in Memphis!
After, we grabbed some laptop computer time and treats at Vice and Virtue Coffee — that they had countless yummy nibbles and a bunch of seating configurations for the lady who can’t sit nonetheless, ha. If you happen to want a caffeine hit or a few moments to atone for display screen time downtown, you’ve gotta pop in right here.
Nevertheless, as soon as we had been all tucked into our Airbnb, we had been fairly excited to discover some Memphis points of interest and eateries additional afield! We began with The Memphis Botanic Garden, a ninety-six acre explosion of fauna, which was internet hosting a particular press preview for an Alice in Wonderland themed present that night.
I believe we are able to all agree I used to be legally required to attend, no? It was so whimsically enjoyable, and a reminder that for me, particular occasions like these are the perfect time to go to museums, gardens, and different metropolis establishments.
This present specifically was initially designed by the Atlanta Botanic Backyard, and the first displays had been created by filling massive metal frames with soil and planting them with 1000’s of flowers and crops in a greenhouse in Georgia earlier than they had been shipped in climate-controlled vehicles to Memphis!
Upon arrival, they had been put collectively utilizing cranes and forklifts and trimmed and watered each day to maintain them trying contemporary. The exhibit’s calendar was full of highlights like dog-friendly night occasions to succulent planting events to crafternoons to nights with meals vehicles and “curious cocktails!” Examine the botanical backyard’s calendar for what they could have happening whenever you go to.
I cherished taking a breather after 4 days in a windowless convention middle to spend a day largely exterior! Strolling by this whimsical present with some superb women was simply the dose of inspiration I wanted.
They’ve disco balls hanging from the ceiling — want I say extra?
The following day, we fortunately labored away beneath the watchful eye of the tasteful Elvis artwork in our Airbnb till it was time to emerge for our afternoon journey.
We switched gears formally with a late lunch at Beauty Shop, a advice we’d bothb been given countless occasions. With precise classic salon stuff was a restaurant seating, this spot is tremendous retro stylish — plus it had a tremendous array of salads after per week of heavy southern meals. Be certain to order the salon seating, should you can!
And with that, we had been headed out to Graceland, the notorious residence of Elvis Presley. I’m going to be completely sincere and inform you that had we not been to Tupelo, Elvis’s birthplace, the prior week, I’m undecided Graceland would have been on my listing.
However I’m so glad we did. It was wild to comply with Elvis’s journey from the standard, electricity-free residence he grew up in to touring his non-public planes and see the place his life ended far too quickly. One factor that struck me is that whereas outlandish in type, Graceland is kind of modest in dimension and scale in comparison with a few of wildly extreme properties we see at this time.
Visiting Graceland is surprisingly costly — tickets begin at $77 and go up from there; nonetheless, it’s greater than only a home tour. That portion is properly completed and iPad guided, although you aren’t permitted upstairs, some say to stop gawkers on the web site of Elvis’s premature dying.
Alongside the home itself you’ll be able to tour his non-public planes, which us two vacationers had been blown away by, in addition to an intensive museum with displays on many sides of Elvis’s life and profession, which I loved too.
I’m grateful I can now say I’ve skilled this wild piece of quirky Americana. From the tributes nonetheless being left at this man’s memorial on the property, it’s apparent his music touched the world and I loved studying a bit extra about him past his caricatured persona.
However, scorching tip — Graceland is fairly distant so name an Uber a bit earlier than you’re able to go. We waited almost fifteen minutes. Pre-schedule that journey, if not like Elvis you’ve but to succeed in non-public jet standing!
That evening, we indulged in a time-honored custom of any lengthy highway journey by the South — or if it’s not one already, I’m making it one — takeout BBQ on the ground in entrance of Netflix and giggles in regards to the journey. Strive it, folks! (If solely the Elvis film had been out by then — you realize ya lady loves a theme evening.)
I’m glad we rested up as a result of we actually wanted a transparent head and an open coronary heart for the following afternoon. After a number of days exploring the outskirts of Memphis we had been again downtown, and able to dive into a very powerful a part of our journey — The Civil Rights Museum.
This can be a should for each American, I believe. This museum, set within the motel the place Dr. MLK Jr was assassinated, tells the concurrently devastating and galvanizing story of the American civil rights motion. Take that open coronary heart and put together for it to be damaged. The historical past of the American South is brutal and it’s vital to be taught it so we could be impressed by the tenacity of the individuals who have modified our world for the higher and never repeat the errors of those that appeared the opposite approach.
I’m glad we had an open schedule for our final night, after. Katie is considered one of my favourite folks to journey with as a result of we are able to actually dig in and have the massive conversations and course of the great, the unhealthy and the ugly that may come up alongside our travels. And that’s precisely what we did as we walked and talked round downtown, absorbing the go to.
Ultimately, we had been prepared for a very good meal, and a stiff drink to toast to an unimaginable journey.
Whereas fried rooster is like, 97% of why I wished to go to Memphis within the first place, we had been prepared for one thing just a little completely different. Good Fortune Co. was a breath of contemporary air after per week of BBQ with yummy ramen and Asian-inspired cocktails in a cute stretch of downtown. And we couldn’t depart and not using a drink at Old Dominick, an area distillery across the nook.
And that’s a wrap on Memphis! If you happen to’re headed there your self, don’t miss my TravelCon post for a few of my favourite eating places and nightlife — as a result of whereas I might need been all enterprise these days, a woman’s nonetheless gotta eat (and drink!)
With this journey, I formally pushed my state rely to twenty-six — simply over half! I wished to know extra in regards to the trendy American South from this journey, and I can confidently say after twelve days on the highway, I do. And I can’t wait to see what a part of this wild, wild nation I’m fortunate sufficient to discover subsequent.
Have you ever been to Memphis? What can’t I miss subsequent time?
Thanks to Memphis Travel for internet hosting us for some meals and points of interest. Your hospitality was great!
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