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Memphis

Beale Street at Night

Credit Memphis Travel

Memphis, notoriously colorful “River City”, most populous in the state of Tennessee and county seat of Shelby County, was once the largest spot cotton, hardwood lumber and mule market in the world; it took its rightful place at the center of the Civil Rights Movement, is the birthplace of good ol’ Rock and Roll, and is well known for its contributions to the identity of the American South; it’s also known as the BBQ capitol of the world, and during “Memphis in May” hosts “The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest” – the largest pork barbecue contest on the planet. Owning so many world-records, firsts and bests, present-day Memphis has a right to be proud of its richly diverse heritage, hard-bought by centuries of shakers, movers and over comers; so proud, in fact, that the warmer months kick off an exciting series of festivals celebrating everything Memphis – food, culture, music, art – you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more diverse array of events anywhere else in the states and legendary historic landmark/entertainment venue Beale Street, local hangout, tourist mecca and birthplace of the Blues, finds itself right at the heart of its share. Its location on the beautiful banks of the mighty Mississippi provide visitors nearly five miles of riverfront parks to enjoy; a variety of riverboat cruise options let guests experience that legendary Southern hospitality in grand paddlewheel tradition. Groups plotting a classic Memphis escape must visit iconic Graceland, Stax Museum, the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum and landmark Sun Studio; (where Elvis, Johhny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and a host of other legends got their start); groups of all ages will enjoy an afternoon at the acclaimed Memphis Zoo and face time with the Peabody Hotel’s celebrity ducks. Come on, meet me in Memphis?

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Sample Itineraries

3-Day Memphis Highlight Tour

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Below is a sample itinerary of how you may want your tour to look, but don't forget that we customize each tour we offer.

    •  Five Museums
    •  Explore Beale Street
    •  Dinner Cruise by Riverboat

Memphis Medley Tour

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This tour pitches a perfect blend of music, history, and soul in the birthplace of rock and roll!

    •  Catch a Baseball Game
    •  Six Museums
    •  Two Nights Lodging

Attractions

Memphis Riverboats

Groups exploring the historic best of Memphis won’t want to bypass an opportunity to see the glorious sights along the fourth longest river in the world while enjoying true Southern Hospitality and a colorful, well-presented river history lesson from the spotless decks of one of Memphis Riverboat’s magnificent and masterfully-captained paddle wheel vessels. This family-run business tenders potential passengers an exciting range of popular options including entertaining and educational narrated cruises, romantic sunset trips, exclusive holiday events, private charters and delightful two-hour  “dinner and music” tours featuring buffet-style BBQ meals of pulled pork or grilled marinated chicken and delicious southern-style fixins accompanied by fantastic live music; each and every outing promising guests on Memphis holiday a satisfyingly authentic and personalized riverboat experience! The hands-down favorite  is the 90-minute sightseeing cruise on the 100-foot Island Queen, during which guests embark on a charming voyage across Tennessee history via a comprehensive and captivating narrative delivered by a knowledgeable guide and detailing decades of life on the mighty Mississippi River; light snacks and perfect refreshments are served on board. Ready to go?  Let the capable travel team at Exploring America make a Memphis Riverboats Cruise adventure part of your rock-and-soul itinerary and get rollin’ on “dat Ol’ Man River”!

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National Civil Rights Museum

National Civil Rights Musuem Display

Credit Memphis Travel

Groups exploring historic Memphis will want to be sure their itinerary includes a stop at the landmark National Civil Rights Museum, established in 1991 and located at the former Lorraine Motel, where beloved civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. This premier institution recently underwent a $27.5 million renovation, and more than 40 new films, oral histories and interactive media features joined an already robust collection, while the museum’s updated, modern design reminds visitors of its duty to keep civil rights issues moving forward and a 7,000-pound bronze signature statue, “Movement to Overcome”, featured in front of the grand staircase in the new lobby, serves as a monument to the struggles of previous generations. Through a comprehensive series of well-executed interactive exhibits including A Culture of Resistance, The Rise of Jim Crow, Is This America?, World in Transition, Join the Movement and The King’s Last Hours, important historic collections and a range of dynamic speakers and special events, a tour of the museum leads guests on an immersive journey through five centuries of history, from the dawn of the resistance and through the Civil War and reconstruction to significant events of the late 20th century that inspired people the world over to rise, step away from a heritage of stolen futures and mournful predisposition, shake off the heavy chains of segregation and stand for equality.

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Chewalla Lake & Holly Springs National Forest

Groups of nature loving historians exploring Memphis and the surrounding area will truly enjoy a rest stop at Northern Mississippi’s premier family recreation area in Holly Springs National Forest – “Lands of Many Uses” – a wonderfully quiet and inviting woodland wonder split asunder by deep gullies marked by old split-rail fences, dotted with dozens of sparkling lakes, forested with loblolly and shortleaf pines, dogwood, magnolia, sweet gum and oak and sprinkled with flowering native shrubs, all twined about in the Summertime with grape-scented Kudzu. The park is a breathtaking feast for the eyes year-round: in Spring, when the dogwood blooms and again, when the hills are ablaze with splendiferous Autumnal color; the woods and wetlands provide all manner of resident and migratory wildlife ample habitat and excellent spotting and bird-watching opportunities abound. Holly Springs National Forest is the perfect place to bring a picnic lunch and break from a hectic travel agenda – revel in the beautiful surroundings and enjoy magnificent views of 260-acre Chewalla Lake from the day use/campground area – once an Indian Burial site – threaded with miles of well-marked, peaceful and scenic hiking trails. Kick back on the beach, grab a handful of sweet berries to fortify you along the way as you head for the hills, hunt the elusive wild mushroom, do a little bird watching, explore the tiny island on Chewalla’s western shore, fish for your lunch, jump in a kayak or go for a refreshing swim. Get out of the lake and hop in the shower – (bathhouses are available ) just a few miles away, the historic and colorful plantation town of Holly Springs awaits, offering visitors a fascinating look at the old South when cotton was king; explore well-preserved antebellum homes, slave dwellings, museums, churches and other intriguing points of interest – there are hundreds in the area – then sit down to some tasty Southern cuisine at one of the great eateries in Holly Spring, “Mississippi’s Best Kept Secret!”

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Slave Haven Underground Railroad

At one time, Cotton was King in Memphis. For hundreds of years, African people were shipped across the seas to America and sold into the booming slave trade that ensured the Delta’s cash crops were planted, tended and harvested; the city of Memphis rapidly became Tennessee’s leader in the trade business. Eventually, the anti-slave movement saw the uprising of noble citizens who enlisted themselves in the abolition wars to assist runaways seeking their freedom in the Northern states. Jacob Burkle, German immigrant and stockyard owner, was one of them, a man who risked his life and livelihood to help slaves on their way by operating an “underground railroad station” from his modest home near the banks of the Mississippi. Visitors to the Burkle Estate, just a few minutes from iconic Beale Street, are treated to a well-presented tour of the white clapboard house and grounds, wonderfully preserved and recreated in the manner of its day of service with historical documents, period furniture, quilts and other relevant artwork and well-attended by knowledgeable guides who supply – in animated detail – heartrending stories of the dark days of slavery during Jacob Burkle’s time, and the way in which many were aided, en route to possible freedom, with safe haven provided in his home. Guests will learn how slaves creatively transmitted coded information to escape captivity, and see the cellar, crawl spaces and secret passages they used to hide in the Burkle home before continuing their perilous journey North.

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Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

Rock n Soul Museum Display

Credit Memphis Travel

Music fans heading to the the river city blues birthplace of Memphis will be thrilled to find a stop at this historic institution – a shining tribute to decades of struggle, upheaval, change and triumph that inspired people everywhere to re-think the way they listened – at the top of their itinerary.  Visitors to this popular attraction located on legendary Beale Street on the corner of Highway 61 at the world-famous FedExForum sports complex and across from Gibson Guitar are introduced to the fearless musical pioneers who overcame daunting racial and socio-economic barriers to craft the music that would ultimately shape a city and shake the world to its core. The Rock ‘n’ Soul  Museum, developed in unique cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution, tenders guests a personalized Blues City music experience they won’t soon forget, with a convenient digital audio tour showcasing more than five hours of  music – more than 100 songs –  and fascinating information accompanying guests at their own pace through seven galleries jam-packed with musical instruments and artifacts and surprising treasures, serving up a comprehensive cross-section of the rich history of that unmistakable, unforgettable sweet Delta sound. Summarily? The Memphis Rock and Roll museum delivers a toothsome “biography” of the transformation of a gritty southern city mentioned in more songs than any other on EARTH  – to a music mecca and the heart of the rock and soul industry – the whole story – through its amazing series of exhibits and presentations. Ready to listen? Step inside.

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Gibson Guitar Factory

Testing a Gibson Guitar

Credit Memphis Travel

Fans of Gibson’s legendary instruments won’t want to miss an opportunity to check out the Beale Street Showcase in Memphis. When this small company started crafting mandolins in 1894, it likely had no idea the impact it would make on the music world. Today, Gibson is the foremost builder of electric guitars and is best known for their Les Paul and Chet Atkin models, and of course, B.B. King’s Lucille, which ultimately became the guitar of choice for artists like Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, and John Lennon and George Harrison. Entertaining and informative forty-five minute tours consist of an intimate viewing ( from behind trusty safety goggles ) of the facility as Gibson’s skilled Luthiers craft some of the finest guitars in the world, affording lucky guests an opportunity to witness the entire intricate process of their creation, from binding and neck-fitting to painting, buffing and tuning; these artists turn out the iconic musical instruments that have inspired and shaped some of the most important musical careers in history. Tour tickets can be purchased inside the Gibson Retail Shop, located one block south of Beale Street, directly across from the FedEx Forum and The Westin Hotel; reservations are recommended. Be sure to set aside a little extra time to visit the Gibson Factory Store, where you can pick up a souvenir of your visit, daydream a little, get your hands on and test drive a fabulous selection of special guitars – and maybe even wind up with that Les Paul you’ve been dreaming of!

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Davies Manor Plantation

Groups looking toward an unforgettable Memphis holiday will definitely want to plant a visit to Davies Manor Plantation – Century Farm, National Wildlife Federation-certified Backyard Habitat, and site of the oldest family home in Shelby County, Tennessee. The extensively-restored 1807 two story white oak chink and log plantation home rests on a lovely wooded piece of what was once a thriving 2000 acre operation, along with an assortment of wonderful outbuildings including a small cabin at one time occupied by Moses Frazier, a slave who toiled at Davies Manor for 50 years; prior to the Civil War, the Tennessee plantation supported approximately 23 enslaved African Americans. Tours begin with a short familiarization video and take guests through the log home and around the grounds and a series of carefully planned demonstration gardens and interpretive exhibits, providing an informative and realistic cross section of Colonial plantation/farm life while highlighting the inevitable changes to the estate that resulted from multi-generational occupancy. Careful excavation of a small “mound” in the front yard of Davies Manor revealed a few very small potsherds from the Woodland Indian Period; this is not surprising due to the presence of an Indian trail that wanders from Stage Road through the property and over Anderton Springs. The well-preserved structures and their rough-hewn contents are a testament to the true rigors of life on a typical southern plantation, and visits afford guests a priceless opportunity to trace the Davies family history through most of the 19th century and on to the present day with its challenges of maintaining and preserving the historic property for future generations.

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Peabody Hotel Ducks

Groups exploring the birthplace of the blues won’t want to miss a fabulous and FUN Memphis area tradition – which started at the Peabody Hotel back in 1933 when Frank Schutt, general manager of the hotel, returned from a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas. A group of his best hunting buddies, likely having enjoyed a bit too much Jack Daniels, thought depositing a trio of their live decoys – three small English ducks – (later replaced with five Mallards) in the hotel’s luxurious Italian fountain would be an appropriate homecoming welcome; the public’s reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Eventually the ducks would fall under the tutelage of a former circus animal trainer and a routine was perfected, with the current “duck team” residing in “The Duck Palace” on the hotel roof – living the “Life of Riley,” duck-style. Daily, at 11 am, the Peabody Duck March commences, and the ducks are led by the Duckmaster into the elevator and down a red carpet to the beautiful travertine marble fountain in the lobby to the tune of John Philip Sousa’s King Cotton March; the crowds of guests and admiring spectators go wild! The beloved show is reversed, nightly, at five pm, when the mallards return from a hard day of play in the fountain to their Palace atop the hotel. A freshly trained team of five is brought in every three months, with the previous group retired and returned to the farm they hatched on to live out their days. The Peabody Ducks have become quite the sensation and regularly enjoy the escort of honorary celebrity Duckmasters including Patrick Swayze, Larry King, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse and Kevin Bacon.

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Stax Museum of American Soul

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Credit Memphis Travel

Founded on McLemore Avenue as Satellite Records in 1957, Memphis-based Stax records went bankrupt in 1976; the legendary studio and label that signed phenomenal American singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout Otis Redding and released his first single and debut album was sold and allowed to deteriorate to the point it was torn down in 1989. Today, Stax Museum of American Soul Music is an exact replica of the original Satellite/Stax Studio – a wonderful 17,000-square-foot museum opened in 2003, showcasing more than 2,000 videos, films, photographs, original instruments, stage costumes, interactive displays, and other Stax – related artifacts, with featured exhibits including an authentic 101-year-old Mississippi Delta church, the Soul Train dance floor, Isaac Hayes’ 1972 gold-trimmed, peacock-blue Cadillac El Dorado; and a gallery of special exhibits that change five times per year. As one of a mere handful of museums in the world dedicated to soul music, Stax not only celebrates the rich legacy of Stax Records and its artists such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Albert King but features other soul music labels such as Motown, Atlantic Records, and Muscle Shoals, as well, and thrilled visitors are treated to fantastic vintage video footage of greats Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Ike & Tina Turner, and others. Groups on Blues City getaway visiting Stax will likely feel the call to partake of some authentic Memphis-style eats to round out a classic experience; a few great places are conveniently situated nearby , including the Four Way Restaurant, a cherished “Soulsville, USA” institution and icon where civil rights leaders, political figures, industry bigwigs , folks from the neighborhood and hungry tourists, alike, have enjoyed the original home style menu of favorites like salmon patties, fried or baked catfish and chicken, yams, okra, greens, fried green tomatoes, homemade turkey and dressing, pinto beans, sweet potato pie, lemon meringue pie and peach cobbler for almost 75 years!

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Backbeat Tour

Groups out and about enjoying a rockin’ Blues City holiday may want to enlist the talents of the good, capable folk at Backbeat Tours in providing a unique specialty entertainment excursion with that “personal touch” – their fantastic outings have been featured on CNN and Fox 13 News, and in Forbes, USA Today, Southern Living, Memphis Magazine, and newspapers around the country and treat guests to an extraordinary Memphis sightseeing extravaganza! They offer something for every age, interest and adventure appetite, and promise to leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your head – with a Memphis memory you’re certain to cherish. Memphis owns a compelling and influential history which has helped shaped popular culture to a degree far beyond imagining; Backbeat Tours’ knowledgeable and talented guides bring that history to life on immersive, creative, interactive, informational and truly entertaining forays into the very heart of the home of the Delta Blues. The Memphis Discovery Tour tenders guests the ultimate Memphis dining and shopping experience; Memphis Mojo combines live music and killer comedy on a wild musical heritage discovery, while Elvis fans exploring the area during Elvis Week trip over their blue suede shoes running to the acclaimed and ever-popular Hound Dog Tour. Ghost hunters of all ages will enjoy tiptoeing through the city’s dark history of voodoo, ghosts and lost souls as guides regale them with terrifying tales of eerie local misadventures, and traditionalists traveling the Delta will be tickled “Pink-Cadillac” to visit Graceland, Backbeat- style!

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Beale Street

Beale Street at night

Credit Memphis Travel

This landmark Historic District in downtown Memphis, created in 1841 by developer Robertson Topp and named after a forgotten military hero saw its notorious heyday in the roaring 20s in a thriving boom of nightclubs, theaters, restaurants, stores, pawnshops, hot music, gambling, drinking, murder, mayhem, and other, unmentionable vice in a red light district rivalling New Orleans’ Storyville. Energetic Beale Street, official home of the rockin’ blues , important center of riverfront trade to the West and burgeoning affluent suburbia to the East, has survived a hurricane of of feast, famine, renovation and renewal, growth and change to arrive where it is today: THE most visited attraction in all of Tennessee, acclaimed entertainment venue, local hangout and important Memphis cultural hotspot. Today, Beale’s gritty and wild atmosphere is tempered, considerably, by a strong, tourism-driven economy, and the area is a virtual 2-mile beacon of incredible cafes, BBQ joints and restaurants, noisy clubs and smoky bars, live music, street performers, an array of novelty and specialty shops, music stores, houses of worship, theaters, pool halls, museums and historic points of interest with a distinctly Southern-fried crunch steeped in a richly authentic, smooth and moving Blues culture and vibe. Anything goes on Beale Street; come as you are – see the sights and sounds of this quintessentially Memphis neighborhood: follow the walk of brass notes, stop in at A. Schwab’s dry goods store, check out the cool sounds of Memphis Jams on Beale at Handy Park, come to town for the International Blues Challenge, pop by the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum or just hang out and revel in that “catfish on the table, gospel in the air” feel of this most iconic street in America!

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Graceland

Graceland HouseMore than 600,000 adoring fans annually make the big-daddy of all celebrity pilgrimages to 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard, passing through those hallowed, music-booked-shaped gates onto the perfectly preserved and maintained 13.8 acre estate at Graceland, favorite tourist attraction in all of Memphis and place the legendary humanitarian, movie star and King of Rock and Roll loved and called home for more than 20 years; a stop by Graceland is an absolute must on any Blues City getaway! Guests enjoy audio-guided tours of the mansion featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie; they see where Elvis relaxed, played, ate, slept and spent time with his cherished friends and family on a very personal look inside the home of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with peeks into each lovingly, elaborately decorated room, furnished in Elvis’ signature flamboyant style. You’ll love seeing the collection of vehicles Elvis owned at the time of his passing – especially the Pink Cadillac he bought for his precious Mama, as well as his purple Caddy Convertible, his Stutz Blackhawk and the Red MG he drove in 1961’s romantic musical comedy, “Blue Hawaii.” The final stop on every Graceland Tour is the Meditation Garden, rumored to have been Elvis’ favorite place on the Estate, where he would go in troubled times to seek peaceful refuge, and where he and several family members have been laid to rest; yearly processions on the eve of his death have attracted as many as 40,000 visitors, showing up to pay special homage as they file through the Garden and past the grave of the beloved, undisputed King of Rock and Roll. Graceland receives you with open arms into the world of the Elvis: the man, the movie star and the musical legend.

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Sun Studio

Sun Studio

Credit Memphis Travel

“If music was a religion, then Memphis would be Jerusalem, and Sun Studio its most Holy Shrine.” Visitors to iconic Beale Street must NOT miss an opportunity to stop into this landmark historic attraction, springboard for some of the most important careers in the history of music and comfort food for established modern talent looking to tradition for occasional inspiration. Rock pioneer Sam Phillips opened the doors to his childhood dream and brand new Blues City studio with the slogan, “we record anything, anywhere, anytime” in an effort to drum up business and generate some fast cash. Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats’ “Rocket 88″ was recorded there in 1951 with Ike Turner on keyboards – reputedly the first single ever – earning the studio its golden status as the “birthplace” of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Fast forward through a series of ups, downs, changes big and small, sweet successes and the usual setbacks to the day 18-and-a-half year old Elvis Aaron Presley walked through the doors and recorded his first number, EVER. The rest, as they say, is history. Phillip’s studio ultimately garnered the reputation as the place that nurtured fledgling talent and encouraged it to expand with bigger labels, and heavy hitters that cut their teeth at Sun would move back through those doors, time and again – legends like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison – and of course, Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll . It’s been said Sun Studio oozes grit, blue collar resolve, and unadulterated Americana. The table where The King signed his very first contract sits right at the studio entrance. Tours happen on the half hour, and treat guests to an unforgettable hit of pure nostalgia; if you’re waiting your turn, check out the killer memorabilia on display, browse souvenirs, or pop a squat at the counter, order up a malt and imagine Elvis next to you. It’s not that hard to do.

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