My friends and I headed to Memphis for a short but memorable 24-hour trip!
We started our day at Graceland, decked out in Elvis gear! I wasn’t sure what to expect at Graceland but we all were so intrigued by his life and had the best time touring Graceland! Graceland has so much to see including Elvis’ cars, restaurants, shops and they are even home to a Disney exhibit! I’d love to go back for one of their many concerts!
It’s really hard to pick a favorite because we all truly loved seeing the inside of Graceland and all the memorabilia! However, seeing the Lisa Marie plane was definitely a highlight! Elvis had quite the set up and was quite the entertainer! The three of us were so enthralled that we’ve all ordered Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley to learn more!
We headed to our hotel, Westin Memphis Beale Street, next to rest up for a little bit. The Westin is a Diamond AAA hotel all within steps to Beale Street, the Fedex Forum and The Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum! The hotel also has on site dining with Blue Restaurant, Starbucks and a bar in the lobby. The accommodations were comfortable, clean and such a convenient location! I also was glad there was a parking garage attached to the hotel.
We grabbed appetizers and drinks in the hotel lobby! I am still thinking about these fried green tomatoes!
Next up for dinner, we went to The Beauty Shop Restaurant in mid-town Memphis! The Beauty Shop was transformed from a former salon where Priscilla Presley had her hair done! Not only was this place adorable and nostalgic but the food was absolutely amazing! (My comfy fall dress)
Seriously, everything we tried was delicious but I have to say this coconut cake had to be my favorite! Worth every calorie! And our server was so friendly and showed true southern hospitality!
We only had a few hours before heading home so started our day with coffee and tea from Vice and Virtue. Located on South Main, Vice and Virtue is a must see for the atmosphere, coffee and food!
Served on Vice and Virtue’s homemade bread, topped with pumpkin seeds and spice, this avocado toast tops my list! Literally can’t wait to go back to Memphis just for this toast!
Just across the street is Lorraine Motel and the National Civil Rights Museum. Founded in 1991, the National Civil Rights Museum preserves the place where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his final hours. Not only does the museum serve as a memorial but a place to teach and continue to learn about equal rights for African Americans.
We browsed the shops on Main and even though we didn’t eat at Arcade Restaurant, we had to stop by to see Memphis’ oldest cafe! They served sweet potato pancakes all day and you can get a glimpse of Elvis’ favorite booth. (My $7 t-shirt dress)
We made one final stop in Overton Square to pop in a few shops before hitting the road. Sadly, many didn’t open until around lunch but there were some cute spots!
Memphis is just a three hour drive from Nashville and has some great places to check out! Plan accordingly to be in safe neighborhoods and know your surroundings. We had been warned to “be careful” while there but I never felt unsafe. Our family is hoping to head back to Memphis soon! Here are a few other ideas for Bluff City.
The Memphis Zoo is one of the best we’ve been too!
Tacos at Babalu!
See a Grizzlies game
Explore Bass Pro Shop at The Pyramid
See the ducks at The Peabody
Have you been to Memphis?