City ❀ Country ❀ Beach
Since we are Hilton Grand Vacations members, we booked Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina through them. However, you don’t need to be members of any establishment in order to stay here. You can book directly from Hyatt Regency’s website. If you want the …
This post contains no advice from any medical perspective. These are solely my opinions. If you’re like me, I have “vacation anticipation.” It’s a term that means you just CAN’T WAIT until your vacation and everything you do that leads up to it makes you …
Filled with soul and character, Memphis has everything you want to make this city your next vacation destination with our 10 best attractions for everyone.
Our home state of Florida has tons of things to do, but on this road trip, we decided to join my husband as he had to work in Memphis. My boys and I decided to make the most of it so we planned just about everything before we left our home of what we were going to see and do. These are the 10 best attractions we found in Memphis, Tennessee!
Since we were on a road trip, we found that this stop was on our way to Memphis. We already had Graceland, where Elvis lived, on the list so why not stop by his birthplace? It just made sense. If you have time, Tupelo, MS is about 1.5 hours away from Memphis. If you’re driving through, definitely make this a stop. It won’t take you more than 1 hour to see everything here. It will give you a better sense of how Elvis grew up and how it lead to his road to fame, especially when it all comes together when you visit Graceland.
We did not have time to go through the museum so we did not purchase tickets. However, you can walk through and still see a lot. The house Elvis grew up in is very humble. It gives you a great appreciation on how far he went.
When in Memphis, if you see a large pyramid, it’s not aliens invading the city. It is a Bass Pro Shop gone futuristic. Its architecture is amazing, to say the least. Make sure you at least stop in and take a look around. There are a couple of restaurants you can dine in, where we ate lunch one day named Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill and it is also connected to the Big Cypress Lodge, which is a beautiful hotel.
You have the option to ride the elevator all the way to the top for a fee, but we did not. There is another spot that I will talk about later in which you can get just as much of a wonderful view without paying.
Our boys were having fun exploring all that this store has to offer. Ladies, if you want to make your husband and sons happy, this is the perfect place for them to spend some time. Meanwhile, you could be getting a cup of coffee, relax, and watch the fish!
Beale Street in Memphis is named Home of the Blues. When people hear Memphis, they think of Beale Street first because it is the most touristy and iconic street there. There is so much soul on Beale Street! For families with young children, in my opinion, it is best to go during the day. Beale Street is mainly a street sectioned off primarily for nightclubs and restaurants. There is often entertainment on the streets such as dance performers. Furthermore, if you want to hear good music, this is the place!
(The following photos of Graceland were taken by me, but I was given permission from the Public Relations department at Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. © to use for this post)
If you are an Elvis fan or are curious about what made Elvis the rock and roll legend he still is today, this is a must see. You will be amazed at how much you actually take away from this visit! I learned so much about him in just this tour alone. There are many tour options to choose from, but we chose the “2018 Elvis Experience Tour” option. I tried to narrow down the photos to just one photo of each room of his estate because I took SO many.
Once you get there you will notice that Graceland is not where you first enter to get your tickets even though the sign says “Welcome to Graceland.” Graceland the actual estate and is across the street where they will take you via a small bus. The place where you get your tickets is where most of Elvis’ memorabilia such as his cars and wardrobe is located.
The Memphis Zoo is literally perfect for all ages! It’s great for children because they love animals. It’s great for adults because, well, we love animals. If you’re worried about all the walking, say no more. The zoo tram will take you for a tour of the entire zoo for just $2 per person all day! (Check the website for date exclusions). It is also rated in the top 10 things to do in Memphis with TripAdvisor.
These are some of my favorite animals that I saw while on my adventure at this zoo.
Don’t pass this one up if you’re visiting Memphis! If you’re not into metal art, you’ll still want to visit here because it has stunning views, beautiful grounds, and it is unique. It is a hidden gem that overlooks the Mississippi River. As you park, you will notice signs leading up to the entrance with grandeur trees.
All the decor is very ornate and this one reason why I love this place. The designs are intricate and made with precision. Once you’ve entered the gate, you’ll first notice the gorgeous home on your left. That is the entrance to the indoor museum.
The art pieces are everywhere. Art is not just behind rope and glass cases with good lighting. The art pieces are the actual doors, windows, molding, frames…everywhere! This beautiful door is one I wish I could have taken home with me.
I hope you got the hint above when I said “the indoor museum” because there are certainly art pieces outside, too! The landscape is picturesque and is very inviting and on this day it was absolutely beautiful.
The Metal Museum is also a wonderful place to have a special event such as a wedding. As we made our way around, we headed down toward the river and noticed this very cute gazebo overlooking the river.
We sat, breathed and took in the view of the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge. It’s cool to think that if you just drive over the bridge you’re already in Arkansas! This is a great place to sit and contemplate life.
This museum holds so much history. This would be a great place for your teenager to learn the history, sights, and sounds of past eras when it comes to the history of music.
If you’re staying in downtown Memphis near Beale Street, this might in walking distance to your hotel. We were staying at the Peabody Memphis, so it was definitely close to us.
These are some of my favorites.
Jukebox styles!
Ever since being in school, I’m sure you studied about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil right movement. However, visiting this museum puts everything into perspective and being at the very place that he was murdered is a very somber moment. This would be a perfect museum to visit with older children.
While we were there, it was the 50th anniversary since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had passed away.
The Lorraine Motel has since been converted to what is now the museum and across the street is another portion of the museum.
Across the street is the building that houses more memorabilia and the window where the shot came from (a bathroom). From the sniper’s view, you can see what the distance was to where the wreath is today.
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sun Studio is known as “the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll.” Many music legends that we know of about today, thrived and were discovered in this very studio. When you walk into this studio, it’s not physically big, but it sure feels BIG! Our tour guide was wonderful in explaining everything there is to know about who walked in these doors and who sang in this studio and everything in between.
Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum
Rich history lives in this house. Aside from it being absolutely stunning inside and out, it is also creepy to think of that if these walls could talk, they would have a lot to say! The French Victorian house has many rooms with intricate architecture and collections. This house is said to come alive at night with haunted happenings and ghost tours.
During your tour, you will be given an extensive history lesson of the family members that lived and died here and the relation between the Woodruff family and the Fontaine family. It is quite interesting!
This house has 16 rooms and it houses an extensive line of fashion from its time period.
This courting bench was popular in the Victorian era. It was a way for dating couples to sit closer without touching. It is also called the tête-à-tête, “head-to-head” and we now know it as the earliest introduction to the loveseat.
I hope you enjoyed visiting the 10 best attractions in Memphis from our perspective!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
The Peabody Memphis is a luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of soul city Memphis, TN. It is conveniently located within everything that is what Memphis is all about: soul, rock, and bar-b-que! LOBBY This hotel has it all! It really does! The inside is kept …
We are big fans of “The Walking Dead” otherwise we would not be writing about much less pay to tour the filming sites. Our trip started with a road trip from our home in Florida to Georgia. We had booked a tour with the “Georgia …
I want to clearly state that we are not responsible for any one statement listed as the author. All information presented here has been given by authority of the author listed.
Have you ever been abroad and encountered or been surprised by something you said or did? I have. This is the story of my culture no-no. By the way, I chose the eclectic group of colorful frames because it reminds me of all of us living in this world. We’re all of different sizes, shapes, and colors, but we’re all human beings!
Once upon a time, a group of us were at a Spanish speaking country out and about doing the touristy things. Someone in our group decided to go into a store to shop and I decided to stay outside and wait. We had been walking a lot and was a bit tired so I rested my back against a wall, bent one of my legs back from the knee, and rested it against the wall as well. I started getting a lot of strange looks from people and had no idea why. When I mentioned this to my group, they mentioned to me that, well let’s just say that to keep it family friendly, those looking at me strange thought I was selling something! I was shocked!
Our family travels a lot. We love it when we have the opportunity to just get away and have fun. For some traveling can mean a whole lot more than just getting away. It can mean the hassle of packing, crowded airports, and jet lag. …
If you want to go to this very sought after event, you need to prepare. From seeking tickets, booking flights, and reserving a hotel room, here is our family prep list of what you need to do. Tickets Tickets for this very sought after event are …
(Travel Tip Tuesday was a special feature for subscribers only)
Don’t get me wrong. There are many highly respected travel agencies out there. And, of course, if you don’t feel confident enough, you don’t want to take the time, or you don’t have time, then by all means get help. However, more and more people are becoming their own travel agency, so to speak. People are doing all the work themselves. They are making the calls, inquiring about events, booking hotel rooms, booking airfare, making reservation for dinners or special events. It really is not hard, YOU are in control.
If you’re traveling solo, this obviously doesn’t pertain to you. If you’re traveling with anyone, whether it’s your spouse, child(ren), grandparent, etc. consider what they would like to do. This is something you can spend some quality family time planning out and everyone will feel included. If it’s not something they chose that you’re not too thrilled about, suck it up, put a happy face on, and try to enjoy it. You just might!
As you are planning, go into it with an open mind. You can plan all you want, and that’s great, but know that sometimes plans can change at the last minute. You don’t want to be so rigid and be that person that gets drowned in sorrow and brings everyone’s enthusiasm down because things didn’t go your way to the tee. Plan, but be ok with the fact that if your restaurant reservation was accidentally canceled, the excursion you really wanted to go on is full, your flight gets delayed, your hotel room is not ready or whatever the case may be, you can adjust and still have fun. Change is not easy, but it is achievable.
The first 3 tips had to do with planning ahead. This week’s tip leads to the week of (or if you are a procrastinator the day of) your travel. It may seem simple enough, but this task can take a toll on you or make you anxious just thinking about it. Consider your destination and the time period you’re going. Look at www.weather.com (that’s what I do) to see 5-10 days ahead what the prediction is. You may not want to be stuck with all jeans, for instance, if the weather will be 90˚F! By the way, you don’t need jeans for every day of the week. We, at Mackintosh Travels, pack 1 pair of bottoms (shorts, jeans, or otherwise) for every 2-3 days and 1 top for every day. Socks and undergarments can be stuffed in shoes. Don’t bring more than 2 pairs (open toed like sandals and closed toed like sneakers). It’s not necessary. We’re talking about only the necessities. But of course, if you need more, like a formal outfit for a cruise and heels, then, by all means, take it. It’s all about the necessities. Plus, you don’t want to pay extra for baggage fees!
Ok. I know what you’re thinking. We do use a GPS, duh! You won’t believe how many people actually don’t. Even if you think you know where you’re going, half the time this will end up in you losing valuable vacation time plus the fact that your significant other might get aggravated and therefore bringing everyone’s spirit down. If you absolutely need to (ahem…men) ask for directions, please!
If you’re traveling internationally, the least you can do is learn a few basic phrases in their language. This is something that irks me personally. I don’t expect a lot, but common and necessary phrases like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you,” and “Please” are some everyone should know before traveling out of the U.S. It shows an interest in their culture and respect for their country. I would appreciate the same if it was vice versa. I wouldn’t worry if your accent isn’t perfect either. It is the effort that counts. So go ahead and try it next time. Mahalo! Adios! Au revoir!
What I mean by this is that once you’re at your destination, prepare for change. Change in time (possibly), change in weather, change in foods, change in people/culture, change, change, change. First, make sure you are drinking a lot of water. Nothing is worse than being sick, dehydrated, and stressed while you’re trying to have a memorable moment. You should be doing this especially if you’re doing more walking than normal. Also, make the internet your best friend. You’ll be using this a lot for researching while you’re at your destination. You may think you made all the pre-planning at home (see travel tip #1), but there is always something else that pops up no matter how organized you were.
When we were in Paris souvenir shopping, we realized something. Not everything is as it looks. We saw two Eiffel Tower replicas that looked (almost) exactly the same. To my surprise, one said “Made in Paris” and the other one said, “Made in China.” Go figure, we bought the one that said: “Made in Paris.” When you souvenir shop, it’s best to shop for the most unique and authentic trinkets & treasures. Your family & friends will appreciate it more. My rule of thumb is if you can find it back home don’t buy it.
It doesn’t matter where you travel, unfortunately, there will always be people out to get others. Don’t carry too much cash when you’re out and about. Ladies, wear your purses diagonally. Wear a money belt. No, these are not old-fashioned. They DO work and not just for money, but your passport. Don’t wear visible valuables or keep them in your hotel. In fact, why bring them in the first place? Be vigilant of your surroundings. If you have children and you’re touring a new place, have them in front of you or right next to you. Don’t have them tag along behind you. Some of these may be common sense, but sometimes we all need a good reminder.
As you leave from your vacation to head home, don’t forget to check your surroundings. Check your hotel room to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Don’t forget to tip your bellboy or cruise wait staff. But most importantly, don’t forget why you took your vacation in the first place. Maybe it was to make memories with your family. Perhaps it was to relax and unwind from everyday stress. Maybe it was to grow closer within a relationship and experience new things together. Whatever the case, you will always have those photos to look back on years ahead of your time. Now….on to plan the next vacation!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
Sea World Orlando makes for a great day getaway. With many things to see and do, you are sure to have a cool day! Being from Florida, we have many theme park choices to go to. On this day, my oldest son and I decided to visit …
