Andrew and I road tripped a few months ago to Memphis, Tennessee with a few friends. In case you didn’t know, it’s also the hometown of the one and only Justin Timberlake. So, you can imagine Andrew’s excitement to be in this iconic place for a weekend. We stayed at our friend’s family home right outside of the city, and it was the perfect little getaway. We went to a Memphis Grizzlies game, spent time on their boat, visited their horse farm, and of course, toured the town. If you ever find yourself in the Home of the Blues, here are the top 5 things that are MUST to-dos.
1. Beale Street
Beale street is the main drag downtown. It’s PACKED with people at all times of the day, and you can hear the blues music pouring out of every restaurant and bar. This is the spot where you really feel like you’re in Memphis.
The original blues club did NOT disappoint. You can appreciate the history, and the rhythm right when you walk in. The Kings had us dancing and singing in no time at all, and we decided it was the perfect opportunity for a selfie.
Gah. I wish I had a photo of these super cool ducks, but I was so hypotized by their skills, that I didn’t snap any pics. The bottom line though —> you have to go see the famous Peabody duck march. They walk the red carpet like nobody’s business, and they do it with such grace. At first, I didn’t understand what the hype was all about but when you arrive at the Peabody Hotel, you are transformed into another world —-> the ducks’ world, and you’re just livin’ in it. It’s a long standing tradition, and I hope it never goes away!
In a basement, off an alley in downtown Memphis…..that was our best chance to see Justin Timberlake. We had heard that he liked to come to Rendezvous for BBQ, and why wouldn’t he?! This place was finger lickin’ good (yep, I said it). I don’t normally eat ribs, but I thought if I was ever going to do it, this was the place. We started with a meat and cheese “appetizer” plate COVERED in their famous seasoning and sauce, and then moved onto the ribs, which were covered in more seasoning and sauce. Holy meat sweats. I admit, I didn’t look pretty eating this stuff, but I sure was happy.
5. The murals
Fun fact about Memphis: there are some pretty dope murals painted all over town. We only had time to visit one, so we chose the one that spoke to how we felt about the entire weekend. If you have the time, you can spend a whole day exploring the beautiful wall art. Check out more here.
Until next time….stay bluesy, Tennessee kids.