Thoughts on Memphis

[cessna412]

My SO and I are thinking of taking an extended weekend trip to see Memphis...specifically, to go to Graceland and also see Beale Street, etc...maybe even hit the casinos in Tunica. Has anyone visited Memphis? Any general opinions? We have never been there.

[aknowledgeableperson]

When we were in the area a few months ago on the way to Panama City Beach we passed on Memphis but stayed at Harrah's by Tunica. Tunica is OK but the casinos are spread apart. There was a Memphis site that had package deals for a stay at Heartbreak Hotel and tickets to various attractions in town.

[chaglang]

We were in Memphis very briefly last summer and decided to hit Beale and (of course) Rendezvous. Rendezvous was good, not great. We might have caught Beale on a bad night, but it was underwhelming. Only a block or two long. Lots of tourist traps. The people watching was better than the bars.

Granted we were there for only a short time and did almost no research prior to rolling into town, but I was definitely expecting more out of Beale.

[KCMax]

I have heard from many people that Tennessee is one of the most underrated states in the union, and that Memphis is a lot of fun and Nashville is a gem, Knoxville is a cool college town, and the Smoky Mountains are gorgeous. We are planning a road trip out there some time in the next year or two.

[longviewmo]

I didn't really care much for Memphis or Nashville at all, but the Smoky Mountains are pretty spectacular.

[rxlexi]

Memphis is interesting, I've stoped through a couple of times on the way back from New Orleans. We did Graceland (a must if you go!), Beale St, a little downtown tour. Beale really is only a couple of blocks, but it is pretty well jam packed with bars/clubs/restuarants (of the touristy variety).

A couple of downtown sites you might want to check out - the classic Peabody Hotel and maybe a game at beautiful Autozone Park, home of the AAA Memphis (StL) Cardinals.

I haven't really been outside of DT Memphis (excepting the rather depressing area around Graceland), but I'm sure there are a few interesting/soulful 'hoods around.

It's a gritty old city, very unlike Nashville in many ways.

[kcjak]

I agree w/rxlexi that Memphis is a gritty city and has a more working-class feel than Nashville. Also doesn't have the nice topography of Nashville. The Peabody is nice and if you're downtown a trip to Mud Island on the monorail offers a nice view of downtown and I found like miniature mockup of the Mississippi and it's tributaries to be interesting.

[normalthings]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Beale


New mixed use development with 3 new hotels, apartments, etc. 20 floor Grand Hyatt has filed permits and should get going in a few months.




First phase hotel is open

[GRID]

Wow, how the hell did Memphis pull off getting a grand hyatt? They have what is currently one of the more static downtowns in the country. Although they do still have a decent tourism economy, so I'm sure they are due for a modern hotel like that.

[normalthings]

Wow, how the hell did Memphis pull off getting a grand hyatt? They have what is currently one of the more static downtowns in the country. Although they do still have a decent tourism economy, so I'm sure they are due for a modern hotel like that.

They also have a 500 room Loews planned. Incentive packages for both but I don't think anything extreme. I like this facade for a 4 Light or similar. @DCOLEKC send this over to Cordish





350 Room combined hotel project announced last summer

[Chris Stritzel]

^I think the Loews was cancelled.