The day after graduating from Northwestern, my mom and I packed up my room and made the 9-hour drive from Chicago to Memphis. We arrived at our hotel around 1 a.m. My mom had plans to fly out the following day, giving us just enough time to tour one site in Memphis that morning. We decided on Graceland.
We paid too much for the Platinum ticket and waited in the long line to take the shuttle across the street (does anyone walk places anymore?). There were a few crazy fans on our tour, but we both liked the mansion — the rooms were cool, my mom loved the music (it brought her back to high school) , and I had no idea Elvis had been that good looking.
After Graceland, I took my mom to the airport, leaving her feeling a little unsatisfied. Sure she’d seen where Elvis lived, but she completely missed the present-day Memphis.
After living here for a few weeks, I question whether Graceland was the best site for my mom to see. If you had time to take visitors to only one place that represents Memphis, where would you go?
Responses to “Guest Diva Alex: I know it’s Elvis week but….”
August 15th, 2006 at 9:48 am
I’ve lived in Memphis all of my 39 years and have yet to see Graceland and probably never will. If I wanted to show off the city to a visitor I would: give them a choice of tours from one of our many museums (Stax, Sun Studios, Pink Palace, Civil Rights, etc), or hit the zoo or Beale St. and round out the day with a meal at any number of excellent BBQ joints.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:48 am
I’ve done the “Memphis Tour” a few times for visitors. If you only have a day, I suggest you take the trolley loop starting at Main St. Get off at Beale St. and show them that strip. You can always do Peabody place and show them the famous hotel lobby.
The Zoo, Stax museum are good as well, but the downtown journey I’ve described packs the most sights into one surprisingly short tour.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:49 am
First to comment on “does anyone walk places anymore?”-the shuttles are mainly in place to keep people safe from the crazy Memphis drivers-seriously :0) My fave pick for one place that represents Memphis would have to be STAX Museum…it’s a little off the beaten path but well worth the visit. It tells a wonderful story of Memphis Soul music and the opening video in the theatre will make you cry (esp. if you or your parents lived in Memphis in the late 60’s, care about music, and were impacted by the Civil Rights issues of the time.) Take the tour-you won’t be sorry and will be amazed!
August 15th, 2006 at 9:50 am
I think the mansion was fine. That’s the great thing about Memphis, there really is no one place that represents the whole. Downtown is awesome and the view of the river fantastic, but so is Sun Studio, Gibson Guitar, Stax. On the other hand, a tour of midtown and the Brooks/Botanic is great too. She’ll have lots to see her next go around!
August 18th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Ref. to Donna below: There was only time for the writer to show her mother ONE Memphis landmark in the brief time she had. Although Memphis has a long and rich history, I would have to say that if there’s any ONE place in Memphis that is uniquely Memphis, Graceland is it. If her mom’s friends hear she was in Memphis recently, they will most likely ask “Did you visit Graceland?” That’s the criteria I’d have to use if I could only show a visitor one place.
August 14th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
It surely WOULD NOT have been Graceland alone! Sure, it is a big part of Memphis, but not big enough. Elvis only represented one side of music. I think a trip to Graceland, the Stax Museum and the Civil Rights Museum would have done it. You’ve got several genres of music along with the history of racism in this black/white city all wrapped up in 3 separate venus.