Memphis has long been regarded a paragon of the blues and the cornerstone of rock and roll. A mecca for discerning music lovers, join the throng of enthusiasts in discovering the best of this famous city. The city remains a tantalising mix of old and new, of fabulously vintage buildings and tall imposing modern structures of steel and concrete.
It’s almost offensive to leave Memphis without tasting its rich musical scene. When you’re driving around town in your car rental, it’s easy to see how the town is shaped by its musical history, with larger than life museums and neon-lit music bars. Get serenaded by some of the best local musicians at the Lafayette’s Music Room. Popular in the 70s for showcasing popular music acts like Kiss and Billy Joel, now they host excellent local and rising artists. Give them a listen while you dine on po-boys, oysters and other Memphis cuisine.
Dive into the city’s musical history at the Blues Foundation’s Blue Hall of Fame. Cataloguing the lives of prominent and influential blues artists, you can learn about them and listen to their music through the wide array of interactive exhibits. If you’re hungry for more music history, visit the Rock ‘N’ Soul Museum, where you can learn about the rise of music in Memphis and how it transcended racial and economic borders to become the iconic tunes we know today.
Whether or not you’re a music aficionado or just a casual fan, you’ve definitely heard of Elvis Presley. And here in Memphis, you can pay a visit to the house of the King of Rock and Roll himself. Visit the impressive mansion Graceland, a huge complex that encompasses the mansion and its surrounding grounds. Go on a guided tour of the mansion to see how Elvis lived and where he spent his time composing his songs. Afterwards pop by Sun Studio, Elvis’s recording studio that became music legend during the height of his career. Carefully maintained from its 1950s heydays, you can view the studio in all its glory just as Elvis once did.
Get up close and personal with animals at Memphis’s fantastic animal enclosures. Visit the Memphis Zoo to see polar bears and pandas frolicking in their specially made enclosures. An interactive zoo, take the guided tours to learn more about the animals and the conservation efforts to help them. Spend the day in the sun at Shelby Farms Park. One of the biggest city farms in America, you can try out horseback riding, hiking, biking, and more. The Park is also home to a sizeable lake that you can go fishing at or head out for a relaxing boat ride.
Starting your holiday at the Memphis Airport? Hop into a car rental while you’re there. It’ll make travelling around the city so much more convenient. Pick out a car rental from the Memphis Airport Ground Transportation Station. As the Memphis Airport can be quite crowded, do consider booking your car rental beforehand to avoid queues.
