Memphis info?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
Memphis info?
Planning an August trip to Memphis. Wifey wants to see Elvis's place
She's doing some research but I figured to do it an easier way, ASK CF!
What else is there to do?
We may take Amtrak down(from Chicago) so we'll be without a car.
Probably just two full days.
She doesn't want to rent, says there will probably be shuttle busses. Train arrives at 6:30 AM and leaves 10:00 PM.
Can we get around that way, or will we regret not having more convenient transportation?
I've heard the area around Graceland isn't the best. Am I wrong?
MY plan is to drive with a trip through Bowling Green and do the plant tour and museum. But that will probably add two more days.
Personally, I just want to get it over with and get back home
SHE'S the vacation planner.
She's doing some research but I figured to do it an easier way, ASK CF!
What else is there to do?
We may take Amtrak down(from Chicago) so we'll be without a car.
Probably just two full days.
She doesn't want to rent, says there will probably be shuttle busses. Train arrives at 6:30 AM and leaves 10:00 PM.
Can we get around that way, or will we regret not having more convenient transportation?
I've heard the area around Graceland isn't the best. Am I wrong?
MY plan is to drive with a trip through Bowling Green and do the plant tour and museum. But that will probably add two more days.
Personally, I just want to get it over with and get back home
SHE'S the vacation planner.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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You need a car...cannot count on shuttle buses. The trolley runs down Main St and near the river but thats it...all day pass is $3.25 If you stay down there at the Marriot Downtown you can take the trolley and walk around downtown but you will need to find another way to everything else.
Go tour the Gibson guitar factory
Eat a burger at Dyers on Beale St
Go see Sun Records
Go see the Peabody Ducks
http://www.memphistravel.com/
Go tour the Gibson guitar factory
Eat a burger at Dyers on Beale St
Go see Sun Records
Go see the Peabody Ducks
http://www.memphistravel.com/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
From: Obama says I'm a bitter white guy clinging to my guns and religon and he's right
Graceland is not in the best section of town. You will need transpotation for sure. If you like zoo's Memphis has a really nice one. Beale Street for drinks. Peabody Hotel to see the ducks which also has several restaurants as well. BBQ? The best place is The Rendezvous downtown. Get the ribs and the sausge cheese appetizer. Texas De Brazil if your a salad bar and meat lover. For traditonal American food, Houston's on Poplar. Riverboat cruise down the Mississippi and if your wife wants to shop, Wolfechase Galleria Mall. Gambling? A Short drive to Tunica. Baseball? Memphis Redbirds, AAA club to the St Louis Cardinals, downtown.
Last edited by 4U2ENVY; Jul 15, 2011 at 08:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
Thanks guys for the info so far.
I've got a basic map of Memphis, but it doesn't show any rr tracks. Where would the Amtrak station be?
Would there be car rental booths nearby like at airports? Or would I need to make arrangements to have them pick me up? I got the wife to at least agree to a car rental now!
But she now thinks drive down. I'm really not looking forward to 2 full days of driving and two additional nights in hotels on the road
Besides, she's always talked about taking the train so this would be a relatively short trip in case it becomes unbearable(my son took it to New Orleans and says it wiped him out! Didn't get a sleeper).
I can forego my Bowling Green stop if it knocks some time off the trip.
I've got a basic map of Memphis, but it doesn't show any rr tracks. Where would the Amtrak station be?
Would there be car rental booths nearby like at airports? Or would I need to make arrangements to have them pick me up? I got the wife to at least agree to a car rental now!
But she now thinks drive down. I'm really not looking forward to 2 full days of driving and two additional nights in hotels on the road
Besides, she's always talked about taking the train so this would be a relatively short trip in case it becomes unbearable(my son took it to New Orleans and says it wiped him out! Didn't get a sleeper).I can forego my Bowling Green stop if it knocks some time off the trip.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 15
From: My Garage. Upstate, SC
Take your time at Graceland. There are a lot of stories to be heard.
You'll enjoy the visit more in a rental. Parking around Beale is less than optimal.
Spend some time on Beale, esp in the older clubs. The Blues City Cafe has some great wet ribs, the Rondevous had dry-rub ribs. Mud island can be interesting, but if you're into music, pick up a Memphis Flyer newspaper (the local rag - free and just about everywhere) and find a club with a band you might recognise. Talk to the locals about who to see while you're there.
Truthfully, I heard great music at the amatuer nights around town. Like running into a couple of 14 year old phenoms named Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard back in the mid 90's.
Talk to the locals about Beale. Almost everything down there has a story and colorful history. Like - the burger joint where they have NEVER changed the grease the burgers are fried in... the shop with a collection of female flasher photos....the goats on Beale... Sun Records where Elvis and Little Walter (to name a few) recorded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ejfm3Wl1gQ
Almost every little bar in town will have live music several nights a week.
You'll enjoy the visit more in a rental. Parking around Beale is less than optimal.
Spend some time on Beale, esp in the older clubs. The Blues City Cafe has some great wet ribs, the Rondevous had dry-rub ribs. Mud island can be interesting, but if you're into music, pick up a Memphis Flyer newspaper (the local rag - free and just about everywhere) and find a club with a band you might recognise. Talk to the locals about who to see while you're there.
Truthfully, I heard great music at the amatuer nights around town. Like running into a couple of 14 year old phenoms named Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard back in the mid 90's.
Talk to the locals about Beale. Almost everything down there has a story and colorful history. Like - the burger joint where they have NEVER changed the grease the burgers are fried in... the shop with a collection of female flasher photos....the goats on Beale... Sun Records where Elvis and Little Walter (to name a few) recorded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ejfm3Wl1gQ
Almost every little bar in town will have live music several nights a week.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
From: Obama says I'm a bitter white guy clinging to my guns and religon and he's right
Amtrack is downtown. I am not certain if any car rentals are located downtown, but I don't think so. However, Enterprise may have suttle to carry you to thier nearest office.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Go to amtrak.com, click on 'Stations", type in memphis tn and zoom in. It will show you the location of the amtrak station.
Then go to enterprise.com, type in memphis, tn and you will find they have three (3) rental locations downtown. Call and see if they will pick you up at the station.
PS-take a couple of pillows with you for amtrak. Those 6"x6" pillows they have suck. Also carry a couple of light throws. They turn the A/C all the way down for the daytime, and don't turn it up at night.
If I were you, I would catch the train in Kankakee and it leaves there at 9:23 PM.
Or, Homewood and it leaves there at 8:54 PM
Then go to enterprise.com, type in memphis, tn and you will find they have three (3) rental locations downtown. Call and see if they will pick you up at the station.
PS-take a couple of pillows with you for amtrak. Those 6"x6" pillows they have suck. Also carry a couple of light throws. They turn the A/C all the way down for the daytime, and don't turn it up at night.
If I were you, I would catch the train in Kankakee and it leaves there at 9:23 PM.
Or, Homewood and it leaves there at 8:54 PM
Last edited by JoesC5; Jul 19, 2011 at 08:52 PM.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
Thanks for the additional info
I see where Amtrak is down town. I didn't know downtown was upper side near the river. I pictured it east.
Wife's working on a hotel/car rental through one of the hotels. I don't know which one tho.
BUT, now she's thinking drive down with my stop in Bowling Green
WILL be leaving out of Kankakee if we train down. My son lives 5 minutes from the station and he can drop us off and pick us up.
Hope it isn't as hot as it's been here this week, almost 100s!
I see where Amtrak is down town. I didn't know downtown was upper side near the river. I pictured it east.
Wife's working on a hotel/car rental through one of the hotels. I don't know which one tho.
BUT, now she's thinking drive down with my stop in Bowling Green
WILL be leaving out of Kankakee if we train down. My son lives 5 minutes from the station and he can drop us off and pick us up.
Hope it isn't as hot as it's been here this week, almost 100s!
Last edited by KapsSA; Jul 20, 2011 at 01:25 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Conway Arkansas
Thanks for the additional info
I see where Amtrak is down town. I didn't know downtown was upper side near the river. I pictured it east.
Wife's working on a hotel/car rental through one of the hotels. I don't know which one tho.
BUT, now she's thinking drive down with my stop in Bowling Green
WILL be leaving out of Kankakee if we train down. My son lives 5 minutes from the station and he can drop us off and pick us up.
Hope it isn't as hot as it's been here this week, almost 100s!
I see where Amtrak is down town. I didn't know downtown was upper side near the river. I pictured it east.
Wife's working on a hotel/car rental through one of the hotels. I don't know which one tho.
BUT, now she's thinking drive down with my stop in Bowling Green
WILL be leaving out of Kankakee if we train down. My son lives 5 minutes from the station and he can drop us off and pick us up.
Hope it isn't as hot as it's been here this week, almost 100s!
Make sure you get a hotel room downtown. Several to choose from...Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Marriots...I highly recommend the Peabody!!! Lots of great BBQ places! I personally wasnt all that impressed with Rendezvous ribs but someone mentioned Blues City Cafe....they have some amazing food IMO! The oven broiled steaks are the best on Beale and their Seafood Au Gratin Dip is phenomenal! Interstate BBQ is another great place for ribs and bbq sandwiches! If you're into fried chicken, Gus's World Famous hot & spicy fried chicken is a must! Old Venice Pizza place has great pizza and Sunday Brunch.If you like gambling...you're only 30mins away from Tunica! Theres also the Botanic Garden. I've never personally been but perhaps some of the locals can tell you more about it.
All this talk about Memphis has me wanting to go this weekend! Hmmmmm!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
Heading out tomorrow
In the end decided to drive with my stop in Bowling Green.
Two things helped with that decision. Took a Metra(local commuter train) to the Sox game last week. Forgot how much I hate trains! People walking around and loud. Couldn't see anything out the windows at night with the lights on and at the mercy of their schedule. Figured Amtrak wouldn't be much better.
And just did an over nighter in Michigan, concert at an Indian casino(got comped $50 and after 3 hours of playing, left with that $50 in our pockets
)
Wifes car was a pleasure to drive, first I've really ever driven it.
Hope it's not gonna be a miserably hot!
In the end decided to drive with my stop in Bowling Green.
Two things helped with that decision. Took a Metra(local commuter train) to the Sox game last week. Forgot how much I hate trains! People walking around and loud. Couldn't see anything out the windows at night with the lights on and at the mercy of their schedule. Figured Amtrak wouldn't be much better.
And just did an over nighter in Michigan, concert at an Indian casino(got comped $50 and after 3 hours of playing, left with that $50 in our pockets
)Wifes car was a pleasure to drive, first I've really ever driven it.
Hope it's not gonna be a miserably hot!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,861
Likes: 8
From: DC Metro
DC Area Events Coordinator
You need a car...cannot count on shuttle buses. The trolley runs down Main St and near the river but thats it...all day pass is $3.25 If you stay down there at the Marriot Downtown you can take the trolley and walk around downtown but you will need to find another way to everything else.
Go tour the Gibson guitar factory
Eat a burger at Dyers on Beale St
Go see Sun Records
Go see the Peabody Ducks
http://www.memphistravel.com/
Go tour the Gibson guitar factory
Eat a burger at Dyers on Beale St
Go see Sun Records
Go see the Peabody Ducks
http://www.memphistravel.com/
And eat ribs at The Rendezvous, 52 South 2nd Street
Enjoy!
