This post is sponsored by Tennessee Tourism, but all opinions are my own.
If there’s one thing I love in this world, it’s a good road trip. I always have and I always will, but this year our travel adventures were sure different than what I expected. Like the rest of the world, we’ve been hunkered down at home trying to stay safe. Finally though, we ventured across state lines for the first time all year to visit one of my most favorite places in the world – Memphis, Tennessee.
After doing a little research, we discovered so many unique options in Memphis that we could safely explore while staying socially distanced from others, so we decided to grab our masks and go for it. Our little family hit the road from Fayetteville, Arkansas on a Saturday morning and less than five hours later we rolled across the Mississippi River before lunch time. And just so you all know, we wore our masks the entire time unless there was absolutely no one else around.
Our first stop was Mud Island in search of the Instagram famous Memphis sign. Mud Island is situated in the middle of the river, so we walked across the skybridge, which was a beautiful adventure in itself. There were plenty of spots to stop and take photos with the skyline, and of course with the Memphis sign too (found it!).
After we had our first experience under our belt, we decided to find our hotel and get settled. There are so many fun, new hotels in Memphis, I honestly had a hard time picking a place to stay. We landed on the Central Station Hotel in the South Main Arts District downtown and I’m so glad we did. It was clean, comfortable, and had tons of Memphis charm. Plus, once we got there – we were able to walk or ride the trolley everywhere on our itinerary.
Once our bags were unpacked, we realized how hungry we were (which by the way should be a crime in Memphis, considering all the delicious food there is in town). Hearing great things about Loflin Yard, we decided to walk over and give it a try. The large open-air concept is what initially won me over for safety reasons, but the food and drinks sealed the deal – we’re keeping this one on the list for our next visit for sure.
After lunch we did something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time – take Iris to the National Civil Rights Museum. Located at the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the museum chronicles the American civil rights movement with compelling displays and educational components. If you’ve never been, this museum is worth the trip to Memphis.
After our self-guided tour, we wandered a block or so over to check out the new Wiseacre downtown taproom. Again, the open-air inside and large hangout area outside earned it a top spot on our itinerary because we knew we could visit safely. Not only did we feel super comfortable, but the beer was great and the place was beautiful! To add to the ambiance, we were lucky to visit when a few members of the Memphis Symphony were playing (wearing masks, of course).
It was hard to believe that we already had such a full day, but it wasn’t over yet. In fact, I might argue that it’s the best time of all – dinner time in Memphis. Since this was only a quick weekend trip, we had to make every meal count so we jumped straight to the top with dinner at Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous. This adventure required a trolley ride, which Iris was absolutely thrilled about. There’s a trolley stop located just across the street from our hotel, which was really convenient and really easy to navigate. Located in a nondescript alley downtown, The Rendezvous is world famous for their dry-rub ribs, but let me give you a pro tip: always order the cheese and sausage plate. Always.
With our bellies full, it was time to hit the hay back at the Central Station Hotel. As we arrived back on South Main to our hotel, we realized that all the businesses had Christmas lights up, which felt like a magical ending to the evening. After a fantastic night’s rest, we woke up and – you guessed it – were ready for our next Memphis Meal. The Arcade Restaurant across the street had been staring at us ever since we arrived, so we popped over bright and early on Sunday morning, enjoying a classic southern breakfast surrounded by original retro style. It is Memphis’ oldest cafe after all, and has the charm to prove it.
Our Sunday plans included a trip to a place you might not think of when you think of vacationing with kids – Beale Street – but I would disagree. After another trip on the trolley, we arrived at “the home of the blues” where there was plenty of room to safely roam around outside (especially if you go during the day like we did). This may have been Iris’ favorite stop because we visited a candy shop and let her pick out a few treats. We also visited one of my favorite stores ever, A. Schwab, which is the only remaining original business on Beale Street. Established in 1876, it’s a two-story general store that carries a wide range of unique things. From voodoo supplies (yes, you read that right) to household items, this place has you covered (or at least very entertained just wandering around). If you are in search of some Memphis souvenirs, this is your spot!
Before we hit the road, we made one last food stop at a spot that came highly recommended from local folks, Hustle & Dough. Picking up some baked goods for the road (omg I’m so glad we did), we also had one last classic Memphis site to see, Sun Studios. I wish we had time to go through and take a tour, but I think that means we’ll just have to plan another trip back very soon.
Thank you Tennessee for the amazing times and for making us feel safe on our adventures! ‘Till next time.
Every once in a while I’ll get inspired to try something new, but I quickly get intimidated when trying to figure out what shades match my skin tone and even more so when I try to do any eye make-up beyond mascara.
