<p>DH and I are taking a short trip to Memphis. We are staying downtown. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding restaurants and daytime activities? We are hoping to catch some good jazz on Beale St. in the evenings</p>
<p>The Martin Luther King exhibits are supposed to be wonderful. I haven’t been, but have heard reports.</p>
<p>You might check this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1121112-memphis-day-trip-suggestions.html?highlight=memphis[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1121112-memphis-day-trip-suggestions.html?highlight=memphis</a></p>
<p>We love Mud Island where there’s a scale model of the lower Mississippi River. You can’t beat Graceland either. I just went for the first time a year ago, and it brought back all kinds of nostalgic memories. We enjoyed eating at BB King’s downtown. We tried to find the Neely’s restaurant to try but GPS wouldn’t work.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to stop in at the Peabody Hotel - it is so beautiful. The “famous” Peabody ducks march at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. We just went 2 weekends ago, and had a great time.</p>
<p>The National Civil Rights Museum is fascinating…one actually gets to go on the balcony of the Lorraine motel where MLK was shot. But Museum is not only about MLK-- Best place we saw in Memphis. Graceland was so-so in comparison.</p>
<p>Beale Street fun–calmer, tamer version of Bourbon St., but still heard lots of terrific music. Also had some of the best fried dill pickles on Beale St.!</p>
<p>Blues City Cafe for ribs, hot tamales, on Beale Street. Neely’s on Mt. Moriah, best ribs we’ve ever had. Rendesvouz close to downtown.</p>
<p>Mud Island is fantastic, if it’s open.</p>
<p>Memphis Zoo was great! Polar bears, grizzly bears, penguins, pandas.</p>
<p>Civil Rights Museum, amazing.</p>
<p>First stop should be Graceland, though. Can’t go to Memphis without seeing it.</p>
<p>Ride the streetcar up and down Main Street.</p>
<p>See the Peabody Ducks! Second only to Graceland.</p>
<p>Gibson Guitar Factory.</p>
<p>The Mississippi River. You can just park and get out and look at it. </p>
<p>Enjoy your visit! We love Memphis!</p>
<p>Graceland. Even if you do not care for Elvis, the property and the sales complex across the street are fascinating. </p>
<p>Outside of town, the university operates a site called Chuccalissa. It is a rebuilt Mississipian mound village of the type lived in, pre-contact. There is a museum on the site too with interpretive material. [Chucalissa</a> :: C.H. Nash Museum Chucalissa :: University of Memphis](<a href=“http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa/]Chucalissa”>Chucalissa - Chucalissa - The University of Memphis)</p>
<p>The Dixon Gallery and Gardens–this was originally a private home which was donated to the city to be maintained as a museum; it’s a gracious home containing American impressionist art, a fabulous pewter collection, and other more modern pieces. The surrounding grounds are beautiful themselves. It’s in a beautiful part of Memphis and a short drive from downtown.</p>