I was born and raised in Memphis. Some tips on BBQ: Corky’s is the same stuff you can get anywhere. The Rendezvous is great is you like dry rub. But the best place, is Interstate BBQ. You have to be a little brave to enjoy this place because it’s not in the safest part of town. It’s best to bring a native who’s not scared. But it’s worth it. Also, get up one morning and eat at the Arcade Diner (Memphis’s oldest) downtown, hop the trolley, and visit the Civil Rights Museum. It’s truly a moving experience.
forget Corky’s
Neely’s is where you wanna go for ribs or anything else Bar-B-Que’d in Memphis(best I’ve ever had!):
http://www.neelysbbq.com/home.htm
been there 40 years-they must know something about it
they have relatives in Nashville that also do Bar-B-Que
and it’s evey bit as good
I’ve lived in or around Memphis, and in West Tennessee for 46 years.
Go to Beale Street during the daytime with the kids. Lots of bars... But in the daytime, it’s pretty cool. “A. Schwabs” drug store is neat, and the kids will love it.
Beale is a block or two away from the Peabody Hotel. The ducks march in to the lobby in the morning, and out in the evening. Can’t remember times, but you could Google up the Peabody Hotel.
The Peabody is across the street from one of the best AAA baseball stadiums in the country - AutoZone Park. Home of the Cardinal affiliate Memphis Redbirds.
Also close by is the Rendesvous (sp?). Good BBQ.
The Zoo, not near downtown, is one of the best in the nation.
The Pink Palace Museum was originally the home of the inventor of the supermarket (Piggly Wiggly) - until the stock market crash, and he lost his fortune.
Then, I’ll suggest some things others haven’t. Find Poplar Avenue. Go east for quite a while. The original Corky’s BBQ (at least I think that one is the original) is out east, and jammed in between an outdoor equipment store and a McDonald’s, I think... Just past the tallest Building in Memphis, one of two skyscrapers standing all by themselves way out east. Corky’s is just east of “White Station” street. Yes, there are other Corky’s locations, if you call that a chain, but it started in Memphis. Corky’s is good, in my opinion.
Now - keep going east on Poplar. Just past International Paper’s world HQ, you will leave Memphis, and enter Germantown. When you get into Germantown, watch for Germantown Road. Turn right, and go just across the railroad tracks. There, you will find “The Commissary”, another local BBQ place, which is very good.
Go back to Poplar, go east again. Drive for a while, and you will be in Collierville. There are a several neat things there, too. Watch for another Corky’s on the right, just past Byhalia road, and then start looking for Main Street, shortly after Poplar goes down to two lanes. Turn right, and you will be taken back in time as you enter the Collierville town square, complete with community gazebo. Most of the buidings date back to mid-to late 1800’s. There are trains and a depot on the south side of the square, and a plaque that tells how the Rebs had a chance to keep Sherman from continuing to Atlanta, but failed...
There are several restaurants and antique shops around the square. I recommend the “Silver Caboose”. Open every day for lunch, only open in the evenings on Fridays, and MAYBE Thursdays in June. Why Thursday’s in June? That’s when the free concerts in the gazebo are! A real small town atmosphere, and some neat local bands. Bring your lawn chairs/blankets.
As for West Tennessee, Shiloh is a wonderful place for history. Make sure to take in the film at the visitor center BEFORE you tour the battlefield.
There is also a less involved tour at I-40 exit 108(?), “The Battle of Parker’s Crossroads”, where you go from sign to sign in your car and get out to look around. Not nearly as nice as Shiloh, 60 miles to the south, but still interesting.
Have a great trip. Freepmail me if you have questions.
Don’t go to Memphis, go to Nashville.