A family member had a conference in Memphis, so we decide to drive down for a quick weekend trip. We hadn’t been in a few years, so we were excited to return. The drive from St. Louis to Memphis is fairly easy and involves just a few hours down highway 55. When we visited we stayed at the KOA outside of Memphis to get a little time in nature. After setting-up our tent we drove into the city.

We first headed to Mud Island Park. The park in on an island located along the Mississippi River and provides views of Memphis. The park is known for a water sculpture/feature that runs along the island. The feature is a miniaturized version of the Mississippi River, showing variances in the topography that is quite incredible. We both thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon slowly walking down the mini-Mississippi until we reached The Gulf of Mexico. Additionally the park has boat docks, an amphitheater, events, and a museum highlighting the river, as well as trails for visitors to explore the park.

Following an afternoon roaming about Mud Island we headed to the Rendezvous. The Rendezvous opened in 1948 and is a BBQ restaurant tucked down a small, non-assuming alley. Upon entering you immediately walk down a set of stairs and are led to a variety of separate rooms filled with knick knacks on the walls. The feature of the Rendezvous is Memphis-style BBQ. The restaurant is so popular that the rooms are often filled with patrons and a line waiting to be seated stretches down the alley.

After dinner, we headed to Beale Street for drinks and music. Beale Street has historically been a central point for delta blues, gospel, jazz, and r&b music. Beale Street is several blocks long and blocked off for visitors to wander through the streets. We spent the evening walking along Beale Street and listening to different musicians’ music pouring through the windows onto the street. The historic buildings and music make for a great evening activity.

Although it was too late to visit the museum by the time we arrived, we stopped by the National Civil Rights Museum that includes the Lorraine Motel. The motel was where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. We definitely would like to return to visit the museum, but even seeing the hotel was a sobering moment.

Side Note: Random fact – Memphis is the most mentioned city in song lyrics and the title of this post is a nod to Chuck Barry’s song “Back to Memphis.”