When company comes to town

I really enjoy Trip Advisor and encourage you to check it out when planning a vacation. I occasionally contribute there, both on places I've visited and on our own hometown.

Last year, I saw a post from a British man who was planning a trip to Memphis with his wife and 6-year-old daughter. As with many tourists to Memphis, Graceland was the No. 1 destination and they planned to stay near Elvis’ mansion, but many who responded advised him to look elsewhere in town for accommodations. He was also looking for dining and sightseeing ideas. Here is my (lengthy) response advising what I thought he and his family might enjoy in The Bluff City (or you can view the entire thread here).

Looking forward to having you and your family visit our fair city. Of course, no first-time visit to Memphis would be complete without seeing Graceland, but I have to agree that you should stay somewhere besides the Graceland/Whitehaven area. You'll probably only spend about three hours at Graceland, and there's really nothing else in that area of town to see, plus there are very few dining options and the area is not safe after dark (also not overly attractive). If you stay near Graceland, you'll waste much of your short visit en route to some of our other great attractions and restaurants.

Downtown will probably be your best bet for lodging, as you'll spend most of your time there. You'll want to stroll down Beale Street during the day--it's a party scene at night, not ideal for kids. Be sure to visit A. Schwab's dry goods store on Beale for a fun and unique shopping experience. Perhaps go to the Peabody to see the ducks (I believe twice a day they march to the lobby fountain). Peabody Place is a nice shopping excursion and includes a movie theater and several restaurants. The Gibson Guitar factory, Stax Museum and National Civil Rights Museum are all located downtown as well. If you’re into art, take the Main Street trolley to the South Main Arts District.

I recommend the Hampton Inn at Peabody Place. Rooms begin at $90 (USD), it's perfectly situated near the downtown attractions, and there's an indoor pool and a continental breakfast. Though I've never stayed there, I know the location is ideal, it looks very nice from the outside and I see the property has received great reviews on tripadvisor.com

I would begin your visit with a trolley ride on the Riverfront loop to get your bearings and take in much of the downtown view, including the mighty Mississippi. (Make sure to take the trolley marked Riverfront Loop--the other just goes north and south on Main Street). Downtown is bustling with attractions, dining, nice views and fun people watching.

You'll probably also venture away from downtown a few miles east to visit our zoo, which I highly recommend. Be sure to check out the recently opened Northwest Passage exhibit (polar bears and sea lions), the Giant Pandas, Cat Country (lions, tigers, etc.) and Primate Canyon. You could spend several hours here. Also in this area of town is the Children's Museum of Memphis, which your daughter should really enjoy. It’s not really a museum but contains several fun and informative, hands-on exhibits for kids. Note that it is closed on Mondays.

For casual dining, I recommend Huey's downtown (burgers, hot sandwiches, appetizers, soups and salads). It has a kids menu and the little ones enjoy blowing toothpicks into the ceiling. It's always rated as Memphis' best burger. Another good downtown restaurant featuring Southern cuisine is Gus’ Fried Chicken (battered & fried chicken, beans, slaw, etc). The original location in Mason, Tennessee has been written about in numerous travel magazines and guides.

And I really enjoy the Rendezvous for barbecued ribs (I like them dry). Dining there is really a fun experience but not exactly leisurely. If you go there on a busy night (usually weekends), the wait can be an hour or more, but once you’re seated the staff really tries to move you through there quickly. Waiters who have worked there for decades greet you by saying “How many full orders do you want?” Your food might arrive at the table five minutes after you’ve ordered, and you’re usually being pushed out the door within 30 minutes. It’s great if you realize that going in, but I imagine people looking for a more “sophisticated” dining experience are a little put off. Still, the ribs are great, and it’s lots of fun to look at all the memorabilia. I suggest going early to avoid the rush. Also note that the Rendezvous is only open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.

Have you visited the official Memphis Convention & Visitor's Bureau web site? It has lots of good information on accommodations, dining and attractions.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

So what would you advise a first-time visitor to Memphis to see and do?