In March, we took the kiddos and headed Southeast to Memphis, Tennessee for a long weekend. It was the very first trip we took with both of our kids, so let’s just say it wasn’t the most seamless trip, but we did manage to eat some tasty food and see some fun things! It felt like a win to simply get out of town with a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old. I’m going to break this post down into categories instead of a chronological, diary style post.
Where We Stayed for Our Weekend in Memphis
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Beale Street). We wanted a central location that would allow us to walk as much as possible to all the things near downtown. This hotel says Beale Street, but it isn’t technically on Beale. However, it was just a very short, quick walk there. We stayed in a simple room with two queen beds! It was very spacious with room for us to occupy both beds and have the Pack ‘N Play setup for Liam to sleep in as well. It was clean, had a great location and has a bar and restaurant on site. The service we received was spectacular, especially from valet. Everyone was very polite and sweet to our kiddos.
This is a very popular area to stay. There’s a whole strip of hotels on this street like a DoubleTree, The Peabody and Holiday Inn.
Weekend in Memphis – What We Did
PAID HOMAGE TO MLK – Memphis is the location of the assassination of Civil Rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. More specifically, at the balcony of Lorraine Motel, which is now a National Civil Rights Museum. We arrived too late to go through the museum, but even simply standing outside the motel was a powerful and moving experience. There’s a plaque setup outside the motel with some information on it and I highly recommend paying respects here. I hope to visit the museum the next time we visit.
MUD ISLAND RIVER PARK – This was actually a really fun stop. I picked this because of its 1 mile long walking path. It was a really flat paved walk, which was great for kids to walk or to push a stroller on while still allowing you to be outside. What I wasn’t expecting was the in-ground replica/map of the Mississippi River! I had only seen photos of the Memphis sign and heard there was a riverwalk. So, I was elated to find this. I loved finding various cites along it. It was just all so much fun! Entry to the park is free, but you do have to pay to park.
STROLL BEALE STREET IN THE EVENING – Beale Street is the famous street of the Blues. At night, it comes alive with live music, open containers are allowed and you’ll see so many bachelorette parties! We went just before sunset – having little ones meant that going into bars wasn’t going to happen, but there is a brewery on Beale, that I’ll talk about more below. Charleigh loved all the music and she was for sure feeling her grooooove all down the street! So even if you have little kids with you, take the walk down the street, it’s still worth it!
RED-CARPET-WALKING DUCKS – Yes, you read that right. The ducks who dwell in the Peabody Hotel are quite famous! Each day at 11am, they ride the elevator down to the lobby where they walk a red carpet into the fountain of the Peabody and the walk it back to the elevator at 5pm. It’s a crazy spectacle of extreme pomp, but in a really fun way! The men working the space near where this takes place were very kind. They saw me with Charleigh and moved us up to sit on the floor front row, so she could see. They did this for all the little ones they could see until that space was completely full.
At 11 the ceremony starts with the Duck Master giving the history of ducks at the Peabody, rolling out the red carpet with the help of a handful of volunteers and then it crescendos with the duck walk itself. These are the Must Knows: Arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Viewing the ducks is free! Lastly, it lasts about 5 seconds when the ducks actually walk to the fountain. It is super cute. I would say if you have little kids, this is a must. Charleigh is still talking about it at least once a day 3 weeks later.
VISIT BASS PRO PYRAMID – This was sort-of impromptu. We originally thought we might go up to the top of the pyramid, but decided against it with the two little ones. Then, Charleigh wanted to see a bunch of animals and we were driving right by it, so we decided to pop it. We have a membership to Bass Pro’s Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium and Museum, so we thought it might be cool to check it out. It was a neat shop, but I wouldn’t make a special trip there if I wasn’t going on top of the pyramid.
On my next visit to Memphis I’d like to actually go into the National Civil Rights Museum and visit the Underground Railroad Museum. We just couldn’t quite make them fit on this trip.
What We Ate & Drank During Our Weekend in Memphis
CHARLIE VERGOS’ RENDEZVOUS – This was the number one pick for both Matt and me! I knew from the smoke billowing out of the restaurant that this was going to be good, but we had no idea just how good it was going to be! We split the sausage appetizer and the pork ribs & shoulder entree. The sausage was the best smoked sausage I’ve ever had. The rub on it, the smoky flavor and the pickles it was served with just all combined to make the perfect appetizer. Matt ate every rib, but the one I managed to pry from him, just kidding, Charleigh fell asleep on my lap rendering me unable to eat more than one rib. The ribs are what they’re famous for, and they lived up to the hype. The shoulder was melt in your mouth good full of amazing flavor. Even the beans were one of the best sides we had all weekend! Thanks to my brother and my dad for this reccomendation!
For the Love of Wanderlust Tip – Rendezvous is located within sight of The Peabody. Because of that, they get a massive rush just after the 11am and 5pm duck ceremonies. Try to get there right at 11 or just after 5. We got there at 5:10, walked right in with no wait and after we finished eating just before 6, there was a massive, massive line!
CENTRAL BBQ – This was our first stop in Memphis. We grabbed a couple of pulled pork sandwiches, which, according to a sign on the wall were voted the best in Memphis, which is why we had to order them! They were very delicious, but I do wish we had varied our orders a bit to try some of the other BBQ offerings. The show-stopper for me, though, was the homemade banana pudding. Guys… I would drive to Memphis tomorrow if you told me all I was going to get to do was eat a cup of this pudding and have to turn right back around. We went to the Butler Ave location, but there are 4 in Memphis that you can work your travel itinerary around.
GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN – This world-famous chicken spot has been serving up chicken for decades. It’s been ranked in top restaurants both in the country and in the world by various publications. The space is small, but so worth the wait. The chicken has a spicy kick to it and the BBQ beans I got as a side were perfectly both sweet and savory to compliment the spice of the chicken.
WISEACRE BREWING COMPANY – We visited their newer location which is just down the road from the Central BBQ we went to. Their facility here is huge and beautiful and they had an extensive beer menu. I got two of their ‘Beach within Reach’ Berliner Wiesse series and Matt got their Märzen and Helles.
GHOST RIVER BREWERY – This was a spontaneous stop on Beale Street. We noticed that there was a brewery, so you know we couldn’t pass that up! We both just grabbed a half pint each. I had their raspberry sour ale and it was so delicious. They had a big bar-feel patio out back, but we were the only ones in the taproom and it still had that neighborhood taproom feel.
Our Little Mini-Volg on Instagram
To be honest, we weren’t positive at first if we loved Memphis. We had a couple of negative restaurant experiences – not at the places listed above – and I wasn’t having the best weekend personally and we were realizing that there were going to be a lot more challenges traveling with two very young children. But then, suddenly, we found ourselves kind-of in love with it. Our Saturday afternoon and evening really turned it all around and I can’t wait to go back, eat more delicious foods and get to those museums I want to visit.
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