Many musicians have sung the praises of Memphis. Elvis Presley called The Bluff City his home, establishing his famous residence, Graceland, on the south side of town. Memphis is a city full of history, music, food, and notable locations.
Come for Work, Stay for History and Entertainment
Memphis is home to the Memphis Cook Convention Center which is a 25-minute trip from the airport. Located on the southeast side of town, The Memphis International Airport (MEM) is where you can find the National Car Rental counter conveniently located by Baggage Claim. You'll enjoy the opportunity to fly into town, hit your conference at the convention center, then go into downtown to experience country music, Delta blues, and southern fried rock 'n roll. And don't forget a stop at one of the BBQ joints like The BBQ Shop for dry-rubbed and smoked meats steeped in tradition.
The Musical Legacy of Memphis
Rock and roll emerged from Sun Studio in Memphis in the 1950s and ultimately changed how Americans listened to music. Elvis' swaying hips took to the stage, and the Baby Boomers went wild. All thanks to Sam Phillips taking a chance on a young man with a voice that no one had heard before. But that's not the only person that sprang to the world's stage from Memphis. Artists like Otis Redding and Sam and Dave, Booker T. & the M.G.'s found their voice at Stax recording studios. Both Sun Records and Stax are now museums that offer the opportunity to see where music history was made.
Not Your Usual Museums
Memphis is home to the Pink Palace Museum, situated in a Spanish Colonial mansion. It encompasses local culture, history, and science in an eclectic mix that entertains from the moment you step foot inside. Some of the dioramas include scenes from shopping in Piggly Wiggly supermarket and a country store to dinosaur fossils. Stop at the Mallory-Neely house in the Victorian Village historic district to see how the well-heeled lived in the years after the Civil War and all the way up to the 1960s. And if you want to get outside for a bit, head to Coon Creek Science Center, especially if you have your kids with you. There they can go on an archaeological dig to look for fossils in a unique experience that's difficult to replicate elsewhere.