Tennessee Summer Trip (1 Viewer)

[John Bender]

Me and the lady are going to stay domestic this summer it appears. Looking to fly into Memphis, rent a vehicle and stay in Memphis for a few days, drive to Nashville for a few days.

Looking for stuff to do in Memphis and Nashville and everything in between.

We are not "rough it" people but would be down for a day of hiking. We like (in order) high end accommodations, good food, history and culture, good booze, and live music (especially popular acts). I realize Bonnaroo is in June and we'd be coming in for a June week, but festivals are probably not our scene.

Any suggestions, or should we just go to Vegas?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Vegas

 

[sho nuff]

Curious why fly into Memphis first vs. Nashville.

Places to stay for history.  Peabody in Memphis.  Though, no real experience on nightlife in Memphis or restaurants other than popular place like Rendezvous.

Hermitage Hotel or Opryland for Nashville.  Though, if you would just rather be downtown...the Omni would be a better option for location over both of those.  There is possibility that some popular acts might be around when you are here...just wouldn't know that until you know your dates and it gets closer.  There are a ton of cool places to get good booze in Nashville.  There is live music all over Broadway downtown.  

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Never been to Memphis but Nashville is fun as hell.  I mean Vegas is funner but Nashville is fun

Gatlinburg is beautiful and offers some great hiking but I guess that's farther east and kinda touristy

im sure @[icon]can offer some Memphis tips and GB @hagmaniais near Nashville IIRC

Love me some Louisville too (yes I know it's Kentucky)

 

[flapgreen]

Welcome! 

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

Curious why fly into Memphis first vs. Nashville.

Places to stay for history.  Peabody in Memphis.  Though, no real experience on nightlife in Memphis or restaurants other than popular place like Rendezvous.

Hermitage Hotel or Opryland for Nashville.  Though, if you would just rather be downtown...the Omni would be a better option for location over both of those.  There is possibility that some popular acts might be around when you are here...just wouldn't know that until you know your dates and it gets closer.  There are a ton of cool places to get good booze in Nashville.  There is live music all over Broadway downtown.  

This. And there's really nothing in between Memphis and Nashville. In addition to Broadway, for live music, I'd recommend Bourbon Street Blues on Printers Alley walking distance to Broadway.

 

[John Bender]

Thanks - not opposed to doing it in the opposite order so I appreciate the heads up on that.  Tennessee has been top of my list for domestic stuff for a while.  Her job is international and only allows travel for 2 weeks in June and 2 weeks in December so it's tough planning this stuff.  She's allowed me to curate(see: pay for) this trip which is rare so I'd like to make sure she feels TN was "worth it"

 

[The General]

Excellent documentary about that region. Must watch viewing before going: LINK

 

[FUBAR]

You're on the wrong side of the state for good hiking.  The smokies are excellent. 

If you like country music, there are some good bars in Nashville. 

 

[Van Dyman]

This. And there's really nothing in between Memphis and Nashville. In addition to Broadway, for live music, I'd recommend Bourbon Street Blues on Printers Alley walking distance to Broadway.

I like this but EXCEPT if you're coming from Memphis.  I'd do blues bars there in Memphis, Nashville stuff here in Nashville.  iirc Beale Streat bars are open 'til 5 am.  There's Graceland, if you're into that, and I'm quite certain @[icon] can get you pointed in the right direction in Memphis.  It really is a nasty 4 hours of blandville between Memphis and Nashville but each city has some great things to do.

 

[sho nuff]

Thanks - not opposed to doing it in the opposite order so I appreciate the heads up on that.  Tennessee has been top of my list for domestic stuff for a while.  Her job is international and only allows travel for 2 weeks in June and 2 weeks in December so it's tough planning this stuff.  She's allowed me to curate(see: pay for) this trip which is rare so I'd like to make sure she feels TN was "worth it"

Think its easier to find flight into Nashville (though, I have zero experience flying in or out of Memphis).

 

[sho nuff]

I like this but EXCEPT if you're coming from Memphis.  I'd do blues bars there in Memphis, Nashville stuff here in Nashville.  iirc Beale Streat bars are open 'til 5 am.  There's Graceland, if you're into that, and I'm quite certain @[icon] can get you pointed in the right direction in Memphis.  It really is a nasty 4 hours of blandville between Memphis and Nashville but each city has some great things to do.

Come on...there is a truckstop like strip club or something around Bucksnort.

 

[Van Dyman]

Come on...there is a truckstop like strip club or something around Bucksnort.

Yeah, but their food tastes worse than their strippers.

 

[FUBAR]

Yeah, but their food tastes worse than their strippers.

Their fish tacos are excellent. 

 

[McGarnicle]

I pretty much hate country music, but getting completely annihilated and watching all the live bands in the bars on Broadway is just a great time. Everyone's in a good mood and the bands are generally high caliber. Live country music when you're hammered is just good for the soul imo. 

 

[Van Dyman]

I pretty much hate country music, but getting completely annihilated and watching all the live bands in the bars on Broadway is just a great time. Everyone's in a good mood and the bands are generally high caliber. Live country music when you're hammered is just good for the soul imo. 

Tons of live music in Nashville.  All types, not just country.  Sure there are great honky-tonks up and down Broadway, but there are also great salsa bands, blues bands, rock, you name it.  Music all over the damn place.  You can't freaking spit without hitting a guitar player.  

 

[saintfool]

Jack Daniels distillery is in Lynchburg. 

 

[Chappy]

Me and the lady are going to stay domestic this summer it appears. Looking to fly into Memphis, rent a vehicle and stay in Memphis for a few days, drive to Nashville for a few days.

Looking for stuff to do in Memphis and Nashville and everything in between.

We are not "rough it" people but would be down for a day of hiking. We like (in order) high end accommodations, good food, history and culture, good booze, and live music (especially popular acts). I realize Bonnaroo is in June and we'd be coming in for a June week, but festivals are probably not our scene.

Any suggestions, or should we just go to Vegas?

You just have to go zip-lining through the smoky mountains if you can. Some of the best zip-lining in the world!  My wife and I loved it! 

 

[Abraham]

I love Nashville.  

Memphis is takes about 3 hours to do (Graceland, mud island). 

Go east.  Townsend or Weirs valley are amazing places to relax and enjoy the mountains and some peace and quiet. 

 

[Mr.Pack]

The Hermitage in Hermitage, Andrew Jacksons estate is a very good tour as is the Civil War Battlefield in Murfreesboro. Broadway is great to in downtown Nashville. Off the beat, there are a lot of good bars and restaurants in East Nashville as well.

 

[DaVinci]

SEE ROCK CITY!

 

[hagmania]

 

[[icon]]

Some good advice in this thread. Some horrible advice in this thread. 

Hi. My name is [icon] and I'll be your Memphis tour guide today. The fact that Abe says Memphis takes 3 hours, but mentions mud island as one of the two stops (a destination I wouldn't put in the top 50 things to do here) is kinda funny. 

Memphis airport sucks. Small and expensive. 

It is a straight shot of exactly 200mi of 4 lane divided freeway between Memphis and Nashville... If that takes you 4 hours, please stay the #### off I40 so the rest of us won't have to run you over while driving 80-90 like a normal person. 3 hours... Max. I've done it in a shade over 2. It is a pretty damn boring stretch of road though. 

Beale street is okay. Tourist trap and good for a night. Maybe two. There are 3 other entertainment districts downtown that have solid options as well as scattered other options worth seeking out in their own right. Overton Square and Cooper/Young are both great bar/restaurant districts that most locals like myself frequent instead of Beale. Overton alone has something like 30 options in a 1 mile stretch. Uber/lyft are your friends. 

Shelby farms, the largest municipal green space in the nation (4,500 acres), has zip line, ropes courses, paintball, 20 lakes for fishing or boating (rent kayaks/canoes/paddle oats), guided horseback rides, networks of well-maintained mountain bike trails, huge expanses of paved and unpaved hiking trails and other outdoors activities. It's also undergoing a massive $70MM Renovation/expansion as we speak. Hiking/camping can be found further north in Shelby forest. Our zoo is consistently rated among the best in the nation.

We have more music related exhibit destinations (rock and soul museum, stax museum, Graceland, etc) than most other cities. I am not an Elvis fan, but Gracelands self-guided audio tour is amazing. 

Nearby there are tunica (few solid casinos 30min south) or southland greyhound park (divey but fun casino / dog track just over the bridge in west Memphis). 

Alton Brown recently named us his top food city in the nation... There has been an explosion of fantastic restaurants in just the last couple years. 

Live music is not an issue, between larger venues like FedEx Forum, Minglewood Hall, New Daisy Theater on Beale, Hi Tone, etc... As well as dozens of mid-line spots like BB Kings blues club, Lafayettes Music Hall... Plus tons of other bars lining Beale street or any of the other entertainment districts... Life music is Everywhere here. 

Our downtown ballpark (AAA for cardinals) is actually one of the nicest in the country, with great affordable seats, good food, and cheap beer. 

Hotels: Westin, Peabody, Madison. That's it for you. If possible, align your trip with a festival of sorts for maximum impact. 

I'm certainly not trying to say Memphis is one of the best cities in the nation... But if you wanted to really see the city, you'll need to spend 3-4 days here, not hours. 

Let me know if you have any questions... Hell the GF and I would love to meet ya out for a night or so and show you around.