Memphis, Tennessee
Rock on in to Bluff City
It’s hard to imagine many better places to fly for a Saturday night than Memphis and its lauded Beale Street.
Take the leap
Getting there
General DeWitt Spain Airport (M01)
2787 North 2nd Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38127
Located just a few minutes from downtown Memphis, 3,799 feet of runway and an instrument approach make M01 a good fit for most GA aircraft. From touchdown, a free courtesy car, rental car, or even a $15 rideshare to downtown makes enjoying everything Memphis has to offer a breeze.
Why you should go: The blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll music; the outstanding food; and history.
Just three blocks long, the street is home to hopping blues and rock ’n’ roll music joints in a city famous for both. You’d be a fool to leave Memphis without trying catfish and ribs, and you can check off both in one meal with the “Best Meal on Beale” combo at the Blues City Cafe.
What makes Memphis a particularly worthwhile trip is the opportunity to enjoy nights out while exploring the city’s rich history during the day. Memphis’ past is one of cotton trading, Civil Rights, and music. Must-see stops include the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
Memphis is perhaps best known for its music and there’s much to be learned about the city’s ties to rock ’n’ roll and soul music. The Rock ’n’ Soul Museum sits adjacent to Beale Street and hosts a plethora of musical history. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music goes deeper into soul and its ties to Memphis. You can also tour Sun Studio, the legendary recording studio where songwriter and producer Sam Phillips recorded stars like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King.
On the peculiar side of history, the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid make an interesting stop, particularly for an outdoor enthusiast. The once-sports-arena turned store hosts a hotel, restaurant, live animals, an aquarium, a bowling alley, and the tallest freestanding elevator, as well as the typical assortment of themed merchandise.
Before leaving Memphis, make sure to grab some of the local fried chicken. Unlike Nashville’s sauce-based hot chicken, Memphis eateries rely on adding spice into a buttermilk batter, which makes for a pleasant dry spice.
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