Memphis

Memphis is a beautiful and very fun city.

We had cold, rainy weather, but still managed to have a blast.

We had our first lunch at Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken.  The atmosphere is very casual-meals are served on paper plates with plastic.  It doesn’t matter. At all.  It is the best fried chicken I have ever tasted.  Juicy, crispy, spicy. Amazing.

Beale Street was so much fun!  It’s looks like a mini Vegas.  Music is blaring and everyone is very friendly and happy.

The Pink Palace was one of the strangest museums we have been to.  It is in the mansion of the Piggly Wiggly founder, Clarence Saunders.  This guy created the first self-service grocery.  With all the money he made, he bought this land and had this mansion created. Unfortunately he never got to live there because he ran into financial issues before he completed it.

Inside there is a replica of the first grocery store-which is very cool.  The rest of the museum is kinda random.  Lots of memorabilia from the Civil War, lots of stuffed birds and other animals, and a living room decorated from the 1920′s.  They also have a Planetarium and an Imax theatre.  I think you should go-it’s puzzling and fascinating all at once.

My favorite part of Memphis was the National Civil Rights Museum.  On the way to the museum, I was explaining to the kids that they would see the exact spot where Martin Luther King was shot and killed (Lorraine Motel).  I started to read them his last public speech, “I Have Been to the Mountaintop”, and had a hard time finishing because I got so emotional.

 

It was a powerful day and an excellent museum.  It is currently going under a huge renovation promising to make it even better.  It is a must see.

We had lunch after the museum at South of Beale.  Delicious.  I had gumbo to die for.  Connor had gouda Mac and Cheese. They also serve a wonderful spiced popcorn while you are waiting for your meal. Four stars.

Finally, since we couldn’t enjoy what looks like an amazing AAA baseball park right in downtown, we decided to check out a basketball game at the Fedex Forum.  It was an awesome time.  The Grizzlies went into overtime and ended up winning, but I am pretty sure the highlight for Connor and me was the Pulled Pork Nachos. Unbelievable.