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Places in Memphis

Memphis tours and excursions

Memphis tours

Car tours

Elvis fans and Beale Street entertainers Brandon Cunning and Brad Birkedahl tip their hats to The King when they drive tourists around town in a 1955 Chevy Bel Air or a 1959 Ford Skyliner. Their Rockabilly Rides classic car tours focus on Elvis Presley's Memphis or historic places linked to the city's cultural past, cotton industry and civil rights era.

Tel: +1 888 510 1988.
Website: http://www.rockabillyrides.com

Boat tours

A trip on the Mississippi is one of the most relaxing tours available. Memphis Riverboats operates sightseeing cruises in traditional paddle-wheel boats. Tours operate from March to November, departing from 45 South Riverside Drive on the river or from Beale Street Landing.

Tel: +1 901 527 2628.
Website: http://www.memphisriverboats.net

Memphis excursions

Alex Haley House Museum

Tennessee's first state-owned African-American historic site, the childhood home of Alex Haley is located in the town of Henning, approximately 167km (104 miles) from Memphis. The museum, contains memorabilia of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots, which was turned into a television phenomenon in the 1970s and was remade in 2016. Haley's burial site is in the garden. Located in Henning, Tennessee, the museum is accessible by car via Highway 51 north, or by arranging a special tour with one of the local tour operators. It's open year round from Tuesday to Saturday 1000 - 1700 and on Sundays for group bookings only.

Tel: +1 731 738 2240
Website: http://www.alexhaleymuseum.com

Chucalissa Museum

Located on the campus of the University of Memphis, Chucalissa Museum, is an atmospheric reconstruction of a 15th-century Native American village, built on the site of an ancient settlement. The museum features a Shaman's house and exhibits recovered from archaeological digs, such as a water bottle with a rattlesnake motif, cooking pots and dishes. The museum is closed on Mondays. It is best reached via I-55, south of Memphis to exit 7, then right onto Mitchell Road.

Tel: +1 901 785 3160.
Website: http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa

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Featured Hotels

Gen X Inn

A chic boutique-style hotel in Midtown from the Best Western chain. It's in the heart of the Medical District and less than one block from Interstate 240, ideally located on the trolley line and only two miles from downtown. The décor in the 32 rooms is knowingly contemporary, and the king and queen rooms feature complimentary WiFi and cable TV. Breakfast is included and there's an exercise room and free parking.

The Guest House at Graceland

As part of the Graceland complex's renovations, the somewhat dated Heartbreak Hotel closed down but instead Elvis fans can opt for more luxurious accommodation with a stay at The Guest House, opened in October 2016. This 450-room resort was built to feel like an extension of the Graceland mansion itself with a touch of Southern colonial style to its exterior and décor and furnishings inspired by retro opulence from Presley's homes in Memphis and Palm Springs.

River Inn of Harbor Town

This 28-room boutique bolthole opened in 2007, one of the few properties on the well-to-do island of Harbor Town. For dramatic views of the city skyline and the Mississippi, you could do worse than their rooftop terrace. This Memphis hotel is a mix of European and Old South chic, with lavish sitting rooms to lounge in. A chocolate and glass of port wine await you as you retire to your room at night.

Madison Hotel

Transformed from an original bank building, this Memphis hotel now boasts Beaux Arts architecture and 110 well-appointed rooms. The interior has been transformed: for example, the fitness centre occupies the original bank vault and includes an indoor heated lap pool. One of the hotel's best features is its rooftop terrace. In the summer on Wednesday to Saturday nights, parties there feature live DJs and afford sunset views over the Mississippi.

The Peabody

The South's 464-room Grand Hotel is the epitome of elegant Southern hospitality, and the social hub of Downtown Memphis. This 1869 historic landmark was restored to its original splendour in 1981. See once, but only once, the famous Peabody Ducks' twice daily march at 1100 and 1700 to and from the marble lobby fountain. Sunday brunch and Thursday-night rooftop parties for dancing under the stars are the social highlights.

Days Inn Memphis at Graceland

Elvis fans on a budget should take a look at the Days Inn for an adequate alternative to the expensive Guest House at Graceland. With 60 rooms not far from the airport and a short walk to Graceland, the hotel has a guitar-shaped outdoor pool and inclusive WiFi, breakfast and parking.

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