As I mentioned before, I am not a huge Elvis fan. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with the guy but you won’t find me sitting around listening to “Ya Ain’t Nothin” But A Hound Dog” on a Friday night.
Let’s just say that visiting Graceland was something I never thought I would get around to in this lifetime.
But then when Rachel and I were planning the road trip we made the big decision- we were going to Graceland! We decided you can’t go to Memphis on an American road trip and not make a stop at the King’s house! It would be an American sin.
Once the decision was made I actually started to get strangely excited about going! It all seemed so silly to me and saying the sentence “I am going to Graceland!” seemed as strange as saying “I am going to the moon!”
Neither one made much sense.
But then, there I was on day 12 of my road trip standing in line (with audio tour headphones on no less) waiting to board a bus to Graceland. What had the world come to?
I am pretty sure pigs can fly now too.
Touring Graceland was a funny experience- it certainly brings out an interesting crowd (I’ll just leave it at that)! We were funneled through the rooms (getting a few minutes in each), I couldn’t hear a thing on my audio tour headphones (I kept asking if they were broken) and when I did hear something it was usually telling me about a room I wasn’t in.
Most of the time I just walked around aimlessly taking it all in- it’s such a crazy place! Each room more visually stimulating then the next.
The whole experience left me in awe of the king- he was such a creative, sexy, talented and passionate man!
Some of my favorite things about Graceland….
(This carpet)
(The peacock stained glass in the living room)
(Um…everything about the jungle room including the panda)
Memphis really comes alive in the dark- the city has an energy like nothing I have ever experienced before.
We decided to head to the famous Beale Street for the evening. Beale Street was a significant location in the city’s history, as well as in the history of blues music. From the 1920s to the 1940s, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Memphis Minnie, B. B. King, Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon played on Beale Street and helped develop the style known as Memphis Blues. B.B. King was even billed as “the Beale Street Blues Boy”!
We hadn’t even arrived at Beale Street and I already made my first new friend for the evening, our cab driver, Russell. He told us all about his life, family and Memphis, which was quite an accomplishment considering it was a 5 minute car ride. He was born and raised in Memphis and was very intrigued by our road trip. He used to be a truck driver and had been lucky enough to see America from behind the wheel. I was sad when our time together ended because I would have enjoyed chatting with him some more.
When we got out of the cab I was surprised to see a police blockade just before the entrance to Beale Street. Oh no, did something bad happen? We were stopped by the cops, carded (to make sure we were over 21) and searched for weapons. Interesting start to the night. My second new friend of the evening was a very friendly police officer named Bill and he informed me that 1. he could tell I wasn’t from Memphis. 2. He used to live in New Orleans 3. He’s single/available (good to know) and 4. they have to do this on Beale street on the weekends because people were getting too rowdy, very drunk and oh, yeah SHOT.
Shot?! Well, that sounds very bad.
After making it through security we were officially on the main drag of Beale street and it was filled with people, flashing lights, commotion, restaurants, music, bars and blues clubs- my kinda place. I was most definitely drinking the Memphis kool-aid at this point and I was high on it. Our first stop for the evening was Blue’s City Cafe– their tagline reads “Put some south in your mouth”. HA. Don’t mind if I do. In my everyday life (when I am not traveling the country with my best girlfriend) I don’t usually order ribs for dinner but you can’t go to Memphis (the land of delicious BBQ) and not eat ribs, right? At least that’s what I told myself when I ordered a huge rack with baked beans and coleslaw. Did I mention I am eating my way across America?
I am embarrassed to share how many I ate but I will say that they really were scrumptious!
After dinner we strolled Beale Street where I continued my public speaking tour and stopped to chat with everybody and anybody. So many nice people in Memphis! This may have been when Rachel started to become a tad annoyed with me for wanting to chat with everybody.
As we passed the venue Blues Hall amazing blues music poured out so we ducked in to hear some more (I’m sure Rachel also thought this would keep me quiet for a bit. Wrong!).
Enter in THE MOST amazing man I have ever met- Dr. Feelgood Potts. I mean his name says it all doesn’t it? Not only was he wearing harmonicas strapped to his chest as if they were bullets, he had an incredible voice and a stage presence that did not disappoint.
While perusing the internet for a video of Dr. Feelgood Potts for you, I came across this gem. Not only do you get the pleasure of hearing his music you also get to watch a man in a white baseball cap dance to his music. You’re welcome.
In between sets I chatted with my third and fourth new friends for the evening, a father and son team next to me at the bar. They happened to be traveling across the country as well! Although they were doing it in a huge RV and were very confused how we were doing it in a Jetta.
At this point I did not think Memphis could get any better. I was full with ribs, good music and joy and I didn’t want the night to end. But we had to get some sleep so we would be ready for the amazingness that is Graceland the next day.
We hailed a cab and we were picked up by my fifth new friend for the evening, a cab driver named William. He must have been near seventy and he was wearing a camel colored suit with a little silk hanky tucked in his pocket. Memphis just got better. William asked what we were doing in Memphis. I told him about the road trip and he smiled. He shared that he too traveled the country when he was a young man. He was born and raised in Memphis and he had to get out because it was too hard to be living there as a black man at the time. So he packed his car and set off to explore in search of better things. He ended up back in Memphis and now has a huge family and one great-grandchild (whom he was very proud of). I found his tales heartwarming.
When William dropped us off at The River Inn he wished us luck on our journey and it meant so much.
I merrily climbed into my big, plush and cozy bed at The River Inn (a far cry from the Motel 6 the night before) and went to sleep feeling deliriously happy.
Tennessee, The River Inn, amazing ribs, Beale Street, blues music & a very happy and talkative Kate!
If you can’t tell by the heading of this post I LOVED LOVED LOVED Memphis, Tennessee!
Rachel and I put Memphis on the itinerary because we thought…we can’t travel across the USA without stopping at Graceland, right? I mean, that would offend a lot of people, some may even find it sinful not to visit Elvis’ home!!
So we put Memphis on the list despite it being inconvenient (we went hundreds of miles out-of-the-way to get there) and I am so happy we did.
Things I loved about Memphis- so much of America’s history took place in the city, the people are so open, generous and kind, The Civil Rights Museum was incredibly moving, the ribs were the best I have ever had, The Mississippi River was breathtakingly gorgeous (especially from our hotel room at The River Inn), the music in the blues clubs made my soul sing, Graceland provided me with some seriously good laughs and Beale Street was such a fun and lively place.
All my excitement over Memphis made me very talkative for the 24 hours we were there. I stopped to chat with everyone- the cab drivers, the cops, random people on the streets, the musicians, the bell boys, really anyone I could get my hands on. I think Rachel was ready to kill me by the end of the night but I just couldn’t help myself- I wanted to know everything I could about Memphis and the people who lived there!
But let’s start at the beginning of my Memphis story, before Rachel wanted to kill me…
The National Civil Rights Museum
It was a dark and drizzly afternoon when we drove into Memphis. We decided to drive straight to The National Civil Rights Museum to make sure we toured it before they closed for the day. It was high on my list of things to do while in the city. When we pulled up I was surprised to learn that the museum is housed in what used to be the Lorraine Motel- which is where MLK was shot and killed in 1968- it was a rather emotional start to the tour.
Being there nearly brought me to tears, not because I was unaware of what happened that fateful day at the Lorraine Motel, but because it was overwhelmingly sad to stand where it happened, to see room #306 and to see with my own eyes the balcony he stood on that morning.
This road trip is shaping up to be the most insane adventure of my life! It’s becoming way more fabulous then I could have ever imagined it to be. I’m not going to lie, our itinerary is insanely ambitious and we may die from exhaustion trying to stay on schedule but that’s part of the adventure…right? Rachel and I will have to survive the driving and appointment booked days armed with laughter, cameras, our beloved computers, lots of red bull and the support of all our readers!!
The menu at this restaurant makes my mouth water- Rachel and I have decided that we MUST order the fried alligator salad because how often do you see that on a menu?
I had no idea that simply planning this across-the-country road trip would be so much fun! Rachel and I are both equally obsessed with every little detail, taking great pride in finding the perfect hotel, restaurant and activity in each city we stop. It’s definitely been a process reaching out to local businesses across the US but we have been over-whelmed by the support we have received from each city- people are so welcoming! It’s making me even more excited (if that’s possible) to get on the road and connect with people and learn about the history of each city.
This process has reaffirmed my belief in manifesting my dreams, because this 365 til 30 goal is manifesting in a huge, exciting way and I am very thankful for it all!
Los Angeles-> Tucson-> White Sands -> Santa Fe -> Abiquiu -> Austin -> New Orleans -> Jackson -> Memphis -> Montgomery->
Saint Mary’s -> Savannah -> Charleston -> Wilmington
I am a writer, blogger and host living in Los Angeles, CA with my husband Brian and French Bulldog Frank.
I started this blog in 2011 on the eve of my 29th birthday because I was feeling frustrated with the state of my life. In an inspired moment I compiled a list of 10 goals to accomplish in the 365 days leading up to my 30th birthday. Goals that I thought would bring me closer to the life I wanted-- and with that, 365 til 30 was born. That year was an incredible journey and truly changed my life. Since then, the blog has grown to include everything that happens after turning 30.
365til30.com 