Family on Beale Street, Memphis
Memphis General Attractions
Beale Street
DESCRIPTION: The historically Black district of Memphis is now home to the largest number of nightclubs and restaurants in the city; in fact, Beale Street is the largest single attraction in Tennessee and includes BB King’s, Rum Boogie Cafe, Wet Willie, Alfreds, New Daisy Theater, Mr Handy’s Blues Hall, Blues City Café, Eel Eel Fashions, The Pig on Beale, Tater Red’s, Shake Shack, W.C. Handy Park, Hard Rock Café, Memphis Gift Shop and A Schwab.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily and nightly
ADDRESS: Beale Street, from Main Street to Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN MAP
PARKING: garage and nearby lots
WEBSITE: http://www.bealestreet.com
Gibson Beale Street Showcase
DESCRIPTION: Tour Gibson guitar factory as skilled luthiers craft some of the finest guitars in the world. Check out the intricate process of binding, neck-fitting, painting, buffing, and tuning that has helped shape the world of music for over 100 years. The Lounge is home to many small concerts and after-parties.
ADMISSION:
$$
DAYS & HOURS: 45 minute tours Mon-Sat that begin at 11a, 12p, 1p, 2p, 3p & 4p,
Sun 1p, 2p, 3p and 4p
ADDRESS: 145 George Lee Avenue, Memphis, TN MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
PHONE: 901-543-0800
WEBSITE: http://www.gibsonshowcase.com/bealestreet
Memphis Motorsports Park
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1986 on a 400-acre tract in Shelby County and first built a drag strip with an adjacent road course, a dirt track and go-kart track. The drag strip drew was sanctioned by the NHRA in 1988. In 1997, a ¾-mile paved tri-oval track was added. In 1998, it was name-changed to Memphis Motorsports Park and hosted its first NASCAR event. Today the park hosts more than 200 events a year.
BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 8:30a-5p
DAYS & HOURS: by scheduled event
ADDRESS: 5500 Tayfor Road, Memphis, TN MAP
PARKING: Parking in Memphis Motorsports Park general lots is FREE for NASCAR events, and $12 for the NHRA Nationals event
PHONE: 866-407-7333
WEBSITE: http://www.memphismotorsports.com
Graceland
DESCRIPTION: Memphis #1 attraction and home of Elvis Presley (1935-1977). Created by the Estate of Elvis Presley, the tour covers xhibits of authentic clothing, cars, artifacts, personal mementos, an amazing display of Elvis’s gold and platinum awards, his grave and more. There’s also a Platinum VIP tour for die-hard Elvis fans.
ADMISSION: see pricing matrix on website
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-5p, Sun 10a-4p with shorter hours in the winter
ADDRESS: 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN MAP
PARKING: on premies for a fee
PHONE: 800-238-2000
WEBSITE: http://www.elvis.com/graceland
Lichterman Nature Center
DESCRIPTION: State-of-the-art facilities at the Nature Center, including a Visitor Center and Nature Store on 65 acres of wildlife sanctuary, boardwalks hiking trail, lake, picnic area, greenhouse. Call ahead for special events.
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 9:30a-5p Sun 1p-5p
ADDRESS: 5992 Quince Road, Memphis, TN MAP
PHONE: 901-797-7322
WEBSITE: http://www.memphismuseums.org/lichterman-overview
Memphis Botanic Garden
DESCRIPTION: The perfect place to stop and smell the roses; nature lovers will enjoy the wonderful sights and scents of Cactus Garden, Butterfly Garden, Conifer Garden, Sensory Garden, Daylily Garden, Japanese maple Grove, Prehistoric Plant Trail, Herb Garden, Magnolia Trail, Sculpture Garden, Dogwood Trail, and of course a Rose Garden.
ADMISSION: $5 Adults, $3 Ages 3-12
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-6p, Sun 11a-6p
ADDRESS: 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN MAP
PHONE: 901-685-1566
WEBSITE: http://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com
Tom Lee Park
DESCRIPTION: Named after Tom Lee, an African American that risked his life to rescue 32 European Americans from a sinking steamship in 1925. Today, this waterfront park serves a multitude of liesure activities.
ADDRESS: Riverside Drive south of Beale Street, Memphis, TN MAP
PHONE: 901-525-1515
T.O. Fuller State Park
An 1138 park that includes a popular golf course among African-Americans. The campground, picnic facilities, softball field and Chucalissa Indian Museum are managed by Tennessee State Parks.
ADDRESS: 1500 Mitchell Road, Memphis
PHONE: 901-543-7581
WEBSITE: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/tofuller
Memphis National Golf Club
DESCRIPTION: This 36-hole facility hosted the 1999 U.S. Open Qualifier. It is the only course in West Tennessee with GPS-accurate yardage to greens. Electronic scoring is posted on golf carts.
ADDRESS: 2700 Houston Levee Road, Collierville, TN
PHONE: 901-853-8058
