Walkin' in Memphis

***This post is very photo heavy. So all tips and thoughts are here at the top and then you can scroll to your hearts content! All photos taken with iPhone 4Thoughts: We are currently in Mississippi (about 20 minutes out of Memphis) training for our great South Korean adventure, and we knew we had to take advantage of this lively city. We spent Friday night with new friends downtown, mostly on Beale street, exploring. I felt that Beale street was a much more tame version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, just with a blues feel. We checked out some different music, but finally settled at Silky's and man it was awesome. Sunday afternoon we came back and had the whole city to ourselves! I don't know if it was because it had stormed that morning, but it was almost eerily deserted. We spent the day #hoopersonfoot style and explored and wandered around taking photos and picking up snacks and a postcard along the way. I was in snappy heaven when we strolled through the more local main street. **There is a main street that is runs through the city (you'll know it by the trolley car tracks) the Beale St/newer half is very touristy and has lots of cafes, the older portion has more local businesses and some amazing old buildings. I was quite shocked that some of the old buildings were condemned and in such bad condition. I mean the National Civil Rights Museum is about 20 feet away....why aren't those restored and being used Memphis, why?! Anyway, I was just in awe of being able to stand on the ground that MLK marched on and be at the location of his death. There are no words to describe how alive it made history become and how fortunate we are to be where we are now.Tips: These are just what we did. I am by no means an expert on Memphis and used some helpful sites, but you know how cheap we are and how we like to get the feel of a town as locals do. For this trip we definitely focused on quantity over quality. So please add your tips and favorite places into the comments!

• Mississippi/Tennessee is hot. Bring water and lots of it.
• You can do a lot of walking, so dress appropriately
• Silky O'Sullivans Pub has great live music, a $5 cover charge and giant appetizers for sharing
• Park at Parking Can Be Fun at 79 Union St, you'll pay max $6
• Stop in at A. Schwab's on Beale st. They sell a lot of random junk, but have an old timey drink counter where they will make you the most delicious hand squeezed lemonade, milkshakes, floats, etc and the baristas are super friendly and give great tourist tips. Drinks are about       3$-5$ each
• You can walk to the National Civil Rights Museum (which is the Lorraine Hotel that MLK was shot at) from Beale St, just stay on main street as the other roads are a little more sketchy and rundown
• You should walk down to the river (walk to the end of Beale St and you're at the river!) there is a park for kids and some great overlooks and photo ops
• We ate at the Flying Fish. Portions were huge and it was about $10 a person. Delicious, southern, fried.
• We drove by the gates of Graceland and took a photo. Its about 35$ per person to go in.
• There is tons to do and see on Beale St. There are to go windows selling alcohol, junk stores, kids flipping in the street, old men dancing, karaoke, TONS of live Blues music, dancing, food
• At the other end of Beale St (away from the river) is the Withers Collection Museum. It is a photo gallery of some seriously emotionally and beautiful shots of the civil rights movement, MLK included. There is a charge for admission, (worth it) but sometimes it is free (not sure of the schedule)
• Go see the ducks at The Peabody hotel. They march through the lobby promptly at 11am and 4pm (sadly we missed them, so send me pictures!)
• More of our go to for any situation travel tips here and here
• 5 must take travel photos here