Memphis, Tennessee Travel Guide

Memphis, Tennessee Travel Guide

A few weeks ago, I got to cross another city off of my travel bucket list! I joined a group of bloggers from all over the country to explore the birthplace of rock ‘n roll and blues, Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to my visit, I didn’t know much about the town otherwise known as Bluff City, but the Pettigrew Adventures team went above and beyond to provide us with the perfect itinerary that really allowed us to see the best of Memphis. Therefore, I wanted to take you through our entire schedule to help you get an idea of how to spend your next vacation in this charming little town!

P.S. A roundup of all of our partners/businesses is listed at the bottom of this post for quick reference!

 

WHERE TO STAY

Pettigrew Adventures: I could not wait to see these beautiful Airbnbs in person! After obsessing over their Instagram account for a couple of months, I got to see them in person and they did not disappoint! Pettigrew Adventures is made up of 8 homes (and only growing) that are all decorated to the nines and totally Insta-worthy. Our group stayed in the adorable “Juanita’s House”. To say this perfectly pink home was a total dream would be an understatement. I never wanted to leave! It’s a great place to stay for a girls weekend, a bachelorette party, or just an escape to a new town. Plus, it’s pet-friendly so you can bring your pup, too! Check out a full list of their properties here.

And these amazing ladies below were my roommates for the weekend!! Laura Leigh and I have traveled together before so it was great to reunite, but this was my first time meeting Camille and Amanda! Funny enough, Camille and I have been following each other for years, but only just met for the first time in person during this trip. We all had so much fun and had a cliché slumber party staying up late and having lots of girl talk.

WHERE TO EAT | FOR BREAKFAST

Juice Brothers: This little spot was a great way to start our day! We all ordered the yummiest and prettiest acai bowls and of course, I had to grab a coffee! The breakfast instantly filled me up and it felt good being on vacation and having the option to still eat something that was healthy.

Staks Pancakes: Did someone say pancakes? Yes, please! I’m still drooling over this brunch spot. Not only is Staks decorated perfectly, but their pancakes are absolutely amazing. They also have fun tables where they provide you the batter and you can make your own pancakes.

 

WHERE TO EAT | FOR LUNCH

Slider Inn: If you love burgers and fries, this is your kind of spot! This was probably my favorite restaurant of the bunch. The food was really great, but most of all, the atmosphere was so much fun. It was a beautiful day so all of the doors were open, the patio was full, and there was some awesome live music. There were lots of laughs here (and drinks, let’s be real).

WHERE TO EAT | FOR DINNER

Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous: No trip to Memphis is complete without dinner at Rendezvous. This true Memphis staple opened back in 1948 and is a must on your itinerary. Rendezvous is located in the basement of an alleyway building and has the best barbeque – or so I hear! As a vegetarian, I was a bit nervous coming here, but was informed that one of the owner’s daughters is a vegetarian, as well, so there were many options for me! The nachos were so good that we had to order seconds!

Babalu: Babalu serves up Latin-inspired tapas with Southern flair in the Bluff City. Their menu is full of yummy tacos and guacamole that is made right at the table in front of you. It’s the perfect gathering spot for queso and cocktails with your girlfriends.

Andrea’s Cooktales: On our last night in Memphis, we all threw on our comfy clothes and headed to Morgan’s gorgeous home for dinner. Morgan is the founder of Pettigrew Adventures and basically a full-blown interior designer – her home is absolutely amazing!

If you’re looking for a more intimate dinner setting, look no further than Chef Andrea. She made us the most wonderful vegetable pasta that we enjoyed over many laughs (and yes, of course, I went back for seconds). The pasta recipe is included in her cookbook, which is available for purchase here!

 

FOR A TREAT

The Whimsy Cookie Company: Now this right here is my heaven. Our friend, Collins, who was also on the trip but lives in Memphis, owns a cookie shop in town called The Whimsy Cookie company! Not only is the shop itself adorable, but so are the cookies! I snagged a chocolate cookie sandwich with buttercream in the middle and ate half right away, but saved the rest for an after disco snack. (Read more about our night at the disco below!)

Gibson’s Donuts: Another Memphis favorite is Gibson’s Donuts. The spot is open 24/7 and is the perfect late-night pick me up!

 

WHERE TO GRAB A DRINK

Old Dominick Distillery: First up, Old Dominick Distillery. Old Dominick’s story goes back over 100 years and has a full line of fine whiskeys and vodkas. The Distillery offers tours that give you an inside look into how each bottle is made. It ended with a curated tasting of their products made right in house.

BarWare: You could definitely tell this was a local favorite as soon as you walked through the door. There was a great vibe on the Saturday night we went and the drinks were flowing for sure! This is a great space if you have a large group like ours because there are plenty of tables and places to sit for the whole crew.

 

WHERE TO SHOP

Buff City Soap: Another favorite of the trip was our visit to Buff City Soap. If only I could give y’all a small taste at how amazing the store smelled as soon as we walked through the door. I spent at least 20 minutes just walking around smelling all of their different scents. Then we got to make our own bath bombs – something I had never done before and had so much fun. The Buff City Soap team sent us home with lots of goodies, including our face masks that we made ourselves and that I cannot stop using! It makes my skin feel so soft and I have been using it on repeat since I got home. 10/10 would recommend buying any of their products.

Janey Bee Jems: If I could describe myself as a pair of earrings, I’d just show everyone this picture below. I have officially found my new favorite jewelry designer! While Janey Bee Jems doesn’t have a traditional “storefront”, you can still support local Memphis makers by shopping her collection on her website here!

Pickering Boxwood: I could’ve spent all day browsing this adorable little boutique! Everywhere I looked there was something I hadn’t seen on my last circle around the store. From home decor to spring dresses, this store has everything a girl needs. I bought myself a faux leather lavender midi skirt (yes, I did!!) and a new pair of gold hoops. The entire staff was also so kind, helpful, and welcoming!

 

WHAT TO DO

Graceland: This was such a cool experience!! I won’t lie, I didn’t know much about Elvis until this trip but it was really amazing being able to step back in time and tour his home just as it once was. All of his cars and his incredible wardrobe collection were on display, as well. At the end of the tour, we got a special treat and were able to meet 5 Elvis impersonators! These impersonators go through just about 20 rounds of auditions to become an official Elvis impersonator, so we were among the best of the best. If you are an Elvis fan or a fan of music at all, you can’t miss out on this opportunity! And, of course, don’t forget to get Elvis Presley’s favorite at the diner! A good ole Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich!

Paula & Raiford’s Disco: Yep, we went to a legit disco!! If you go to at least one place on this guide, make sure it is this one. This was probably my favorite thing we did of the entire trip. We all put on our sequins and had ourselves a little Saturday night fever party. You could definitely tell Paula’s is the place to be on the weekends as the place was packed. They played all your favorite throwbacks and we danced all night! The pictures below definitely do not do this place justice. It sure is a once in a lifetime experience.

Before heading out to the disco, we got all dolled up with hair by House of Aglaia and makeup by Makeup by Kendrick. Our disco looks would not have been complete without a little glam and we definitely got the royal treatment from the entire squad!

Tea at 17 Berkshire: This spot was right up my alley! We had a true tea time experience at 17 Berkshire – macarons, cucumber sandwiches, and all! And if you’re like me, you noticed that the photo opportunities here are endless!

Explore Beale Street: Of course, we couldn’t leave Memphis without taking a stroll down the iconic Beale Street! This was really special for me because I grew up listening to the song ‘Walking in Memphis’ by Marc Cohn and can’t tell you how many times I’ve sung about Beale Street!

National Civil Rights Museum: This was a must during my visit and I truly will never forget this experience. The museum takes a look at civil rights history all leading up to the very spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and died. You are given a glimpse into his room which was left exactly the way it was during his final moments.

The Peabody Hotel Duck March: Prior to my trip to Memphis, so many people told me I had to go see the duck march at The Peabody. So, of course, I did! You wouldn’t believe the crowd that lined up to see these 5 ducks strut their thing. It definitely gave us a good laugh! Tip: Get there a bit early to be sure you have a great spot! We immediately went up to the second floor and were right above the ducks as they came out.

Greys Cheeseboard Tasting: In addition to our wonderful dinner by Chef Andrea on our last night, we were also treated to a cheeseboard tasting from Greys. We were able to see the whole process of creating a cheeseboard from start to finish and the team told us which snacks and wines are best paired with which cheese. My favorite? The addition of potato chips to this board. I had never seen that hack before but it really is the perfect pairing! From now on, I must have potato chips with all of my cheeseboards!

And that’s our trip! I had such a great time and hope this helps as you are planning your next getaway to the Bluff City. A huge thank you to the Pettigrew Adventures team for having me and setting all of this up! Check out all of these restaurants, shops, experiences, etc. below during your next visit!

ROUNDUP OF MEMPHIS PARTNERS

Pettigrew Adventures | Juice Brothers | Graceland | Babablu | Staks Pancakes | The Whimsy Cookie Company | 17 Berkshire | Slider Inn | Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous | Paula & Raiford’s Disco | Andrea’s Cooktales | Buff City Soap | Gibson’s Donuts | Old Dominick Distillery | BarWare | Greys Cheeseboards | House of Aglaia | Makeup by Kendrick | Janey Bee Jems | Pickering Boxwood | Pindi House Jewelry | Elizabeth Looney Photography

I was gifted a stay and meals in exchange for a review. All views and opinions are, as always, my own!