Why You Should Visit Downtown Memphis, TN

Downtown Memphis is the most vibrant part of town. The demographics have completely altered since the early 1980s when some developers began construction on residential areas, spearheaded by Mud Island with its exquisite riverfront views and walking and bike trails laced with canals populated with ducks and other birds. Then more development began in other areas. The old cotton warehouses were bought and renovated, the famous Peabody Hotel was completely refurbished from top to bottom, and more development began taking place in the South Bluffs, overlooking the widest part of the Mississippi River. Cybil Shepherd makes her home here. The residents of downtown are distinctly professionals, in the high mid to upper income levels, and there is a large singles population. These factors make for a downtown that's always active and quite progressive. Because the new trolley line has made it easier to get around, there is a huge amount of foot traffic and lots of activities every weekend as well as during the week. It's the most lively part of town to be sure.

General info on Memphis can be read at this site: http://www.usatourist.com/english/places/tennessee/memphis.html. Another site which concentrates specifically on the downtown area is: www.downtownmemphis.com/. I have subscribed to a newsletter from this website which gives news every week on what's happening at downtown nightspots. A new event has just been added-a concert in the historic Court Square, between Main and Second on Wednesdays.

A visitor to Memphis would have so much to choose from in way of dining and entertainment. First off, the trolley line has been built from South Main to just past the govt. buildings in the north. Then it turns and spins down Front St. above Riverside Drive. With open windows, riders can relax in the breezes while gazing at the historic buildings, the beautiful bluff with its crepe myrtles and magnolias. And they can get a panoramic view of the widest part of the Mississippi River in any urban area. Just taking the trolley is an adventure in itself.

Next, the South Main District is still being developed, with renovations all up and down the south part of the street. Every weekend the shops and some restaurants open their doors with open houses and wine and cheese offerings to those who want to browse for new art. This part of Main St. is called the "South Main Historic District" for good reason. Most of the renovations have been done on old cotton warehouses with high ceilings and open, airy spaces. Some realtors have even began marketing them to Memphians who live on the outskirts and want a second home with a real urban ambiance! The area is very populated with art galleries and shops that display local art as well as imports and even some antiques. Browsing just the South Main District alone is worth a weekend visit. This is the web site I subscribe to which gives an idea of what is happening in any given week, and you can subscribe for free to get the updates:
www.downtownmemphis.com/domain/news/html/thisweek.html

Most of the attractions downtown focus on entertainment and music-especially on the Blues. This Fodor's travel guide gives an encapsulated peek into downtown, advising visitors of what they should see when on their visit here:

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=memphis@100&cur_section=fea&feature=30004. Some of the historic attractions are the Hunt-Phelan home, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and many more places. But come nighttime there are a multitude of clubs where you can listen to the Blues like you've never heard them before. There is W.C. Handy's Blues Club, B.B. Kings, Blues City Café, Pat O'Brian's, and so much more! Go to http://www.bealestreet.com/clubs.html to access some of their information and for times and descriptions.

Downtown Memphis is one of the best chow-down places in the city. First there's the world famous Rendevous in an alley across from the Peabody Hotel and convenient to almost everywhere downtown. The ribs are simply delectable and nobody worries about eating with a fork either! The restaurants in the area are superb! You have barbecue at Corky's or the Rendevous, or you can choose eclectic or Asian food if you prefer. There's no end to the culinary pleasures awaiting visitors to our downtown area. Some of my favorites are also Automatic Slim's on Second St. across from the Peabody, Cielo's, the Pier, and the Butcher Shop. This site will show you many selections and you can also use it to find certain types of restaurants. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2740367-memphis_restaurants-i-nhood-Downtown

Well, you see that there's a lot to do-and eat-in downtown Memphis, but you've gotta find a place to stay for your getaway, first. Downtown is loaded with hotels and accomodations: The Marriott, The Raddison, the Peabody, the Madison, and on and on. Look for yourself at this web site and chose what will go best with your budget and travel plans:

http://hotels.priceline.com/hotels/memphis/downtown-memphis.html. You can hunt for downtown hotel bargains here.
For an expensive and old-fashioned, elegant downtown stay, there is nothing else like the Peabody, a renovated 1800s hotel which weathered the Civil War and has a lobby that transports you back more than a century:

http://www.peabodymemphis.com/home.cfm But be prepared to spend a chunck of money for this luxury. The lowest hotel room price is $175/night. The Peabody is a AAAA Four Diamond Memphis Luxury hotel. On this website you can also link to some of the nearby attractions: http://www.peabodymemphis.com/attractions/attractions.cfm

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-398679-radisson_hotel_memphis-i A much less expensive alternative to the Peabody and just a block away!

Use the travel.yahoo site or priceline to find more alternatives. Now that you have the information and a lot of choices you can begin to plan your next mini-vacation in downtown Memphis. You May even like it so well that you'll want to come again and begin scouting for a downtown condo to buy for a second home!

I save this Yahoo site for last since it gives a good review of a lot of the Memphis attractions. It's loaded with places and ratings:

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191502010-memphis_vacations-i;_ylc=X3oDMTMxZGhsbzlmBF9TAzk3NDkwOTM5BGFkZ3JwAzI4NjUxNjM4NwRldnQDMTE1MzA1MDcEawNkb3dudG93biBNZW1waGlzBG9tbQNFeGFjdARzZWMDa2IEc2VtA2dvb2dsZQRzbGsDdGl0bGU-?sem=google