48 Hours In Memphis Travel Guide

I've lived in Nashville for 9 years now and every time I drive back to Texas, I drive through Memphis. But I've never spent any time there! And it's been over 10 years since Casey last visited. That is, until this week. We didn't have any expectations and had a fun couple of days running around exploring the city. Let's talk about the things worth checking out!

WHERE TO STAY
First off, where should you stay? ARRIVE Memphis, hands down. We loved our time at this beautiful hotel! There was definitely a vibe going on. We arrived on a rainy day, but felt so cozy in the room. Every little detail was thought about when this hotel was created.

I mean, can't you see what I'm talking about?

If you decide you'd like to experience this cute place while in Memphis, you can get $50 off a 2 night stay by booking through our link here!

And besides the room, the lobby/bar area is impeccably decorated. In this space they have a coffee/cafe called Hustle and Dough and a bar called Bar Hustle. I had some delicious bread and pastries and of course, Casey had her coffee both days we were there. So definitely don't skip out on these places!

WHAT TO DO
The National Civil Rights Museum. This is joined with the old Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr was shot and I highly recommend visiting here. Yes, the subject is heavy but the information is displayed in a way that truly honors the Civil Rights movement. You don't leave feeling sad for Martin. You leave feeling inspired. He was one man who walked in the will of God and left a legacy we can all aspire to. Some of the information is hard to take in because horrible things happened, but they did happen. It is crucial to be knowledgable of our nation's past and see its effects so that we can learn from our mistakes. MLK Jr's story and the Civil Rights movement are important. We learned so much from our visit here and I highly recommend stopping by if you are in Memphis.

This is the exact place where MLK Jr. was shot. Right behind the wreath.

Broad Avenue Arts District. We went to this area to eat some breakfast on our way out so we made sure to check out the area. There are also some fun murals on buildings.

We stopped in at Arrow Creative and Falling Into Place, both cute places for gifts and little Memphis memorabilia.

WHERE TO EAT
I know this must be what you've really been waiting for. On this trip we talked about how really when you travel to other cities, you really want to eat a bunch of good food. We did not make it to a BBQ restaurant as it was hard to find a place that accommodated celiacs. However, we found plenty more great things!

First off, dios mio, Longshot. It's a bar that has way above average food and lots of shuffleboard. We even tried our hand at the game, but it didn't last long. We weren't that great, but it was fun to try it out. They make their own sausages (we got one without bread) and have tons of sharable options. We got queso and onion dip and nothing disappointed. Oh and we both got a specialty cocktail- just go here. It's a whole experience worth having.

Bedrock is a fully gluten-free restaurant, but it's waffle selection makes it great for any person who loves breakfast. They have 20+ varieties of waffles! Casey was in heaven. I went the savory route and got a sausage and gravy waffle, while Casey followed her sweet tooth to a creme brulee waffle. She brought home a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit that was as big as your head. Fully worth it even if you aren't a celiac.

The Liquor Store. This place had a great basic breakfast, but let's be honest, we came for the decor!

This was a fun little trip and we can now say that we recommend Memphis as a place to visit. Especially if you live nearby! We love taking little trips that are in driving distance from Nashville and this is the perfect place for that. If you decided to check it out, don't forget that you can get $50 off 2 nights at ARRIVE Memphis if you book through our link. Happy travels!