Memphis, Tennessee (Nov 30 - Dec 1)

We didn't want to go home yet, so picked one last destination to round out the week. We wanted to start heading back toward home, so it didn't leave a ton of options. It was basically Branson or Memphis. 

We had both been through Memphis very quickly before, so we didn't necessarily need to stay for a long time, but we did want enough time to actually unpack our bags for once.

We stayed in a hotel called, "Arrive, Memphis." It was this very cool concept where they built the hotel in an old factory. And instead of the room having hard installed walls, there were walls on rollers everywhere in the room so you could sort of customize your layout. 

We got in around 4 on the first night and didn't really have a plan. So I took a look at my phone, saw there were some points of interest and a brewery across the street and walked that way. 

Over a small hill, I was slapped in the face by history books. The hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated stood in it's original glory. They've kept the same colors of paint and maintained the hotel, turning it into a Civil Rights museum. I was a somber place. There was a vortex of energy that made everything feel heavy. Staring at the wreath where the good Doctor fell and the famous picture of his entourage pointing toward the shooter. 

We wandered on, stopping at the park where the 1866 Memphis Massacre happened. Unintended theme of our trip was America's racist history. 

To lighten the mood, we stopped in at Wise Acre Brewery which had a spectacular vibe. Everything felt personally chosen by the owners. Art covered every surface. Bright colors covered every wall and floor. Great beers and very cool gear. We bought what was probably a 5th brewery's shirt for the trip.

We ate at B.B. Kings on Beale street which turned out to be delicious and the random Thursday night live music was very good. 

The next day, we did the ultimate tourist thing to do in Memphis... Graceland. 

I understand the Graceland visiting Elvis fans now. Graceland is magical. It's a time capsule. It's a lived in home captured in a moment. 

Sal hit the nail on the head, a lot of times when you go to a mansion, it feels empty, lacking personality. Graceland feels like a place people lived. A place where every decision was made with love. 

The estate kept all of Elvis's Christmas decorations and Sal happened to be visiting a few days after they put them up. 

There was the piano / tv room when you first entered, with this gorgeous white and red tree, highlighted by peacock stained glass. This is one of those pristine rooms that grandma would have and no one would be allowed in there except for Christmas. 

Then behind you, a large dinner table with yet another tree at the head of it. 

You go to the basement, which contained everything I think about when I think about the 60s. Huge couches that lined the room, mirrors, basement bars. Elvis had a wall of TVs so he could see multiple things at once. Then leaving that room, you enter the billiards room with the pulled cloth wallpaper and ceiling. 

And then you emerged from the basement to see the famous Jungle Room, decked out with presents similar to the ones given to Lisa Marie. 

At this point, I thought maybe the tour was coming to an end and I was little miffed at the price. But soon found out we still had the trophy room and Vernon's office, and the smoke shack, and then the horse stables, and then the racket ball gym/pinball hangout building, and then the meditation garden where most of the Presley family is buried. 

And then we got on a bus and found out we still had the jumpsuit museum, his car museum, the TV set museum, a museum dedicated to artists inspired by Elvis, the Lisa Marie museum, and finally a tour of his plane. 

Was well worth the money. I never started to feel bored. I wanted more to be quite honest. 

That night, we returned to Beale Street to have some beers and BBQ, a proper Memphis sendoff. We met up with Beth and Dylan (not planned, we just happen to be there at the same time) and just had a really nice relaxing night to finish out the trip.