When in Memphis, don't be cruel and strap on your blue suede shoes to check out a few of our favorite Fotospots. From ducks in a hotel, to incredible music spots, to (you guessed it) Elvis' house - Memphis is a hunka hunka burning love.
LessThe original Peabody was built in 1869 and the new, current Italian Renaissance-style building was erected in 1925, one block away. Although famous people have passed through the front door, the hotel celebrities since 1930 are a group of ducks in the lobby fountain. The ducks are guided from their luxury rooftop quarters to the fountain every day at 11 AM where they frolic until 5 PM before being led back up to retire for the night.
Elmwood was set up during the Rural Cemetery Movement of the mid 1800s (1852 to be exact) and was intended to be a park for the living and the dead where families could gather. Over the years more than 85,000 people have been buried in the 80 acres of the cemetery. Interesting fact: Elmwood actually got its name when it was randomly selected by a drawing out of a hat.
Silky O'Sullivan's isn't your average watering hole - this one is famous for its roof-climbing goats. Don't fret - these goats are spoiled more than most humans - there's even a spiraling "goat tower" that allows these cloven-hoofed animals climb to their heart's content.
This man-made cave is a breath of fresh air in Memphis. To enter the cave, you must first walk through a hole in a concrete tree stump sculpture. The grotto is lined with crystals and semi-precious stones, a glittery tribute to Christianity built by in the 1930s by true believer, Dionicio Rodriguez.
Opened by Sam Phillips in 1950, Sun Studio has witnessed many earth-shattering changes in music. This small building is the birthplace of rock 'n' roll and legendary performers have graced its rooms. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison are some of the most famous singers who got their start at Sun Studio.
Beale Street is the most visited place in Tennessee - a fashionable thoroughfare in downtown Memphis. Like any respectable southern city, Beale Street holds plenty of events during the year. Free street entertainment includes the Wine Race, riverboat dockings, the Southern Hot Wing Festival, and the Rajun Cajun Crawfish Hospital.
Even though the Civil Rights movement's most famous moments were in the 1960s, it's a movement that has been in process since the 17th century. This museum (built around the Lorraine Motel where MLK was assassinated) focuses on the history of Civil Rights for the past few hundred years.
One of the few museums in the world dedicated only to soul music, the Stax Museum was established in 2003 - but its roots go back to the '50s when it was a recording studio. Stax Records closed in the '70s and the studio went through several transition periods before becoming a museum which celebrates revolutionary artists such as Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin.
No visit to Memphis is complete without a tour to Graceland, Elvis Presley's 13-acre estate. Now located on 200,000 square feet, this entertainment amusement complex features museums, gift shops, and restaurants. Budget for this outing accordingly; tickets for America's second most-visited home after the White House don't run cheap.