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PINKS All Out in May, NASCAR in June and October, NHRA drag racing in October, and 200-plus events February through December on three racetracks: the oval, the championship quarter-mile, and the road course. Just 15 minutes from Downtown and 20 minutes from anywhere in Memphis. 5500 Victory Lane, Millington, 901-358-RACE, 866-40-SPEED, www.memphismotorsportspark.com.
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Everything you see and do in Memphis makes more sense when you begin here. See the 1922 marble Pink Palace Mansion built
by Piggly Wiggly grocery store magnate Clarence Saunders, the IMAX Crew Training International Theater, and the Sharpe planetarium. Exhibits include Memphis history, geology, America’s first self-service grocery store, the Clyde Parke Miniature Circus, and three temporary exhibits per year. 3050 Central, 901-320-6320, www.memphismuseums.org.
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This unique, not-for-profit AAA affiliate of the St. Louis
Cardinals plays Apr-Sep at AutoZone Park, the finest ballpark
ever built below the major league level, located in
the heart of Downtown. 200 Union, 901-721-6000, www.memphisredbirds.com.
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A wide variety of sight-seeing cruises with concessions
and commentary on the sights and history of the Mississippi
River. Evening music cruises with dinner, holiday cruises,
and private charters. Wheelchair access on most trips. Closed
Jan-Feb except by appt. Foot of Monroe at Riverside Drive,
901-527-BOAT, 800-221-6197, www.memphisriverboats.net.
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The museum’s exhibition, created by the Smithsonian
Institution, tells the story of music pioneers who overcame
racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music
that shook the world. It offers a comprehensive Memphis
music experience, from the rural music of the 1930s, through
Memphis’s musical heyday in the '70s, to its global musical influence.
Personal audio-guided tour and gift shop. Open daily.
Inside FedExForum, Corner of Beale and Third,
901-205-2533, www.memphisrocknsoul.org.
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Restored to the elegance of their 1912-1940 predecessors,
today’s trolleys run from the South Main Historic Arts District
to the Pinch District, along the picturesque riverfront,
and from Downtown to the Medical Center along Madison
Ave. Passengers may board at any of 34 stations accessible
for persons with disabilities. Enjoy the sights of Downtown
as you travel to your next trolley-served attraction.
901-274-6282, www.matatransit.com.
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The 70-acre zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals representing
500 species. Get nose-to-nose with polar bears, and sea lions in the Northwest Passage exhibit.
The breathtaking CHINA exhibit features giant pandas Le
Le and Ya Ya. In May, the Zoo opens an all-new special exhibit, and fall of 2009 brings the opening of Teton Trek. All exhibits are
naturalistic homes for rare, exotic animals. Overton Park,
2000 Prentiss Place, 901-276-WILD, www.memphiszoo.org.
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Memphis's signature "welcome sign" in the west plays host to numerous festivals, contests, and other major events throughout the year. Riverboat cruises are available, and parks along the riverfront make Ol' Man River the perfect backdrop for picnics, kite-flying, strolling, and other outings. The River Walk provides a panoramic view of Memphis's crown jewel. |
Proud members of the Central Hockey League, two-time President’s
Cup champions, and the longest-running professional sports franchise in
the Midsouth. The team plays Oct-Mar. DeSoto Civic Center, I-55
and Church Rd, 662-342-1755, www.riverkings.com. |
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World-class museum features 18 galleries showcasing
10,000 years of history in the Lower Mississippi Valley.
More than 5,000 artifacts in the permanent collection,
plus traveling exhibits and special events.
Full-scale reproduction of the front third of an
1870 steamboat; re-creation of a Civil War battle on
the river; full-scale reproduction of a Union gunboat;
five galleries following Delta music;
and a 4,000-gallon aquarium. Open Apr-Oct. Mud Island
River Park, 125 N. Front, 901-576-7241, 800-507-6507,
www.mudisland.com.
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Experience the river on the river at America’s premier
Mississippi River Park, a unique historical, cultural,
and educational facility dedicated to telling the story
of the Mighty Mississippi. Walk along the 1/2-mile scale
model of the Lower Mississippi. Step inside the Mississippi
River Museum. Enjoy green spaces to jog, bike, picnic,
or relax, or experience the water first hand by renting
a canoe, kayak, or pedal boat. Venues for concerts, parties,
receptions, and other gatherings. Open Apr-Oct. Free general
admission. 125 N. Front, 901-576-7241, 800-507-6507, www.mudisland.com.
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Located at the Lorraine Motel, the assassination site of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., the museum chronicles key episodes of the American civil rights
movement and its legacy to inspire participation in civil and human rights efforts globally through exhibitions and educational programs. The former Canipe's Amusement store and rooming house – integral to the assassination investigation – examines events after
Dr. King’s death. 450 Mulberry, 901-521-9699, www.civilrightsmuseum.org.
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The only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the
exhibition and preservation of fine metalwork. Changing
exhibitions range from jewelry and hollowware in precious
metals to architectural wrought iron. Also metal-working
demonstrations and classes. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the spectacular
view of the Mississippi River from the grounds. 374 Metal
Museum Dr, 901-774-6380, 877-8812326, www.metalmuseum.org.
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Built in 1928, the 2,500-seat Orpheum is one of the few
remaining elegant movie palaces of the ‘20s. A $5
million renovation in 1984 included refurbishing ornamental
plasterwork, crystal chandeliers, and original furnishings
plus remodeling backstage and technical areas. The theater
presents a variety of events, from Broadway shows and concerts
to films and dance performances. Main at Beale, 901-525-7800,
box office: 901-525-3000, www.orpheum-memphis.com. |
This 342-acre public park nestled in the heart of Memphis
was one of the city's first parks, dating to 1902. Nine-hole golf course, 1.4-mile fitness trail,
playgrounds, open play fields, wooded trails, picnic areas, and pavilions,
Rainbow Lake formal gardens, and Veterans Plaza. Also home
to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Zoo, and the Levitt Shell, where Elvis performed his first paid concert. 2080 Poplar,
901-725-9905, overtonparkforever.org. |
An exciting array of restaurants, shops, theaters, and more
with a Georgetown atmosphere located in the heart of Memphis
and Midtown. Offers live music, dancing, local theater,
specialty shops, and
local restaurants. Madison and Cooper, 901-526-7070. |
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This Mobil Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond, historic Downtown landmark first opened in 1869. Local developer Jack Belz bought
the legendary hotel in 1975 and restored it to its original splendor,
kicking off Downtown’s dynamic revitalization when it reopened in 1981. The South's Grand Hotel includes
the famous twice-daily
march of the Peabody Ducks and the newly renovated rooftop Duck Palace. Gift shops,
restaurants, retail, and more. 149 Union, 901-529-4000,
www.peabodymemphis.com.
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Anchored by the historic Peabody Hotel and within one block
of Beale Street and AutoZone Park, this entertainment destination
is at the center of it all! It includes brand-name stores, entertainment center, coffee kiosk, and some of Memphis's best restaurants. 150 Peabody Place at Third, 901-261-PLAY,
www.belz.com. |
Memphis’s first neighborhood, settled by Irish immigrants
in the mid-1800s, is reborn as a shopping and entertainment
area. Given its name from the gaunt appearance of the immigrants
who resided there after fleeing the great potato famine
in Ireland, The Pinch includes live music, pubs, coffee
shops, specialty stores, and more. Between Jackson and Auction directly east
of The Pyramid and north of Memphis Cook Convention Center. |
A two-room museum provides visitors with earthquake information about the New Madrid seismic zone through interactive displays, maps, and computer programs.
Printed information is also available. Open Mon–Fri by appointment. Located on the University of Memphis campus, the museum is part of the Center for Earthquake Research and Information. 3918 Central, appt. only: 901-678-1723, www.ceri.memphis.edu. |
This 165-seat planetarium hosts astronomy shows, educational programs, stargazing,
and laser light concerts inside the Pink Palace
Museum. 3050 Central, 901-320-6320, www.memphismuseums.org. |
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The largest metropolitan park in the country provides a range of recreational opportunities,
picnic shelters, and meeting rooms. The park includes 31 fishing lakes; walking and biking trails; bird watching; 54-acre lake for sailing, wind surfing, and
pedal boating; an off-leash dog area; herd of American bison; disc golf course; horse stables; Agricenter International’s exhibition
center and ShowPlace Arena; Farmers Market; and more. 500 N. Pine Lake, 901-767-PARK, www.shelbyfarmspark.org.
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Explore this waystation on the Underground Railroad at
Burkle Estate. A secret cellar and trap doors reveal the
escape route of runaway slaves. Startling displays of ads,
auctions, and artifacts help tell the story of the slave
era as Heritage Tours guides visitors through this 1856
Antebellum hideaway. 826 N. Second, 901-527-3427, www.heritagetoursmemphis.com |
This historic neighborhood
was the birthplace of such musical luminaries as Aretha
Franklin, David Porter, Memphis Slim, and Memphis Minnie.
It remains home to Royal Studios, where Hi Records recorded
soul greats Al Green, Ann Peebles, and others. Home to the 17,000-square-foot Stax Museum of American Soul
Music, the only soul
music museum in the world, at the original site of Stax Records. 926 E. McLemore, 901-946-2535,
www.soulsvilleusa.com. |
Where culture, style, and charisma come together. Anchored by
the historic Central Train Station on the south and the
Orpheum Theatre on the north, the city’s official
historic arts district offers a diverse neighborhood of
fine arts, specialty shopping, restaurants, bars, and live
music, plus the Memphis Farmers Market every Saturday, mid-Apr–Oct. 901-578-7262, www.southmainmemphis.net, www.memphisfarmersmarket.org. |
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