When we/I travel, I like to avoid chain hotels. I don't know anyone who has been to Memphis, so I can't get recommendations on this.

Anyone on here have any? Scoping out links and such from their visitor's bureau (sp?) right now.
We'll be arriving in the evening/afternoon of 7/5

[Edited on June 12, 2006 at 1:04 PM. Reason : kkjhl]

6/12/2006 1:03:30 PM

Super Motel 8s are a good bet anywhere in my opinion. Unless you meant like a really fine star hotel with room service. Usually, when I go visit a place, I spend the least amount of time inside the hotel/motel, which is why room service does not matter to me, and most Super 8s have free breakfast and coffee, and free Internet.

They sound like a chain, but each is independantly managed. They even have a rating system you could probably find on their website.

PS: Hilton is a chain, but I doubt you'd afford it.

[Edited on June 12, 2006 at 1:09 PM. Reason : .]

6/12/2006 1:08:01 PM

I was thinking more along the lines of B&Bs...not because we'd be spending a lot of time there (and you're dead on - we don't travel to look at the inside of our room), but we both have a healthy appreciation for old buildings, history, and character. Things like Motel 8s and whatnot are places we stayed when we were kids - you've seen one, and you've pretty much seen them all. We're adults now, and can finally do things our way.

I do believe I have already found where we will stay.

6/12/2006 1:21:47 PM

you mean a hotel in an old dilapidated building? I am pretty sure those are pretty expensive, and if not expensive, the rooms are shitty.

6/12/2006 1:24:14 PM

hahahaha B&B's in India are different

6/12/2006 1:26:31 PM

chains have rewards programs so you get something back - you could probably have stayed free this trip if you were smarter

6/12/2006 2:09:24 PM

Quote :

"chains have rewards programs so you get something back - you could probably have stayed free this trip if you were smarter"

I'm aware of that. Except for two nights in DC over SB, chain hotels haven't been an option/appealing for our trips. I dunno about you, but if I'm in the mountains, super 8 on the interstate doesn't sound too appealing.

6/12/2006 2:28:01 PM

Super 8s are inside the city as well...they are just priced higher.

I stayed at a Super 8 outside Madison, WI (like 8 miles) and saved $20 a night...but there were more than a couple Super 8s in downtown.

Same goes for Chicago and Minneapolis.

6/12/2006 2:32:37 PM

Quote :

"Super 8s are inside the city as well...they are just priced higher."

The cities in the mountains are on the interstates, by and large

We don't have to find a place in Chicago - just DC, Memphis, and Cleveland. DC and Cleveland are going to be a chain that we stay at. Hence my asking about Memphis

6/12/2006 2:34:17 PM

Just remember to walk with your feet ten feet off the Beale

[Edited on June 12, 2006 at 2:36 PM. Reason : .]

6/12/2006 2:36:19 PM

with some blue seude shoes, too!

6/12/2006 2:37:13 PM

what's the itinerary?

If you're going to Chicago, why not visit the cow/milk state?

Driving is fun in Ohio/Wisconsin, though...

6/12/2006 2:38:17 PM

DC --> Cleveland --> Chicago --> pass through St Louis on the way to Memphis --> NC/GA mtns --> home

If we do WI and MN on the same trip as Chicago, we have to have a long break, and not do other places.

We have time to take more trips.

6/12/2006 2:42:05 PM

Hey I'll be in Memphis next month... let's talk about fun things to do!

I'm staying about a block away from Beale St. That seems like a good start!

6/12/2006 2:45:49 PM

I have been in MN for a month, and keep seeing those 10,000 lakes license plates, but there's nothing near Minneapolis. Everything is hours away like Duluth, etc.

But it's a very good time of the year to visit.

I had 3 days on company sponsored gas and motels, so I drove through

NC > VA > West Virginia > Ohio > Indiana > Illionois > Wisconsin > Minnesota

stopping at Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Madison, etc.

[Edited on June 12, 2006 at 2:46 PM. Reason : .]

6/12/2006 2:45:58 PM

Quote :

"Hey I'll be in Memphis next month... let's talk about fun things to do! "

http://www.memphistravel.com/Attractions_ShowRecord.asp?business_id=1033&
I'm a textiles major.

We're only gonna have a day, so I don't know if I want to eat that up at the botanical gardens...
http://www.memphistravel.com/Todo_AfroAmShowRecord.asp?business_id=781&
I need to find out if there are dinner/sunset cruises. When I went to Africa, there were ~2hr sunset cruises on the Zambezi, above Vic Falls, and they were spectacular. Granted, I doubt I'd see anything as exciting as a white rhino while on the Mississippi equivalent, but evenings river cruises are still kickass.
http://www.mississippirivermuseum.org/
http://www.southernfolklore.com/

I haven't done any extensive research on recreation yet...We'll do that as the time gets closer, and we know what the weather will be like, and all that good stuff.

6/12/2006 2:57:35 PM

can't do much in a dat

6/12/2006 2:58:24 PM

http://www.peabodymemphis.com/home.cfm

6/12/2006 3:37:31 PM

lets say it together, me and ambrosia...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, Cotton museum!

6/12/2006 3:50:52 PM

I used to live in Memphis. The only places you should really visit is the Rendezvous. The best ribs I have ever had. Go and get the 1/2 ribs, 1/2 pork chop plate. The Commissary is also another good BBQ place, but thats more along the line of pulled BBQ and sandwiches. As far as hotels go, the Peabody is the only "historical/classic" one in downtown Memphis.

6/12/2006 3:57:12 PM

Quote :

"The only place you should really visit is the Rendezvous."

6/12/2006 4:40:08 PM

I assume that's a BBQ joint? We'll probably try their barbeque while we're there, but I have a hard time believing that the only thing worth seeing in the entire city is a restaurant.

6/12/2006 4:43:04 PM

you should go to the national civil rights museum -- http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/ -- (the old lorraine hotel where mlk was assassinated). beale st. is kitschy/touristy like bourbon st. -- go once, get it out of your system, and then move on to other (more interesting) parts of town. ithe peabody is worth the extra $ if you don't want to have to worry/think about anything -- you get what you pay for, and it's within walking distance (or trolley distance) to most downtown attractions.

do graceland if you must.

corky's is a chain, but if you feel the need to do more barbecue beyond the rendezvous, go to the one on the east side of town close to 440 (yes, memphis has one, too).

their flying saucer > raleigh's.

eat breakfast once at the bon ton (2 blocks from the peabody).

there's an "up and coming" art district near the civil rights museum on "main street" that's worth checking out. a few good restaurants are there and a few lower-key bars (i.e. not the beale st. scene).

and it's hot. and humid.

go to mud island. and at least cross the bridge into arkansas, if only to say that you did.

stop by sun records for a bottled coke, but avoid its touristy add-ons.

if the minor league team is playing a home game, consider checking it out.

6/12/2006 5:42:00 PM

Hotels I dunno cause we always stay at a friends house, but avoid Jillians because it sucks ass there. Make sure to hit up the Coyote Ugly that just opened, it's awesome.

6/12/2006 8:43:33 PM

Yeah...we so won't be going to any bars.

6/12/2006 8:50:02 PM

just sleep in the car

6/12/2006 9:11:43 PM