Memphis, TN

We recently drove down to Memphis for the weekend. This was our second trip to the are in the last year.

Memphis is a very active town. It has a lot of attitude too. There is a ton of history in the area.

We went down mostly to see the Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball team (I wrote about that on my baseball blog). We ended up doing a lot more.

After work on Thursday, we made the drive down towards Nashville. Bad weather reports should have discouraged our making this trip, but we really wanted to get going. The weather reports were accurate though, and we had rain and rough winds to deal with the entire trip down.

We did make a stop at Loretta Lynn's Kitchen and gift shop. That was cool, they had your usual postcard and t-shirt type things. The place reminded me of a truck stop/gift shop. It was novel.

Downtown Memphis is a fun area. We have enjoyed walking around the ball park and the Peabody Hotel over our last 2 visits. We went there again this time.

A lot was going on in the area on this date. Pro baseball and basketball players were both at the hotel. Several St. Louis Cardinals players were there for the game, and so were the NBA Mavericks. The hotel was hoppin'. It was very busy and active.

I can't say enough about the Peabody Ducks. Kids and adults both will appreciate them. Every morning at 9am, they ride the elevator down from their rooftop house, then they walk a red carpet to the fountain. At 5, the process goes in reverse. It is something to see, and the ducks are very sweet. The roof to the Peabody is opened up and it is a great place for skyline photo ops.

Peabody Place is a great place to set and relax in downtown Memphis. The place is a "Dead Mall" though. I love places like this, but I feel sad that they are not more active. Peabody Place is a very nice layered mall. There is a ton of opportunity here for a business. It seems that most major businesses have moved out, and now there are just a few kiosks. This is a beautiful mall with rocking chairs around a fountain. We enjoyed a cup of Starbucks while sitting in rocking chairs listening to the fountain. If this mall was in my hometown, I would be there every day!

The Memphis Redbirds play at one of the most aesthetically perfect parks around. The giant baseball slugger over their front entrance is one of the coolest monuments in all of baseball. The park is simply perfect. It isn't that old, but it does have an old, traditional feel to it.

I was very sad to learn that Friday Night Fights was going on at the same time our ball game was happening right down the street! The good city of Memphis had it in an open out door venue. No ticket needed! Luckily, I always DVR this show.

Our next day in Memphis was spent mostly at the Memphis Zoo. Like most big zoos, this one was exhausting. You name it, they had it. Panda's seemed to be the big attraction.

In our recent travels, especially in the state right under Kentucky, I have developed a real appreciation for the Hyatt Place chain. These guys have perfected the hotel. They are always clean, nice and cozy. I love the big screen TVs that can tilt and be seen just about anywhere in your room. I just realized they have an IPod docking station too! We love the one in Memphis, which feels really homey to us. They have a very comfortable eating/front desk area. Leslie at the front desk remembered us from our last visit and added to the familiar feel here.






On the way back north, we stopped in Nashville. Everyone from Nashville likes to make a point in telling me that there is more to the town than Opry Mills mall. I know, but man is this a cool mall! Its just fun making a lap around it though. The kiosks are getting a bit out of control, but otherwise this place is perfect. I do need to get to Nashville to do some more local stuff.