24 hour visit to Memphis with teenagers, need advice (Bartlett, Collierville: crime, hotels)

[slnt]

Hi all! Will be visiting Memphis for 24 hours with my family which includes teenagers. What are some "do not miss" places to visit, tour, and "must go" places to eat? We are all looking forward to sampling some Memphis Bar-B-Que! Also, can you recommend what part of town is a safe family place to stay or areas to avoid?

Thanks so much!

[CuckoooCynthia]

Memphis is unique in that the so-called "good" neighborhoods are surround by the "bad" ones, and vice versa. What I'm trying to say is that you can't avoid crime anywhere anymore. Now to answer your question:

Do Not Miss
-Beale Street (Wet Willie's, Hard Rock Cafe)
-Memphis Grizzlies game (one of the best teams right now)
-for BBQ, honestly you can get that anywhere

Since you have teenagers, it may be hard to please them so I would suggest the Wolfchase Galleria, the biggest mall in the area, and that should keep them busy. It's in the Bartlett/Memphis City limits area off I-40E.

Also you can do the whole Graceland and Civil Rights Museum thing, but that's usually a bore for teens. Depending on what part of the city you're staying in, getting to certain places requires planning. The expressway is one giant circle and if your plans involve anywhere not along the circle, you're gonna get frustrated real quick.

I don't think I answered your question well enough, but gimme a sec and I'll give you more specific places to eat at, in good areas of the city of course .

[knucklehead_vol]

Stay downtown. Go to Sun Studios. It's the Vatican of Rock N Roll. Several things to do. When will you be here?

[CuckoooCynthia]

-Rendezvous barbeque (world famous dry rub style) in Downtown Memphis
-Neelys BBQ (they have their own show on Food Network "Down Home With the Neelys") in Downtown
-Central BBQ in Midtown Memphis

Basically like Knuckle said, stay downtown.

Those are the top three. Google for the exact address(es). Hope that helps!

[ColliervilleMom]

Go to Sun Studios, it gives you a taste of Graceland without breaking the bank or boring your teens. It's a live tour, and you can take one of their busses to Beale, or walk if its a nice day.

I disagree about the mall though, Wolfchase is a zoo on the weekends, and nothing at all special about it.

[knucklehead_vol]

Backbeat Tours are great from what I hear.

[slnt]

Thank you all for the great tips! Please, keep them coming.

CuckoooCynthia, looking forward to trying the Bar B-Que you suggested. Hope some of the restaurants sell their dry rubs to take back home with us. Thank you also for the tips on where to go.

knucklehead_vol, will look into Sun Studios. Sounds like it will hold everyones' attention ;-) Which will hold the teenagers' attention better, Sun Studios or Backbeat Tours?

ColliervilleMom, Thank you for the tip on Sun Studios.
How is the Gibson Factory Tour?

Looks like I will plan on getting a hotel around downtown. Is there a part of downtown more convenient or safer that we should plan on staying? I read somewhere that East Memphis is better, is this true? We will be driving from Nashville, are there roads or areas we should avoid getting to Memphis?

[Blutbad]

Many would say that East Memphis is a desirable part of town in which to live, but my guess is that few would recommend East Memphis over the downtown area in the case of somebody who will be in town for only 24 hours.

[BirdieBelle]

Are they teen girls or boys?

Just stay downtown and avoid all the interstate driving. Downtown hotels are fine. When we are back visiting my family, we stay just off Beale and roam without problems. Last time we stayed at the Westin across from the Forum and had a GREAT experience.

[bobtn]

Originally Posted by slnt

Thank you all for the great tips! Please, keep them coming.

CuckoooCynthia, looking forward to trying the Bar B-Que you suggested. Hope some of the restaurants sell their dry rubs to take back home with us. Thank you also for the tips on where to go.

knucklehead_vol, will look into Sun Studios. Sounds like it will hold everyones' attention ;-) Which will hold the teenagers' attention better, Sun Studios or Backbeat Tours?

ColliervilleMom, Thank you for the tip on Sun Studios.
How is the Gibson Factory Tour?

Looks like I will plan on getting a hotel around downtown. Is there a part of downtown more convenient or safer that we should plan on staying? I read somewhere that East Memphis is better, is this true? We will be driving from Nashville, are there roads or areas we should avoid getting to Memphis?

I had to go for a few days as a friend was graduating from U of M, she had gone remote from Az, but wanted to attend ceremonies, so they made a weekend of it.

I stayed at, and enjoyed the Crown Plaza , and they had a free shuttle that would take you downtown or anywhere within 5 miles.