Getting the most from your first visit to Memphis

If you’re about to train at CTI PFT’s Tennessee campus, it could well be your first visit to the area, and your first visit to Memphis!  We’re based just 25 minutes from this iconic city, so if it’s your first trip, here’s a quick guide:

Visit

Memphis is packed with attractions you won’t find anywhere else in the world! A trip to the city isn’t complete without a stop at Graceland for Elvis’ home and final resting place, as well as a whole host of memorabilia and costumes.

Animal lovers should stop by Memphis Zoo for close encounters with everything from polar bears to pandas, and don’t forget to visit the Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Hotel!

For something completely different, a visit to the Bass Pro Shop at the Pyramid is an experience you’ll never forget.  More than just a store, it also houses a museum, a hotel, a bar and grill (complete with a bowling alley), and even live alligators!

Learn

Memphis has a rich history, remembered at some fantastic museums.  At the National Civil Rights Museum (based at the former Lorraine Motel where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated), learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement through some very powerful exhibits.

As the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, you’ll also find museums celebrating Memphis’ musical history.  The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum tells the story of rock and soul music, as well as its early pioneers, and is well worth a visit.

If soul’s your thing, be sure to visit the Stax Museum too; located at the original site of Stax Records studio, it’s the only museum in the world dedicated to American soul music.  And don’t forget Sun Studio!  A place of pilgrimage for music lovers, Sam Phillips’ studio is where Elvis’ career began, where the Million Dollar Quartet’s impromptu jam happened, and where artists still record today!

Listen

Once you’ve learned about the history of Memphis’ music, listen to it live!  There are live music venues all over the city, from Young Avenue Deli to Germantown Performing Arts Center.  But there’s no place quite like Beale Street, Memphis’ ‘ground zero’ for live music. At the top of the list is B.B. King’s Blues Club – visit for nightly live music and great food!

Eat

Speaking of which, your trip has to include a few stop-offs for some legendary Memphis BBQ!  Come hungry and try out the city’s top BBQ spots.  Each has individual style and secret recipes, so it’s well worth visiting a few to compare and find your favorite…

With too many BBQ restaurants to mention, here a few to get you started:

• Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous (cooked over charcoal, not wood)
• Corky’s (slow-smoked over hickory wood)
• Central BBQ (secret rub sweetened with brown sugar)
• Cozy Corner (legendary homemade hot sauce)
• Bar-B-Q Shop  (superb sides, including Bar-B-Q Spaghetti!)

If you’re hungry for more, check out our list of Top Places to Eat in Memphis.

After your first visit to Memphis, we know you’ll be even happier you chose to fly at CTI PFT!  Well, who wouldn’t want this great city on their doorstep?