I always thought that the first time I went to Tennessee would be to visit Nashville, but I actually went to Memphis back in 2019. It is not a trip I would ever repeat again, not because of the city itself, but because I grew and learned a lot from it. I learned lessons that I hope I never have to learn again.
Here’s the truth of the matter: I went to Memphis to meet with a boy who was not worth the trip. He was someone who I fell in love with for the first time, but because he had been through the wringer in a previous relationship, there was never any intention of committing to a relationship with me.
That last part was cemented when I showed up to a weekend in Memphis where he forgot to ask off of work (he had invited me), and so I was left to my own devices as I walked through Memphis on my own, actually a couple of blocks away from Beale, and by the time I was on the airplane home, anything I felt for him was dead.
It wasn’t entirely a waste of time or money though. I definitely did not like feeling antsy and trapped as I waited around for him, so I went out and explored what I wanted to on my own. Keep reading to find out my favorite spots that I saw in my weekend in Memphis.
The Liquor Store
Address: 2655 Broad Ave., Memphis, TN. 38112
Phone: (901) 405-5477
I am not joking when I say I might have had one of the best Cuban sandwiches of my life here. It might have been because I was a nice amount of drunk, or the fact that my server was a darling, but I might visit Memphis just so I can experience a meal here again. I found this place on Yelp, and when my Lyft driver initially brought me here, I thought that I was being brought to an abandoned building, which is not a comforting thought as a small girl traveling alone. The people coming in and out of the door was reassuring when the Lyft came to a stop, and I learned that this diner used to be a liquor store. Whether you come here to get drunk or looking for good food, it’s a place I highly recommend.
Memphis Zoo
Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: (901) 333-6500
As I mentioned in my “Planning My 2021 Vacations” post, I love and appreciate a zoo. I wanted to talk about Memphis today specifically because it is National Zoo Lover’s Day, and I had such a good time there. I love seeing the animals and learning new things. My favorite zoo memory as a child was being able to feed stingrays. I got to do that on this trip, because I had the ability to do whatever I wanted without thinking about what anyone else wanted. Maybe it was just that I had food, or I’m reading too much into this in hindsight, but I had a connection to one of the stingrays. It kept coming back to me, and staying still as I pet him/her. I pretty much had the whole stingray area to myself aside from one other person, so it might be that the stingray was just looking for the food I had.
Honorable mention: if you love ducks, I would recommend going to see the Peabody Ducks at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Because of COVID, it is currently restricted to hotel guests at this time. There are special ducks that walk from the elevator to the fountain everyday at 11 AM, so you have to arrive before that if you want a good view of these ducks as they waddle down the red carpet. I love ducks, so I was happy to get up early for this.
Sweet Noshings
Address: 2113 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: 901-288-4753
My Lyft driver recommended this place to me, and it wasn’t too far of a walk from the zoo. It’s in what I would identify as a hipster area with a lot of unique small businesses. I even got an old fashioned soda in a glass bottle while I was here, along with some ice cream for my soul. The atmosphere was so retro that I wasn’t sure if I was cool enough to be there. In addition to the delicious ice cream and old fashioned soda, they had a variety of popcorn flavors, fudge, candy, cookies, and a variety of other sweet treats that Hansel and Gretel would ask for.
Margie’s 901 Homemade Ice Cream
Address: 125 South Main Memphis, TN, 38103
Phone: (901) 522- 1912
Maybe you haven’t figured it out by now, but I’m the girl who believes that ice cream can solve all of my problems. I was staying on Main Street at the time, and I passed Margie’s as I was walking to a book store (another place where I also find a lot of comfort). I definitely made a point to stop in on my walk back, and in addition to ice cream, they make popsicles here! Popsicles are something that make me feel like a little kid again, but it was also summer and hot, so it was the perfect thing to help me cool down. It was so good that I made it a point to come back one more time before flying home. They do ice cream here in a similar way to Cold Stone, in the way that you can pick ice cream and add in a variety of mix-ins. Bonus points: as I research it now, I am learning that it is a black-owned business.
Is there something you’ll always do every time you visit a city? Do you have a restaurant you went to once and can’t stop thinking about it? What is your favorite animal? Tell me in the comments below!
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Love Always,
Kristi My
Kristi My Dao 