Since my bike is in taking her winter nap, I've been thinking of upcoming rides for 2013. Thinking of hitting Beale St. in Memphis and Bourbon St. in New Orleans before cruising into Greenville for Wing Ding. I'd be trying to cram in as much of the flair of Beale St in one day and maybe two days in New Orleans. Any ideas of points of interest that dictate the real flavor of those areas (food and music)?
Must see in Memphis and New Orleans
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You may like to pay your respects to Elvis while your in Memphis.
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Never been to Beale St....New Orleans though, I am a near expert. I actually prefer a day and a half of Nawlins. Just let me know and I could set you an agenda of the quickie must do list.
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Like the Ref I too have spent some time down in New Orleans. Everyone should spend an evening on Bourbon Street. Doesn't matter what day of the week, it's definitely an experience. The French Quarter is interesting and worth a day of just walking around. If you smoke cigars there is a place on Decatur that rolls them right in front of you. The D-Day Museum is there if you like museums. Way more to do then you can experience in a day.
I’ve been to Beal Street but don’t know it well enough to comment as it was just an evening while I was in Memphis for a training class. I’m not an Elvis fan, although my wife is, and when we visited Graceland I found it very interesting. Definitely a place not to miss.
In between the two is some great roads along the Mississippi River. MS Hwy 1 from near Lula down past Rosedale (Old Blues song and Led Zepelin cover) to Rolling Fork is good. Then on US 61 down into Louisiana. If you are a Blues fan, Mississippi has markers throughout the Delta. http://www.msbluestrail.org/
Be sure to let us know when you pass through if you want some company.
I’ve been to Beal Street but don’t know it well enough to comment as it was just an evening while I was in Memphis for a training class. I’m not an Elvis fan, although my wife is, and when we visited Graceland I found it very interesting. Definitely a place not to miss.
In between the two is some great roads along the Mississippi River. MS Hwy 1 from near Lula down past Rosedale (Old Blues song and Led Zepelin cover) to Rolling Fork is good. Then on US 61 down into Louisiana. If you are a Blues fan, Mississippi has markers throughout the Delta. http://www.msbluestrail.org/
Be sure to let us know when you pass through if you want some company.
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This is my ideal getaway....
Get to New Orleans
1:00pm - Lunch at Desire Oyster Bar on Bourbon St. (Bread Pudding is insane).
2:00pm - Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
3:00pm - Head to the River Walk
4:30pm - Harrah's Casino ***
8:00pm - ACME Oyster House on Iberville St.
9:00pm until I'm sick of it - Bourbon St.
Bourbon St. is not my favorite street in Nawlins but you have to go down it at least once.
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7:00am - Cafe Beignet on Royal St. - (Crawfish Omelet)
8:00am - Head down Bourbon St. toward the open market
I prefer Bourbon St. in the a.m.
11:00am - Central Grocery for a Muffuletta Sandwich
12:00am - Franks for a jar of Olive Salad
Head Home
***If you aren't into Casino's, I love to get a map of the Historical homes like the LaLaurie House and the House of the Rising Sun as well as St. Louis Cemetery. You can do a tour, but I prefer to go at my own pace.
Get to New Orleans
1:00pm - Lunch at Desire Oyster Bar on Bourbon St. (Bread Pudding is insane).
2:00pm - Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
3:00pm - Head to the River Walk
4:30pm - Harrah's Casino ***
8:00pm - ACME Oyster House on Iberville St.
9:00pm until I'm sick of it - Bourbon St.
Bourbon St. is not my favorite street in Nawlins but you have to go down it at least once.
_______
7:00am - Cafe Beignet on Royal St. - (Crawfish Omelet)
8:00am - Head down Bourbon St. toward the open market
I prefer Bourbon St. in the a.m.
11:00am - Central Grocery for a Muffuletta Sandwich
12:00am - Franks for a jar of Olive Salad
Head Home
***If you aren't into Casino's, I love to get a map of the Historical homes like the LaLaurie House and the House of the Rising Sun as well as St. Louis Cemetery. You can do a tour, but I prefer to go at my own pace.
G
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·I have done a tour of Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans just a few years after Katrina.
Yes, Graceland is a must see. Looking at his car one realizes how much technology has advanced (his automatic disc changer could have ripped your arm apart, and the phone you’d have to call operator to place a call.)
Nashville is simply great.
I enjoyed New Orleans but part of the devastation was still there. The advice I received: if you visit stay on the main streets, crime outside the area is high.
Yes, Graceland is a must see. Looking at his car one realizes how much technology has advanced (his automatic disc changer could have ripped your arm apart, and the phone you’d have to call operator to place a call.)
Nashville is simply great.
I enjoyed New Orleans but part of the devastation was still there. The advice I received: if you visit stay on the main streets, crime outside the area is high.
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As I am originally from Memphis, there are more things to see then Graceland or Beale Street. Beale Street is better after dark but, travel in a group. The New Daisy theater on Beale Street is a good place for some local music. There is Overton Square for a lot of bars and good restaurants. Shelby Farms is a great little park for gatherings. There is also the Memphis Zoo that is unbelievable. The Peabody Hotel, where The Firm was filmed is an old historic hotel and if you experience the Duck walk there it is something to see. These ducks live in the hotel itself.
Out toward the Cordova and Germantown area there are gardens and Agricultural sites to visit. Of course you can take a little ride on Austin Peay hwy and see the Millington Naval Base. It was once the largest inland naval air base in the US. If you like Golf, there are some magnificent courses there. Galloway Golf Course is where I was taught to play by my father. No visit to Memphis would be complete without sampling some of their barbeque. Interstate and Neely's are world renowned for their Sandwiches and I recommend you try the Barbecued Spaghetti. Don't knock it till you try it. There are many Italian restaurants there that are well known. The Grisanti family has several in many locations throughout the city. Spindini's is one of them. You also have to go to the North End restaurant and have one of their Hot Fudge Pies. You will not need a sugar fix for a week after eating one. And you can get a taste of the local music there at night. And last but not the least, you have to go to Shakerag and have one of their Barbecued Balogna Sandwiches. They are awesome. Any questions just pm me and I will tell you where all of this is.
Out toward the Cordova and Germantown area there are gardens and Agricultural sites to visit. Of course you can take a little ride on Austin Peay hwy and see the Millington Naval Base. It was once the largest inland naval air base in the US. If you like Golf, there are some magnificent courses there. Galloway Golf Course is where I was taught to play by my father. No visit to Memphis would be complete without sampling some of their barbeque. Interstate and Neely's are world renowned for their Sandwiches and I recommend you try the Barbecued Spaghetti. Don't knock it till you try it. There are many Italian restaurants there that are well known. The Grisanti family has several in many locations throughout the city. Spindini's is one of them. You also have to go to the North End restaurant and have one of their Hot Fudge Pies. You will not need a sugar fix for a week after eating one. And you can get a taste of the local music there at night. And last but not the least, you have to go to Shakerag and have one of their Barbecued Balogna Sandwiches. They are awesome. Any questions just pm me and I will tell you where all of this is.
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As far as visiting New Orleans, a neat place to see and a great place to eat, but DON'T take the short riverboat sightseeing cruise of the Mississippi. It's been many years since we did that and I hope it has improved, but for a couple of hours all you looked at were the backs of warehouses; very few, if any that I can recall, were scenic.
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Beaufort SC , Charleston SC , Georgetown SC , all good places to visit in my neck of the woods.
Preservation Hall. Get there early.
http://www.preservationhall.com/hall/index.aspx
I see that the price has gone up from $5 a few years ago to $15. It's worth it. The line starts forming a couple hours before opening. When they open, they allow the first 30 or so people in. There are a couple rows of wood benches up next to the band. Behind that, it's standing room only. As people leave, they let others in. It goes on that way for several hours. The music is as authentic as it gets. There is no amplification for the acoustic instruments. The room is far too small to need it. Preservation Hall was started in 1961 in an attempt to protect a certain style of music from the influence of Rock and Roll.
It is, in my opinion, a must-see in Nawlin's.
http://www.preservationhall.com/hall/index.aspx
I see that the price has gone up from $5 a few years ago to $15. It's worth it. The line starts forming a couple hours before opening. When they open, they allow the first 30 or so people in. There are a couple rows of wood benches up next to the band. Behind that, it's standing room only. As people leave, they let others in. It goes on that way for several hours. The music is as authentic as it gets. There is no amplification for the acoustic instruments. The room is far too small to need it. Preservation Hall was started in 1961 in an attempt to protect a certain style of music from the influence of Rock and Roll.
It is, in my opinion, a must-see in Nawlin's.
Thanks all, and I'm sure I'll have more replies.I did google both areas food districts and many sounded oh so good, just trying to rule out places where it would not be high on a person's list. Memphis - BBQ is a must, just looking for the best. The Big Easy - heard about watching your step. If we do this it will be a blitzkreg in each town, sample local cruisine (buy one and split it so you can sample more), window shop, local entertainment ( looking for the 'blues', but not quite sure what type, something along Sam Cooke and such) and maybe some adult beverages within WALKING distance or a short cab ride to the motel. No drinking and riding! Not at all! I'm sure those towns deserve more than a day or so to explore, but there is so much country to see and not enough vacation time to see it.
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The rendezvous in Memphis is world famous or their ribs. Years ago, a place called Gridleys was my favorite (google to check if still around). Can't miss with the rendezvous though. Happy Trails!
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Gridley's wenot out of business a bunch of years ago. After the owner died his kids ran the business into the ground and they closed. That was a great place to eat at one time.
Well they were grand plans, but as usual, things come up to screw up your plans. I'm going to have to pass on this trip for this year. The company I work for was bought out, overtime cut to next to zero, benefits cost more and my winter SUV threw something out of the side of the engine block. Ouch! And It's a Land Rover! Cha- ching! I'm looking at $700 just for a boneyard engine that I'd better tear down and go through it before putting it in. Looks like we'll be staying a little closer to home, taking family though the Smokies. Didn't have enough time last spring to get in some of the other nice motorcycle roads and sights
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