Memphis, Tennessee is known for barbeque, blues and the bluffs of the mighty Mississippi. It is a culturally diverse city that offers a wide range of unique, memorable dates. From romantic to adventurous….from music to fine dining….the home of the blues offers something for everyone’s taste. Memphis, Tennessee has a magical mojo that is all its own.
The mighty Mississippi is a strong feature in this Mid-South city. Old man river winds along the banks of the city forming the border between Tennessee and Arkansas. Steam wheelers churn up the rolling, brown water as they make their lazy way back and forth in front of Tom Lee Park. From March 1st to November 30th , you can take your beloved on an old-timey steamboat excursion. Drive down I-55 to Riverside and set sail on a paddleboat just like they did in the good ole days. The trip is romantic and nostalgic enough to make even a Yankee long for the days when cotton was king.
After the boat ride, head right down the street and take the monorail across the way, to Mud Island River Park. Hold hands while you splash around in a scaled-down version of the river itself. The Riverwalk is a mini-Mississippi complete with bends and turns and tributaries galore. Visit the Mississippi River Museum and the gift shop to pick up a souvenir.
Next, head on over to The Pier Restaurant at 100 Wagner Place, for a seafood dinner with a river bluff view. You can watch the lights on the bridge twinkle and the barges on the water slip by, while you sip a glass of sweetened iced tea and enjoy some tasty appetizers. The theme is nautical, in keeping with this river influenced rendezvous. Low lights, hurricane lamps and dark woods make the atmosphere complete.
They don’t call it the birthplace of the blues for nothing. Memphis is rich in music history from country and rock to blues and soul. This is a town full of attractions designed with music lovers in mind. Start at the biggest draw in the city – Graceland mansion, on Elvis Presley Boulevard. Some fans claim to have seen the ghost of Elvis and his father Vernon wandering the grounds.
Head downtown to tour the Gibson Guitar Company and the Rock and Soul Museum. The museum offers a self-guided tour narrated via portable CD players. Share a player with your sweetie and expand your musical knowledge while you peruse the archives of rock, soul, blues and gospel together. Sun Studios and Stax Records are music-making places to consider stopping along the way, as well.
The Hard Rock Café, on historic Beale Street, is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. They offer a wide selection of food and the hip atmosphere that we have come to expect from the Hard Rock bunch. Here’s an interesting bit of trivia from the musical side of Memphis – the Hard Rock chain was started by a Memphis native named Isaac Tigrett.
Top off the night by making a round of the Beale Street clubs and bars that offer live music. Local favorites include B.B. King’s Blues Club, Alfred’s Bar and Grill, Silky O’Sullivan’s, The Rum Boogie Café and The Black Diamond. No music date would be complete without sampling these soulful sounds. Most bars and clubs offer drinks, dancing and dark, quiet corners. What more could a couple ask for?
For those active, outdoorsy types Memphis is full of fun places to explore. The Memphis Zoo and Aquarium is home to a host of exciting animals including Panda Bears on loan from China and Komodo Dragons. There are plenty of picnic tables, shady paths and quiet places for couples to get to know each other better, under the watchful eyes of eagles and polar bears. The zoo is a great place to get outside, enjoy the weather and enjoy each other.
Libertyland is another possibility for energetic pairings. Ride the Zippin’ Pippin. The old wooden coaster was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite things. Rumor says that he rode it over and over again on the nights that he rented out the entire theme park for his friends and family. Take a trip through a 300-foot tunnel of love before getting drenched by the 45-foot drop on the Old Hickory log ride. Before you leave you can have your picture made together, complete with antique frame and saloon style attire.
Shelby Farms, in northeast Memphis, offers a huge tract of forest in the midst of an urban sprawl. The park is five times bigger than Central Park in New York. Make a day of hiking, fishing, boating or bird watching without ever having to leave the city. There are plenty of picnic tables, barbeque grills and campsites available, if you decide to turn an all-day-event into an overnight one. Bring some camping gear just in case.
For a perfect end to a perfect day, nothing says Memphis better than Southern-style ribs. This city has got the best cole slaw around too. Whether you like your ribs wet or dry, both Corky’s and the Rendezvous offer Bluff City flavor that is known across the country.
Memphis has much potential for amorous trysts and memorable rendezvous. With the river as a backdrop, this mystical city on the Delta will bring a chemistry to your plans that can’t be found anywhere else. The song says….”New York gives ya’ attitude, L.A. gives ya’ gold, London gives ya’ accent but Memphis…gives you soul.” Memphis, Tennessee can surely put some soul into your next romantic getaway.
