Memphis in March & The Great River Road

In a few weeks the boy and I will be down in Memphis for a day or two. So of course the generic question of wonderful things to see and do.

But, he wants to see the Mississippi. And that's more the question.

The Great River Road. Down there it looks like it simply isn't great. In fact on the Tennessee side it seems like it avoids the river. So I am wondering about driving it on the Arkansas side.

Figured on one of the river boat rides, probably an afternoon one. But, there is a dinner ride as well. No idea how good the food is. Any input?

The Mud Island River Park is closed, but it does look like I can drive on the northern end of the island, and we can walk that end. As well down lower along the river.

If I'm seeing it right, on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge there are sidewalks that it looks like we can walk on and thereby walk out over the river and hopefully admire something.

So, Memphis and Mississippi River comments and suggestions?

I grew up much further upriver (Davenport, Iowa), but if there's a chance to watch tugs and barges transit a set of locks in that general area, that's something a boy should see. Corps of Engineers may have observation platforms or visitor center.

At least it should be warm enough you can avoid one of my most memorable moments from growing up-- my younger brother freezing his tongue to the fence along the river levee in January.

You could probably still take the monorail to Mud Island.

Never done the river boat thing.

They turned the Pyramid into a Bass Pro, it's, well, a Bass Pro, but a nice one, and Ducks Unlimited has a pretty impressive conservation museum on the 2nd floor.

Central BBQ is my current favorite Memphis BBQ, the original on Central Ave. would be my suggestion, but the food at their down town location is just as good. Everyone says go to Rendezvous, it's okay, and "famous," but there's way better BBQ to choose from.

I can't recall anyone walking across the I40 bridge, but that doesn't mean you can't, that's a busy bridge, and seems to be constantly under construction with a lane or two closed. I haven't been over there since December though. I've never taken the I55 bridge, and there's a couple train bridges too.

Memphis has one of the better Zoos I've been too, been several years, but when we lived in Columbus, OH everyone went on and on about their Zoo, other than Jack Hanna hanging out there, Columbus didn't have anything over Memphis in the Zoo department.

Of course there's the Blues and music scene, Beale St., and the National Civil Rights Museum is there too.

West Memphis doesn't really have anything going for it, Dog Races, but it's that whole town is pretty much, "the bad part of town."

I read an article about some guys that rode the entire length of the Mississippi on jet skis, they wrote about the places they stayed, they described West Helena, AR as a "third world country." They're not far off, so be prepared, once you get out of the city, things in the delta are a little different.

I was once offered a job to manage a research farm in Tunica MS. Unfortunately for them, they flew me out to look at the facility.

Did not realize that about West Helena. Googling that name is fascinating. Their own web page is downright hilarious, in a bad way.

Well, we may not spend much time looking at the river. But, he does want to see it.

Did just discover the Delta Heritage Center in between Memphis and Nashville, which is the way we'd be coming from.

If you're into Southern/soul food, there's nothing like it. Catfish and BBQ is delicious, usually the sketchier looking the place is the better the food is. You'll see a shack that looks like a strong breeze will blow it over, but there'll be a couple dozen cars in the parking lot, and a line out the door for whatever they're cooking. Better bring cash, because they probably don't take credit, and only take a check if they know ya. Tons of little places like that all over the delta.

Also, be prepared for mosquitoes the size of pterodactyls.

Elvis is still a big draw in Memphis, I went to Graceland once when I was about 13, that was enough for me. Way back then they had a fairly large number of his cars on display, and you got to walk through his plane, I assume they probably still do something similar.