Ok, I have a friend coming from Texas, and we are planning to meet in Memphis for a weekend since it is halfway (sorta). Anyone have any suggestions on good places to stay, things to do, etc?

Depends on what you want to do. We stayed at the Best Western across from the Peabody last time I was there. It had bad reviews on the internet but it wasn't a bad place to stay. It was in walking distance of Beale Street so we were able to go party and have a good time. That was almost 2 years ago.

I was just there a couple of weeks ago. You have to go on a tour of Sun Studios. It costs $9 for the short tour, but if you are a rock 'n' roll music fan at all, it is worth it. If you are there on a weekday and you want to speak with a living, breathing rock music originator, you should walk or drive the 3 blocks from Sun Studios to Sam Phillips Recording Studio (or something like that) and visit with Roland Janes. He was a Sun Studio guitarist and played on many of the original rock songs--including pretty much all of Jerry Lee Lewis's songs. (I don't know if he works at the studio on weekends.) Beale Street has lots of good food and good music. Go to the Peabody to see the ducks walked from the roof to the fountain downstairs at 11 a.m then they are walked back up at 5 p.m. (I think). If you can afford to stay at the Peabody, do it. It is a beautiful hotel and walking distance to Sun Studios, Mud Island, and Beale Street: http://www.peabodymemphis.com/

I did not take the Graceland Tour, but those who took the Platinum Tour ($30) and said it was well worth it. If you really want to indulge, and if you are going to see something about Elvis, it seems appropriate, the Graceland Elvis Entourage VIP Tour is $55. http://www.elvis.com/graceland/

I've been to Memphis for work one time and at at BB King's restaurant on Beale Street. It was excellent!

The rock and soul museum was neat.
And the Stax museum was interesting. It focuses more on the likes of Ike Turner, Sam&Dave, Issac Hayes.
BB Kings is good Skittles....they usually have awesome music in there.

I'm quivering; isn't that the state where they make Jack Daniel's?

Yes, it is QS. But the Jack is made quite a bit farther East than Memphis. **LOL**

That would be so wonderful to visit.

I believe that is in Lynchburg, TN which is more to the center of the state.

I love Mephis this time of year, Bengals! LOL

Just kidding; I hope you find some fun stuff to do.

I was there recently also in August. We visited both Nashville and Memphis. You should definitely visit the famous Beale St. It's more active at night with live bands from all genres in almost every club. As Elvis fans, we did the Platinum Tour of Graceland and really enjoyed that. Even if you're not an Elvis fan, it's still worth seeing. Our hotel, the Clarion Hotel near Graceland, was a very nice hotel and very moderately priced. It was only a short drive to Beale St. Hope you have a great visit in Memphis and with your friend.

The dueling pianos bar on Beale Street (I think it's Silky O' Sullivan's) is a lot of fun. And to second Skittles, my husband LOVES BB Kings! He travels there regularly for work and usually stays at the Peabody as well.

BB King's has great music at night.

Also, if you enjoy gambling, Tunica, MS is only about 30 minutes south of Beale Street. (Goldstrike, Horseshoe, Shearton, Grand, Resorts, Sams Town, Fitzgerald's and Bally's.)

I forgot Hollywood Casino.

On a Memphis visit? Stay at the Peabody Hotel, go to Beale St, the Gibson Guitar Museum (right off Beale), Sun Studio, The Orpheum, the Memphis Zoo, ride the trolley, tour the south third district(artsy), eat at the Rendevous Restaurant, visit Graceland and walk along the mighty Mississippi!

The National Rights Museum-I wasn't born yet when King was assassinated but I had seen photos in history lessons. The part of the Lorraine hotel that they kept original (the outside) is just like every picture I remember seeing. They also kept the room he stayed in that day as it was. Kind of interesting if your a history nut.
Also took a Riverboat cruise on the Mississippi - it was fun.

I'm not that much of a youngster TICG. I'm old enough to know better but still too young to care.....

I went and was very disappointed in Beale Street, a mere 2 blocks long. Very hokie, very "touristy." Did catch a minor league balll game, which is downtown. But, I think the season is probably over. I didn't find the food at any of the Beale Street joints worthy of seconds...

Beale Street is very touristy, but the food and music at BB King's is very good. I did have some nasty food in Memphis, but that was my fault for ordering BBQ in the Peabody Place Mall. I've had school cafeteria BBQ that was better than that. Yuck!

Baseball season is over.

If you are a gambler, there is gambling just across the border in Mississippi.

Just eat a lot of BBQ and enjoy...Also, the Memphis Zoo is great, been there twice to see it, especially the 2 Panda bears.