• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

  • About
    • Affiliations & Honors
    • Contributors
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Technology
    • YouTube
    • Social Media
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Travel
    • Safety
  • Education
  • Causes
  • Gift Guides
  • CONTACT
    • Work with Me

48 Hours in Memphis: Things to Do During St. Jude Marathon Weekend

January 23, 2018 By Leticia

“Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain…”

                                                         —Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn

Just as lines from Swingers run through my mind when traveling to Las Vegas, the lyrics from Walking in Memphis were playing on loop as Emily and I flew to Memphis for 48 hours in the Bluff City. For the second year in a row we were there to run in St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, the largest single day fundraiser for the kids of St. Jude where fundraising efforts by Heroes like us ensure that families never have to pay for treatment, housing, food, or transportation. It would be a whirlwind mother-daughter weekend primarily centered around race events but we looked forward to eating at favorite places and experiencing some new sights

Even though we were without blue suede shoes for our visit, we had access to a storm blue 2017 Toyota Corolla during an unseasonably warm December weekend that we took to our first stop, Central BBQ. If you sense a theme about our family trips revolving around food, you are not mistaken!

Where to Eat in Memphis: Central BBQ

Central BBQ is a place that my son and barbecue aficionado, Thomas, dreams about. He often asks to return to Memphis just to eat at Central and even though this seems crazy, once you open the door, you’ll understand why. The smell of smoke and sauce is heavy in the air as you peruse the menu on the wall. The scent is like a sedative, slowing down brain functions and making it difficult to wrap your head around the possibilities of meaty goodness until you give in and decide you want it all. My advice: Have everyone in your party order something different or select the combo plate that features 4 ounces of any three meats. Note: The combo plate was large enough for me and Emily to share.

Pay for your meal, find a table, and while you wait, and help yourself to sauce along the back wall. While the service is fast, the wait for your platter can still be excruciating as you glance around at tables heaped with sandwiches and fries occupying blue plastic baskets lined with paper and generous piles of meat heaped on blue plates. Just when you think you can’t stand the wait any longer, your food arrives with a smile. Dig in to the holy grail of slow smoked goodness before you and you’ll understand exactly why Central BBQ has consistently ranked the #1 BBQ in Memphis since 2005.

Other favorite Memphis eateries include:

  • Flying Fish— If you still have a Billy Bass hanging on your wall, take it with you when you go to Memphis and Flying Fish will give it a new home on the wall in the front room of the restaurant where thankfully, only some of them work. Emily highly recommends the gumbo while the rest of the family likes fried catfish platters with the 2 sides. Note: If you choose fried okra as a side, it comes in its own basket and is plenty to share.

  • Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies— If you’re still hungry after leaving Central BBQ or want to pick up a snack for later, exit the restaurant, turn right, walk to the end of the block and be ready to inhale some serious butter at Makeda’s where you’ll find room to taste a sample and will find it hard to leave without buying something to enjoy later. If you’re still hungry or want to pick up a snack for later, turn right, walk to the end of the block and be ready to inhale some serious butter.

Restaurants on our Must-Try List:

  • Rendevous— The South Second Street storefront may not look like much but if you go around the back to the alley behind the restaurant, you’ll catch a whiff of their famous dry rub ribs served in the basement since 1948.
  • Huey’s— Their tagline may be “blues, brews, & burgers” and since 1970, Huey’s has been serving up delicious food and letting patrons shoot toothpicks from their straws into the ceiling.

Favorite Things to Do in Memphis

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel

Age Appropriate Ways to Teach Kids About Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement on TechSavvyMama.com

Having sufficiently meated it up before our race the following day, Emily and I left the restaurant and paid our respects to Dr. Martin Luther King. From the sidewalk outside Central you’ll see a sign for the Lorraine Motel to the left. It was on the Lorraine Motel’s balcony that Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The wreath on the balcony of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel indicates where Dr. King was slain. The interactive museum is a powerful place and for advice about visiting with your kids, visit my post: Age Appropriate Ways to Teach Kids about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

Run a Race for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

For the past two years, our family has spent the first weekend in December in Memphis for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is a fundraising event for St. Jude with a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and 1-mile family race. Unlike other races where distance and personal best may matter, for me, this race is all about raising money for the kids and families at St. Jude.

This past December Emily and I were among a record 25,000 runners from 49 states and 19 countries raised $10.3 million for St. Jude. If you think you could never run a race, I am here to tell you that you can. I was never a long distance runner. I trained to run my first half marathon as a St. Jude Hero two years ago and was hooked because St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of very few times where the money you raise matters more than the distance you run and every dollar helps. To read about my past race experiences, read my past posts:

  • 9 Reasons to Run as a St. Jude Hero During St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend
  • Why I’m Running 13.1 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
  • St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend: The Rare Time When Money Means Everything
  • The Tough Road to 13.1: Why I Pushed Myself to Run My First Half Marathon

Other favorite things to do in Memphis include:

Sun Studios Tour ($14, kids 5-11 are free)— Founded in 1952 and called the birthplace of rock and roll, Sun Studios was the first company to record Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. Rolling Stone Magazine recognized U2 as a Sun Records Studio: 18 Musical Milestones for the four days the band spent recording three songs that were later featured on Rattle & Hum. Music and history lovers will enjoy the tour of this working recording studio, rock ‘n roll museum, and National Historic Landmark. Note: St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend routes run right by Sun Studios. Listen for the music as you approach AutoZone Park.

Gibson Guitar Factory Tours ($10)— Take the hour long tour through the factory to watch guitars being built by hand. It’s worth it! Or if you happen to miss the tour (Gibson is closed on Sundays), you can also peek in the windows on South Second Street.

Beale Street— Years ago when I visited Memphis as a college student, I loved the live music scene at the bars where the sound spilled out on the street but it’s also possible to enjoy Beale Street with your kids. Emily and I love shopping for vintage posters at Memphis Music and the old school soda counter at A. Schwab. For more ideas, visit 10 Things to Do on Beale Street if You’re Underage on MemphisTravel.com

The Peabody Memphis Ducks— You can plan a day around catching the infamous Peabody Ducks waddle to or from their fountain in the middle of the Peabody Hotel daily at 11 am or 5 pm. Or if you’re short on time, just stop by to see them swimming in the lobby and honor this 90 year old tradition. Note: It does get very crowded at 11 am and 5 pm so be sure to get there early if you want a prime spot. The upstairs balcony is also a good place to watch the ducks. Don’t miss the giant gingerbread house off to the side of the lobby!

Memphis Botanic Gardens ($10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 2 and older. Children under the age of 2 get in free) — 96 acres of open space means that there’s plenty of room to meander, run, or just roam throughout the year and if you’re thinking that a botanical garden wouldn’t be so great in the winter, we found otherwise. During the day, the children’s garden is fun for all ages thanks to whimsical structures and musical instruments in the children’s garden and many different areas that are worth exploring. At nights in December the gardens come alive with lights that I’ve heard are absolutely spectacular.

Bass Pro Pyramid— A pyramid in the middle of Memphis? Yes, this black pyramid used to be the home of Memphis’ NBA team and now it’s a Bass Pro Shop and The Big Cypress Lodge hotel. The hotel has rooms with balconies that open to the Bass Pro Shop and there’s also an outdoor observation deck ($10 for adults, $5 for kids) that provides a 360 degree view of Memphis and the adjacent Mississippi River. Note: Dude Perfect fans will know that the guys filmed a YouTube video inside the Bass Pro Pyramid!

Memphis Attractions on the list for our next visit:

  • Baseball game at AutoZone Park— Located in the heart of downtown Memphis, AutoZone park is the finish line for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend and would be a fun place to catch a minor league Memphis Redbirds game during baseball season.
  • Memphis Zoo ($15 adults, $10 kids, $5 parking)— Even though the Smithsonian National Zoo is in our backyard, our family loves visiting other zoos and with over 4,500 animals representing over 500 different species occupying 70 acres, we hope to visit Memphis Zoo next December when we’re back for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend.
  • Graceland— 2 years of visiting Memphis and I still haven’t taken the family to Graceland though I did pay homage to The King during a college cross country road trip years ago.

Memphis Travel Tip: Where to Stay

While it’s possible to stay downtown (we’ve stayed at the Hilton Memphis Downtown and Doubletree Memphis Downtown) and walk to many of the attractions and restaurants listed above, having a car provides much needed flexibility to get outside the city to explore and convenience to get to places like Sun Studios, Central BBQ, and The National Civil Rights Museum, that are a bit on the far side from walking from downtown, especially if you’ve run a half marathon the same day.

Toyota loaned us a 2017 Corolla Hatchback for our time in Memphis that was the perfect vehicle for driving around town when needed and parallel parking on downtown streets. While the Corolla iM model we borrowed didn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, it did seem like a perfect car for a young driver.

 

At age 14, Emily will be taking drivers education classes soon as she looks towards getting her license. While we’re not planning on purchasing her a new car right off the bat, spending the weekend driving the Corolla helped me better understand budget friendly options that had key features that would keep my daughter safe on the road. With a solid history of performance, models starting at $18,850 (the model we is priced at $19,490), and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,200, the Toyota Corolla would be a fine choice.

Toyota loaned us the Corolla during our time in Memphis. All other travel expenses during St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend were personally paid for.

Related

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #Corolla, #DriveToyota, #LetsGoPlaces, Memphis, St. Jude Heroes, St. Jude Memphis Marathon

Previous Post: « How to Teach Fire Forensics and the Science of Fire
Next Post: Explore the World Travel Scholarships for Studying Abroad »

Primary Sidebar

about sidebar pic_profile pic

Welcome! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama and a DC Metro area dwelling mom with a tween and teen. With a background in classroom technology integration and school administration, I use everything I learned from teaching children, teachers, and principals as a professional blogger, social media strategist, and freelance writer.  Read more...

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

_YouTube Parent Panel

_top50momblogger

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

Subscribe

Never Miss a Post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Consent*
Yes, I consent to being emailed
No, I do not want to be emailed
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise!

Tech Savvy Mama on YouTube

<<< View More >>>

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

INSTAGRAMMIN’

techsavvymama

DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 w #StJudeHeroes 🏝 #Haiti

Leticia Barr (she/her)
This year seems like the year of a million first d This year seems like the year of a million first days of school but today has been the best one yet! 🎉 Being in person with my 8th graders who elected to return to school felt amazing. They all said being in school was far better than being on Zoom! 👩‍💻 After not feeling like I had closure last year when schools closed and stayed closed, it is so nice to end the year this way before my students become high schoolers! 🎈
#monday #mondaymood #teacherlife #teacher #teachinginapandemic #teachersofIG #school #middleschoolteacher
18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are fo 18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are for baseball! ⚾️ We thought last fall would be the final season for his team that has been together since 2nd grade but I'm so glad they're back together this spring! Sitting in the sun watching my guy play baseball is one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon! 🧢 
#sunday #baseball #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #bccbaseball #swing #fromwhereisit #ballparks #lovethisgame #playball #batterup #hit #homeplate #love #baseballmom #baseballfan #momlife  #youthsports
17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying 17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying bagels on Saturday mornings when I wander by post-workout but the honest truth is I'm starving and just want to head home and stuff my face and caffeinate. Today there wasn't a line so I felt like the universe was telling me it was a good day to treat myself to a bakers dozen and a tub of candied salmon cream cheese! 🥯 Even if your treat isn't carbs make sure you do something for yourself today!
💕
#saturday #saturdayvibes
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #treatyourself #bagel #callyourmotherdeli #freshfarmmarkets #dtss #dmv
#ad There have been times where I’ve struggled t #ad There have been times where I’ve struggled to comprehend the news over the past year. 📰 As a parent and teacher, I want my own kids and students to be news savvy but it’s difficult when not all the headlines, photos, and stories in the daily newspaper or on news sites are right for them. Fortunately, I was recently introduced to The Juice Interactive News Digest! The Juice provides fantastic unbiased content written by credentialed journalists that teaches kids in grades 5-12 about current events in an age-appropriate way. 🌎 Stories are the real deal and provide multiple opinions so kids can use critical thinking and media literacy skills to develop their own opinions. And as a bonus, The Juice’s multimedia content is highly engaging and keeps kids wanting to learn through videos on topics they’re interested in. 🎥 For more information, check out the link in my bio. ⤴️
#news #media #currentevents #medialiteracy #criticalthinking #teaching #learning
14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at sel 14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at selfies but practicing over the years, and watching friends who are masters, has definitely helped! A few tips:
➡️ If you feel like you're never looking in the right place, sunglasses can help. They hide your eyes and can take the pressure off. 🕶
➡️ Figure out what hand you're most comfortable using to snap photos. I'm right handed so usually take photos with my right hand but every once and awhile I switch. 👋
➡️ Find your best angle. Pro tip- higher is better. Go above your eye level. 👀
➡️ Stretch! Hold your arm out as far as possible. I'm short so my arms are short but somehow I make it work. 😂
➡️ A Pop Socket is your friend! Having something to hold on to definitely helps me stretch and get the best angle with less worry that I'll drop my phone. 
➡️ Practice! Get in the photo! You'll get more comfortable with your selfie skills. I promise! 
📸
#wednesday #selfie #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #selfietips #sanfrancisco #visitCA #latergram
13.30 {6 o'clock} This morning we were awake st 6 13.30 {6 o'clock} This morning we were awake st 6 am- much earlier than we have been in a long time because it was SAT day! 📝 SATs are hard enough in a normal year but during a pandemic, they've been scheduled, cancelled, and rescheduled and that can really mess with a teen. Surviving this day of testing was really about so much more so why not celebrate with cake! 🎂 And as you can see, Goldie thought she should get some too! 🐾
#tuesday #cake #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #GoldenRetriever #Labrador #puppy #dogsofinstagram #dog #rescuedog #labrescue
12/30 {Today I} Today I remembered I forgot to pos 12/30 {Today I} Today I remembered I forgot to post yesterday!  Perhaps that's because I was busy outside which just happened to be yesterday's #everydayphotoaday prompt. 😂 I expected it to be a rainy weekend but overnight storms made for a gorgeous weekend. ☀️ The first baseball game of the season was cancelled due to soggy fields and as much as I was looking forward to watching my guy play again, it was nice having the gift of time. 🕚 My husband and I had time to take Goldie for a long walk and swim and appreciate these gorgeous cherry blooms along the way. 🌸 How was your weekend? I hope you feel recharged for the week ahead! 💕
#monday #mondaymood #optoutside #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #cherryblossom #spring #bloom #blossom
10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day 10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day at Orange Theory but someone wanted to stay in bed! 😂🙄😂
#Saturday #mornings #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #Labrador #puppy #puppylove #labstagram #doglover #dog #dogsofinstagram #rescuedog #labrescue #petsofinstagram
9/30 {Rule of Thirds} Chincoteague's Main Street i 9/30 {Rule of Thirds} Chincoteague's Main Street is like a step back in time and their library is always so charming! 📖 Even though the library is closed, volunteers decorate the windows each month with seasonal decor. 🌷Another favorite spot is the independently owned @sundialbooks which has stayed open during the pandemic. If you're planning a visit to the island, grab a pair of plastic gloves at the entrance to browse an amazing collection of new and used books. It's one of our favorite places to shop while in town! 📚
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #library #ruleofthirds #chincoteague #chincoteagueisland #civa #architecturelovers #smalltown #scenicvirginia #loveVA #esva
8/30 {Not a #TBT} Yes, friends, today was my first 8/30 {Not a #TBT} Yes, friends, today was my first day of school and it was so nice to be back teaching in person! 🎉 
I am incredibly grateful to be:
💉 fully vaccinated 
👩‍🏫 teaching such a hard working and patient group of middle schoolers
🐴 working with an incredibly talented set of colleagues
🏡 part of a community who cares so much about us as teachers. ♥️ 
I may have only had 1 student today but it was a start! I look forward to seeing more of students when the rest of my middle schoolers return in a couple weeks! 💕
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #teachinginapandemic #teacher #school #middleschoolteacher #STEMteacher #moco #mocomd
If you’ve ever judged someone for what appears b If you’ve ever judged someone for what appears behind them, then you know it matters! Today I’ve partnered with @corninggorilla to share 4 ways you can improve the background of your video calls. 🖥 Spoiler: 1 of the ways includes entering to win a @razer Kiyo Pro webcam designed with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3! 🦍 Known by gamers everywhere, Razer makes amazing accessories that gamers of all ages love but their products aren’t just for your teens! I took this photo with my Razer Kiyo Pro that is the envy of my middle school students. 📷 Yup, this teacher mom just won major points with her own teen and 8th grade students and you can too! Visit my post to learn how to enter to win 1 of 10 Kiyo Pro cameras and don’t tell the gamers in your life but 3 lucky individuals will also win the highly coveted Razer Iskur chair! Link in bio.
#bgshowdown #teacherlife #entrepreneur #worklife #workfromhome
7/30 {My happy place} This was the best thing that 7/30 {My happy place} This was the best thing that happened to our family during the pandemic! 💕 We've always loved to travel but when COVID cancelled last summer's plans, we decided to head to Chincoteague, a place we've always loved that feels like a world away from the DC 'burbs. 🏖 We had thought about buying a house in Chincoteague for years and suddenly it just seemed right. 🏡 This year we've taken advantage of being able to work and learn remotely to spend time making much needed repairs while visiting the beach, taking Goldie out for canoe rides, and enjoying all the sunsets! 🌅 Where is your happy place? Leave a comment and let me know! 🙂
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #chincoteague #chincoteagueisland  #islandlife #esva #civa #scenicvirginia #loveVA
Load More... Follow on Instagram

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

SAVVY FINDS

Footer

Tech Savvy Businesswoman

Check me out across my social media channels for examples of how I can help amplify your company's brand, product, or cause!

_YouTube Parent Panel

Everywhere


techsavvymamasquarelogo_techsavvymama square logo

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Looking for Something?

Search by category…

or by date

DISCLOSURE POLICY

Copyright © 2021 Tech Savvy Mama · Designed by Hustle & Sway · Log in