Memphis, TN

Animal is fixed!  Well, fixed enough anyway… we don't think it will ever be truly fixed after its meeting with the deer :-/  But on Wednesday, we were able to pick up the car around dinnertime and then continue on to Memphis.  We don't usually drive at night, but were able to find a pull through spot, so we wouldn't have to worry about backing into an RV spot in the dark (never fun!).  The actual campground was in Mississippi, but we were only a few minutes outside of Memphis.

After school on Thursday, the kids and I drove into Memphis to explore a bit.  We drove past Graceland and saw Elvis's house and airplanes.  I would have loved to go in, but it was sooooo expensive so we skipped it.  Instead we went to "The Pyramid", which is home of the largest Bass Pro Shop in the world.  The place was massive, and included a freestanding glass elevator that went up 300ft to the top of the pyramid where there was a restaurant and observation deck.  I was slightly terrified of the elevator, Zach was scared of the observation deck, and Sarah didn't like the live alligators at the base of the elevator, so we rewarded ourselves for being brave by buying some fudge.  Fudge fixes everything!  We also grabbed some new bait to add to our fishing gear, and Sarah found the pinkest, sparkliest bait. 

After Bass Pro Shop, we were heading back and saw a Tennessee Visitors Center with a cool mosaic egg thing outside, so we stopped for pictures.  Inside, we met the nicest visitor center employee, who insisted on doing a photo shoot with us at every statue and display, haha.  She gave us some tips on where to get good Memphis BBQ, so we went and picked up daddy and then headed to Beale Street for some ribs and fried catfish.  

On Friday morning, while the kids and I were still asleep, Pat took the car and made his own personal pilgrimage to visit Leeland Mississippi, the "Birthplace of Kermit the Frog".  He said it was a small little display, and he basically bought out the gift shop, ha.  He also met 2 little old ladies working the museum, who just loved chatting with him.  They informed him that we were steered wrong on our quest for BBQ, and gave him the name of a more authentic, local bbq place.  

When Pat came back and the kids were done school, we headed back into downtown Memphis.  Pat still had some work to do, so he hung in the car while I brought the kids to the National Civil Rights Museum.  It was located at the Lorraine Motel, where MLK was assassinated.  I was a little nervous about bringing the kids to a museum of such a serious topic, but it was really really well done.  The displays were a bit over Sarah's head, but Zach had enough knowledge of some of the bigger incidents that were displayed in the museum (Rosa Parks on the bus, MLK I Had a Dream speech, "separate but equal" schools, etc) to be able to make connections and dive a little deeper into his understanding.  It took us about an hour to go through the museum and I started to lose them a bit at the end, but I am so glad we went.  It was really powerful, especially being inside the room where MLK spent his last days and looking out to the balcony where he was shot and seeing the open window across the street.  

After the museum we followed the advice of our Kermit friends and headed for bbq again. This time, the restaurant was down a little side alley and then downstairs to a basement.  And woooo, it was good BBQ!  My ribs were really good, but the brisket…. I could have died happy after eating that brisket. So, if you're ever in Memphis, go down to the basement and eat at Rendezvous! 

We also got a little fishing in at our campground.  Sarah's pink sparkly bait was a winner, and she was pulling up fish after fish.  

Next up, we are heading to the Hot Springs, Arkansas area for the weekend and then on to Oklahoma City.  We are officially west of the Mighty Mississippi!