Just in case you didn’t know it already, I’ve been doing these posts WAY out of order. I actually started my trip off with these three cities and really enjoyed each. 

I knew that I wanted to get in to see a show at The Bluebird Cafe, and I tried to get tickets online the week before, but had no luck whatsoever on that front. So I showed up about an hour ahead of time my first night for the walk up tickets and was only about, oh, 80th in line for the 14 free tickets they have available. Needless to say, I didn’t let that happen the next day and ended up in the clear. Actually, the 2.5 hour wait in 100 degree heat was not too bad considering there were some cool people in line to talk to. The show was an “in the round show” with Jessica Campbell, JP Williams, Raquel Cole, and Aaron Espe performing. Each was very good, but I was truly impressed with Espe.

Memphis was equally as impressive — and I’m not sure that I’ve been to a museum as humbling as the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. It was both fascinating and eerie to stand here, knowing the events that transpired on that second floor walkway, just at that corner.

The food in both Nashville and Memphis was outstanding, from the doughnut and coffee at Barista Parlor to the ribs at Central BBQ in Memphis, I couldn’t have chosen better. And that dinosaur get up on the side of the road was pretty neat, too.

I’m not sure that one’s stop in Memphis would be complete without a look at Sun Studios – to think of the music that came out of here – and how it revolutionized music in general? Just, wow…

Having easy access to seeing the mighty Mississippi sure didn’t hurt my impression of Memphis…

Frankly, I didn’t think I’d like New Orleans. Thankfully, I was dead wrong on this. I just thought it’d be Bourbon Street and nothing else, but there’s so much more. I loved the architecture and the history that can be seen everywhere you walk. The wrought iron work is just fascinating, and different with each and every building. Oh, and those beignets…

It wasn’t until I was done with my trip that I realized that these cities – specifically Nashville and Memphis – had the best street art along my route. But if you take a look at the pics above, you’ll see that it would have been tough to top.