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A Weekend In Memphis, TN- 10 Things To Do

23 Apr

When you think of Memphis, Tennessee, one of the following probably comes to mind: the repetitive chanting of “whoop that trick” from the 2005 movie Hustle and Flow starring Terrence Howard, early seasons of The First 48, the highly debated question of, “Is Elvis Presley still alive?” Or, simply the word “Mane”

While all of these are definitely synonymous with Memphis, TN, there’s so much more to the Bluff City. According to Frommer’s Travel Guide, Memphis, Tennessee, was recently voted one of the best places to go in 2019. In this post, I’ll be sharing from a native Memphian’s perspective 10 (budget-friendly) things to do while spending the weekend in Memphis.

Before we jump into this weekend in Memphis guide, below are six reasons you should put Memphis on your list of places to visit.

The rich history
Getting around is easy, and parking spots are not challenging to come by
The food is like none other
Memphians are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet
Memphis has the “sweetest water in the world.” The cities drinking water comes from natural reservoirs hundreds of feet below the earth’s surface.

A WEEKEND IN MEMPHIS GUIDE

1. Grab some Real Memphis BBQ

Ask any Memphian “what to do in Memphis this weekend,” and they will tell you, eat! Food is important to us. But not just any food, good food! For decades, Memphis has been known for its Bar-B-Q, and people travel from all around the world to experience it. The following are some excellent, no-frills Bar-B-Q joints to check out. P.S. In addition to barbecue, you must try a Fried Bologna Sandwich or a Circle B Smoke Sausage. P.P.S. Get the coleslaw, too, trust me!

*These restaurants aren’t listed in any particular order.

A plate of two barbecue ribs on a paper plate with a cup of baked beans and a slice of bread

Cozy Corner BBQ Plate/ Photo: Instagram

2. Hang out on Beale Street

Neon lights lighting up the night on Beale Street in Memphis

A Weekend in Memphis on Beale Street/ Photo: Shutterstock

“Walking in Memphis, walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale.” If I could describe Beale Street in one word, it would be, Entertainment. From the Beale St Flippers to the live music, no matter the time or day, Beale Street exudes entertainment for all! You can pop in any bar or restaurant and find yourself vibing to the live music or DJ’s sounds, making it an entertaining option for visiting Memphis for the weekend.

Remember to get there early, to avoid paying the cover charge to access all of Beale Street.

3. Walk across the Mississippi River

Obviously, you can’t walk on water because you aren’t Jesus! However, you can walk across the Mississippi River via Big River Crossing, the country’s longest active rail/ bicycle/ pedestrian bridge. Big River Crossing is a 10-mile multi-modal corridor that connects Main Street in Memphis, TN to Main Street in West Memphis, AR. The view of the city’s skyline from this point is impressive. It provides an excellent opportunity to get a photo of The Pyramid, aka Bass Pro, and The Hernando de Soto Bridge.

If time permits, I would strongly recommend going at sundown to catch the sun as it sets on the Mississippi River. There’s also a light show that occurs every hour from sunset until 10 pm. Click here for more information about Mighty Lights.

Oh, and did I mention it’s all absolutely FREE! You’re welcome!

A pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River

Big River Crossing over the Mississippi/ Photo: Big River Crossing

4. Visit the National Civil Right Museum

I’ve visited several Civil Rights/ African American Museums, and I have to say, this one, by far, is the best! And I’m not saying this because it’s Memphis; it really is excellent.

The museum was once The Lorraine Motel, the place of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Assassination. During your visit, take a glimpse back in time and experience life in the ’50s and ’60s for a person of color. You’ll need at least a day to get through the reading and interactive exhibits. Take a seat at a white’s only lunch counter. Briefly experience what life was like for Rosa Parks, who only wanted relief for her aching, tired feet. And visit the motel room of Dr. King to take a peek into the last few moments of his life.

If you are looking for a great history lesson or even things to do in Memphis with kids, the National Civil Rights Museum should definitely go on your list.

Click here for more information regarding planning your visit.

A drone shot of a hotel with the hotel marque in front of the building

National Civil Rights Museum/ Photo: Google Maps

5. Take a Self Guided Street Art Tour

If you are like me and love to save a coin, this should probably move to the top of the list with a note beside it, “Free Things To do in Memphis.”

a lady walking in front of a billboard looking at her phone

With love from Memphis

There’s more to Memphis than just good food and music. Memphis is filled with art of all forms. Consider taking a self-guided tour of some of the local murals and art sculptures in downtown Memphis by artists from around the world!

6. Have a picnic at River Garden Park

Are you looking to have an inexpensive weekend in Memphis with the kids? Spend some time at River Garden Park and have a picnic. The one-acre park is located on the bank of the Mississippi River. The park consists of a play structure for all ages, a human-sized nest, a dining pavilion, hammocks, and so much more. Enjoy 360 views that include the Mississippi River, The Pyramid, and the downtown skyline.

When you’re done hanging out there, hit up the Explore Bike Share station located at the southeast corner of the park to head over and snap a picture in front of the Memphis Bicentennial Sign at Mud Island Park.

people sitting at tables at the park with a picnic pavilion and playground structure in the background

River Garden Park/ Photo: PPS

7. Hang out at an outdoor or rooftop bar

Food is not the only thing Memphians love. We love our sports teams. And we love to enjoy them with other Memphians while eating good food, of course. Memphis has tons of places to check out your favorite sports team or just chill with friends while enjoying a view of the city.

Outdoor Bars & Patios

Rooftop Bars

Beck & Call
Hu Roof
Tiger & Peacock
Peabody Rooftop (check out the website for party dates)

people sitting together around bonfires at sunset

Loflin Yards on a weekend in Memphis

8. Tour a Music Museum

Memphis, Tennessee, has birthed some very talented musicians, from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to K. Michelle and Yo Gotti. Known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock and Roll, Memphis is most definitely a music city. Take a weekend trip down music legend lane and visit one of Memphis’ Music Museums.

a lady looking at an exhibit at an American Soul Music museum

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

9. Visit the Memphis Zoo

The Memphis Zoo is home to over 3,500 animals of 500 different species. With 19 various exhibits showcasing animals from all over the world, the zoo was ranked the #1 Zoo in the United States in 2008. Events like Zoom Through The Zoo– a 4-mile race, 1-mile fun run, Zoo Rendevous– an 80 Party, and Twilight Tours– an after-hours experience, guarantee fun for both children and adults alike.

Memphis Zoo and Aquarium/ Photo: Memphis Travel

10. See the Peabody Ducks

The Memphis Zoo isn’t the only place where you can see animals in Memphis. In this city, ducks like to hang out in hotel lobbies. Notably The Peabody Hotel. Since the early 1900s, the Peabody Ducks parade from their Royal Duck Palace on the roof of the Peabody Hotel to the lobby fountain for a daily swim. Because it’s such a unique experience, the ducks are joined by spectators from near and far eager to see the world-famous Duck March.

Peabody Ducks/ Photo: Peabody Hotel

I could go further, but with the time constraints of a weekend, I’ll stop here.

Whether you’re flying in for a visit from the west coast or driving from somewhere in the south, there are many possibilities for a great weekend in Memphis.

So, have you ever been to Memphis? What are some things you have done or desire to do during your next visit? Leave your responses below.

Thanks for reading. As always, pray fervently and travel often!

Budget Airlines Travel Guide: 5 Tips To Survive Your Next Flight

17 Nov

So you’re planning a trip and you’re considering budget airline travel to get you there? I’ll be the first to say, I’m with ya! Listen, I’m all for luxury. But I’m also for saving a coin in the name of travel.

In this budget airlines travel guide, I will share with you 5 tips to survive your next flight in an effort to help you decide if budget airlines are really worth it.

Budget Airline Travel Guide

Let’s start by defining what a budget airline is and understanding why budget airlines are so cheap. Budget Airlines or Low-cost airlines are airlines that offer low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services. In exchange for this, in order for the airline to make up for lost revenue from reduced ticket prices, they will charge extra fees for things that are typically standard on traditional airlines.

How to find the best cheap flight

My Tennessee Titans were playing in London and that was something I wanted to experience, but how? Because as much as love luxury, I am not giving these people all my coins. Bring on all the budget travel tips!

Let the search begin! I searched all over… looked high and low… for a ticket that I was willing to pay to see the Tennessee Titans attempt to beat their opponent in a game of football. (Yes, that was shade. All non-titans fans, keep your comments to yourself. )

After checking the prices on nearly every airline in the world, I came across WOW Air. I had heard about WOW before, but I was a bit nervous. WOW has since gone out of business, but the tips in the travel guide apply to flying with any budget airline. I’ve heard horror stories about budget airlines and I didn’t particularly want to be the subject of said “horror”. But, after doing TONS of research on the airline, I took the chance and purchased the tickets.

When selecting the best budget airlines, it is imperative that you take the time to prepare and do your research before your flight to ensure you have an enjoyable experience.

Budget Airlines hidden fee

Reading is fundamental. And it’s essential when preparing to travel on a budget airline. Budget airlines make their money on additional fees that are typically standards on traditional airlines. For example, on international flights on a traditional airline, your meals and beverages are included. However, this is not the case with budget airlines. If you didn’t bring your own shacks, the airline is charging you, shawty.

Fees for snacks

Everything has a fee! So it was important that I had enough snacks for my flight when leaving the US, so I could keep my coin. Also, I chose an overnight flight so there wasn’t much snacking going on. On my way back to the states, I did purchase food but surprisingly, it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be. On average, it was about $15 USD for a personal cheese pizza, a mini can of Pringles, and a soda.

Carry-on luggage

Next up is luggage. On most traditional airlines, you are allowed at least one personal item and a carry-on for free. Again, this is not the case with budget airlines. Typically, you are allowed one personal item that fits under the seat. Anything that goes in an overhead bin you will have to pay a carry-on bag fee. It’s best to pay that fee at the time you purchase your airline ticket. If not, the price of the fee usually increases if you wait to pay it at the airport. You can end up paying $100+ USD one way for a carry-on bag if you’re not careful. And ain’t nobody got time for that! In addition to the general carry-on requirements, there is a weight requirement for your carry-on. So once again, do your research in advance.

Selecting your seat

Now, let’s talk about seats. If you have a preference for where you sit while flying, then you might want to pay to choose your seat. There is a wide range of seat options depending on the size of your seat and the amount of legroom provided. However, If you just want to get there and don’t care about where you sit, then go for the free option and allow the airline to choose your seat for you.

Because I was traveling with someone and we wanted to sit together, I paid $12 USD one way to select my seat.

Initially, I ended up paying $100 RT for my carry-on luggage. I said “initially” because… well, we’ll talk about that next.

Checking in and boarding

Let’s get to why I kept saying “initially”. Learn from my mistake, ALWAYS check-in online. Especially when dealing with smaller airlines. When they tell you to check-in at least an hour before the flight is scheduled to leave, usually it’s because the people checking you in are also the people who are at the gate assisting you with boarding. If you arrive at the check-in counter too late, you run the risk of the counter being closed. What does that mean? You miss your flight! How do I know this? Because that’s exactly what happened to me. I missed my flight! Had I checked in online, even if the counter was closed, I still would have had my boarding pass to go through security. I would have had to sprint to the gate, but my chances of making my flight would have been much greater than not having my boarding pass at all.

Because I missed the flight, if I wanted to get back home to America, I had to purchase another airline ticket. When traveling internationally, a missed flight isn’t as forgiving as it is when traveling domestically. There’s no re-booking on the next available flight, Boo. You have to purchase an entirely new ticket. Moral of the story: don’t miss an international flight!

Is budget airline travel worth it?

For this trip, WOW air just made sense. For my ticket, bags, seat, taxes, and fees, I initially spent $472.35 USD for my round trip ticket from Washington DC to London which was purchased a little over 30 days in advance. That’s an awesome price considering we had a stopover in Iceland that allowed us to spend time exploring Iceland without having to pay for a round trip ticket there. I’ll take it!

Even with all the preplanning and additional money spent, I would still choose to fly a budget airline again!

Have you ever flown a budget airline before? Share your experience below.

Until next time, pray fervently and travel often!

Let God Blaze Your Trail

31 Jul

Focus Verse: I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11 (AMP)

Recently, I had the opportunity to go hiking. If you are familiar with hiking, then you are probably also familiar with the term “trailblazing.” This is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain- though not necessarily exactly defined- distances and mark the direction of the trail. While hiking, if you are not familiar with the area, it is important that you pay attention to these markings. They are going to lead you into the direction of your desired final destination.

While on this particular hike, there were places that the path was clear; there was no confusion about the direction one should travel. Other places, the walking path may not have been as clear, so you had to keep your eyes open, as you were moving, for the next blaze. But then, there were times that you had to come to a complete stop, look around, ahead of you, to the left or right, and sometimes behind you to locate the next blaze.

This was a reminder of our journey with Christ. There will be times that the path before us is clear from obstructions, we get in our stride and we move. Other times, our path may not be as clear, but we can still navigate our way through while still moving. Then there are times that we must come to a complete stop and look around for the Father’s blazes. Sometimes we may even need to turn around and go back or revisit where we came from to clearly see the next blaze. This is caused by a number of things: moving too fast, following others, being distracted by things around you that you forget to look to the Father for direction, etc.

Each and every one of us, if we have not already, will experience each of these phases in our Christian journey. The only way we will successfully reach our final destination, hearing God say, “well done, thy good and faithful servant,” we have to remember to keep our eyes on God’s blazes!

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for that reminder! My final destination is to hear You say, “well done.” As I am going through my journey with You, help me to remember to be watchful for Your blazes for my life. During the times that I may not be able to see them clearly, help me to stop and look up for You, trusting that You will reveal Yourself and Your plan for my life. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

Budget Travel Tips- Airfare Edition

17 Jun

Listen, I love nice things, like really nice things! Seriously though, if we’re being honest with ourselves, who doesn’t?!! A nice handbag, yes ma’am! Exclusive fragrance, yes, please! Luxurious travel, absolutely! I can’t begin to tell you how I’ve developed such an exquisite taste for luxury. And honestly, that doesn’t matter because as much as I love luxury, I can also appreciate good budget travel tips! #TEAMSAVEACOIN I mean who doesn’t want to learn how to start traveling more?

The Ultimate Budget Travel Tips

If you’re like me and you’re consistently trying to figure out how to make your Thousandaire reality line up with your Trillionaire desires, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’m going to share how you can dabble in the Trillionaire travel lifestyle while still living your Thousandaire travel reality. Below are 7 doable budget travel tips that will help you travel the world on a budget via inexpensive airfare.

1. Be flexible

Whenever I get the best rates on plane tickets, it’s because I leave my travel dates open and search the entire month for ticket prices. In my experience, the least expensive days to travel are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, so these are typically the days I travel when my dates are flexible. That’s not to say that you can’t find good prices on other days, but these are the days that I have observed to consistently have good prices.

Google Flights is a great place to start your search. The Date Grid and Price Graph functions allow you to search for dates over a longer period of time in order to see when flights are the cheapest.

2. Know when to buy

There has been a lot of mixed opinions on this topic. Some people believe there’s a best time to buy airline tickets and there’s a lot of budget travel tips out there pertaining to when to buy airline tickets. What I have seen during my many searches is that most flights tend to increase closer towards the end of the week. Here’s a couple of reasons I believe this to be true: 1) this is when most people tend to travel; 2) this is when most people get paid. So quite naturally, when the demand is high, so are the prices. If you can, try to purchase your airfare earlier in the week to avoid price increases. Disclaimer: In no way am I an Economist, just a Common Sense-ist.

3. Work, Work, Work, Work, Work, Work!

Seychelles beach — Image: http://photo.elsoar.com/

Nothing in life is free, and for a good price on travel, you’ve gotta be willing to do like Rihana said and do some work! As previously mentioned, when searching for flights, I typically start off at Google Flights or one of the other flight search engine sites, like Expedia or Orbitz. Remember, Southwest and some other discount airlines, don’t advertise on these flight search engine sites, so you have to go directly to their site to check prices.

Extra Nugget: When traveling on a budget, don’t be opposed to purchasing two one-way tickets or even tickets from two different carriers. There’s no best way to book flights. We’re simply trying to keep our coin; that may mean doing some unconventional things so we can get to Seychelles.

4. Strike when the iron is hot!

I’ve been blessed to be able to take advantage of some pretty SWEET deals. But that was because I was prepared to get tickets as soon as the deal was available.

My #1 travel destination has always been to visit UAE, specifically Dubai, and in 2015, I had the opportunity to go, for a whopping $214 RT. Etihad Airways had an error fare on Christmas Day 2014, and I was already thinking about buying myself a ticket to Dubai for Christmas. Additionally, I have family and friends that live in the UAE so I was able to lodge for the $free.99. If that’s not traveling on a budget, I don’t know what is!

Two of my most frequently stalked travel deal sites are The Flight Deal and Secret Flying. You have to be ready to purchase when you see the deal because they typically don’t last past a few days.

Extra Nugget

The majority of my international travel is to places where I have friends and family, so I can stay with them and not have to worry about lodging expenses. Plus, you get to experience the area as the locals do!

5. Create An Account

If you don’t already, I would suggest creating a traveling account to help you with budgeting for traveling. I started out seriously traveling when I was in my 20s. Because I didn’t have that much money, it was very important for me to be smart about traveling. From personal experience, this budget travel tip can help you successfully pinpoint how to travel on a budget in your 20s. Deposit a few dollars in there every week or so until you have at least $500. You would be surprised where you could go for $500 on a sweet travel deal!

I understand that everyone that’s reading this may not be single. If you are looking to save on travel with a family, $500 might not be enough for you all to start with. If this is the case, I would recommend saving anywhere from $750-$1000 in your account depending on your family size. Some banks will even start you off by giving you anywhere from $100-$500 for opening an account with them. Use that to your advantage.

Once you have your minimum travel amount saved, you can start searching for airline tickets using the tips above. Please note: Once you start to build your account, it will be tempting to start looking at flights. Don’t, until you have at least your minimum travel amount and can purchase the tickets right then.

I smile because I get to keep my coins!

6. Get to the points

DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend this tip if you are not responsible with managing consumer credit! Breakfast with Tiffani does not condone creating debt in the name of traveling on a budget!

If you are responsible with managing consumer credit, this tip is for you. Being responsible with managing consumer credit means you do not carry a balance on a credit card. A lot of credit cards, specifically travel cards, will offer a sign-up bonus in exchange for charging a minimum amount within a specified amount of time. Once you have hit that minimum within the specified time frame, they will give you a sign-up bonus. For travelcards, the bonus is typically in the form of airline points.

Simple Example

For example, Card A has a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points. The Card A company will be more than happy to give you those 60,000 points as long as you charge $4,000 within the first 3 months of opening the credit card account. Once you hit $4,000, the Card A company will post 60,000 points to your account to use as you wish.

And it’s just that simple! Depending on who you fly, when, and where you are going, 60,000 points can go a LONG way!

An additional thing to consider is if an airline-branded credit card or a regular bank travel credit card would be best for you. What’s the difference you ask?

An airline-branded credit card is a card that you are only allowed to redeem points at that airline only. You can use the card anywhere, but you tend to get more points when you use it at that airline vs somewhere else.

A regular bank travel credit card is a card that you are allowed to redeem points at multiple airlines that are partnered with the bank. As with airline-branded credit cards, you can use the card anywhere, but you tend to get more points on travel-related purchases.

When choosing between an airline-branded credit card vs. a regular bank travel card, it’s like considering, would you rather a Visa or American Express Gift Card that you can use anywhere or a store-specific card that you can only use at that store.

7. Travel Rewards Programs

Kindrick Lamar said it best, “Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty.” So, this tip might contradict one of the previously shared budget travel tips in point #3. Before you cancel me, hear me out.

Now, more than ever, brands want to know that you are loyal to them. So much so, that they are willing to reward you for that loyalty as shared in the tip above.

When you are loyal to one airline and accumulate status and points with them, you can then use those points in exchange for free travel. Depending on your status, they will show their appreciation for your loyalty by providing you with perks. Those perks include free upgrades, admission to their pre-flight lounge, free wifi, etc.

Now, I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t state that travel rewards programs are really only beneficial if you travel frequently enough to accumulate points for free travel. If you’re the occasional traveler, this traveling on a budget tip may not be one for you to focus on.

Extra Nugget

Are you a frequent flyer, flying multiple times a month? If you aren’t committed to flying one particular airline, take advantage of airline’s status match programs. Just like most businesses that will price match a competitor’s price, so will airlines. Airline companies will match your status in an effort to ensure you continue flying with them. Learn more about Airline Status Matching in the Instagram post below.

Budget Travel Tips- Landing

Well, there you have it, 7 doable budget travel tips to get you started on your journey of traveling the world on a budget. So, let me hear from you. Do you currently practice some of the budget travel tips mentioned above? What are some ways that you have been able to start traveling on a budget?

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Hey y’all! Happy Tuesday! Long post, but it will be worth it, I promise! ⠀ ⠀ So, I know the majority of us aren’t taking any flights right now, I hear these airports are DRY! But for those are are, y’all please be safe ♥️ I’ve noticed a lot of people are antsy and ready to go somewhere, 🙋🏾‍♀️ me included. But before we all dip, let me put you on game that can improve your travel experience when it is time to GO 👇🏾👇🏾⠀ ⠀ The name of the game is loyalty. Stay loyal to one brand, earn points with them and they will treat you right. BUT, did you know that your loyalty to one company can help you establish status in another? ⠀ ⠀ Yup, airlines, like most businesses have a Frequent Flyer Status Match Program. So the status you’ve built on Airline A, can be matched to Airline B’s equivalent 🤯 Yup! ⠀ ⠀ Each airline has a specific way to apply for a Status Match with their brand, but it’s usually a simple application or email request. Just google, “How to status match with *insert airline here*.” Also make certain your specific method of gaining status is eligible for a Status Match. ⠀ ⠀ Alright so you’ve got some homework. I know, I know, I just want y’all to be ready when it’s time to go. ⠀ ⠀ (a.) if you currently have status on an airline, get to applying for status matches with the other airlines. ⠀ ⠀ (b.) if you do not currently have status on an airline, apply for all frequent flyer programs. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to decide which one you will do majority of your traveling on. Why apply for them all if you will frequent one? Because all points matter. And we don’t need you missing out on any points. But that’s a post for another day. ⠀ ⠀ Alright, I’ve taken up enough of your day. Let us know which airline you rock with. Drop them in the comments below. 👇🏾 Happy Status Matching! 😉 #bwt #tiffanitravels 📷: @nudimension85 ⠀

A post shared by Christian Travel & Lifestyle (@breakfast_with_tiffani) on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:49am PDT