Thousands head to Memphis for Elvis Week

Celebrations include all things Elvis with live music performances, a 5km run (something  Elvis surely would not have done), panel discussions with those who knew and worked with him, along with an auction of one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

Elvis Week is a great time to discover what’s on offer in Memphis, Tennessee, and its surrounding states.

Make a plan to go next year and after enjoying the week you can explore Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Kentucky, all of which offer their own unique culture, cuisine and history.

Mississippi: Rich Southern cuisine is an important part of the state’s identity. You can enjoy fresh seafood from the Gulf Coast such as southern-fried catfish and hushpuppies.

On a visit to Jackson, the “City with Soul” you can experience the rich culture and history that helped shape the USA. Compelling stories have been captured in the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Then, from blues to rock ‘n’ roll, gospel to country, explore Mississippi’s musical roots along the state’s music trails.

Alabama: Sweet Home Alabama is more than a song. Here, gospel is sung in churches and folks dance to blues, country and jazz in bars. Restaurants dish up meals of mouth-watering barbecue and fresh seafood. Top museums include the US Space & Rocket Centre, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and the legendary music studios of Muscle Shoals.

If you lost your suitcase on the way to Alabama you could always check Unclaimed Baggage, the store dedicated to selling the contents of unclaimed airline baggage! For a one-of-a-kind grave yard experience check out the Coon Dog Cemetery where more than 300 raccoon hunting dogs are buried.

And if you haven’t made it to Stonehenge in England you can visit Bamahenge, its fibreglass replica in Elberta, complete with dinosaurs and giant spiders.

Kentucky: The gracious Bluegrass State, home to rolling green hills, horse farms and the Kentucky Derby. Meander through Kentucky Bourbon Country to try the state’s famous libation. The spirit’s popularity has prompted a boom in tourism with nearly two million people visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in the past five years.

Once you’ve completed the Bourbon Trail, follow the Lincoln Heritage Trail to the birthplace and boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln. 

Arkansas: Known as The Nature State for its stunning mountain vistas and clear running streams, the state’s Delta region is where the blues were born and where Johnny Cash’s musical journey began. Bill Clinton, another Arkansas son, launched his political path here and sites commemorating the legacies of Cash and Clinton can be toured today.