Memphis / Tunica: "a Deep South version of 'The Hangover'"

We’ve lumped Memphis and Tunica together in this issue, but of course each one is a destination worthy of a long weekend on its own. But a whirlwind weekend road trip to Memphis and Tunica sounds like a recipe for a Deep South version of _The Hangover_, and doesn’t that just sound like too much fun?

So whether you’re looking for a weekend of gambling with an evening adventure to enjoy the gay nightlife in Memphis, or weekend of jazz, blues, and barbecue, enhanced by an afternoon of cards and slots, this getaway is sure to satisfy.

Where to Stay

Staying in Tunica has its perks. The casinos are invested in keeping you on site – which means keeping your wallet closer to their own gambling rather than the tables of their competitors. That yields some incredible deals: you don’t have to be a member of a perks program to get a non-smoking king room in, for instance, the Resorts Casino Tunica (http://www.resortstunica.com/) for $75/night. That’s a weekend rate! If you take the time to join a perks program online, you could get an even bigger steal.

But if it’s evenings in Memphis in famous jazz clubs or local gay haunts, consider staying in the city. Gaycities.com’s highest ranked LGBT friendly hotel in Memphis also happens to be the city’s crown jewel: but be prepared to splurge on this treat. To sleep in the residence of the famous Peabody ducks, you’ll probably pay rates beginning upward of $200/night, and going MUCH higher! But if a night or two in the lap of luxury is just what the doctor ordered, there is no better place to stay.

See the Sights

In Tunica, you’ll want to check out the casinos. You’ll find everything from national chain casinos, like Bally’s and Harrah’s, to the more local Sam’s Town and Tunica Roadhouse. The luxurious Horseshoe, a member of the Caesars brand, the opulent-looking Gold Strike, and the massive Harrah’s (one of the largest casinos in middle America) form the backbone of Tunica’s reputation as a gambling destination.

Nashville may be Music City, but Memphis gives it a run for its money. The city’s two most internationally recognized tourist attractions cement Memphis’s status as a music lover’s Mecca: Graceland and Beale Street. Nearly forty years after the death of the King, his mansion still welcomes over 600,000 visitors a year, and is the most famous residence in America after the White House. Graceland is now a complex, including Graceland Plaza across the street and the museum, which now displays Elvis’s two planes and includes The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.

Beale Street may not seem as exciting to Nashville folks as it is to visitors from around the world, given that many of Beale Street’s famous bars and clubs are also found in downtown Nashville. But the rhythm and blues and jazz cultures that dominate Beale Street give it an entirely different flavor. So head out to Beale Street in the evening, grab some barbecue at Pig on Beale (we bet one of those special men in your life will die for a t-shirt bearing that logo), and then head over to Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall. Or maybe visiting King’s Palace Café’s Absinthe Room and spending an evening shooting pool and enjoying drink with a bad reputation is more your speed?

Check Out the Nightlife

Memphis is no San Francisco, but it has its own brand of gay nightlife, if Beale Street isn’t your flavor. If you want to sing your heart out at karaoke where no one knows you, or catch some Memphis drag, Dru’s Place (http://www.drusplace.com/) is the place to go. But if you want something unlike what you’d find in Nashville, check out The Pumping Station (http://www.pumpingstationmemphis.com/). Voted the Best Gay Bar in 2013 in the Memphis Flyer, this bar is a levis-and-leather kind of place, with regular cookouts, cigar nights, and pool tournaments. 

A Little Something Extra

One of the most infamous moments in Memphis history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. For those who value a more serious stop on their vacations, the site of the assassination, the Lorraine Motel, now houses the National Civil Rights Museum, which memorializes the movement. The surrounding neighborhood is home to some interesting cafes and shops if you want to make an afternoon of it.

 

 

More from the Staycation vs Vacation series:

Top 5 cities for end-of-summer road trips

Asheville: "the new freak capital of the U.S."

Louisville: "right up I-65 and well worth the drive"

Chattanooga: "a family friendly getaway on the Tennessee River"

Memphis/Tunica: "a Deep South version of 'The Hangover'"

Nashville: "there truly is no place like home"

 

 

 

photo courtesy Flikr user jbobo7

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less