My life in Memphis, TN

Hey there! I am so excited to start this blog, it was on my to-do-list since ever and I finally have the time to start:)

Currently I am an au pair in the USA, I am 19 years old and always ready for new adventures and travel experiences.

I already saw a couple of different places here in the US, but this week I am gonna tell you about what I usually like to do in my free time in Memphis.

My absolutely favourite spot in Memphis is Shelby Farms, its one of the largest parks in the USA, almost as big as the Central Park in NYC. And there is A LOT to do: kayaking, biking, ziplining, free yoga classes etc. @shelbyfarmspark. Usually my friends and I go for the indescribably and stunning sunsets and sit in the back of our cars or play football while the sun goes down. You also can take great walks around the lakes and enjoy food in an expensive but really popular restaurant called Coastal Fish Company which has at least really great "Key Lime Pie", that's all I know xD 

If you want to do something really touristy and completely American, visit Beale Street. Go in the afternoon if you're under 21 because around 8 or 9 they start to check IDs and on the weekend you need to pay 5$ entrance fee. The street has an unbelievable flair with a lot of life music and old-fashioned signs. Good spot to take pictures! Keep an eye open for the art spots with a "Memphis" sign.

I personally do not spend that much time in downtown Memphis, parking is really expensive, try to park at the visitor center for a while and enjoy the view on the Mississippi, you also can take a walk over a pedestrian bridge which takes you to mud island. This is also great for sunsets and you'll find the famous Memphis sign. But check the weather before, otherwise you end up being wet like you were swimming in a pool because of a surprising rain.

The perfect neighbourhood to go out and dine is definitely Midtown or Overton. Midtown is pretty cheap and has a couple of really cute and unique places, not really mainstream. We usually go for lunch or play pool to @youngdeliavenue and for music events and party for under 21 people to @railgarten which has a super relaxed atmosphere. Overton offers a couple good restaurants and a cute ice cream shop named @sweetnoshings.

Something really famous in Memphis is the peabody hotel, which you maybe heard of, the owners of the hotel are ducks, they walk every day at the same time downstairs and upstairs, its especially fun for kids. Its not as impressive as it sound like, but still fun to see once or twice. Peabody Rooftop Parties in summer I heard should be a ton of fun too. 

Memphis is the home of Elvis Presley and some other famous persons like Jonny Cash. We have a lot of museums and places to visit to learn something about music or civil war history. I definitely need to explore that more and then I'll write a separate blog post about it. 

Overton Park and Square offer during the summer a lot of different events like open air cinemas and concerts which is extremely fun. Just grab a picnic blanket or a chair and enjoy the time with family and friends at one of the @overtonshellpark concerts. Normally there are also a couple food trucks there and the popular Memphis popsicles @mempops.

As an au pair you spend a lot of time with kids, so my top 3 activities with kids: number 1, children museum which is totally great, kids learn a lot and have fun at the same time, it also has a splash pad which is the perfect thing to do in summer; number 2, botanical garden which is really beautiful, it has some areas for kids to play, sweet little houses where they can pretend to live in and some ponds with fishes which they can feed, moreover it has sometimes exhibitions, currently its "Alice in Wonderland" which is absolutely fascinating; number 3, the zoo, which has a lot to offer, a huge variation of animals and at some days in the year they also have events like "zoo lights".

Tennessee is famous for barbecue, so don't forget to go to @centralbbq and enjoy delicious ribs.

One of the typical Memphis sights is the pyramid, you can watch a beautiful sunset from the top which costs around 10$. Or you can go for a great rooftop bar like @tinroofmemphis.

My last point for today: Dixon park which is a completely free entry park, its my personal oasis, if you need to do some work, just bring your computer and sit down for a while and enjoy the silence. The museum is pretty small but still really interesting, they also have special exhibitions, there is always an interacting one which my hostkid loved when we were there.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Memphis, its the city of blues but it has much more to offer than music, its definitely not the prettiest city in the states but it has a cool atmosphere through the afroamerican influence. A typical south state city I guess, but still I fell in love with the city but that's probably more because I found a wonderful second family here and best friends which make my time here unforgettable.