Chevy Does Memphis

In case you haven’t noticed… I’m a big fan of impromptu roadtrips. Just getting behind the wheel of a fun ride and hitting the open road for a weekend getaway is life! I especially love it when said vehicle gets me to my destination in style. Cause it’s not always where you go, but how you get there. Amiright!? So, for my latest adventure I packed my bags and headed West to Memphis, Tennessee. Dubbed as the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Home of the Blues, Memphis is known for it’s lively entertainment and iconic southern sights, and the 2018 Chevy Colorado was the perfect pickup to parade me around to take on the town.

But first things first… Let’s talk about the journey from the ATL to Bluff City. Now I had heard that the Chevy Colorado was considered America’s most fuel efficient pickup, but what I didn’t know was just how fuel efficient it really was. Now this is gonna sound crazy, but we literally drove to Memphis and back on a single tank of gas!!! Seriously. The Colorado uses a Turbo-Diesel engine that made this dream a reality, and it completely shattered all my expectations! But this mid-sized pickup was full of even bigger surprises.

The Peabody

Now if you really wanna do Memphis right, you must stay at the famed Peabody Hotel. Best known for its marching mallards, the #PeabodyDucks, this iconic luxury hotel is steeped in history. Speaking of the Peabody ducks, you won’t see a more magnificent spectacle in all the land. Each day at 11am these lovely ducks take center stage as they march from their rooftop digs escorted by the Duckmaster down the elevators to the Grand Lobby Fountain where they swim and occasionally pose for paparazzi. Then, at 5pm the Duckmaster rallies the troupes to return to their rooftop sanctuary but not before literally rolling out the red carpet from the fountain to the elevators. These adorable feathered creatures are given the royal treatment. It’s the coolest thing you will ever see.

I’ll have to admit, the Peabody ducks were treated like royalty. Hey, I was feeling a little regal myself, and about to embark on my grand plans for Memphis!

The Royal Treatment

This might come as a surprise to some, but I was r-e-a-l-l-y obsessed with the Royal Wedding of Harry & Meghan. Like millions of giddy-girls around the world, I tuned in to catch the royal nuptials. It was sooo enchanting! So, to celebrate this epic affair I did what everyone else did…had high tea. No? Moving on. 😀 For my honorary high tea for the Prince & Princess, the Peabody’s Chez Phillipe restaurant provided the perfect setting for a royal afternoon of dainty decadence to celebrate this very special occasion.

At Chez Phillipe I felt just like a queen. With Old South splendor, the restaurant serves classic French cuisine and has even been dubbed “worth a special trip” by the NY Times, and even “Most Romantic Restaurants in the U.S.,” and I totally agree. I’m so glad I got to experience it. Pinkies up ppl! 😉

Queue the ‘Cue

Though we absolutely loved the accommodations, we knew we had to venture outside of the hotel to get to know Memphis, so we hopped into the Colorado and headed down to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to partake in some good ol’ fashioned cue. The stunning Mississippi River served as the backdrop as more than 230 teams from over 25 states and several foreign countries participated in America’s most prestigious barbecue competition. We were lucky enough to sample some of the best barbecue in BBQ Alley and I must say that hubby (a bonafide BBQ Master according to himself, of course) was in literal hog heaven. Now I can never be sure, but I thought I heard what sounded like “Let’s Get It On” being played ever so softly as he took a bite. 😛

Rock’n and Rollin’

Now you can’t do Memphis without hitting a few hotspots synonymous with the city and the on-board navigation in theColorado got us around town without a glitch. And, because we (as in hubby) couldn’t get enough BBQ, we (he) just had to stop by the world-renowned dry-rub experts at Rendezvous BBQ Restaurant for a bite (or ten). And of course we couldn’t do Memphis without a quick stop on historic Beale Street for some authentic Memphis entertainment.

Whenever I visit a city I really like to take in the culture. Sprinkle in a few historic sites and now you’ve got an adventure to remember. And Memphis delivered! We cruised around town while still staying connected thanks to the Colorado’s onboard 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection. No cruisin’ is complete without a soundtrack to ride to and the available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto helped serenade our sightseeing with ease.

While adventurin’ Memphis we popped by a few happenin’ stops that tell the tale of the city. First up was historic Sun Studio. Known around the world as “The Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll,” Sun Studio is where musical legends and genres of the 50’s were first discovered—from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock ’n’ Roll. Next up on our music memorabilia tour was Stax Records, one of the most popular soul music records labels of all-time. It’s second only to Motown in sales and influence, but it ranks number-one in gritty, raw, stripped-down soul music. Needless to say, these iconic music industry staples made the perfect setting to snap shots with our sweet ride.

You’d think by now I’d be all adventured-out, but I had one more little trick up my sleeve. As we were cruising through the city in the comfy Colorado, I stumbled upon one of the coolest places EVER! It’s called the Beauty Shop, and it’s a restaurant where you can let your hair down… Literally! You can dine under an actual hair dryer! This funky little find was a total blast and I’m so happy I discovered this Memphis gem—it’s like taking a step back into the beauty parlor days of the ‘50s! Super chic and offbeat for a one-of-a-kind experience.

So now that our Memphis trip is in the books, we can’t wait to go back to take in even more fun. The question now is: Is it excessive to take the Chevy Colorado for every roadtrip? Asking for a friend… 😉

Disclaimer: Chevrolet USA provided me with a vehicle to test drive, however all opinions are my own.