Next up is Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel. The best of Roadtrippers - hand picked by our team. They also offer overnight stays for diehard Elvis fans. Back on the road south of Clarksdale, you'll notice that Highway 61 is a lot of four-lane now, slicing through the flat, black earth of the delta as easily as a silver knife through moist cake. Clarksdale, MS’s claim to be the birthplace of the blues can be traced to the blues greats that have called Clarksdale home: Son House, John Lee Hooker, Junior Parker, Ike Turner, Eddie Boyd, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Earl Hooker, Lil Green, Big Jack Johnson and the list goes on. Also, King is buried in the back of the museum, so be sure to pay your respects. The museum is also pretty hands-on, and you can mix your own music and even play the guitar, or sit in the same chair at B.B. 1 901 523 2746; www.hogsfly.com) is justly famous for its dry ribs. Memphis is alleged to have more than a hundred barbecue joints. Today I will explain you the route to Clarskdale through Natchez, Vicksburg, Jackson, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Tupelo and Oxford. Reading Highway 61 Revisited, I felt I was sharing a limited time, all-access pass to people and places that I would not have been able to find on my own. The location is phenomenal, on a bluff with a beautiful view of the Mississippi River. During July and August—peak travel months—expect sometimes sweltering temperatures, over-crowded attractions, and higher rates for lodging. This music sets you free. No trip down the Blues Trail is complete without a stop at the Highway 61 Blues Museum. The crowd shouts its approval. Downtown's Rendezvous (52 S. Second St.; tel. Highway 61, headed north from Duluth Minnesota to Thunder Bay over the Canadian border, immortalized in Bob Dylan’s song. 1 662 627 6820). The Stax Museum of American Soul Music (926 E. McLemore Ave.; tel. It's a big space that can get crowded, but it's got drinks and dancing late into the night. Hwy 61 featured in Gazelle Magazine article. 1 901 725 7527; www.topsbarbq.com), where the meat, if not the decor, is sublime. Here you can see some awesome artifacts, like Isaac Hayes' car or Booker T. Jones' keyboard, all while learning about the amazing history and influence of the Stax record label. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- The second most famous trip—pipped only by Route 66—is Route 61. If you want a relaxing and peaceful stay, you can't get much better than the cottages at The Cajun Village in Sorrento, Louisiana. Nearing the end of the journey, still north of Vicksburg, as old 61 is relegated to "business" status, you brake suddenly for what appears to be a fever dream on the right: a collection of plywood and brick towers rendered in white, pinks, reds, and yellows, with hand-painted Bible verses. I have been on two Mississippi road trips, including a Blues Trail road trip through the Delta region of the state. Since there's so much to do and see, budget at least 2 hours. Rooms are actually contemporary and modern, with fun photos of Elvis hanging on the walls. A road trip on Highway 61 takes in southern USA's jazz, blues, soul and rock music Barry Divola For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. It's the perfect, laid-back, rustic Southern getaway. Today, you can see the room that Elvis slept in. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors. With Don McKellar, Valerie Buhagiar, Earl Pastko, Peter Breck. Back in 1984, he promised his beloved Margaret that if she consented to marry him, he would build a palace to honor God. 1 601 638 1163). Welcome to Margaret's Grocery (4535 N. Washington St., Vicksburg; tel. Drive the old Blues Highway—Route 61 between Memphis and Vicksburg—in search of music, and you'll find it everywhere you turn. The Union Station Hotel is an iconic Nashville establishment, and the perfect place to spend the night. It's right on 61, and it's fried chicken and peach cobbler Southern cooking at its best. 1 662 627 7337; www.clarksdale.com); Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. "Highway 61 was the road by which black people left Mississippi to find better opportunities," a museum spokesperson says. Wifi is free and there are channels on the TV that show only Elvis movies. "The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Some of the best music in the world came from Stax, and this museum is an absolute must-visit if you're traveling through Memphis. As for where to spend the night, the Shack Up Inn may be one of the coolest places in America. Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west. If you're referring to US Highway 61, you'll have to elaborate as it's quite a long highway, extending from near the Gulf of Mexico to near the Canadian border. Pop in that Muddy Waters CD, roll down the windows and belt out a tune or two on the road down from Memphis town, along the Blues Highway. 1 662 624 8329; www.shackupinn.com). himself sat in. Route 61 (known as the Blues Highway) is an unforgettable journey and a delicious slice of Americana. All rights reserved, Photograph by William Albert Allard, National Geographic. Next up is the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum in Memphis, TN. From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed south through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The whole place feels like you're stepping back in time to the '50s. Just around the corner from Graceland (the hotel is literally steps away), the Heartbreak Hotel is a fun 1950's-inspired hotel that Elvis fans (and just visitors to Memphis) will thoroughly enjoy. This museum is a must-visit for any fan of the blues and blues history. By now, you should be an expert, so go ahead and sing along. En Nola empez á ba mos el Road Trip que nos llevaría hasta Nashville. Historic Route 66 spans over 2,400 miles and crosses 8 states, starting in Chicago, Illinois and terminating at the Pacific Coast in Santa Monica, California. 1 662 759 3842). On the surface, it’s not much different than most small, Southern towns, except you can’t seem to go more than a couple feet without hearing the whine of a harmonica. The 17-story Madison has a distinctly European sensibility with down-home warmth. This is a local favorite, casual dining steakhouse. Highway 61 originates in New Orleans and runs nearly 1700 miles to the Canadian border just north of Grand Portage, Minnesota. Local guide Tad Pierson offers evening tours of Memphis nightclubs and daytrips down the delta (tel. As with most places in Nashville, you'll find good music and good BBQ here. A road is a road, but sometimes it's more. A must-visit in Clarksdale is the Ground Zero Blues Club. Tonight travelers and locals alike gather around platters of barbecued chicken for a jam session. He chose this stretch of road for good reason, it represents the best of Minnesota in so many ways. Best time to travel down the Blues Highway: Since summer is high season for all of the towns along the route, spring and fall are the best times to travel if you're hoping to avoid high hotel rates, crowds, and the often-sweltering Southern heat. Mostly it gives the flavor of what Highway 61 was like back in the day. This is an especially great place to stop if you're a history buff. King, you have to stop at the B. But even if gambling isn't your thing, stop here for a meal at the Blue and White dinner (1355 Hwy. There's a 2,000 year old oak tree out front that adds to the beautiful ambiance of of the historic restaurant. 1 901 529 4000; www.peabodymemphis.com), famous for the ducks that traipse through the lobby twice daily. The US Route 61, or simply Highway 61, is one of the most iconic figures in American road trip culture. 1 901 333 1200; www.madisonhotelmemphis.com). The steak, beef tamales, and honey-covered drop biscuits are highly recommended, plus their bartender is an award-winning mixologist who crafts delicious cocktails! For a great place to stay in NOLA, the Cornstalk Hotel is a gorgeous Victorian house that's surrounded by an iron fence that looks like cornstalks. If you're lucky, Mr. Pat Thomas will play guitar while you peruse the exhibits and memorabilia in the three rooms. If you're hungry grab a bite at Abe's Bar-b-q, which has been serving up the best BBQ in town since 1924. Tales of the Road-Highway 61 is a scenic, historic 440 mile trip with host Cathy Wurzer down iconic Highway 61 revisiting the early days of automobile travel. Next stop is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. There's also an outdoor pool and a free hot breakfast. Muddy Waters rode the Blues Highway. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi! Running from Minnesota down to New Orleans, this iconic route is known for Mississippi River views, great food and blues music. Divert yourself west to the parallel Highway 1, a quiet two-laner running along the Mississippi's "Great Wall," a never-ending levee. There's a small fee once you get in, which is more of a donation. It offers overlooks, access to Lake Superior, shops, restaurants and lodging. Catch a band and a down-home meal at actor Morgan Freeman's nightclub Ground Zero Blues Club (0 Blues Alley; tel. 1 662 624 5992; www.cathead.biz), a blues music and folk art store that lists performances at local joints like Sarah's Kitchen (278 Sunflower Ave.; tel. When you're ready to call it a night, head to the Natchez Grand Hotel. The setting is the old commissary of the historic cotton farm, the Hopson Plantation (www.hopsonplantation.com) in Clarksdale, Mississippi. So, plan your road trip accordingly. Another form of therapy is luxury. "These are hardworking people, and maybe things aren't going their way. More ... Route 61 - Saturday - EASTBOUND Saturday — from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St Paul. They also do mean fried chicken and great ribs, and they serve beer to wash it all down. Inside a cramped chapel is his Ark of the Covenant cobbled together from plastic, old Mardi Gras beads, and gold spray paint, illuminated by a string of Christmas lights. Soul, gospel, and R&B spill out of car windows and church doors. PA 61 begins at US 222 Bus. The ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. Ready to hit the road? Schedules & Maps Fares Fares Go-To Card Pass Programs Store. Another favorite is Tops Bar-B-Q (multiple locations, including 1258 Union Ave.; tel. 1 901 527 8870; www.americandreamsafari.com). Dennis. Flights Holiday Rentals Restaurants Things to do Skip to main content. Also consider the stately Peabody (149 Union Ave.; tel. The plantations near New Roads, Louisiana would probably be pleasant in December while the bluffs around … There are rockers on the front porch and you could spend forever just hanging out for the afternoon. Sleep on high thread-count sheets at the Madison Hotel in downtown Memphis (79 Madison Ave.; tel. Want to hear live blues? 1 901 946 2535 http://www.staxmuseum.com/) is named for an influential 1960s label that recorded such talents as Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, and Isaac Hayes. Inside, the air swirls with cigarette smoke and guitar chords being thumped out by a local band. When you first walk in you're given a set of headphones that guide you through the exhibits. The stuffed snapper is highly recommended, and if you can, get a seat in the intimate and romantic courtyard. Trip Tools Trip Planner NexTrip Alerts Find a Park & Ride Find a Stop or Station. King. The hotel also offers rides to Beale Street, where you'll find loads of bars featuring live blues, at night for a modest fee. Blues Highway Itinerary: 10 Best Spots for a Music History Road Trip. Book Hwy 61 For Your Next Event. At the end of the drive, the Battlefield Inn offers an alternative to cut-and-paste hotel chains (4137 I-20 N. Frontage Rd. The Route: U.S. Highway 61 from Clarksdale to Vicksburg If you go: Plug these detour worthy destinations into your GPS. "The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Hey everyone, Me and my boyfriend are planning a 14 day road trip from Chicago to New Orleand (passing though Memphis, Clarksdale, Vicksburg, etc, following the Route 61 along side the Great River Road).We really want to have the Delta Blues experience and go to places not really aimed for turist - we want to get to know the local people, watch bands playing blues and just enjoy everrythong. It's is a collection of restored sharecropper shacks and boutique hotel rooms built inside renovated cotton bins (Hwy. There's loads of antiques and chandeliers, and free wifi so you can stream some blues music to enjoy in the privacy of your cozy room. TIP: Ask to upgrade to one of their suites to really experience what it was like to be the King of Rock and Roll. This museum is housed in a former recording studio/record shop. Kings Blues Club. BB King Museum and Delta Interprative Center. And once you cruise into New Orleans, you don't even have to go inside to listen to music...although there's tons of awesome joints to stop into, like Tipitina's. It's stunning. It’s up to you where you’d like to start, but music lovers should turn their focus to the Mississippi section of the drive. From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed south through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas. They may call it the Blues, but road tripping through the area where this distinctive musical style was born will likely lift your spirits. 1 662 363 1371). ... Route 61 - Road Trips Forum. Immerse yourself in the culture by following in the footsteps of the Blues greats, and discover what inspired them to make music so profound that it was dubbed "soul" music. Route 61 - Saturday - WESTBOUND T hey may call it the Blues, but road tripping through the area where this distinctive musical style was born will likely lift your spirits. He might take you to Wild Bill's (1580 Vollintine Ave.; tel. It's a wonderful tribute to one of America's most prolific musicians. "There are only two reasons to go to Wild Bill's—because you're feeling good or you're feeling bad," says Pierson. The blues are cheaper than therapy.". Highway 61 running south out of Memphis forms a legendary route along the Mississippi River evocative of a delicious slice of Americana represented by … In fact, the area is so rich in musical history that U.S. Route 61, which runs right through it, has been dubbed the "Blues Highway". Here in Clarksdale, they have the blues, and they claim to have had the blues first. Starting in Nashville, you've got to hit up B.B. Route description Berks County. 61 N., Tunica; tel. There are self-guided tours across the 40-acre living history Burden Plantation. This is a very relaxed, local Southern restaurant that specializes in barbecue and burgers. 1 901 543 5333; www.memphistravel.com); Mississippi Division of Tourism (tel. You might hear an elegant receptionist announce she is "fixin'" to do something. Hopson's attracts an eclectic mix of fans, writers, artists, and other free spirits eager to travel the byways of the delta and sample the famed Mississippi hospitality. 49, Clarksdale; tel. A small-town barber goes on a road trip from Thunder Bay to New Orleans with an unpredictable woman and a coffin. 1 662 621 9009; www.groundzerobluesclub.com). Co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, this blues joint screams old-school awesomeness. Jan 22, 2019 0 ; 11 Irresistible Restaurants That Define Missouri. Answer 1 of 4: Hey everyone, Me and my boyfriend are planning a 14 day road trip from Chicago to New Orleand (passing though Memphis, Clarksdale, Vicksburg, etc, following the Route 61 along side the Great River Road). While in Baton Rouge, check out Doe's Eat Place. TIP: Upgrade to a room with a fireplace for extra charm. About 2 hours south of Memphis and Little Rock is the town of Clarksdale, Mississippi. ; 800 359 9363; http://www.battlefieldinnms.com/). For your last stop, grab dinner in Biloxi, Mississippi at Mary Mahoney's Old French House. The “road trip” lies at the heart of American culture and has come to be a metaphor for freedom, and so it may come as no surprise that the internet is awash with recommended road trips across the US. The North Shore drive along Lake Superior is the most scenic stretch of road in Minnesota and possibly the entire Midwest. Admission is $15 per person, or if you have a student ID it's only $10. A Route 66 road trip is a driving adventure along what is probably the most famous road in the world. Drive easy to every great blues landmark from Nashville to New Orleans. If you’re into waterfalls, Gooseberry Falls isn’t to be … Seth Limmer, a rabbi from Armonk, New York, finishes his version of Neil Young's acoustic classic, "The Needle and the Damage Done"; then the owner of a Clarksdale music store picks up the pace with a rendition of Roger McGuinn's "Chestnut Mare." 1 901 726 5473), a juke joint three miles north of touristed Beale Street. Once you reach Vicksburg, pull over at Goldie's Trail Bar-B-Q, which has been around since the 1960s. Be prepared for remnants of ice and snow during the early spring and thunderstorms in late spring and early summer. "And by leaving they took their music to the world." Keep reading! Right next door is the Delta Blues Museum (#1 Blues Alley, Clarksdale; tel. The Stax sound—driving, playful, passionate—gave voice to a new optimism rising from the region. Here you'll find Rosedale, a town famed blues musician Robert Johnson sang about. 1 601 359 3297; www.visitmississippi.org); Clarksdale Tourism (tel. With its garish, casino-based economy, Tunica looks like Las Vegas. Travel Blues Highway on Route 61 from Memphis to Merigold, Mississippi, for juke joints, hot tamales, and Morgan Freeman for a great Southern road trip. Elvis knew it, too—his rock-and-roll is as rooted in the delta as a cypress tree in the lowland muck. 1 662 627 3239). Sometimes a road sings. Road Kit Memphis Convention and Visitors bureau (tel. Sometimes the music is played on guitars picked with calloused fingers in juke joints tucked under the pine trees. The song is Prince's hit, "Purple Rain," played blues style. It's a beautifully restored 19th century railroad station. This lakeside drive, Scenic 61, is part of the original Highway 61, following the 1899 wagon trail about 20 miles from Brighton Beach to the entrance to Two Harbors. 1 800 221 3536; www.visitvicksburg.com, —Text by Andrew Nelson, adapted from National Geographic Traveler, Road Trip: The Blues Highway, Tennessee and Mississippi, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/blues-highway-road-trip.html. There are tour guides onsite and a short film to start off your experience. Spend the night on the plantation at the Shack Up Inn. If you like the music of B.B. Highway 61: The best road trip for music lovers. Highway 61 running south out of Memphis forms a legendary route along the Mississippi River evocative of a delicious slice of Americana represented by a genre of music known as the Delta blues. In Clarksdale check the "who's playing" board (or the website) at Cat Head (252 Delta Ave.; tel. I enjoyed the rural quirkiness and found it necessary to budget extra time for entertaining unscheduled conversations. Today, what's worth singing about are the Mexican tamales at White Front Café (Main St., Rosedale; tel. The museum's collection includes more than 2,000 exhibits, videos, stage costumes, photographs, and instruments used to record the Stax sound. Also known as the Blues Highway, this route takes the adventurous driver from the Mississippi Headwaters in the northern state of Minnesota all the way to Cajun Country in New Orleans, in the southern state of Louisiana (and vice versa). The best time to take a road trip on Route 66 is from late April to early October. Directed by Bruce McDonald. The detailed day-by-day Route 66 itinerary covers all the basic details (mileage, general route) and sightseeing highlights along the 2,400 mile route. If you’ve had enough scenic tours of mountains and fresh air, head out onto the iconic Blues Highway, the famous Route 61 that leads to Nashville, Memphis, and finally to New Orleans, with the sweet and passionate tunes of Soul, R&B, and Jazz in the air. In fact, the area is so rich in musical history that U.S. Route 61, which runs right through it, has been dubbed the "Blues Highway". Route 66 is the ultimate American road trip and we've put together a comprehensive 2 week Route 66 itinerary to help drivers navigate this historic route. Hey everyone, Me and my boyfriend are planning a 14 day road trip from Chicago to New Orleand (passing though Memphis, Clarksdale, Vicksburg, etc, following the Route 61 along side the Great River Road).We really want to have the Delta Blues experience and go to places not really aimed for turist - we want to get to know the local people, watch bands playing blues and just enjoy everrythong. The hotel is just a two minute walk from the casino, and a couple miles from Natchez National Historic Park. To learn more about the history of the small towns along the Blues Highway, visit the Rural Life Museum. You begin by learning about the roots of blues and country, and how this genre of music started on farms and plantations, and then you'll move on up through the years. Using an old travel guide, Cathy drives a period Cadillac the length of Minnesota Highway 61 exploring the secrets of places long gone and spinning stories about people… This is not far from the storied blues crossroads where legend says the devil walks, guitar in hand, at midnight. Staying in roadside motels without reservation. But it's important to note that Clarksdale goes hard from Wednesday to Saturday night, but come Sunday through Tuesday it's pretty dead. In Nola we started our Road Trip through Highway 61 to Nashville. U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) is a major United States highway that extends 1,400 miles (2,300 km) between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. There's wifi and some suites have balconies and whirlpool tubs. There's also the Delta Blues Museum in town, which has been honoring the area’s blues heritage for the past 36 years, and if you visit during the right time, you might even catch some blues on their stage. Plan to spend time in the heart-shaped pool, and the jungle-themed lounge. Another cool feature is that there are jukeboxes in the exhibit rooms, so you can hear music from each time period. B. Answer 1 of 3: On Tripadvisor's Road Trips travel forum, travellers are asking questions and offering advice on topics like "Is December okay to visit or are things closed?". The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. The former sharecroppers’ quarters-turned-super-cool-cabins for rent, also offer beer and a live blues lounge. So did John Lee Hooker, Bessie Smith, and B.B. While no longer a working store, it is an enduring testament to the faith of Reverend H.D. While in Memphis, visit Lauderdale Courts, where Elvis Presley and his parents lived from 1949 til 1953. But, even if you don't end up staying, at least poke your head in and gawk at the ornate lobby.