No Memphis visitor should miss Beale Street—one of music's most famous stretches of pavement.
Begin your journey in Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry, where countless singer-songwriters hope to play “country’s most famous stage.” On your first night, hit the listening room at The Bluebird Cafe, a roots-rock showcase. You might catch a set from the next breakout star.
The next day, grab a strong coffee-to-go at the Magazine Street location of Nashville’s Barista Parlor, and fuel up for your trek with a lunch of hot chicken at Prince’s, the iconic shack that’s been setting taste buds aflame for seven decades. Jump back in the Expedition—thanks to available 2nd-row Tip-and-Slide Seats, hopping in and out as you tour music history will be super easy for you and your road trip buddies. Memphis awaits—grab some napkins and point the wheel toward I-40 West.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Bluebird Cafe sells out often. Check their schedule months before you plan to go visit.
In rural areas along your route, restaurants might have limited hours, so check before you go.
Memphis’ historic Beale Street has been a musical gathering ground since the early 1800s.
On your three-hour drive to the city known as the “Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll,” you can swap songs with your fellow road trippers and create the perfect playlist, thanks to the entirely new 2018 Ford Expedition’s available SYNC® Connect,1 a 4G LTE Wi-Fi+ hotspot2 that can connect up to ten devices at once. Exit at Elvis Presley Boulevard and spend the afternoon touring Graceland, the storied former residence of the hip-swiveling singer who changed popular music forever. Then sleep like a king (or the King) at The Guest House at Graceland, the newly renovated hotel across the street.
The next morning, order an open-faced omelet with cheesy grits at Brother Juniper’s and gear up to explore some of music history’s most hallowed halls. Look for the giant guitar hanging in front of tiny Sun Studio, perhaps the best-known recording studio in the world. The hour-long tour is concise but unforgettable, packed with memorabilia and colorful stories from the building’s 1950s heyday.
Hop back behind the wheel and listen to your favorite rock 'n' roll pioneers on the available 12-speaker B&O PLAY™ Premium Audio System by HARMAN as you cruise through South Memphis to another Tennessee treasure, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Be sure to visit the “Wall of Sound,” a hallway with floor-to-ceiling cases that showcase the albums released by Stax Records from 1957 to 1975. Don’t forget to stop at the listening stations, where you can enjoy funk and soul hits from the era.
Easily drive from famous homes to music museums with voice activated navigation.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time to dig into Memphis’ other famous export: barbecue. In a town with a ridiculous number of killer rib joints, the dry-rubbed delicacies at Corky’s are considered by many to be the pinnacle of pork perfection. Grab a slab, along with a side of creamy mac and cheese, at the original Poplar Avenue location. (If you spot a neon sign of a smiling pig wearing a chef’s hat, you’re in the right place.) After dinner, drive to Beale Street and park your ride. It’s time to soak up the music scene along this iconic, pedestrian-friendly street.
Catch a set at Blue Hall, a small room draped in white lights that will make you feel like you’re getting your own private show. Finish off your evening by grooving to the sounds of the house band at B.B. King’s Blues Club. It’s only fitting that you end your musical tour at the namesake venue of one of the most influential bluesmen of all time.
The soundtrack for your drive through music history will never sound better—or be easier to control— with the Expedition’s available SYNC 3®1 with Apple CarPlay™3 and Android Auto™4 and the available 12-speaker B&O PLAY premium audio system that delivers a rich and powerful sound that provides pure listening pleasure.
SYNC Connect is an optional feature on select 2017 model year vehicles and includes service for five years from the vehicle sale date as recorded by the dealer.
The Wi-Fi hotspot includes a trial subscription of three months or three gigabytes whichever comes first. After the trial subscription, a wireless service plan is required for the Wi-Fi hotspot. Message and data rates may apply. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi alliance®.
