"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Four very different stops!
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But two are music-related. Short drive today. Less than 100 miles from Blytheville to Memphis. (Takes a deep breath!) I did make a quick stop north of Blytheville to see the Arch indicating the border between Missouri and Arkansas. Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Johnny Cash moved to what was then known as the Dyess Colony when he was three years old. It was a New Deal program from the FDR administration during the Great Depression that brought them here. He lived here until he was eighteen, when he joined the Air Force. After serving his enlistment, he returned to be discovered in Memphis! Civil Rights National Historic Park Of course, this one is a somber place to visit. Martin Luther King was murdered here in April 1968. The Lorraine Motel has been restored to look much like it did that day. The day before, he gave one of his famous speeches in support of the Memphis sanitation workers. The museum has over 20 exhibit areas that show the lives of slaves, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and the struggles they faced to achieve the same rights as white people. They told us we could take pictures, but hardly anyone did, and I thought it would be disrespectful. On the picture below, the wreath is in front of room 306. MLK was murdered as he stepped out of that room. Sun Studios Initially, I had several more stops on my stay here, but I decided the best would be the Sun Studios. Established in 1950, Sam Phillips wanted to find and record all the Blues artists around the area. Some of the better-known artists included Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Blind Willie McTell, and many others. One day in 1952, young Elvis Presley walked in and wanted to record. Sam Phillips was out, but his assistant did the recording. Sam thought he did ballads and said he didn’t want to take it further! About a year later, he came in with two other musicians to record. As they were wrapping up, Elvis did his take on “That’s All Right” in his own style, in what became known as the Rockabilly sound. And the rest is history! Bass Pro Shop Pyramid I only came here because the Memphis store is built in a giant pyramid. It’s even got a hotel inside. In typical Bass Pro Shop (and now Cabela’s) style, the store is a true outdoors person's heaven! For those of you into all the outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and more, you’ll enjoy it. For the rest of us, it’s still worth a stop! More tomorrow. (Or the next day.) I’m going to end tomorrow in Natchez, MS. Following that, I’m make New Orleans my “headquarters” for four nights! Thanks for following… The Driveby Tourist “Team” Note: These will be quick notes at the end of the day. I’ll send them “regularly.” Please excuse grammatical errors as I’m doing these on the fly! |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Nestled along the banks of the Delaware River, Trenton, New Jersey, is a city where American history was quite literally forged. While many know it as the state capital, Trenton’s legacy stretches back to the nation's very birth. 🛶❄️ Most famously, Trenton was the site of George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware on Christmas night in 1776. This bold move led to a pivotal victory in the Battle of Trenton, a turning point that breathed new life into the American Revolution. Today,...
If you’re in Seward, Alaska, on July 4th, don't expect a standard road race. If you are visiting Alaska for any reason, why not see this race? Whether you are here because it’s Alaska, or if you are on a 50-state quest, or you just love Alaska, check it out! The legendary Mount Marathon Race 🏔️is one of the oldest and most grueling traditions in the U.S., but there’s a catch: it isn’t actually a marathon! While a traditional marathon is 26.2 miles, this race is only 3.1 to 3.5 miles. However,...
Sorry, it went out on Sunday. By mistake! However, since you are a subscriber, I'm sure you know about visiting all 50 states? Of course, it's a common theme in here. One of my daughters just joined the All Fifty Club. She has 36 states ( you need 35 to join.) But you can sign up for the newsletter any time. Another daughter believes she has 35 or more but needs to count them and sign up also. My oldest daughter (I have three) believes she's at 34. I'm going to tell her that I'll help fund a...