Personally we preferred it to Nawlins and you have got the Stax Museum, Rock & Soul Museum, Gibson Guitar Factory which is well worth a tour to see how they are made, National Civil Rights Museum and affords you the opportunity to visit Graceland. I am no Elvis fan, although it was on Mrs BiM's bucket list so I trotted along, and was very glad I did. The house and grounds don't feel too commercial but the rest of the place does feel like a money making exercise. Musically if you do go the Kings Cafe on Beale Street is good as the bands perform in a garden on the side and you buy your beer as you go in but I would recommend that there are better restaurants in Main Street, like the Majestic Grill, rather than Beale Street.
Right, where to start; we did Nashville, Memphis & Nawlins this year, have been previously to Chicago before I'd developed any interest in blues. I don't mind country music, not a great fan of jazz, largely brought up on rock & soul. Can't give you any help re Lafayette as that wasn't on our list.
Amtrak; we took the Amtrak from Memphis to Nawlins and had a bedroom, which comes with its own toilet, shower and hand basin, also included breakfast and lunch (left at 6.30 and got into Nawlins around 3.30pm). I personally love Amtrak & if it suits our plans will always take it over flying, we've used it from Washington to Philadelphia and Boston to New York in the past. The bedroom effectively gives you an armchair and a settee when it's not being used as a bedroom (two bunks), so a bit of room to stretch out. However, it could be quite cramped if you had to sleep in it overnight. The cost wasn't extortionate, and you save yourself the aggravation of getting out of the city to the airport & vice versa at the other end. It left on time, arrived early, was a little tired in certain respects but gives you a chance to watch the world go by and see a bit more than you do at 30,000 feet and avoids driving.
Nashville; I think you may have your studios confused. We went to RCA Studio B in Nashville, I think Sun Studios is in Memphis? Mrs BiM is no great fan of country music and we were a bit concerned that she wouldn't enjoy it as much as I. However, Mrs BiM and I found out that country music covers a broader church then we ever realised. Whilst there we took in shows at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry - did the backstage tours at both, Country Music Hall of Fame (which incorporates RCA Studio B, Johnny Cash Museum, Musicians Hall of Fame and numerous bars. I would recommend the Ryman as the better show, although we thoroughly enjoyed both, just be aware the Grand Ole Opry is a bit out of town so need to get a bus or have a car. The backstage tour at the Opry was the better of the two. Johnny Cash museum we both found very interesting despite not being great fans and was a bit warts and all. However, the best museum for both of us the Musicians Hall of Fame as it covered all aspects of music and particularly concentrated on recording studio house bands and backing musicians. As far as recommending bars for music goes we were recommended Roberts Western World as the most authentic one by a guy called Ron Harmon who was our guide on the Studio B tour and was excellent. My advice on bars would be that you are fully equipped to make your own choice; walk along Broadway stop outside and listen for a minute - if you like it go in and if you don't walk on.
Nawlins - we stayed in the French Quarter. We found Bourbon Street to be a bit of a let down and Mrs BiM described it to a local as being "tacky" and he said Madam that is the perfect description and sent us to Frenchman Street instead which was much better. The City Bus is worth doing early to get your bearings and also included are a couple of walking tours - one of which we did that took us through a local cemetery which you should see as something different. You are expected to tip the guides - avoid cemetery no 1 as there is an admission charge but the garden district walking tour includes a cemetery for free. You can buy a travel pass which includes the trams and buses and is worth doing - $3 a day. Take the tram all the way down the St Charles Line to the end as you see a lot of the different style of housing etc. My must for Nawlins is Preservation Hall - you can buy tickets online in advance which cost more but guarantee you entry. Alternatively, for the full experience start queuing at least an hour before the show. It can be standing room only if you don't book in advance - it is cramped, not air-conditioned, $10 for a 45 min session and it's like going back 50 plus years to how jazz used to be played originally. As I said earlier I am no great jazz lover but that for me was the best musical experience of the whole holiday.
Chicago; the only music we did was Bon Jovi in Solider Field on the last night! However, we would recommend Twin Anchors restaurant for ribs - apparently it is where Frank Sinatra used to eat. There's a good deep pan pizza place as well whose name escapes me at the moment but I'll add it when it comes to me. We managed to get a Cubs baseball game in at Wrigley Field if you like that sort of thing and obviously depending when you go. Mrs BiM would recommend an architectural river tour which made sky scrapers even more interesting. You should go up Willis Tower and stand on the glass plate 102 floors up! There are quite a few museums to visit including the Shedd Aquarium and the natural history museum. Nice walks along the side of the lake and Navy Pier.
Memphis; no you weren't going there but if you want to Sun Studios you will be!
Hope that all helps and if there is anything specific you would like to know then come back to me.
I didn't think it possible, but that one actually is older than you………
