Discover Memphis Scavenger Hunt
Discover the Home of the Blues with a scavenger hunt across Memphis. Stand on the corner where the Sun Studio recorded Elvis, walk through Graceland's Jungle Room, drink a Yazoo at the foot of Beale Street and time your day around the Peabody Hotel duck march. Dry rub on the BBQ, neon on the venues, Mississippi rolling past.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Beale Street
Navigate to Beale Street in downtown Memphis and check in around 2nd Street under the neon arches.
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2
Sun Studio
Walk east on Union Avenue to Sun Studio and check in at the famous yellow guitar facade.
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3
Peabody Hotel
Walk west to the Peabody Hotel lobby and check in by the marble fountain (time it for 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. for the duck march).
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4
Graceland
Rideshare south on Elvis Presley Boulevard to Graceland and check in at the gates of the mansion.
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5
Stax Museum
Drive to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on College Street and check in at the marquee out front.
Challenges (20)
Memphis kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Memphis backdrop (a neon Beale Street sign, a blue suede shoe, a guitar in a shop window) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Beale Street
Navigate to Beale Street in downtown Memphis and check in around 2nd Street under the neon arches.
Beale Street neon pose
The Beale Street neon arches and venue marquees are the iconic Memphis photo. Find a great angle on the neon (B.B. King's Blues Club, the Memphis sign) and take a group photo with the team posed under the lights.
Live music moment
Beale Street has live blues, rock and soul drifting out of every doorway from afternoon onward. Find a venue with a band playing (or a busker on the street), drop a tip and take a group photo with the music behind you.
Checkpoint: Sun Studio
Walk east on Union Avenue to Sun Studio and check in at the famous yellow guitar facade.
Sun Studio guitar pose
Sun Studio is where Elvis cut his first record. Find the giant yellow guitar on the side of the building and take a group photo with the team posed in front of it, air-guitars optional.
Trivia: Sun Studio recorded Elvis
Sam Phillips founded Sun Studio and Sun Records. In what year did Elvis Presley first walk in and record (the year of "That's All Right")?
Answer: 1954
Checkpoint: Peabody Hotel
Walk west to the Peabody Hotel lobby and check in by the marble fountain (time it for 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. for the duck march).
Peabody duck march
Five North American mallard ducks march from the rooftop to the lobby fountain at 11 a.m. and back at 5 p.m. Get a spot near the red carpet, take a group photo with the ducks waddling past (or by the fountain afterward if you missed the march).
Trivia: Peabody ducks since
The Peabody Hotel's duck tradition began in what decade (the year a manager left his decoys in the fountain as a joke)? Give the year, within two.
Answers: 1933 / 1932 / 1934 / 1931 / 1935
Checkpoint: Graceland
Rideshare south on Elvis Presley Boulevard to Graceland and check in at the gates of the mansion.
Graceland gates pose
The wrought-iron Music Gates with their notes and silhouettes are the entrance to Elvis's mansion. Find the gates, line the team up and take a group photo with the gates and mansion behind.
Trivia: Elvis bought Graceland
Elvis Presley bought Graceland and moved in with his parents in what year (he was 22 years old)?
Answer: 1957
Jungle Room visit
If you tour the mansion, find the green-shag-carpet Jungle Room where Elvis recorded his last two albums. Take a respectful group photo near the entrance (no flash inside).
Checkpoint: Stax Museum
Drive to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on College Street and check in at the marquee out front.
Stax marquee shot
The Stax marquee with its blue-and-white tile spells out STAX in giant letters. Find a flattering angle and take a group photo with the marquee behind the team.
Memphis BBQ taste
Memphis is one of the four pillars of American BBQ. Order a pulled-pork sandwich, dry-rub ribs or BBQ nachos from a local spot (Central BBQ, Rendezvous, Cozy Corner) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Mississippi River backdrop
Walk to Tom Lee Park or Mud Island and find a vantage point over the Mississippi. Take a group photo with the brown river and the M-shaped Hernando de Soto Bridge in the background.
Local Memphian tip
Convince a local Memphis resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Memphis finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Memphis spot (Beale at neon-lit night, the Mississippi at sunset, the Sun Studio facade in golden light) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the Home of the Blues!
Frequently asked questions
A full day. Six hours covers downtown (Beale, Sun Studio, Peabody, Civil Rights Museum) plus Graceland and Stax to the south. Graceland alone is a three-hour visit. Most groups split: downtown in the morning, drive to Graceland for the afternoon tour, end on Beale at night.
Yes if anyone in your group is an Elvis fan, no if you want a quick photo. The mansion tour is timed-entry with an audio guide and takes two to three hours including the trophy buildings and car museum. Book ahead for spring and summer. The Graceland gates and grounds are photogenic without admission.
Twice daily: 11 a.m. for the morning walk from the rooftop penthouse to the lobby fountain, and 5 p.m. for the return. Crowds form 30 minutes before, so claim a spot near the red carpet by 10:30 or 4:30. The hunt times one Peabody challenge around the march.
Beale Street is the natural starting point: free street parking on Second Street, the neon arches anchor the opening photo and Sun Studio is a ten-minute walk east. From there you rideshare south to Graceland and Stax in the afternoon, and back to Beale for dinner.
Mostly yes. Beale Street is family-friendly during the day (drinking neighbourhood at night), Sun Studio runs guided tours that welcome kids, Graceland has child-pricing and ducks at the Peabody are universally loved. The Civil Rights Museum is serious and best for ages 10 and up.