For those who enjoy rock music and wonder how it all begin, look no further than Sun Studio in downtown Memphis. Located north of Beale Street and close to the Mississippi River Museum, a plethora of famous artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, came to this record studio for their early recordings.
Best to go to Sun Studio
There is no bad time to visit this museum. The best advice is to keep an eye out on when temporary exhibits from nearby Graceland Mansion are going to be at the museum. There won't be massive crowds, and you will learn all you ever wanted to know about rock n' roll's early history.
Must see/do at Sun Studio
You absolutely must take the tour. Through the tour, you will hear all about how the record company began, how it recorded artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash and at the end you will get to pose with the microphone Elvis used to record many of his early singles.
Admission into Sun Studio
To just walk inside the building, look around the establishment and buy souvenirs is completely free. Now, to enjoy all the museum has to offer and to take the tour, that will cost you between $10-15. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free.
Parking at Sun Studio
Parking can be a little confusing if you are unfamiliar with Memphis. There is some parking behind the building that is available to the guests, or there is the option of taking a free shuttle between there and Graceland. Public Transit is also a viable option as many MATA (Memphis Area Transportation Authority) buses stop near the venue.
Food at Sun Studio
Aside from buying small snacks in the gift shop, the museum does not have a restaurant inside of it. Some nearby options will be along Marshall and Madison Avenues. Kudzus Bar and Grill offers traditional bar food at a reasonable price, and the nearby High Cotton Brewing Company has its homemade craft beers on tap to enjoy on a warm afternoon.
Insider tip for visitors to Sun Studio
If you are debating between Sun Studio and Graceland, pick this one. It's cheaper and you will get a more thorough experience. Also, if you're lucky, a former Sun Studio recording artist just might be the one showing you around the venue.
Author's bio: WIl Petty is a resident of Winston-Salem, N.C. where he works as a journalist at a regional paper. Wil enjoys spontaneous road trips, and trying the cuisines and craft beers those destinations offer. Follow him on Twitter @WilPetty.
