Quick Summary: Planning a summer getaway or looking for the best activities in Memphis for seniors? Route 61, known as the Blues Highway, is packed with great barbecue, music history, landmarks, and museums, perfect for great road trips from Memphis, all within a two-hour drive. This guide from The Farms at Bailey Station highlights must-see stops along the Blues Highway, summer safety tips for seniors traveling in the Delta area, and how maintenance-free, carefree independent living can offer older adults more freedom to travel.
If you love hot music, smoky barbecue, and cool places to visit, there’s a famous highway running through Memphis where you can get your kicks—and it’s not the one you’re probably thinking of!
While the iconic Route 66 does not run through Tennessee, Route 61, known as the Blues Highway, is filled with great road trips from Memphis for older adults looking for summer fun and adventure.
For adults over 55 looking for luxury independent living conveniently located near the music, culture, and soul of Memphis, a visit to The Farms at Bailey Station in Collierville, TN, is the perfect place to kick off a road trip. Located just 30 minutes from Memphis, The Farms at Bailey Station offers easy access to amazing local attractions. We provide older adults a maintenance-free lifestyle, independent senior living apartments, chef-prepared dining, and resort-style amenities, perfect for on-the-go Tennesseans looking for a home base in between vacations.
Ready to hit the road? We’ve prepared a personal travel itinerary for a rockin’ good time on Route 61, with travel tips for seniors, a list of the best BBQ places in Memphis, and unforgettable destinations for music, culture, and food lovers.
Before You Go: Travel Tips for Seniors
As Eddie Cochran (and later, Alan Jackson) lamented, you can’t cure the summertime blues. However, being mindful of heat safety for seniors will help you cruise in style and avoid unfortunate bumps in the road along the way.
Your body reacts differently to heat changes as you age, and with average summer temperatures in Memphis, TN reaching the upper 80s and low 90s, it’s important for people of all ages to avoid overheating.
Here are some tips for staying cool in hot weather to keep the fun going all summer long.
Summer Safety Tips for Seniors:
- Plan travel times for earlier in the day: According to the National Weather Service, mornings in the Memphis, TN, and Jackson, MS, area are 20°F cooler on average than the hottest part of the day, typically between 3-5 p.m.
- Check the heat index as well as the temperature: Even if you’re used to hot summer weather, make sure to check both the heat index for your destination and the “Feels Like” temperature. High heat index days may be the perfect time to check out an indoor museum or charming local bookstore.
- Stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty: As we age, our brain’s thirst signals are blunted, which means that natural thirst triggers are less effective for older adults. Make sure to bring water bottles with you in the car and pack a cooler.
Now, let’s hit the road and check out some of the best activities for seniors and best BBQ places in Memphis.
Best Activities for Seniors in Memphis: Music, Museums, and Mouthwatering BBQ
The only way to begin a trip down Route 61 is the birthplace of the blues, Memphis, TN.
Widely regarded as the “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy began writing and performing blues music in clubs of Memphis’ Beale Street in the early 1900s. Handy’s Memphis home is now the W.C. Handy Home and Museum, which features photos, memorabilia, and personal artifacts.
For your next stop, just minutes away from the W.C. Handy museum, head to Sun Studios. Known as the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, this legendary studio is where an 18-year-old Elvis Presley recorded his first song, and B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison began their careers. Opened by Sam Phillips in 1950, Sun Studios is still used as a recording studio today.
When you’re ready to get some grub, visit some of Memphis’ most-famous barbecue joints. With more than 100 barbecue restaurants, the most per capita in the country, there’s plenty to choose from. Here’s a short list to whet your appetite:
Best BBQ Places in Memphis:
- Central BBQ: Central BBQ is a good entry point for those who may be unfamiliar with Memphis barbecue. Known for their BBQ nachos, they also have some of the best smoked wings in town.
- Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous: One of Memphis’ most famous BBQ joints, Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous features charcoal-grilled dry ribs with a Greek-influenced spice rub.
- Corky’s Ribs and BBQ: An East Memphis favorite, Corky’s is beloved for its heavily sauced ribs and onion loaf.
- Marlowe’s Ribs & Restaurant: Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Marlowe’s also offers BBQ shrimp and Italian-style BBQ spaghetti in addition to staples like brisket.
- Cozy Corner BBQ: Serving some of the city’s most distinctive dishes, Cozy Corner BBQ is known for its slow-smoked Cornish game hen, ribs, and hot sausage.
Highway 61 Revisited: Top Blues Highway Destinations
The legendary Blues Highway served as the inspiration for rock legend Bob Dylan’s 1965 album, Highway 61 Revisited. In his memoir, Dylan described his spiritual connection to Route 61, describing it as “the main thoroughfare of the country blues.”
If you’re headed out on your own spiritual journey through the heart of Delta blues country, here is a list of stops to hit along the way, moving South from The Farms in Collierville, TN:
- Walls, MS (45 minutes from Collierville): Walls is the childhood home of Lizzie Douglas, known as “Memphis Minnie.” Douglas was a blues guitarist and an innovator in country and early electric blues who wrote and recorded the first version of Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.” Her gravesite and a Blues Trail marker are located in Walls.
- Tunica, MS (1 hour from Collierville): Tunica is home to the Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center. A must-see for all music lovers, it tells the story of how the blues was formed and the role the Delta landscape played in its creation.
- Clarksdale, MS (1 hour 35 minutes from Collierville): According to legend, blues icon Robert Johnson traded his soul to the devil to become a better guitarist at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale. Whether you believe this tall tale or not, the city is the birthplace of John Lee Hooker and Sam Cooke, the boyhood home of Muddy Waters, and where Bessie Smith died. Today, Muddy Waters’ original cabin can be seen at the Delta Blues Museum. Actor Morgan Freeman opened the Ground Zero Blues Club here with business partner Bill Luckett and Memphis entertainment executive Howard Stovall as well.
- Cleveland, MS (2 hours from Collierville): The Grammy Museum Mississippi is a fitting final stop on your journey down the Blues Highway. It features a Mississippi Music Bar where you can check out the range of different musical styles that originated here.
The Farms at Bailey Station: The Perfect Place to Come Home To
After an unforgettable weekend chasing the ghost of Robert Johnson and digging into a rack of ribs, there’s nothing better than coming home to a place that still feels like part of your vacation.
Living a maintenance-free lifestyle at The Farms gives you the freedom to head out for a weekend getaway without worrying about who will cut the grass or look after your house. Best of all, no chores will be waiting for you when you return. You can put some records on, pour a cool drink, and put your feet up.
Everyday life feels just like vacation here, too. At our outdoor spaces in the Central Park and Chimney Park neighborhoods, you can impress your friends with the BBQ knowledge you picked up on your trip and swap stories. Or catch up with friends and trade souvenirs over a chef-prepared meal. Add in a high-end Athletic Club, on-site massage therapist, and luxurious sauna for a completely relaxing, carefree retirement lifestyle.
Just 30 minutes from Memphis, TN, The Farms at Bailey Station in Collierville, TN, puts you in close proximity to the music, culture, and food you want to experience, while also providing a quiet, relaxing, and luxurious space to come home to each night.
If independent living at The Farms sounds like music to your ears, come experience our lifestyle for yourself. Contact our team today to schedule a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What are some destinations on Route 61, the Blues Highway, that are good road trips from Memphis?
Route 61 runs south from Memphis through the Mississippi Delta. It’s lined with historical markers, museums, and the hometowns of legendary musicians, making it a rich destination for a music- and history-filled road trip.
Some great destinations on the Blues Highway within two hours of Memphis include:
- Memphis, TN: W.C. Handy Home and Museum, Sun Studios, and world-famous barbecue.
- Walls, MS: Childhood home of Lizzie Douglas, aka “Memphis Minnie,” legendary blues guitarist.
- Tunica, MS: Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center.
- Clarksdale, MS: Site of Robert Johnson myth (crossroads of Highways 61 and 49), birthplace of John Lee Hooker and Sam Cooke, boyhood home of Muddy Waters, and where Bessie Smith died. Today, it’s home to the Delta Blues Museum and Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club.
- Cleveland, MS: Grammy Museum Mississippi, featuring the various types of music that originated in Mississippi.
2. How far is Clarksdale, MS from The Farms at Bailey Station?
Clarksdale is about 1 hour and 35 minutes from Collierville, TN, making it an easy day trip or overnight getaway. It’s home to the Delta Blues Museum, Muddy Waters’ original cabin, the famous Highway 61 and 49 crossroads, and Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club.
3. What are some tips to stay cool during hot weather for seniors traveling the Blues Highway?
Even for those used to warmer temperatures, the Memphis area can reach the low 90s during the summer months.
Some other summer safety tips for seniors include:
- Plan travel times for earlier in the day: Mornings in the Memphis, TN, and Jackson, MS, area are 20°F cooler on average than the hottest part of the day.
- Check the heat index as well as the temperature: The heat index or the “Feels Like” temperature helps identify days with an increased risk for heat-related illnesses. On days with a high heat index, older adults may want to plan indoor activities to stay out of the sun, such as an indoor museum or local bookstore.
- Stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty: Our brain’s thirst signals are blunted, becoming less effective as we age. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, be sure to drink plenty of water and pack a cooler for the car.
4. What are some of the best BBQ restaurants in Memphis?
Memphis is home to more than 100 barbecue restaurants, including local favorites like Central BBQ, Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous, Corky’s Ribs and BBQ, Marlowe’s Ribs & Restaurant, and Cozy Corner BBQ — each with its own signature style, from dry-rubbed ribs to slow-smoked Cornish game hen.
5. Is The Farms at Bailey Station close to Memphis-area attractions?
Yes — The Farms at Bailey Station is located in Collierville, TN, just 30 minutes from Memphis. Residents enjoy easy access to the city’s music history, culture, and dining, along with a maintenance-free lifestyle that makes it simple to travel and explore the area without worrying about home upkeep.
