A Memphis Road Trip in a Luxury SUV Is Just What We Needed

The journey is as important as the destination. We loved the beautiful drive from Atlanta to Memphis. Photo: Christa Thompson

Because the family friendly Buick Enclave has plenty of luxe perks for adulting, too.

Last I checked, us parents have a few things to celebrate when summer begins. No more 6:00 am wake up calls, packing lunches, or fundraisers. Don’t we deserve to squeeze in a parents getaway…kid free?

The answer is yes! The only next logical questions are, where? And how do we get there? If you’re searching online for parents getaway ideas then let this be your last stop because this trip is one of the best weekenders I’ve had in maybe ever, and road tripping in a family car was ideal.

Further Reading: Don’t need an SUV? Check out the Buick Regal Sportback

The pretty Memphis Egg. Photo: Christa Thompson

Parents Getaway Ideas – Choosing Our Destination

I racked my brain for no less than a month for parents getaway ideas. Now, I’m a huge fan of music. And my spouse, Sean, is a talented musician. We have a studio in our home and we listen to music every day. We even fell in love to music! We both grew up on American Icons like; Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, which made a parents getaway to Memphis a perfect destination.

We thought this would be a great opportunity to test out the 2018 Buick Enclave, a luxury SUV with a starting price of just $40,000 (the price of the model we drove is about $50,400). Just us, the Enclave, a bitchin playlist, and a mission to explore American Rock n Roll history. And we weren’t in the least bit guilty about doing it “adults only” style. 

Further Reading: Great tech for the perfect road trip

Incredible rock faces on the road to Memphis. Photo: Christa Thompson

Relaxing and Enjoying the Road to Memphis 

The drive to Memphis from the Atlanta is surprisingly beautiful. The landscape is full of wide open skies, unique rock face walls and rolling hills. It was the perfect backdrop for us to catch up on some much-needed conversation. As the miles faded away behind us to the sound of Hotel California, it seemed impossible to have anything but a perfect time.

It was also impossible not to notice what a comfortable drive we were having in the 2018 Buick Enclave. With its insanely spacious and luxurious cabin, smart technology, and advanced safety system, we were riding into music history first class. 

Further Reading: Check out the luxury in this family friendly SUV, the Chevy Tahoe

The ride to Memphis was made easy with theBuick Enclave’s active safety features that put us at ease and provided total comfort. Photo: Christa Thompson

When I think of taking a road trip I immediately get concerned about the level of comfort I’m going to have on the ride. Will I be able to stretch my legs out? Can I get some work done on my laptop? Will the music system sound good? Will there be enough room for us and the luggage? All of these points are seriously important to me. And of course, the safety of the vehicle is at the top of these concerns. So how did the 2018 Buick Enclave measure up?

I love this angle. It shows all of its sparkles! Photo: Christa Thompson

First, Let’s Talk Exterior

I’m not a white paint kind of girl, but the white on the 2018 Buick Enclave is superclass. I really loved the body style from front to back. Just check out these curves!

Looking sharp from the side! Photo Christa Thompson

Gotta love the back end on this one too! Photo Christa Thompson

Close up! Sporty, sexy and elegant! Photo: Christa Thompson

But, I’m All About What’s Happening on the Inside

Interior view from the second row.

Since that’s where a driver/passenger spends most of their time, I think it’s the most important. The Buick Enclave is total luxury from the steering wheel to the third row.

A closer look at the dash.

The center console is sharp! Photo: Christa Thompson

I love the trim and the streamlined design of the center console space. Photo: Christa Thompson

View from the driver’s seat. Photo: Christa Thompson

Ready for the road! Photo: Christa Thompson

Legroom – And More Legroom

Loads of leg room! Winning!

I was immediately blown away at how much leg room there was. I even took a photo to show you! Now I’m 5’6″ and I couldn’t even hit the floorboard with my toes. Now you might think that win no kids in the back seat I might have benefitted from putting my seat all the way back. But no. Same went for the back seat. Since we didn’t have any other passengers, we used the floor space in the back row for things like my purse, laptop, and snack bag. There was so much room! I can’t stress enough how important a spacious cabin is to me. I get motion sickness in small spaces, but I was 100% the entire time because the Enclave has so much cabin space.

Further Reading: The Enclave’s smaller sibling, the Encore, only skimps on size

Working from the Road Mom-Boss Style

I love the household plug feature. It’s so nice to be able to work on the road. Photo: Christa Thompson

Just look at this cabin space. So roomy! Photo: Christa Thompson

And the view from the front looking back is wide open spaces. Photo: Christa Thompson

When I’m in the passenger seat I’m all about taking in the scenery, listening to epic tunes, and making a dent in my email. There are no distractions in this space. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to get things done. I love that the Buick Enclave has a three-pronged outlet in the second row center console. I was able to plug in and feel super accomplished before we arrived in Memphis. It took a huge load off and I felt like I could really unwind.

This is a Luxury: Only Packing for Two

No need to fold the third row down when you’re packing for two. Photo: Christa Thompson

Though loads of cargo space will come in handy  in case you want to haul an Elvis statue back! Photo: Christa Thompson

We seriously could’ve packed for four and still have had the room to build a fort in the third row. That’s how much space there is in this SUV. It has all the minivan space without the minivan feels. We didn’t even need to put the third row down. I kid you not I could do a cross-country road trip in the Buick Enclave.

Other Features that Rocked Our Road Trip

I love that the navigation shows up in the dash. Photo: Christa Thompson

And the weather forecast for your trip is awesome! Photo: Christa Thompson

Your speed and the speed limit side by side. Photo: Christa Thompson

And: A front camera! Photo: Christa Thompson

And rear camera, too. Photo: Christa Thompson

On Star and on board Wi-Fi are fantastic services for both emergencies, routing information and staying connected. Love this! Photo: Christa Thompson

Butt warmers and coolers for the win.

We had a stellar onboard navigation system which I especially loved because it gave directions in the steering panel dash. I also loved the touchscreen LCD where I was able to have a hands free phone experience and even get the weather, for hourly updates! And the Bose sound system was EVERYTHING for our epic road trip playlist.

What We Listened to on the Road to Memphis

The Buick’s spacious cabin was the perfect place to both rock out and relax with our favorite tunes. A little back story: Sean is an incredibly talented musician and vocalist. His biggest influences are Maynard James Keenan, lead and mastermind of Tool, A Perfect Circle and Pucifer, Korn, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd and Muse. One of our must-listens is Mister Asylum, and one of three albums that Sean and I dated and fell in love to. So it was nice to bring back the feels. Plus it’s a killer album. And, our playlist had to have Mumford and Sons, another of the artists that Sean and I listened to when we dated and fell in love. It’s funny how music can be a score to your life.

Check Out My First Impression of the 2018 Buick Enclave in My Facebook Live Post!

Our Memphis Road Trip Parents Weekend Getaway: A Rock n Roll Adventure

All photos by Christa Thompson.

When we arrived in Memphis we were pumped. Both Sean and I are huge fans of Johnny Cash and Elvis. Memphis is where their careers were born so, we knew we were about to have a very memorable weekend. Thanks to the good folks at Memphis Tourism we had a killer itinerary lined up for us. It would take us in the footsteps of the greatest legends Rock n Roll has ever seen, starting with the historic Peabody Hotel where Elvis himself not only had his prom but signed his major record label with RCA.

The Historic Peabody Hotel Memphis

There’s no better place to travel through music history than the Peabody Hotel. Walking into this hotel was like stepping back in time. Its lavish art deco lobby made us feel like rock n roll royalty while its newly renovated rooms exuded elegance and comfort. 

Everything about Memphis brings you back to the raw talent, grit, and glamour at the dawn of Rock n Roll.

There’s an energy there that surrounds you whether you’re walking down historic Beale Street where some of the greatest talents of Blues, Soul and Rock n Roll started their careers or touring Graceland, home to the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley.

Visiting Graceland. Because, Memphis! 

Graceland, Elvis’ home, is untouched since he died in 1977. There is a massive archive dedicated to his history and much of Elvis’s life is on display.

Living the Rock -n-Roll Dream in Memphis

And when you get the chance to sing into the mic that Elvis and Johnny Cash sang into, you go big. We did, creating some of our most memorable experiences at Sun Studios, where Elvis and Johnny Cash both recorded their first hits. 

At the Gibson Guitar Factory Sean, was intrigued by the guitar making process and a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s greatest guitar brands.

And, he got to shred a bit on his dream Gibson.

Haunted Tours are a Must, Too

This old Civil War Hospital on the Historic Haunts Tour was among the creepiest places I’ve ever seen. However, we fell in love with the Mallory-Neely House, a haunted Victorian Mansion, also on the tour. 

Memphis Stays With You, Even After the Trip is Over

Memphis moved us. It lifted us off to another planet where our fandoms and minds buzzed. It was very special to getaway with my life partner and best friend and share this experience. And I couldn’t think of a better road trip vehicle than the Buick Enclave. From behind the wheel to the Graceland snow globe now adorning my son’s shelf, our Memphis road trip will keep us rockin on through the rest of the year.

Disclosure: Buick provided the Enclave for this story; travel considerations were also made by some of the travel partners mentioned here. All opinions are my own. 

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Christa Thompson

Christa is a professional travel and lifestyle blogger, public speaker and mom boss. She loves smart technology, cutting-edge safety, durability and value in her cars. In her car, she spends a lot of time on road trips, navigating Atlanta traffic, and doing all the mom things.

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Christa Thompson

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