Eight places to be this Memorial Day weekend, an AW list

Most people spend Memorial Day Weekend in the backyard, at a local beach or stuck in traffic. That's all well and good, but you, AutoWeek reader, are not most people.

Where you should be this weekend:

1. Indianapolis

Like we even need to tell you about this one. Last year's Indy 500 may have been televised in more than 294 million households, but nothing beats seeing the winner take a swig of milk in person.

More info: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com

2. New York City

Active Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard ships dock along the New York City for Fleet Week, May 26 to June 1. Visitors can tour ships and do a meet-and-greet with military personnel. A Memorial Day celebration is scheduled on Monday at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Oh, and we're told this city has a bit of a nightlife.

More info: www.intrepidmuseum.org

3. Memphis, Tenn.

Graceland will host a car show for fit a king May 27-30. The Elvis Motor Classics International Car Show will feature hundreds of cars from car clubs throughout the country.

More info: www.elvis.com

4. Cincinnati

Six blocks of downtown Cincinnati will be dedicated to the nation's longest-running culinary-arts festival on May 29 to 30. Each year, the P&G Taste of Cincinnati USA brings out about 500,000 people to taste-test the city's top entrees.

More info: www.taste-of-cincinnati.com

5. Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.

Daytona Prototypes and GTs will race side-by-side at Lime Rock Park for the first time ever. Show up to see how the 30 Grand-Am cars fare on the 1.5-mile racetrack during the Memorial Day Classic, May 29-31.

More info: www.limerock.com

6. Istanbul, Turkey

If you happen to make it out to Eurasia this weekend, don't forget the 2010 Formula One Turkish Grand Prix. You can see firsthand whether Mark Webber will take his third straight win of the season.

More info: www.formula1.com

7. Concord, N.C.

Sprint Cup drivers will take on NASCAR's longest race during the Coca-Cola 600 on May 30. Watch the U.S. Army parachute team the Golden Knights jump over the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the race's preshow.

More info: www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

8. Washington, D.C.

Our nation's capital hosts several events during Memorial Day weekend, but we're most excited for Rolling Thunder. A rally in honor of prisoners of war and those missing in action, the demonstration will bring more than 250,000 motorcycles to the streets of D.C. this weekend.

More info: www.rollingthundermotorcyclerally.com

By Izzi Bendall