10 Best in Memphis

1. Best Scenic Landmark: Mississippi River Bluffs
Standing on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, it’s easy to get swept away thinking of Big Muddy’s place in history, its raw power, and the fact that to this day, there is scant development on the Arkansas bank opposite Memphis. Very few downtowns this size offer as much greenscape so close. There are numerous public spaces downtown to catch a glimpse of the river, have a picnic on its banks, enjoy a run or walk, even catch a concert. Just a few: Mud Island River Park; Tom Lee Park; and the Ornamental Metal Museum’s Riverbluff Pavillion, which offers a spectacular view of a huge bend in the river – a view which Mark Twain described as "the finest between Cairo and New Orleans."

2. Best Place to Stretch Your Legs: Shelby Farms
What was once a penal farm is now a 4500-acre park that provides a whole host of outdoor activities – from wild, woodland trails that skirt the Wolf River and a dandy of a cross country course to paddleboats and horse rentals. There’s even a herd of buffalo to catch the scent, er, a glimpse of. The park is located in eastern Shelby County and will eventually be connected to downtown Memphis via the Wolf River Greenway.

3. Best Music, Period: The Stax Museum of American Soul Music
In the 1960s and 70s Memphis’ Stax Records had more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 pop charts and some 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts. Home to such artists as the Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T & the MGs, Stax also showed what can happen when black and white musicians from an otherwise segregated Memphis made music together. The proof is in the sound which you can still experience in a section of town known as Soulsville USA at the The Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

4. Best New Club: Ground Zero
Co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman and his business partner Bill Luckett, Ground Zero features live blues and the occasional celebrity sighting. Opened in the spring of 2008 near the foot of Beale Street, the joint could possibly rival B.B. King’s Blues Club as the most upscale nightclub in town. (This is the second Ground Zero location; the first opened in Clarksdale, MS, in 2001.) (http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com)

5. Best Radio: WEVL
Memphis continues to be a terrific music town, in no small measure due to the existence of WEVL, 89.3 on the FM dial. Every city in the country should have such a community-supported radio station (WEVL stands for “we volunteer”) that offers such rich musical programming. Check out their schedule and listen online. (http://www.wevl.org)