Things to do in Memphis, TN

While Nashville lays claim to the auspicious title "Music City" further to the east, the reality is that Memphis lays claim to two original forms of American music - rock 'n' roll and the blues - and offers a grittier but equally rich history of grass roots music that's engrained into the fabric of the city's present day state. Historic, world-famous Beale Street boasts the apt nickname "Home of the Blues," and even on weeknights you'll hear timeless blues refrains drifting in the air around this district. The Beale Street Music Festival (during Memphis in May) features a delightful, eclectic mix of big-name stars performing side-by-side with local acts.  When it comes to rock and soul, no city can match Memphis; home to Elvis Presley's Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Smithsonian-curated Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Memphis is a must-visit destination of fans of American music.

Memphis is best known as one of a handful of pinnacles of barbecue. Memphis in May, one of the largest and most vibrant festivals in the South, is host to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, widely known as the largest competition of its kind in the world, and affectionately called the Superbowl of...  

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While Nashville lays claim to the auspicious title "Music City" further to the east, the reality is that Memphis lays claim to two original forms of American music - rock 'n' roll and the blues - and offers a grittier but equally rich history of grass roots music that's engrained into the fabric of the city's present day state. Historic, world-famous Beale Street boasts the apt nickname "Home of the Blues," and even on weeknights you'll hear timeless blues refrains drifting in the air around this district. The Beale Street Music Festival (during Memphis in May) features a delightful, eclectic mix of big-name stars performing side-by-side with local acts.  When it comes to rock and soul, no city can match Memphis; home to Elvis Presley's Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Smithsonian-curated Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Memphis is a must-visit destination of fans of American music.

Memphis is best known as one of a handful of pinnacles of barbecue. Memphis in May, one of the largest and most vibrant festivals in the South, is host to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, widely known as the largest competition of its kind in the world, and affectionately called the Superbowl of Swine by barbecue fans. The city's love affair with this culinary form, though, is best evidenced by the near-infinite array of barbecue stands and smokehouses strewn throughout the city. There's no shortage of hole-in-the-wall joints that offer budget dining that can't be matched anywhere in the country. One insider tip: when you order at just about any barbecue joint, you'll be asked whether you want it "wet" or "dry?" Wet means anointed in delicious sauces, dry means rubbed with spices before cooking.

Memphis is perched on the shore of the Mississippi, a fact that has defined much of the city's history and economy. Thus, the city's occasional, colloquial nicknames "River City" and "Bluff City." Where the Mississippi runs past the city, five miles of idyllic parks serve as great public spaces for picnics, casual sports, and other outdoor activities. If you tire of strolling through the parks and along the banks, take to the water with a riverboat ride or canoe rental. These are entertaining in their own right, but they also offer some of the best views of Memphis available. As of spring, 2012, Memphis is again a launching point for river steamboat cruises, thanks to a new venture of the Great American Steamboat Company.

For a long time, Beale Street, with its blues temperament and bustling live music venues, was one of a very few portions of downtown Memphis not in a state of near-abandonment. Since just after 2000, though, the downtown has experienced something of a Renaissance, and at present Memphis boasts one of the largest downtown residential populations of anywhere in the US. Beautification projects have led to the cultivation of a number of excellent parks on the banks of the Mississippi. Carriage, trolley, and boat rides abound, each one an equally good option for taking in the sights and sounds.

Memphis is a hotbed of more specialized, often more powerful museums, featuring small yet important collections of art and history. The National Civil Rights Museum, located adjacent to the landmark Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, is a emotionally haunting and riveting experience.  The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a must-visit that brings the city's lesser-known story of soul music and the 'Memphis Sound' alive. Finally, The National Ornamental Metal Museum traces the history of decorative metal in the US - so very prevalent in the South - through the country's history, with historic exhibits and live demonstrations. It also boasts one of the best gift shops in the city.

Rising up from the black Mississippi River soil, Memphis is a sprawling metropolis with a unique, comforting Southern flair. The city played an important role in the Civil War and in the Civil Rights movement, yet it's most famous for its love of the good life. Most important, according to many Memphians, are blues and barbecue. The two have become synonymous with the city, and it claims to produce the best of both. While they're at the heart of Memphis culture, there's still much more to see and do, from exploring blossoming art scenes to cheering for its two favorite basketball teams, the NBA's Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers.

Due to rich delta soil, the 'King of Cotton,' as the city came to be called, developed a profitable economy in the early 1800s but one that was reliant on slavery. From these beginnings, the city spent many years struggling towards racial equality and eventually became a focal point of the Civil Rights movement. In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Memphis to speak and was tragically assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. The city has come a long way since those days, and today you can visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Dr. King's assassination.

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Rising up from the black Mississippi River soil, Memphis is a sprawling metropolis with a unique, comforting Southern flair. The city played an important role in the Civil War and in the Civil Rights movement, yet it's most famous for its love of the good life. Most important, according to many Memphians, are blues and barbecue. The two have become synonymous with the city, and it claims to produce the best of both. While they're at the heart of Memphis culture, there's still much more to see and do, from exploring blossoming art scenes to cheering for its two favorite basketball teams, the NBA's Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers.

Due to rich delta soil, the 'King of Cotton,' as the city came to be called, developed a profitable economy in the early 1800s but one that was reliant on slavery. From these beginnings, the city spent many years struggling towards racial equality and eventually became a focal point of the Civil Rights movement. In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Memphis to speak and was tragically assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. The city has come a long way since those days, and today you can visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Dr. King's assassination.

Memphis's greatest claim to fame rests in its contribution to the identity of American music;  rock 'n' roll and the blues had their beginnings in Memphis, and the soulful sounds of the 1960's and 1970's emanated from the city as well. Sun Studio recorded the first hits of greats like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King and Johnny Cash. The Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy, wrote the first blues song on Memphis's famed Beale Street, which is still a hub of traditional blues.

Memphis may be equally famous for its barbecue - pork shoulders slow cooked at a low temperature for hours on end, the meat pulled or chopped, the choices of wet or dry. As one Memphian says, "If it didn't squeal and have a curly tail, you can't call it barbecue." With close to 100 barbecue joints scattered across the city and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (known locally as the Superbowl of Swine) each May, Memphis is indeed one of the meccas for barbecue in American. However, dining in Memphis has become more diverse and is no longer limited to traditional Southern fare; the city rivals Nashville for its diverse dining scene, with everything from upscale dining to restaurants which focus on locally-produced foods. Memphis has some of the top chefs of the South including Kelly English of Restaurant Iris, Wally Joe of Acre, and John Bragg of Circa.

Not surprisingly, nightlife in Memphis is dominated by live music, leaving little differentiation between bars and clubs. Almost any night of the week, on any major strip in town, folks can hear the sweet reminders of the city's love affair with music. Shopping here is becoming world-class, with local boutiques featuring high-end designers, unique gift and home decor stores scattered throughout the city, and a collection of hip, artsy neighborhoods spotted with designer boutiques, local art galleries, and trendy coffee houses.

Sports events are another top draw. Memphis is home to the college athletics program of the University of Memphis, as well as  the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies and the University of Memphis men's basketball team once played at the most unique feature on the city's skyline, the Pyramid, but they now hold court at the impressive FedExForum.

The great Mississippi River provides many other points of interest. Walking along the bluffs overlooking the river affords fantastic views, and Mud Island River Park and the Mississippi River Museum let visitors learn about the river's role in Memphis's culture and history. Here you can enjoy the river by canoe, kayak, pedal boat, or steamboat.

First and foremost, Memphis is known for its musical heritage and barbecue, but aside from these recognized attractions, the vibrant city has much more to offer. Its economy is booming with Fortune 500 companies and an international airport that's the busiest air cargo port in the world. The people of Memphis have always had a deep respect for the accomplishments of generations past, but they also harbor the foresight necessary to prosper in an ever-changing global marketplace. As the 18th-largest city in the nation, Memphis has managed to maintain its distinctive Southern friendliness and charm while continuing to offer the most modern luxuries.