The city of Memphis is nestled in the extreme southwest corner of Tennessee, neatly positioning it as immediately adjacent to both Mississippi and Arkansas. It’s served by Memphis International Airport; because the biggest tenant at this airpor–FedEx–only handles cargo flights, it’s an easy-to-navigate portal in and out of town. As Tennessee’s largest city, Memphis offers a great Southern experience no matter where your interests lie.
1. Listen to some Blues
Memphis—as the huge signs spanning Beale Street proudly proclaim—is renowned as the birthplace of blues music. The soulful variant of jazz and gospel was popularized by the African American population of Memphis in the early 20th century, and still belts from the numerous juke joints up and down Beale Street almost every evening (and afternoon). Blues are the soul of Memphis, and soulful it is… even if you’re not a music lover, it’s hard to resist the sounds wafting out into the street as you walk by.
B.B. King is one of the original greats in the blues world, and his blues cafe stands like a giant sentry at the beginning of Beale Street. It may be one of the most famous, but it’s certainly not the only blues joint worth visiting. Walk a little farther and catch live music at historic greats like the Blues Hall Juke Joint, Rum Boogie Cafe and Blues City. All are easily accessible on Beale Street, and you can even wander between venues until you find one that resonates with you.
Still can’t decide between the best blues places? Consider a Memphis music tour and optional riverboat ride. As of autumn 2023, this intriguing tour starts at $40 and will give you a great dose of Memphis history in addition to excellent blues music.
2. See the Mighty Mississippi
The Mississippi River is the stuff of American legend. This might river, which starts in northern Minnesota and empties into the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, has its banks on the west end of Memphis and serves to separate Tennessee from neighboring Arkansas. It’s also the origin of the catfish for which Memphis is renowned.
There are many parks up and down the Mississippi where it flows through town, and most are free to the public. If you really want to see the Mississippi the traditional way, though, there’s no better way than by riverboat. These charming, old-world vessels depart from Memphis daily and will take you out for amazing views of the city lights and skyline.
There are numerous riverboat tour options, including this one at a great price.
3. Reflect on Civil Rights Sacrifices
Memphis has a deep history with the black struggle and civil rights. Sadly, it’s also home to one of the greatest tragedies to come out of the mid-century civil rights efforts.
On April 4, 1968, as he stood outside discussing the ongoing sanitation worker strike, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in downtown Memphis. Today, the Lorraine Motel—meticulously preserved and restored to its 1968 condition—houses the National Civil Rights Museum and a permanent tribute to Dr. King.
You can visit the museum seven days a week, and even purchase a package that grants you access to one of the rooms. Room 306, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed, is closed to the public and features a large, permanent wreath outside, but you can access room 307 nextdoor.
For a more thorough tour of Memphis’s civil rights historic sites, consider a Essence of Memphis African American History tour.
4. Eat some Barbecue
Many cities are known for their food, and Memphis is no exception. What makes Memphis special, though, is that it’s renowned for two very different types of food and does both very, very well.
Barbecue is a Memphis staple, and the city has such a strong barbecue showing that it even has its own signature recipe. Memphis Style barbecue is deep smoked, with light, sweet sauce that keeps the meat moist and tasty. Foodies from around the nation come to Memphis just for the barbecue, so it’s something to experience if you enjoy rich flavor.
The Rendezvous, fondly known to locals as “The Vous,” may be one of the most famous Memphis-style barbecue joints, but locals consider it more of a tourist destination. For more authentic local fare, consider Central BBQ (across from the National Civil Rights Museum), A&R’s barbecue (with several locations throughout town), or The Pig on Beale Street.
If barbecue isn’t your thing, Memphis is also known for frying up delicious catfish dishes. Since the 1800s, Memphis residents have caught catfish from the Mississippi River and become experts at preparing them. Memphis restaurants take their catfish seriously, and you’re likely to find some of the tastiest sides and hushpuppies you’ve ever put in your mouth alongside your catfish filets when you visit. A&R’s has arguably some of the best catfish in the area, though you can find great catfish dishes on almost every corner (especially close to the Mississippi).
5. Walk on Beale (or ten feet off it)
6. Drive to Tupelo
If you’re looking to cross Mississippi off your travel destination list, an easy and exciting way to do it is by driving south out of Memphis. The Magnolia State lies less than a 20-minute drive south of Memphis International Airport, and Tupelo—where the King of Rock and Roll was born—is only about an hour and a half by car.
Mississippi isn’t really known for having a lot to do, but you can find some beautiful, relatively untouched flatlands starting just across the state line. Tupelo has some excellent live music venues, including local staple Blue Canoe. It’s an intimate setting, but hosts some pretty big names in all types of music.
Of course, you can see the little house where Elvis Presley was born, and learn all about his early life at the Elvis Presley Birthplace. The historical society has acquired the house where he was born–and which the family subsequently lost to foreclosure after not paying the $180 they borrowed to build it–as well as a number of other historic artifacts. The park features a museum, the original church that Elvis and his family attended, some statues of Elvis at various points in his life, and even a reflecting pond where you can sit and meditate on your own contributions to the world. Admission comes at a small charge, but you can wander the grounds, see the house and visit the statues for free.
If you prefer a professional guided tour to wandering the grounds yourself, you can even get a professional tour package complete with round-trip transportation from Memphis.
7. See the Peabody Ducks
Once you arrive in Memphis, any local will include The Peabody Ducks in their recommendation of things to do and see. The historic Peabody Hotel, known as “The South’s Grand Hotel,” is renowned for its Southern elegance and grace. It’s perhaps more universally famous, though, for its ducks.
Twice a day, a formal event occurs in which a fully uniformed “Duck Master” ropes off the main walkway and rolls out the red carpet for the famed North American Mallards. They make a grand entrance, marching down the carpet and into the hotel’s grand fountain. This tradition has played out twice a day since the 1930s, earning The Peabody worldwide recognition. Ducks are so revered at The Peabody that they permanently reside in a $200,000 duck palace in the hotel’s penthouse, and duck is banned from being served in any restaurant associated with the hotel.
You can see the ducks march daily at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM central time. It’s best to arrive early, though, because it can be a challenge to catch the best view of the procession.
No matter what you choose to do in Memphis–whether it’s a well-structured and planned vacation or just an easy, casual hop-on/hop-off tour of downtown, there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this magical city on the banks of the Mississippi.