Memphis Tennessee Beale Street Blues Graceland and Barbecue

Why visit Memphis

Few American cities shaped popular music as deeply as Memphis. The blues of the Mississippi Delta came up the river and settled on Beale Street; Sun Records captured the moment when country, gospel and rhythm and blues fused into rock and roll; and Stax Records gave the world a raw, horn-driven soul sound.

The city sits on a bluff above the Mississippi River, and its riverfront parks and pedestrian bridge add open space and wide sunsets to a trip that might otherwise be spent indoors. It is a city of strong opinions about barbecue, and you will want to test a few of them yourself.

Downtown, Beale Street and civil rights history

Beale Street

Beale Street was the commercial and cultural heart of Black Memphis in the early twentieth century, and it remains the city's best-known entertainment district.

National Civil Rights Museum

Built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, this museum traces the struggle for civil rights from the era of slavery through the Montgomery bus boycott, the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides and the sanitation workers' strike that brought Dr. King to Memphis.

Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Blues Hall of Fame

On the plaza beside FedExForum, at the corner of Beale and Third, the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum tells the story of how sharecroppers, gospel singers and juke joint musicians from the Delta created the sounds that made Memphis famous. An audio guide loaded with songs leads you through the galleries, so plan on about ninety minutes.

The Peabody duck march and the riverfront

A short walk from Beale, the lobby of the historic Peabody is famous for its ducks, which march along a red carpet to and from the marble fountain twice a day. Arrive early for a view.

Big River Crossing

Opened in 2016 on the Harahan Bridge, Big River Crossing is a walking and cycling path that carries you nearly a mile across the Mississippi to Arkansas, alongside active freight rail lines. The bridge is lit with a light display after dark.

The Memphis Pyramid

At the north end of downtown, the gleaming Pyramid was built as an arena and reopened in 2015 as a vast outdoor store with cypress swamp displays, aquariums and an observation deck at the top reached by a freestanding elevator.

Music landmarks beyond downtown

Sun Studio

Sam Phillips opened his small recording studio on Union Avenue in 1950, and over the next few years it captured early records by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, B. B. King and Howlin' Wolf.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

In the South Memphis neighborhood known as Soulsville, the Stax Museum stands on the site of the original Stax Records studio, a converted movie theater.

Graceland

Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957 and lived there until his death in 1977. The mansion tour, delivered with a tablet guide, takes you through the living room, the Jungle Room and the trophy building, ending at the Meditation Garden where Elvis and members of his family are buried.

Midtown parks and green spaces

Overton Park

Midtown's Overton Park holds the Memphis Zoo, a golf course, an old-growth forest with walking trails and the Levitt Shell, a band shell where Elvis played one of his first paid concerts in 1954 and where free concerts are still held in the warmer months.

Shelby Farms Park

On the eastern side of the city, Shelby Farms Park covers several thousand acres, many times the size of New York's Central Park.

Food and local flavors

Memphis barbecue centers on pork. Order ribs either dry, rubbed with a blend of spices before smoking, or wet, mopped with a tangy tomato sauce.

For dinner with live music, Beale Street and the surrounding downtown blocks are the obvious choice. Cooper-Young in Midtown has a cluster of independent restaurants, bakeries and bars; Overton Square mixes theaters and patios; and Broad Avenue in Binghampton has an arts district feel.

Where to stay in Memphis

Downtown is the most convenient base for first-time visitors, within walking distance of Beale Street, the civil rights museum, the riverfront and the trolley line along Main Street.

Midtown suits travelers who prefer neighborhood character, with Overton Park, Cooper-Young and Overton Square nearby, and a car makes it easier. East Memphis has larger chain properties near Shelby Farms and major roads, practical for families.

Best time to visit Memphis

Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons.

Summer is hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms, so plan indoor museums for the afternoon. Elvis Week, held each August around the anniversary of his death, fills Graceland and nearby lodging, so book early or avoid those dates if you prefer quieter visits.

Getting there and getting around

Memphis International Airport is about a twenty-minute drive south of downtown and is served by domestic flights.

Downtown is walkable, and the MATA trolley runs along Main Street, but the major music sites are spread out, so you will need a car, rideshare or tour to reach Sun Studio, Stax and Graceland.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Spend the morning at the National Civil Rights Museum. After lunch, walk to see the ducks at the Peabody, stroll Tom Lee Park, then cross the Mississippi on Big River Crossing in the late afternoon.

Second day

Start early at Graceland for the mansion and the car and costume exhibits.

Third day

Visit the Stax Museum in the morning, then head east to Shelby Farms Park for a bike ride or lakeside walk.

Practical tips

• Book Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum online ahead, especially on weekends and in summer.
• Check the official website for current hours and fees, as several museums close one or two days a week.
• Plan indoor sights for summer afternoons and carry water on outdoor walks.
• Use a car or rideshare between Sun Studio, Stax and Graceland, which are miles apart.
• Stay aware of your surroundings at night, keep to busy, well-lit streets and do not leave valuables visible in parked cars.
• Ask locals for their favorite barbecue and try both dry and wet ribs before choosing a side.

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