Memphis, on the banks of the Mississippi River, is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and the home of the blues.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland is the city’s most visited attraction, while Sun Studio and Beale Street trace the roots of American music history. The National Civil Rights Museum, built around the former Lorraine Motel, anchors seven stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, and barbecue is a point of civic pride with more than 100 restaurants smoking ribs and pulled pork across the city.
In 2026 the new Memphis Flyway canopy boardwalk opens on the riverfront at Tom Lee Park, adding fresh views of the Mississippi. The best time to visit is spring or fall, when temperatures are warm without reaching the sizzling highs of a Memphis summer.