The city of Memphis, Tennessee, is the second largest city in the state, behind Nashville, and is a destination full of music, cultural history, nightlife, museums and culinary delights.
Beale Street
First of all, Beale Street is the heart of nightlife in Memphis. It's a place where you'll find bars, restaurants, history and entertainment. During the day, you can stroll the street, enjoy great food, admire the great guitars, and even sip an old-fashioned soda at Schwab. At night, Beale Street takes on a whole new dimension with street performers and you have music in almost every bar. Weekends are ideal for discovering talented local artists.
The Peabody Ducks
One of Memphis' most unusual attractions is the Peabody Duck Parade. These ducks spend their days in the lobby fountain of the Peabody Hotel, but what makes this event special is the daily parade of these ducks from their luxurious palace on the roof of the hotel to the fountain on morning, and return in the evening. A “Duck Master” guides the ducks and tells the story of this fun tradition. People start lining up almost an hour before the event, and I have to say I had a great time watching them.
Graceland Graceland
Graceland Graceland is the Memphis residence of Elvis Presley. This expansive property allows visitors to walk through his home and see how it was decorated during his lifetime. You will benefit from an audio-guided tour on iPad which will give you information about each room of the house. After exploring the house, you can visit half a dozen museums on the property, dedicated to everything from cars to Elvis' stage outfits to his gold records. Plus, two of his planes are on display and you can even climb aboard.
Sun Studio
Sun Studio is one of two world-renowned music studios in Memphis. This small studio recorded early tracks by Elvis Presley as well as Johnny Cash and other famous artists. The studio offers guided tours that take you into a room displaying memorabilia and photos from the studio's history. The tour is exciting, with music from legendary artists in the background, anecdotes about music production and information about Elvis' early life. The tour also takes you into the recording studio, where you can take photos with the authentic equipment and even the microphone that was used to record some of the biggest hits.
Stax Museum
The Stax Museum is located on the site of the former Stax recording studio. This is the best music museum I've seen in Memphis, and I loved learning about the history of soul music and the essential role Stax played for many famous artists in this genre. Artists like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and Sam and Dave recorded at the Stax studio, and iconic songs like "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" were released there. You can easily spend a few hours here, and make sure you don't leave the museum without seeing Isaac Hayes' Cadillac, which is spectacular.
Big River Crossing
THE Big River Crossing is a great recommendation for outdoor enthusiasts. This bridge is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the United States, and the longest crossing the Mississippi River. It's almost a mile long, and halfway you'll cross from the state of Tennessee into Arkansas. It's a great place to be active in Memphis.
The Bass Pro Pyramid
You'll inevitably notice the Great Pyramid of Memphis when you see the city's skyline. Formerly a performance hall, the pyramid is now a Bass Pro Shop. There you'll also find a hotel with many rooms overlooking the Bass Pro Shop from the upper floors, creating a swamp vibe while still being completely indoors. You can also pay to go to the top of the pyramid, where there is a restaurant and two balconies offering panoramic views of the city. Balconies are a great way to admire the city.
Mighty Lights
Mighty Lights is a light show that takes place on the two bridges that cross downtown Memphis. At night, the bridges light up in one color, but every 30 minutes a 10-minute show begins, during which the lights gradually change color. When the Memphis Grizzlies play in the playoffs, the show even says “Go Grizzlies.” The top of the Bass Pro Pyramid is a great place to watch this spectacle, but you can also see it from the entire waterfront. This is apparently the largest nighttime light show on the Mississippi, and it's a pleasure to see.
Mud Island
Now let's talk about Mud Island, a pleasant place along the river. This island is located right across from downtown Memphis, and can be reached by monorail. The island has a museum, walking trails, and even a miniature representation of the Mississippi River with its meanders and the major cities it flows through. You can walk along the trail to admire different parts of the river. This is a fun activity to do while exploring the Memphis waterfront.
Crosstown Concourse
THE Crosstown Concourse is a residential building combined with shops, gymnasiums and a restaurant. It was built in the 1920s as a distribution center and Sears store, before falling into disuse after it closed in the 1980s. Today, it feels more like a community meeting place, and is pleasant to walk around through the halls of this historic structure, while admiring the artwork on display and trying the many different restaurants. You can find everything from coffee to ice cream there.
Memphis Zoo
THE memphis zoo is a hundred-year-old zoo that is home to more than 500 species of animals. It is often considered one of the best zoos in the United States, and the visit is definitely worth it. The zoo is huge and has a wide variety of animals, from lions and elephants to hippos and polar bears. The zoo is one of four zoos in the United States that house giant pandas, so if you want to see a panda in real life, this is the place. There's even a big area where bats can fly, which is really cool. Allow at least half a day to visit the entire zoo.
Shelby Farms
Shelby Farms is a massive urban park spanning over 4,500 acres. It has numerous lakes with water activities, stables for horseback riding, a fantastic children's playground, and even a herd of bison. All this is in addition to the miles of green space, perfect for weekend strolls, as well as the biking and hiking trails that run throughout the park. It's a place where you'll see many people enjoying a beautiful spring day, and the space is large enough to spread out and relax.
The Crystal Cave
The Crystal Cave because it is a unique place of its kind. This man-made cave was built in the 1930s. It's located in the middle of the Memphis Memorial Park cemetery, and it's a pretty incredible experience. Outside the cave you will find a beautiful pond with a fountain in the middle and a hollow tree. Inside, you'll find a good-sized cave with several artistic depictions of the life of Jesus, surrounded by quartz crystals hanging from the walls. Many colored lights illuminate the crystals, creating an almost psychedelic experience in the cave.
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