About Memphis

Blues and rock ‘n roll music have given Memphis, Tennessee’s largest city, a permanent place on America’s cultural map. Historical sites focusing on music legends of the past include Elvis Presley’s home Graceland, the original site of Sun Studios and B.B. King’s first performance venue, Beale Street. Today, the historic district is filled with blues clubs and restaurants, creating an active nightlife brimming with tradition.

Memphis is also renowned for its barbecue, with styles like wet ribs, dry-rub ribs and pulled pork sandwiches dominating local culinary tradition. Memphis in May is the best time to get a sampling of the city’s food and musical legacy, with events like the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Beale Street Music Festival drawing tens of thousands of visitors.

Touching the very edge of the Mississippi River, Memphis is also a destination for outdoor recreation and Civil Rights history. The National Civil Rights Museum sits within city limits, and one of the best ways to explore western Tennessee’s scenery is by taking the Memphis Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise or heading out to one of Tennessee’s many state parks.