Memphis

Elvis Presley's iconic home is a pilgrimage site where you can walk through the King's lavish jungle room and stand solemnly at his grave on the grounds.

One of the top-rated zoos in the country, it houses giant pandas, a spectacular Egyptian exhibit, and over 3,500 animals across beautifully landscaped grounds.

The legendary strip of neon-lit bars and live music venues is the beating heart of Memphis blues culture, alive every night with soulful performances spilling onto the sidewalk.

Built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this powerful museum traces the full arc of the American civil rights movement.

A Smithsonian-affiliated museum on the edge of Beale Street that tells the sweeping story of how Memphis gave birth to rock and roll and soul music through immersive exhibits and rare artifacts.

Larger than Central Park, this vast urban greenspace offers kayaking on Heart Lake, miles of trails, and stunning sunset views that most tourists completely overlook.

Perched dramatically on a bluff above the Mississippi River, this one-of-a-kind institution celebrates fine metalwork through exhibitions, a working forge, and resident artists.

A Beale Street institution since 1876, this quirky dry goods store is packed floor-to-ceiling with oddities, voodoo supplies, vintage souvenirs, and classic Memphis memorabilia.

This beautifully landscaped 1852 Victorian cemetery is a surprisingly serene and historically rich walking destination, home to the graves of Civil War soldiers, blues legends, and Memphis luminaries.

This peninsula park features a stunning scale model of the entire Mississippi River you can walk along, offering a quirky and peaceful escape from downtown's bustle.

Built on the exact site of the original Stax Records studio in a quiet South Memphis neighborhood, this undervisited gem celebrates Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and the raw sound that changed popular music.

Chef Kelly English's New Orleans-inspired gem delivers sublime Gulf seafood, house-made charcuterie, and a boisterous atmosphere that feels like a genuine celebration every night.

This sleek, modern seafood destination brings impeccably fresh oysters, whole fish, and creative raw bar preparations to a city better known for barbecue.

A longtime Midtown favorite with a refined yet relaxed approach, Interim crafts seasonal American dishes where local produce and Southern technique meet effortlessly.

Tucked inside the grand Peabody Hotel, this refined French-Southern restaurant offers an elegant tasting menu experience with impeccable service and ornate surroundings.

A beloved East Memphis institution serving classic continental European cuisine in an intimate, old-world atmosphere that feels like a cherished secret among longtime locals.

Two childhood friends turned chefs serve deeply personal, locally sourced Italian-American dishes in a warm East Memphis dining room that has become a pillar of the city's culinary scene.

A Midtown staple with an expansive covered patio, cold cheap beer, and one of the most relaxed dog-friendly atmospheres in the entire city.

A sprawling South Main taproom where you can watch the brewers at work while sampling hop-forward IPAs and seasonal small-batch releases alongside excellent bar food.

This beloved local craft brewery in the Broad Avenue Arts District pours a rotating lineup of inventive beers in a lively taproom with a spirited neighborhood crowd.

A genuine Irish pub in the heart of downtown Memphis offering a long list of whiskeys, live traditional music sessions, and a warm, wood-paneled retreat from the Beale Street crowds.

A beloved outdoor bar and entertainment complex in Midtown with ping pong, a splash pad, food trucks, and a shaded beer garden that draws a relaxed, multigenerational crowd.

A laid-back Midtown neighborhood dive bar with a nautical theme, stiff drinks, a beloved fish sandwich, and a genuinely local atmosphere free of tourist pretension.

One of Beale Street's most storied live music venues, Rum Boogie showcases tight blues and soul bands seven nights a week beneath a ceiling hung with autographed guitars.

A Beale Street anchor combining legendary live blues performances with a full kitchen serving tamales and catfish well into the early morning hours.

A sophisticated craft cocktail lounge in the South Main district where inventive seasonal drinks, low lighting, and a curated playlist create a genuinely grown-up late-night escape.

A storied live music venue in Overton Square that has hosted everyone from local acts to national touring artists across rock, blues, and Americana in an intimate room with great acoustics.

A true Memphis original, this dimly lit honky-tonk has been pouring cold beer and hosting country and rockabilly acts for decades in a gloriously unchanged, smoky atmosphere.

A Beale Street institution famous for its massive yard-long drinks, roaming goats in the courtyard, and energetic live music that keeps the party going until the early hours.