Memphis

Memphis is in the southwestern part of Tennessee. It is on top of a bluff across the Mississippi River from Arkansas and not far from the border with Mississippi. Like most places in the Mississippi Delta, it's full of real Southern kindness and charm, but with a strong Memphis edge.

There are more than 60 places to visit in Memphis, and everyone will treat you like family. In this city that keeps moving to its own beat, don't miss art installations, cozy listening rooms, or secret gem hangouts.

To the beat of Memphis's soul music boom, blues music grew up, rock 'n' roll was born, and big steps were taken in the fight for civil rights. Walk through Graceland, Elvis Presley's last home, or go to the National Civil Rights Museum, which is right next to the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. died, and you'll feel this live history right away.

There are now a lot of mixed-use historical buildings, a riverfront that is growing, and diverse neighborhoods where visitors can meet locals, enjoy nightlife (especially live music), and stay in a lot of new hotels. The Bluff City's unique attractions and landmarks still stand out.

Animal fans will enjoy a lot of the things that modern Memphis has to offer. A group of royal ducks lives in the fancy hotel lobby pond of Memphis's famous five-star Peabody hotel. They spend their days relaxing there. Every day at 11 a.m. and at 5 p.m., large groups of people meet to watch the animals make their way from their penthouse to the fountain (and back again in the early evenings). Silky O'Sullivan's is right in the middle of everything on Beale Street and serves great BBQ. But the goats that love beer are the real draw. Beer in hand, sit outside and watch the goats climb the goat tower.

You can visit the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid to see its one-of-a-kind cypress pond, which is inside and has a home for alligators. Then, take the biggest freestanding elevator in the country to the top for a view of Memphis you'll never forget. From Bass Pro's glass viewing deck, you can see the Mississippi River and Big River Crossing. To cross the Big River, you can walk across the river's longest pedestrian bridge.

Next is neon-lit Beale Street Blues. Officially named "Home of the Blues" by the U.S. Congress in 1977, Beale Street Rum Boogie, or B.B. King's Blues Club are great places to get a real taste of Beale Street. Some of the things that bring people to Memphis are the Blues, which show the city's deep past of soulfulness and toughness. The Smithsonian Institution runs the Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum.

Other places music fans should see are Sun Studio and the Museum of American Soul Music, where several artists made their music.

To visit this contemporary city, contact Airtravelers for flight tickets and explore this southwestern city in Tennessee.