Memphis Travel Guide

While Elvis Presley and his Graceland mansion may come to mind at the mention of Memphis, the city has been a hub of commerce and social grace since its founding in 1819. A venture into history shows Europeans weren't the first settlers in the area—Native Americans settled on the bluffs more than 10,000 years ago. The city's rich heritage spans centuries, and your family can spend days or weeks exploring it by visiting the city's network of museums known as the Pink Palace Family of Museums.

Memphis is for Rain Lovers

If you love rain, you'll love the weather in Memphis. The city receives an average of 57 inches annually—20 inches more than the U.S. average—making it one of the rainiest cities in the country. All that rain keeps the humidity at about 80 percent on any given morning throughout the year, but cooler temperatures in spring and autumn make it pleasant enough to enjoy the outdoors. An added bonus of all that moisture: You'll see stunning displays of spring foliage throughout the city, especially at the Memphis Botanic Garden. The humidity is the only extreme thing about Memphis weather. Winter nights rarely dip below freezing, and summer days usually stay below 90 degrees.

Memphis Festivities

What's better than a stroll down memory lane? It could be a walk down Beale Street, the city's internationally known entertainment section. Take in a show at the Daisy Theater; see national acts at BB King's Blue's Club; nosh at the Hard Rock Cafe and dance on the bar at Coyote Ugly. If the atmosphere isn't festive enough on its own, visit during one of many festivals, parades and car shows taking place throughout the year. You can enjoy the outdoors at Shelby Farms Park, the country's largest urban park. Rent bikes, horses, canoes or kayaks to explore its natural open spaces, or hike on foot.

A Fortune 500 City

Memphis' location on the Mississippi River has always made it a hub for shipping. Originally, cotton was king, along with hardwood lumber. Today, the shipping magnate in Memphis is FedEx, one of three Fortune 500 companies with headquarters in the city. Another Fortune 500 company, International Paper, continues the area's tradition of forestry products. A more recent addition, Auto Zone, oversees more than 3,400 stores in the U.S. from its headquarters in the city. The well-diversified Memphis economy also includes headquarters for companies in the financial, banking, conservation, technology and agribusiness industries. And in case you're wondering, cotton still figures significantly—nearly 40 percent of the country's cotton still passes through Memphis.

Wings and Wheels

Getting around Memphis is easy. Fly into Memphis International Airport, and from there rent a car, take a taxi or hop aboard a bus that can take you nearly anywhere in the city for a low cost. If you want to go green, you'll find businesses renting out bicycles throughout the city. You can also get about by bus or train. Amtrak chugs straight into downtown, while Greyhound drops you off at its terminal near the airport.

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