Memphis has deep roots in music history. As the home of soul, blues, and rock n’ roll, the city is filled with commemorative museums dedicated to the American genres. Be sure to pay tribute to America’s musical cornerstones at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul, Stax Museum of American Soul, and the Blues Hall of Fame.

Here are some of the top things to do in Memphis:

• Admire the metalworks and jewelry crafted in The Metal Museum
• Check out Sun Studios, the birthplace of rock and roll
• Visit bars and venues on in the Beale Street entertainment district
• Tour Gibson Beale Street Showcase and see famous guitars
• Pay your respects to the greats at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame

When visiting Memphis, music is the center of its tourist attractions. The Victorian Village is a neighborhood of 19th century Victorian homes that have recently been converted into museums. Check out the Mallory-Neely House, the Woodruff-Fontaine House, and St. Mary's Episcopal cathedral to learn about how the wealthy of Memphis once lived.

Other popular tourist attractions in Memphis include:

• Visiting the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
• Gazing across the Mississippi from Beale Street Landing
• Learning about an important historical trade at The Cotton Museum
• Feeling the music at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
• Honoring the legends at the Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame

Thousands flock to Memphis every year to attend the World Champion Barbecue Cooking Contest. Be sure to save room for Memphis-style ribs from one of the top joints in town, like Payne’s Bar-B-Q, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, and Interstate Barbecue.

Looking for something fun to do in Memphis today? Check out:

• The National Civil Rights Museum at Lorraine Hotel honors the work of those in the past
• Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe serves world-renown soulfood
• Laurelwood Shopping Center has many high end retail stores  
• Jerry’s Sno Cones sell the best ice treats in the city
• Earnestine and Hazel's burger dive has been called the best dive bar in the country

Beale Street, once the home to blues and jazz icons, is a revived street full of live music, historic buildings, and neon lights. The street is also home to some of the top things to do in Toledo at night, such as playing pool at Peoples and hearing a performance at Blues City Cafe.

Other top nighttime activities near Memphis include:

• Having a late night meal at Alex’s Tavern
• Dancing like no one’s watching at at Paula & Raiford’s Disco
• Singing karaoke at The P&H Cafe
• Feeling the groove at Blues Hall Juke Joint
• Laughing your pants off at Chuckles Comedy House

The Memphis Zoo has more than 4,500 different animals and hosts two endangered Giant Pandas. The whole family will love the things to do in Memphis with kids like riding the trains throughout the zo and meeting the animals, including bears, hippos, monkeys, and pythons.

Here are some other family-friendly things to do in Memphis:

• Cruising down the Mississippi with American Queen Steamboat Company
• Racing on the Gold and Games Family Park go karts track
• Learning history and science at Pink Palace Museum
• Interacting with educational exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Memphis
• Eating handmade popsicles at MEMpops

Step out of the buzz of Beale Street and into the Sun Studios, a historic and active recording studio that has seen the likes of music masters Johnny Cash, Jerry Lewis, and B.B. King. Make sure to grab a snapshot of you in belting the blues on Elvis Presley’s microphone.

Here are some more things to do indoors in Memphis:

• Dine in the sky at The Lookout at the Pyramid  
• Hear someone share a personal experience at Spillit Story Slam
• Volunteer at the House of Mews cat sanctuary
• Learn history at the Mississippi River Museum
• Explore the stars at the Sharpe Planetarium

Located in the heart of the city, Overton Park offers a green, wooded space to escape city life and enjoy the outdoors. Spend some time at the zoo, museum, or golf within the grounds, or explore the nature areas and trails.  

Outdoor activities and things to see in Memphis:

• Memphis River Tours serves dinner on some cruises
• Shelby Farms Park is an urban park with trails and wildlife
• Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum teaches visitors about Memphis cultural history
• The Big River Crossing on the Mississippi is the city’s most scenic bike ride
• Old Forest State Natural Area has a variety of walking paths to explore