Memphis

Graceland is the one place where Elvis truly felt at home throughout his incredible life and career. — Where

A tour site by day, it’s still an active recording studio by night. Artists such as U2, Bonnie Raitt and Def Leppard have all recorded here, hoping to capture its mystical vibes. — Where

Wanna get funky? Head directly to Soulsville USA, where this 17,000-sq-ft museum sits on the site of the old Stax recording studio. — Lonely Planet

Jog, rent bikes, or wade in the park's awesome scale model of the Mississippi, which empties into a 1.3-million-gallon 'Gulf of Mexico' where visitors tool around in pedal boats. — Lonely Planet

Houses a mix of natural history and cultural history exhibits, focusing on 20th-century Memphis. A planetarium with lasers and star projectors and an IMAX theater present seasonal shows. — Fodor's

Examines how African American and white music mingled in the Mississippi Delta to create modern sound. — Lonely Planet

Between Main St and 4th St, this bright neon-lit avenue is home to authentic night clubs, bars and restaurants, record dealers and souvenir shops. — Michelin Guide

The South's finest collection of French and American Impressionist and post-Impressionist artworks is the highlight of this exquisite museum, set on 17 wooded acres. — Frommer's

A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum showcases Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, British and French Impressionists, and one of the South’s finest collections of English portraiture. — Where

The Memphis Zoo's entry leads to a primate habitat, bear and wolf enclosures in the Teton Trek, a nocturnal animal exhibit, a vast big cat area and the Zambezi River Hippo Camp, among other exhibits. — U.S. News & World Report

The Fire Museum is a fun place for the kids to play while learning about fire safety. — Afar Magazine

The main house of this museum features displays on slave life and the Underground Railroad. — Fodor's

Kids can pretend to drive, shop in a grocery store, pretend to be a firefighter and more at this hands-on museum that allows children to discover science, math, health and art. — Where

The "Jade Museum" is full of thousands of intricately carved works of art made from various precious stones.  — Atlas Obscura

In East Memphis, the 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden has scores of species, from camellias to cacti. The grounds are superbly kept, making this an idyllic getaway. — Fodor's

Explore the culture of Native Americans who lived on the site from 1000 to 1550 A.D. — Where

Located high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the museum is the only institution in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the preservation and promotion of fine metalwork. — Where