Where to stay

Elvis is the most famous musician to make his mark in Memphis, but he's not alone. Downtown Memphis is the place to stay to be in the heart of the Beale Street Entertainment District. The Elvis Statue, Memphis Rock'n'Soul Museum, Sun Studio, Blues Hall of Fame Museum, and Stax Muse-um of American Soul Music offer a sense of the past, present, and future of the music industry in Memphis. For the full Elvis experience, book a hotel in Whitehaven, where Graceland, "The King's" former home, celebrates the much-loved singer. Nearby, the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church often fea-tures its leader, the Reverend Al Green, preaching and occasionally singing in his distinctive soulful voice.

Not just a one-note city, Memphis offers many attractions to keep kids engaged. Book a hotel in Mid-town for the Memphis Zoo and the Children's Museum of Memphis. Midtown hotels are also con-venient for visiting the many attractions of the Pink Palace, including a museum, planetarium, science center, and 3-D theater. Stay in Millington for kids to appreciate the Mississippi River at the Mee-man-Shelby Forest State Park. Uptown hotels are close to Mud Island along the river. Downtown accommodations are great for watching NBA basketball and minor league baseball. Little kids will appreciate the daily downtown march of the Peabody Ducks. Enjoy outdoor experiences at the Mem-phis Botanic Gardens in the Oakville neighborhood and Shelby Farms Park in White Station.

Memphis features many varied cultural attractions beyond its numerous music-related locations. Stay in Downtown Memphis for a wide range of museums including the Belz Museum of Asian and Ju-daic Art, the Metal Museum, the Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange, and the National Civil Rights Museum. Hotels in Parkway Village and Germantown are both convenient for visiting the Crystal Shrine Grotto, a manmade cave filled with unusual biblical figures and brightly lit crystals. Collierville has several museums, and is close enough to visit the city easily, while not being in the middle of the bustling downtown neighborhood.