Memphis

Memphis is always moving, whether it's to the sounds of up-and-coming performers on Beale Street or to the songs of Elvis that reverberate throughout the city. Many people travel to Memphis primarily for Graceland, but audiophiles who only come for Elvis will be happy to learn that Memphis has a lot more to offer. In Memphis's pubs and studios, musicians like Johnny Cash, Isaac Hayes, and B.B. King also developed their distinctive sounds.

Memphis is a sad reminder of the civil rights movement in addition to its crucial position in music history. Martin Luther King Jr. made a petition demanding Black sanitation workers' equal rights here in 1968.

King returned to the city on April 3 after leading a nonviolent protest in March, only to be killed there the following day at the Lorraine Motel, which is now the National Civil Rights Museum.

There is a third, occasionally unnoticed reason to arrange a trip to Memphis. Good food is available at the "Cradle of American Music," along with good music and informative history courses. To sample a few gastronomic delights that are particularly Southern, think about traveling in the spring or fall (the summer heat here is oppressive). Any budding foodie should put the region's mouthwatering barbeque and creamy grits at the top of their list. Book a spot on one of the top Memphis tours to learn more about the culture, cuisine, and music of the city.

Rankings:

• #2 in Best Places to Visit in Tennessee
  
• #19 in Best Weekend Getaways in the South

Location: Tennessee