What to Do and See

Memphis is home to all kinds of music — besides the IHS Symposium, Memphis Symphony and Opera Memphis, it’s the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Home of the Blues and the Starting Point of Soul. Music legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, W.C. Handy and Otis Redding made their marks on Memphis, where you can hear their influences today. To complete the popular musical medley, visit Graceland, Sun Studio, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. At night, take a walk down Beale Street and enjoy live music.

If you are interested in touring Graceland (and it's worth a visit, even if you're not an Elvis fan), we recommend going on a weekday morning. Admission to the house is strictly controlled, and the wait on summer weekends can be very long.

Nonmusical attractions range from the Main Street Trolley and the Peabody Ducks to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Zoo, Memphis Botanic Garden, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and of course, barbecue.

For a completely different kind of experience, consider visiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

For a pre- or post-symposium treat, consider taking a Mississippi River cruise on the Memphis-based American Queen, the only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America.

For a complete listing of events and destinations, see gomemphis.com.