Memphis Hotels

Gutsy guitar riffs and heart-numbing blues belt out and travel like electricity through the streets. Perched on the Mississippi River, Memphis was named for the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile. The city still largely rests on the musical glory of its past but its current local scene also has much to offer.

Riverboats swoosh by as in-line skaters exercise on riverfront paths. A landmark of the civil rights struggle and where Martin Luther King Jr was martyred in 1968, today's Memphis has moved a long way from the days embedded with racial tension. Still, the undertones exist as black and white work towards harmony.

The best times to visit Memphis are the temperate seasons of spring and autumn; these are also the most scenic seasons. Spring is lush with fresh blooms and high rivers, and colorful autumn foliage covers upland woodlands in October. Many Memphis special events are held during these seasons, including the giant Memphis In May festival.