This fall, let the music move you in Memphis.

Words by Angela Caraway-Carlton

Why Go: 

In the music mecca of Memphis, you can relive a bygone era when legends such as Elvis and B.B. King shot to fame—and at any time of day listen to sweat-dripping blues, defiant rock ‘n’ roll, and soul music that’ll make you feel like you went to church. Add in cultural gems, inspiring green spaces, and an elevated food scene that transcends barbeque, and Memphis is a chart-topping hit for travelers.

Musical Moments:

Start your musical marathon through Memphis by hopping on a Memphis Mojo Tour with Backbeat Tours. While you roll past notable landmarks on a bus, a local musician belts out songs and weaves in storytelling about music icons. Trust me—you’ll be singing along. You’ll see where B.B. King grew up and stop at the amphitheater where Elvis performed his first rock concert, clad in a pink jacket. Add a tour of hallowed Sun Studio, museum by day and recording studio by night. A young Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins first recorded there, and music lovers will geek out over the wealth of memorabilia, including the chance to stage a picture with Elvis’s microphone. Hustle and soul is the core of Stax Museum, which showcases how gospel music and the civil rights movement shaped popular music. Stax Records discovered the likes of Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, and you’ll be awestruck with collectibles such as Hayes’s 24-karat trimmed Cadillac and a floor-to-ceiling wall of hit records. The second Saturday of every month is a free Family Day, featuring incredible local bands and performances. No visit to Memphis is complete without a crawl down famous Beale Street, where blues and jazz greats once played. Still today, music flows out of bars and venues such as B.B. King’s Blues Club day and night. 

Fall Cravings: 

What will surprise most about Memphis is the city’s vast outdoor green spaces. Fall presents an ideal time to explore the 40 miles of trails at Shelby Farms Park, meant for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Downtown’s newly refreshed Tom Lee Park stretches along the banks of the Mississippi River and offers paved walking trails and plenty of space to soak up the views. 

Immersive Stay:

Located in downtown’s thriving South Main Arts District, Caption by Hyatt taps into the local community and cultural scene and places visitors within walking distance of Beale Street and the iconic Orpheum Theatre. You never know who’ll you spot around the hotel, from Broadway leads to sports stars. With communal spaces open to everyone, expect to mingle with locals who pop in for a coffee or a drink at Talk Shop, or to play pool in the glass-enclosed gathering space. Guest rooms are soaked in personality and spacious suites are worth an upgrade for the comfy king beds, separate living areas, and oversized balconies that overlook the Mississippi River and the famous M bridge, which lights up nightly. The hotel is connected to the Hyatt Centric, and guests can access its resort-inspired poolscape or head to the city’s only waterfront rooftop, Beck & Call, for live music on certain nights. Ask the hotel staff about curated experiences such as backstage tours of the Orpheum Theatre.

Beyond Barbeque:

Start one morning at Hive Bagel & Deli for decadent pastries such as cinnamon rolls oozing with caramel and croissants naughtily topped with cookie dough. Bagel sandwiches infused with the owners’ locally harvested honey are the mainstays, including the popular “Elvis,” stuffed with bananas, peanut butter, and bacon. Another option is Sunrise Memphis, an all-day breakfast diner dripping in Southern hospitality and tasty hits such as their biscuit sammies nestled with fried green tomatoes, or fried chicken coated in Tabasco honey. In the trendy Cooper-Young neighborhood—where Johnny Cash played his first gig—The Public Bistro stands out for its stellar cocktail program and approachable menu that mixes low-key favorites with high-brow twists. Begin with an Ice Breaker, an ever-changing mini cocktail, then dig into sriracha deviled eggs, fried goat cheese bites, and a perfectly executed crispy-skin chicken. Elevating the Memphis food scene is Amelia Gene’s, a downtown stunner that flaunts culinary surprises at every turn, from a roving cheese cart to luxuries such as caviar and truffles. Taste your way through the Proper Bites section, which stars dainty croissants filled with foie gras, then move on to gulf prawns bathed in a chili crisp sauce, house-made pastas, and impressive entrées such as the Rohan duck. Don’t leave without ordering the carrot cake—a fever-dream of creamy mascarpone, crunchy nuts, brown butter, and sea salt.

Memphis leaves you craving more music and longing to peel back more of its storied layers.