No visit to Memphis is complete without spending some time near the river. Memphis Riverboats, 251 Riverside Dr. (tel. 901/527-2628), operates paddle-wheelers which operate March to November, and options ranging from a simple sunset cruise for $25 to those where dinner or drinks are included for $65. There are 1.5-hour sightseeing cruises, and in the summer, sunset dinner cruises, and party cruises. The barbecue-buffet dinner cruises include live music, but let’s be honest: You’re not here for the food, so have some drinks, enjoy the ride, and then go somewhere good to eat. All of these cruises dock at Beale Street Landing, a multi-million dollar riverfront complex between Tom Lee Park and the cobblestone landing at Beale. The landing features a small playground on a man-made island with a giant catfish tunnel, a slide, and an interactive water park. The landing is made from barges so it can rise and fall with the river, and the colors on the elevator shaft were taken from a picture of the sun setting over the Mississippi. Visitors can enter the building from street level or from the deck atop the grassy roof.

City Tours

“There’s only two reasons to go to a juke joint full of blues: because you feel good, or because you feel bad.” That’s the perfectly logical reasoning behind Memphis’ most authentic and in-depth tour operator, American Dream Safari (tel. 901/527-8870). This is your chance to be chauffeured around town in a '55 Cadillac, with stops at Humes High School (where Elvis went to school), Johnny Cash’s house, and countless other gems found only in Memphis. Owner-driver Tad Pierson, one of the coolest guys in town, has an encyclopedic knowledge of rock and blues history, great taste in music, and can tailor your experience to fit your mood. Whether you want him to escort you to Rev. Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle on Sunday morning, and then to Gus’s for fried chicken afterward, or if you’d rather take the “Drive By Shooting” photographer’s tour, he will not only get you there but provide as much context and conversation as you want him to. He charges a flat rate, starting at about $200 for 3 hours, money well spent for the serious music tourist. The car seats five passengers.

Backbeat Tours, 126 Beale St. (tel. 901/527-9415), does a solid business from its convenient Beale Street ticket office. These fun-loving tour operators are talented musicians who sing and strum guitars on the bus, performing Sun-era songs while showing off the local sites. Tours range from 90 minutes to 3 hours, run roughly $35-75 depending upon length and package; they also offer walking and ghost tours.

For a truly authentic experience, try Jimmy Ogle Tours, led by a Memphis historian. Ogle’s website is not very modern, but don’t let that stop you: This guy is the real deal. Ogle offers tours of everything from Elmwood Cemetery and civil rights and quirky alley tours.

For diehard Elvis fans, check out Strictly Elvis, the UK’s largest fan organization, which has been hosting pilgrimages, holidays, and events to honor the King worldwide since 1972. The group travels to Memphis every year and has developed a love of the city that extends beyond the gates of Graceland, so its tour is an authentic way to get plugged in.

If you’d rather cycle than ride, check out the Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club, a local group that organizes weekly rides for all skill levels. You don’t have to be a local to join, though members do receive discounts, and rides will cost you about $55 at the non-member rate. Didn’t bring your bike? Rent one through Explore Bike Share.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.