If you enjoy American music, then you will love Memphis Tennessee. Known as the home of Blues, Gospel, and Rock n' Roll, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and the town where Johnny Cash and B.B. King started their careers in the 1950's, Memphis is truly the homespun kingdom of country, rock and blues.

No visit to Memphis would be complete without a trip to Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, and the most visited home in the United States, outside of the White House. Over 600,000 visitors flock to Graceland every year to tour the mansion's vast collection of Elvis memorabilia, plus two of Elvis' private planes and his extensive collection of motorcycles and automobiles.

But real entertainment in Memphis is found in the Beale Street Historic area, with its Memphis Walk of Fame. Modeled after the one in Hollywood, the stars on this promenade are exclusively reserved for the musicians, singers and composers of Memphis fame, including B.B. King, W.C. Handy and Alberta Hunt. While on Beale Street, enjoy lively street performances until the break of dawn, as you take in the heart and soul of old Memphis.

Another famous walk is the River Walk, part of the Mud Island River Park in downtown Memphis. This half-mile scaled model of the Lower Mississippi River, from Illinois to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico, allows visitors to walk in the water, or ride over it in an enclosed sky ride, taking in scaled models of cities and bridges to be found along the way.

Another landmark site in Memphis is the Pink Palace, a major science and historical museum, planetarium and IMAX theatre. Be sure to visit the Chucalissa Museum as well, a prehistoric Native American archaeological site dating from the 15th century, and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, one of Memphis' premier art museums, specializing in impressionist paintings and decorative arts. The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange offers a look back into Memphis' history as the world's center for cotton cash crop trading, which defined 150 years of the city's history. And finally, for a taste of 19th century Memphis architecture, stop at the Victorian Village, a historic neighborhood of residences, churches and house museums that depict life in 19th century downtown Memphis.

After a long day of touring the musical and cultural capitol of the South, nothing is more inviting than a stay at Memphis' magnificent Peabody hotel, a 4-star oasis that is just steps away from all the downtown attractions. Even if you stay elsewhere, a visit to this hotel is in itself one of Memphis' most time-honored traditions. The Peabody Ducks, famed ambassadors of this hotel, are actually five Mallard ducks who march to and from the Peabody lobby daily, at 11 am and 5 pm, in a tradition that dates back to 1933.

Memphis is far more than music and history though- do not leave without experiencing a taste of authentic Memphis barbecue cooking. Satisfy your cravings at A&R Barbecue, with several locations serving succulent slabs of ribs, pulled pork and homemade coleslaw. Or, for a more intriguing dining experience, enjoy down-home Southern cooking amid psychedelic beaded curtains and African folk art at Alcenia's Desserts and Preserve Shop. Featured on the Food Network's 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives', Proprietor B.J. Chester-Tomayo is known for more than her home-cooking, she's known for her Southern hospitality and her hugs.