Where to Find a Memphis Travel Guide: 5 Reliable Sources
Memphis — blues, BBQ, civil rights, Mississippi River — deserves a good guide. Here are the best places to get one.
1. Google Travel (Free, Dynamic)
- URL: travel.google.com → search "Memphis"
- Strengths: Real-time hours, reviews, photos, "Things to do" map, itinerary builder, price tracking for hotels/flights.
2. Lonely Planet Memphis Guide (Print/Ebook)
- Formats: Paperback, Kindle, PDF chapter downloads.
- Strengths: Curated narratives, walking tours, off-beat picks, practical transport/safety info, pull-out map.
- Check: Publication date (aim for 2022+).
3. Fodor's Memphis (Print/Ebook)
- Strengths: Star-rated listings, "Best Of" lists (BBQ, music clubs, museums), family-friendly tags, downloadable maps.
- Digital: Fodor's app with offline access.
4. Tripadvisor Memphis (Free, Crowdsourced)
- URL: tripadvisor.com
- Strengths: 200k+ reviews, "Traveler's Choice" awards, forum for Q&A, "Things to Do" ranked by popularity.
- Caveat: Sort by "Recent" — older reviews may reflect closed/changed venues.
5. Official Memphis Tourism Site (Free, Authoritative)
- URL: memphistravel.com (Memphis Tourism / Convention & Visitors Bureau)
- Strengths: Official events calendar, neighborhood guides (Downtown, Midtown, Cooper-Young, Overton Square), free downloadable visitors guide (PDF), itinerary suggestions (24hr, 48hr, music history, civil rights).
Bonus: Niche & Local Gems
- I Love Memphis Blog (ilovememphisblog.com) — local voice, hidden gems.
- Commercial Appeal / Daily Memphian — newspaper entertainment sections.
- Memphis Public Library — free physical guidebooks + local history archives.
Pro Tip
Cross-reference: Use Official site for events, Lonely Planet/Fodor's for depth, Tripadvisor for recent reviews, Google Travel for logistics. Memphis changes fast — prioritize 2023–2024 sources.