Is your English school in Toronto taking a field trip to the south? Are you coming to Memphis, Tennessee as part of a business conference? Are you simply planning a vacation to the area? Whatever your reason for coming, when you're working out your schedule of sights to visit, don't forget to include downtown Memphis. Even if you're a Memphis resident, you should make sure to visit downtown Memphis on a regular basis. There's always something interesting to see.

Shopping

Experienced shoppers will tell you that the downtown areas of cities are rife with upscale boutiques, unique products, and great window shopping. However, they'll also tell you that parking is generally a problem, shielding the downtown area from the car-bound mega mall crowd. In Memphis, everyone is welcome to shop downtown. There's plenty of parking (over 40,000 spaces) where you can leave your car while you investigate the goods for sale in interesting shops like Art on a Hot Tin Roof or Tippy Toes. You can find just about everything you're looking for in a downtown Memphis shop, along with quite a few things you never knew existed.

Dining

Half the fun of a day on the town - or downtown, as it were - is taking a break from your activities to have something delicious to eat. Some are looking for a down-home breakfast like they would be served at a Toronto bed & breakfast while others are more interested in drinks and dessert. All tastes can be satisfied in downtown Memphis, as there are more than 100 restaurants representing a wide variety of cuisines. Some of the most popular entrees include barbecue ribs and Vietnamese dishes.

Entertainment

There are several major theaters in downtown Memphis where you can catch performances by popular bands, local theater troupes, or traveling Broadway shows. You can also catch regular live acts in genres from blues to rap at local bars and cafes, and musical arts centers. If you're more interested in the Day Spa Toronto type of entertainment, you can stretch out in the park or take a leisurely look at the art, guitars, and civil rights displays at downtown museums. Those who are more adventurous might prefer to kayak in the river or take in a basketball or baseball game.

Special Events

In any given week, there are several concerts, shows, and games schedules. The various downtown businesses, restaurants, and art centers will also be advertising special promotions. It might be a free meal or a car raffle or even a concert in the park, so check the downtown Memphis calendar regularly at www.downtownmemphis.com/events to see what's happening. Popular events at the Orpheum Theater and Hard Rock Cafe fill up fast, so get your tickets early.