The mighty Mississippi River is the longest in America and the city of Memphis, Tennessee sits alongside its banks. One of the best ways to get to know the great river is to visit Mud Island River Park in downtown.
It’s an exact scale model of the lower portion of the river from Cairo, Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico.
The display in the park is ½ mile long, cities are mapped, engineering structures like floodways are pointed out, and there are so many interesting facts to learn.
In the acre large Gulf of Mexico outlet there are pedal boats for rent.
On a hot Memphis day it is so nice to walk in the cool water, or dowse yourself in one of the many waterfalls. If you want to extend your time, there is a connection to the Greenbelt Park which winds along the river. Walking in from downtown on the elevated bridge is free, or there is a paid option of taking a monorail in. The views of the city are great!
You can also pay to enter the Mississippi River Museum to learn even more.