From the edge of Mud Island River Park, downtown Memphis feels like a living postcard. The Mississippi widens in front of you, mirroring the steel arcs of the Hernando de Soto Bridge and the glassy prow of the Bass Pro Pyramid. To the south, the Beale Street Landing roof hints at the city’s musical heart, while office towers and the FedExForum rise behind a fringe of riverside trees. At dusk, river tugs glow and the skyline turns gold, violet, and finally neon.