Good vs bad parts of Memphis? (vacation, work, houses)

[Tourister]

Hi, all...

My family is planning a June-timeframe driving vacation to Orlando, and will be making a stop each way in Memphis. We'd like to visit Mud Island Museum, Neely's BBQ on Jefferson, and take in a dinner riverboat cruise. My only concern is that I've started to read quite a bit about high crime rates in Memphis, and as a tourist I realize I need to get as informed as I can about what areas of town to avoid. I made a wrong turn in Birmingham a few years back and caught myself driving through one of the most blighted, crime-ridden, burned-out areas of town any where I've ever seen, and I genuinely felt unsafe. I'd like to avoid that same situation this time.

Could someone describe the general areas around the riverboat cruise area, the Neely's location, and Mud Island? What I've read about the latter is that its a fairly popular tourist spot, so I'm making an educated guess that the crime in that area isn't as big a concern. We're planning Neely's for lunch, right after Mud Island.

I have more concerns about the riverboat cruise area, as we're planning a 7:30 Saturday night cruise and I have concerns about parking, risks for vandalism in the area (particularly for a car with an out-of-state tag).

If I'm overblowing the concern, that's cool, too; fully realize some crime stats are overblown..just trying to get as accurate a picture as I can.

Thanks in advance for your opinions/thoughts.

-Tourister

[Pearlbob]

Downtown is the safest area of the city. Yes, there are bums asking for money, just ignore them and move on. Use common sense when parking, don't leave things in full view that would allow people to want to break in. I used to live downtown, and I've parked downtown thousands of times and have never had a problem with my car.

[strumpeace]

The Mud Island garage is fun. I had to park there when I worked at City Hall. I had my entire headlight kit stolen from my car there. (How in the heck you can take that out without opening the hood is beyond me.) I also had the little caps that covered the air nozzles on my tires stolen. Can you believe that? Those things cost like $1 for a pack of four -- and someone actually took them off my car. I also had multiples dings and scratches on my car. Some City Hall employees actually refused to park there and opted instead for the County's guarded open parking lot that's under an interstate overpass some four blocks away.

Neely's is not in a good area.

And you might get to witness some folks publicly urinating (or worse) near the spot where you'll board the riverboat.

With all of that said -- You've picked three very fun and interesting places to go. I really enjoyed Mud Island river park. If you have little ones, bring their Crocs or river shoes, and they'll have a blast. The museum there is interesting, too.

Neely's is good. Be sure and get a piece of Sock-It-to-Me cake. It's my favorite.

Riverboats are always good cheesy fun. You'll get some cool views of the downtown skyline and the houses on the bluff.

Enjoy your trip.

[federal_bureauMemphis]

I wouldnt waste my time going on that riverboat cruise...plus your car with

out of state tags WILL get targeted if you parked there..

Mud Island ?? a total waste of the trip over...disappointing !