These 4 Southern Cities Feel Like Memphis & Are Much Safer To Visit

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Can you believe Memphis has been labeled America’s ‘most dangerous’ city?

It’s true, and despite many locals’ pushback claiming it’s safe for tourists to visit with grand ol’ time awaiting on Beale Street, recent headlines surrounding Memphis Grizzlies star player Ja Morant have only added to the city’s complicated narrative.

That said, rather than debate labels or statistics, we at Travel Off Path are here to highlight 4 destinations that deliver Memphis’s mass appeal without safety concerns overshadowing your experience.

You know where we’re going: mouthwatering barbecue, soulful live music, and endless Southern comfort for a truly homey getaway across the South’s unsung sweet spots.

These 4 Southern cities feel like Memphis — and are much safer to visit:

4) Oxford, Mississippi

Love it or hate it, Mississippi has beaten its misunderstood reputation as Hillbillyland to a pulp and magically transformed into one of America’s most visited states.

While many are here to relax along gleaming white sand in Biloxi and the likes, Mississippi’s inland gems are quietly impressive too.

Oxford, a beloved college town, is certainly one of them. Oozing quintessential southern charm, deep roots in blues and live music, and the easily walkable Square as a pint-sized Beale Street, don’t sleep on Oxford when your itch for down-home delights needs to be scratched.

Not to mention this lesser-known city is an underrated foodie destination, especially for barbecue. Northern Mississippi’s pulled pork is to die for, especially at local favorite Booth’s Barbeque and Yard.

3) Paducah, Kentucky

With a revamped commercial airport, guess where Kentucky’s next tourism hotspot is set to soar?

Yep. Paducah — a city becoming just as fun to visit as it is to say.

With a growing food scene backed by rising celebrity chef Sarah Bradley’s Freight House, you can next-level culinary masterpieces or more low-key digs whipping up Western Kentucky barbecue, like XMan’s BBQ, where nobody bats an eye if you dig into peach cobbler first.

The bottom line is you’ll need just as many napkins here in Paducah as you would at Memphis’s famous Rendezvous.

Plus, Paducah feels very safe — the type of community that proudly displays the lost art of looking out for each other.

So, feel free to go bar-hopping after dark or take in scenic views of the Ohio River along downtown’s charming waterfront without looking over your shoulder.

2) Meridian, Mississippi

Ever heard of Meridian? Chances are you haven’t, as this storied town, ingrained with music history, is one of the Magnolia State’s most unsung hideaways with big city aesthetics and a small town feel.

Shaped by country, blues, and soul influences, the live music scene here is unbelievably understated. One night out at Brickhaus Brewtique, and you’ll forget all about B.B. King’s for the moment.

To back up our claim, you may not know that powerhouse Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams was born here and climbed up the ranks to stardom.

Despite having its own official Blues and Jazz Trail, Meridian is no one-trick pony as solely a music time capsule, it’s a great place to chow down too!

Serving staples like pulled pork, collard greens, and, of course, mac ‘n cheese, The Rib Shack is a must-stop if you ask us.

1) Durham, North Carolina

If Memphis is just too off-putting right now, then we believe Durham, North Carolina is the best dupe.

You’ll Raleigh love it…

As Asheville, Charlotte, Outer Banks beaches, and yes, even my aforementioned dad joke are more popular than Durham, this city is still full of surprises.

Offering similar experiences such as live music, warehouse bars, and a serious barbecue scene, you don’t need to keep your head on a swivel exploring Memphis when you can stick to this Southern charmer.

Plus, there’s no weird pyramid-turned-sporting-goods-store here.

Rather than being a twin, Durham is more like a cultural cousin, offering out-of-this-world barbecue like whole hog pork, repurposed warehouses now thriving as bars, and a hidden-gem level music scene that will rock your socks off.

A ‘Biscuits & Banjos’ festival? C’mon — where else can you find that?

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.