Table of Contents
Top 10 Family Adventures in Memphis, TN
Walking in Memphis (with or without blue-suede shoes) is a walk down memory-lane for us. Having grown up around Memphis, we are quite familiar with the ins and outs of the city, including many of its attractions. We’ve spent a lifetime experiencing many of the destinations that make Memphis attractive to so many tourists. Recently, we decided to plan a weekend warrior trip as tourists to one of our most familiar cities…and we discovered even more about a place we already knew so well. Come along and let us show you the top 10 experiences for families in one of the south’s largest cities.
Things to Do:
1. Beale Street
Beale Street is an interesting stop, as it is known as the “Birthplace Of The Blues”. Most of the action is found on Beale between 2nd Street and 4th Street, with these 2 blocks containing several bars and clubs, most of which feature live music and entertainment (blues of course!). Be sure to visit during the day…Beale St. may not be age appropriate for kids at night (we’ll let you decide for your family), due to the clubs and bars. The A. Schwab General Store is open 12:00 – 5:00 PM Sunday, Monday and Thursday and 12:00 – 7:00 Friday and Saturday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). This family owned general store has been serving Memphis since 1876 and carries a variety of Memphis souvenirs, clothing, and various other sundries. One prime feature of the store is their authentic soda fountain which serves sodas from house made syrups, shakes, desserts and light sandwich fare.
2. National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum is located downtown and features exhibits that explore the history of the Civil Rights Movement in America. It is a collection of buildings centered around the Lorainne Motel, the sight of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The museum is open Thursday – Monday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Check out the official Civil Rights Museum website for ticket prices and to purchase online.
3. Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid
The Pyramid used to be home to Memphis’s NBA team, the Grizzlies, but was recently purchased by Bass Pro and converted into a Bass Pro Shop and hotel (Big Cypress Lodge). This is another rather unique Memphis destination, as it boasts the highest free-standing elevator in the world! For $10 ($5 for kids) you can ride this 28 story elevator to the top of the Pyramid, where there is a restaurant and an observation deck offering views of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis. If you time it right, you can even catch the light show on the Memphis I-40 bridge which plays for approximately 10 minutes on the hour and half hour starting at dusk.
4. Memphis Downtown Trolley
The downtown trolley is part of the MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) system and serves the downtown area with 3 distinct lines…the Main Street Line, the Riverfront Loop, and the Madison Avenue Line. The trolleys are all restored vintage streetcars and offer a nice classic feel to the downtown area. Prices usually run $1 per ride. Check out the official MATA trolley page for more details on routes and the latest prices.
5. Graceland
Graceland (former home of Elvis Presley) consists of multiple venues on the King’s 13.8 acre estate inside Memphis city limits. There are several ways to experience Graceland with tours including Elvis’ mansion, garage, planes and more. Visitors are allowed inside the gates to view the King’s memorial gardens for free from 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM. You are also encouraged to sign your name to the famous wall outside of the estate. Of course we had to sign our names while we were there…let us know if you can find us when you visit!
6. The March of the Peabody Ducks
This unique (and slightly weird) tradition started in the 1930’s when a set of ducks was trained to march from their home on the roof (the Duck Palace), ride the elevator to the ground floor, and march to the circular fountain in the lobby. Here they jump in and swim all day. Amazingly, they never try to escape! At the end the day the march back up to their palace on the roof and sleep until their next performance. You can watch this event for free daily at 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM, and you can even go up on the roof to see the Duck Palace in person.
7. Sun Studios
Sun Studios claims to be the birthplace of Rock and Roll as it signed some of Americas pioneering artists like Elvis, BB King, and Johnny Cash. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and explains not only the history behind the studio, but also Memphis’s role in pioneering the rock and blues sounds we know today. The studio is open daily (10:00 AM – 5:15 PM) and offers tours every hour on the half hour.
8. Memphis Children’s Museum
The Memphis Children’s Museum which contains several hand-on exhibits from a small tornado to the cockpit of a FedEx cargo plane. The museum also features a 1909 Denzel Grand Carousel which they refurbished from an old Memphis amusement park and happens to be the very first carousel I rode as a child!
9. The Memphis Zoo
The Memphis Zoo, in our opinion, is one of the nicest in the country. Admission is $18 ($13 for kids). It contains over 4500 animals including pandas, polar bears, sea lions who put on a show, a giraffe feeding station, camel rides, and a stingray petting station. They also have a farm section with a small train ($2/person) and a tram ($4 for all day pass).
10. Big River Crossing
Per their website, Big River Crossing is approximately 1 mile in length and is “the longest public pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi River”. The bridge connects Memphis to West Memphis, AR. It is free to cross and is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Whether you walk, run or ride a bike the views are worth the exercise! Electric bike rentals are available from the Arkansas side of the bridge for those who prefer that method.
Bonus…Mud Island River Park
Mud Island River Park is a bit of a hidden gem…hidden in plain sight! Most people notice the island when entering Memphis on the I-40 bridge, but don’t think much of it. Back in the day, Mud Island was a happening place…there was a monorail that shuttled visitors across the Wolf River harbor to the island’s Mississippi River Museum, a nice river park, an outdoor amphitheater, and even a reception area. Today, the monorail no longer runs, the museum is closed, and COVID shut down the amphitheater. But visitors can still walk the skybridge from downtown (parking is available at 125 N Front Street) take in the Memphis skyline, and enjoy the river park for free. Once on the island you will notice the “Riverwalk”, a scale replica of the Mississippi River carved into the concrete walkway. Normally the Riverwalk is hydraulically controlled to mimic the exact height/depth of the river at that time. This feature is currently under renovation, as are the museum, monorail, and amphitheater. Even with those attractions currently closed, Mud Island River Park is a beautiful location to enjoy a picnic, take a stroll, or just sit…relax…and watch “Old Man River keep Rolling along”!
So, which one of these adventures sounds the best for you and your family?
Have you ever been to Memphis? Do you have other recommendations?
We’d love to hear your comments, and have you share memories from your Memphis trip