19 Insanely Cool Issues To Do In Memphis With Children

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Memphis is a metropolis with a wealthy musical historical past and a tradition in contrast to wherever else in america.

Whereas most individuals comprehend it as the house of Elvis, the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll, nevertheless it seems there are a lot of issues to do in Memphis with children moreover music!

We visited Memphis when our two daughters had been 9 and seven, they usually loved the points of interest simply as a lot as us adults.

The Memphis music scene is known, however this metropolis is evolving and provides a lot extra, for younger and outdated.

We’re not a household who spends numerous time in museums or hangs round playgrounds all day – that’s to not say we don’t do museums, however they should be GOOD!

So when you’re planning a visit to Memphis, on this information we have now shared what to do in Memphis that our children loved as a lot as us massive children!

1. Go to the house of the King at Graceland, Memphis

You may’t go to Memphis and never go to Graceland, even if in case you have younger children like us! Of all of the Memphis points of interest, the house of Elvis Presley is the preferred and it’s probably the most well-known home within the historical past of rock ‘n’ roll.

Our children had been simply as enthusiastic about visiting Graceland as we had been.

We peaked their curiosity for days main as much as our arrival, telling them tales of rising up watching Elvis motion pictures, and as soon as on the town virtually in all places you look there’s memorabilia of Elvis.

It’s wonderful that over 600,000 folks go to Graceland annually to tour the house of somebody who died over 48 years in the past, however after all, this was no abnormal individual.

From the second you enter this grand mansion you’re taken on a journey via the personal lifetime of Elvis and what it should have been prefer to be the king of rock!

We did the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour, which included an audio tour with headsets and an iPad, and the children had been fascinated as we went from room to room.

Graceland might be not as massive inside as one would anticipate, being the house of a rock star and all, nevertheless it’s really fascinating. And his style in decor is fascinating, I imply, who places shag pile carpet on their ceiling?

As for my favourite room, that will be the pool room!

It’s not solely the Graceland Mansion you get to tour, however there are a number of different buildings on the Customer Leisure Complicated.

You may see his:

• automobile assortment
• iconic trend tendencies
• personal planes
• tales from his time within the army
• watch his motion pictures
• and far more.

Severely, you can actually stroll round for hours studying, watching and all issues Elvis!

2. Do a Solar Studio Tour

The Solar Studio Guided Tour was incredible! Again within the 50’s, a person by the title of Sam Phillips began the Memphis Recording Studio that’s now often known as Solar Studio, probably the most well-known recording studio on the earth and often known as the birthplace of Rock and Roll.

It was right here that Elvis recorded his very first tune, and it was fascinating to study how he was found.

All of the greats have recorded right here – Johnny Money, Roy Orbison, Isaac Hayes, Jerry Lee Lewis, and fashionable artists like Bob Dylan and U2.

We received to listen to tales about these greats and extra, how historical past was made and continues to be made.

On the finish of the tour, don’t miss out on taking a photograph holding the unique microphone used to document hit songs.

And don’t overlook to convey the children, 5-11 years have free admission.

Plan on being right here for 90-minutes to actually benefit from the tour after which browse the cafe.

To proceed following the Elvis Presley path, you could need to go to The Levitt Shell. It’s an open-air amphitheater situated in Overton Park, Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley gave his first paid live performance there on July 30, 1954

3. Go on a Mississippi River Cruise

Every time we go to a metropolis, if there’s a river or a harbor I at all times prefer to get out on it for a distinct perspective of the vacation spot.

They don’t come a lot greater than the mighty Mississippi River – the third longest river on the earth and the longest within the U.S.

I loved this cruise with Memphis River Boats. It was a calming 90-minutes stuffed with fascinating commentary concerning the historical past of Memphis and of previous and current Mississippi River life.

Each academic and entertaining for our children, and a chance to take some close-up images of the Memphis skyline and bridges as we cruised beneath them and loved the massive river crossing.

4. See the Well-known Peabody Geese at Peabody Lodge

Once we had been advised to go to the geese on the Peabody Lodge, we weren’t certain what to anticipate. We weren’t anticipating to observe a parade of geese within the resort foyer!

Seems, the Duck March is among the high points of interest in Memphis, and folks had been lined up alongside the pink carpet (sure there’s a pink carpet main from the fountain to the elevator) to observe the geese. The entire foyer was packed and folks had been standing two deep across the railing of the second degree.

The Legend of the Peabody Memphis Geese began again within the Nineteen Thirties, and continues to this present day. Each day, they go to the foyer fountain at 11:00am and 5:00pm, hop out of the fountain, stroll the pink carpet, step into the elevator, and trip to the rooftop. Wonderful!

The entire procession solely takes 20 seconds, however the “duck grasp” talks for about 20 minutes beforehand, considerably fascinating and considerably dragging on.

The well-known Peabody Marching Geese have appeared on “The Tonight Present with Johnny Carson,” “The Oprah Winfrey Present” and in Individuals journal and the Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit subject.

Don’t go too far out of your strategy to see this, however when you’re in downtown Memphis and searching for free issues to do, then test it out.

5. Take the children to The Youngsters’s Museum of Memphis

Caz and I prefer to take it in turns once we go to museums, so whereas she visited the Stax museum (extra on that later), I took the children to the Youngsters’s Museum of Memphis for 2 hours of play time.

This place is cool with interactive reveals and completely different rooms with actions for youths of various ages, inside and outdoors, together with a splash pad.

It’s open 7 days every week from 9:00am to five:00pm.

6. Go to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Caz snuck away to get an excellent greater dose of musical historical past and tradition on the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and determined it might have been an ideal place to convey the children.

It was all about studying about soul music in Memphis and is a vital a part of the Memphis and Nashville musical story.

Though segregation legal guidelines had been maintaining folks aside in Memphis, music was bringing them collectively. Color by no means got here via the doorways at Stax Recording Studio.

Individuals of each race had been making music collectively – uncooked, soulful, and edgy music. Stax Data proved that music is the language of our soul and transcends all borders and limitations.

Sadly the assassination of MLK modified all of that. The relationships between the races throughout the Stax recording studio turned strained and slowly the corporate fell aside.

Stax was one thing in musical historical past that made a distinction.

I like to recommend spending a little bit of time on the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. There’s a lot to soak up via the shows of costumes, data, awards, a reproduction of Studio A and even a dance flooring if you wish to categorical your soul groove whereas listening to the hits.

I cherished the intro video which fantastically confirmed the Stax, Soul and Memphis music story.

Stax produced hit data and songs by artists and musicians corresponding to Carla Thomas, the Mar-Keys, Booker T. and The MGs, Rufus Thomas, William Bell and Otis Redding.

Not eager to see Soulsville, USA’s unbelievable historical past swallowed by blight, a gaggle of group leaders, philanthropists and former Stax staff shaped the Soulsville Basis to revitalize the realm, present mentoring and music-focused academic alternatives for neighborhood kids, and open a museum to inform the Stax story.

It was opened in 2003 and though it’s not within the unique constructing,w which was demolished, it’s within the unique location.

7. Take a look at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

I got here straight to the Memphis Rock n Soul Museum after Stax, and I used to be brief on time so raced via it. Most of the tales I had heard already on the Solar Studio tour, Graceland tour, and at Stax.

Nonetheless, it offers an ideal overview of the historical past of rock, soul, nation, and gospel music. It tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic limitations to create the music that shook all the world.

You are able to do the self-guided audio tour which is full of over 300 minutes of data, together with over 100 songs, and takes guests at their very own tempo via seven galleries that includes 3 audiovisual packages, greater than 30 devices, 40 costumes, a listening station, and different musical treasures.

I loved listening to a few of my favourite songs whereas shopping the shows which traces the historical past of music from the corn fields, to the church pews, to the kids creating their very own self-expression via rock.

My favourite quote got here from the introductory video speaking about soul music and Stax:

It was all about love and happiness. The spirit of the music was black nevertheless it concerned white folks they usually received into the spirit of the blackness and it made a fantastic flower.

8. Be taught on the Civil Rights Museum

I discussed earlier that we aren’t usually museum folks except they’re superb. Nicely, the Nationwide Civil Rights Museum might be among the finest museums I’ve ever visited!

Positioned on the Lorraine Motel, the precise location of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this museum not solely takes you thru his life and the tragedy of his assassination however via 5 centuries of historical past.

The museum options multimedia displays on the civil rights motion. You’ll discover 260 artifacts, greater than 40 movies, oral histories, interactive media and exterior listening posts. 

Civil Rights is an important and delicate subject and one which’s vital for our children to be uncovered to and perceive, and this museum does an unbelievable job of sharing vital classes.

We began our go to by watching a brief movie then moved slowly all through the constructing over a number of hours which took us via YEARS of historical past earlier than ending up at room quantity 306, the spot the place Dr. King was shot.

A shifting and informative museum, and to not be missed if you go to Memphis.

Clearly, your children should be at an age the place they will digest this subject of the Civil Rights Motion, however I’m happy with the best way our children performed themselves studying about this vital subject.

9. Take a look at the Bass Professional Store

This is among the craziest issues to see in Memphis! Earlier than we arrived, a number of folks urged that we simply needed to go to the Bass Professional Store. And we had been pondering, “hmm, why would we need to go to a retailer that sells fishing and searching gear?”

I imply, no offence to those that are keen on these pursuits, however I believe our readers know us properly sufficient that we don’t fish OR hunt.

Once we arrived in Memphis, the tourism board urged we go to too! Once more, we thought, what’s happening right here?!

Seems this specific Bass Professional Store is situated inside the large Pyramid and is among the craziest locations I’ve ever been inside.

They don’t simply promote fishing, tenting and searching gear, this place is like an adults playground and journey vacation spot in itself.

Not solely is the pyramid residence to the Bass Professional Store, however an aquarium, bowling alley, and award profitable 5-star resort referred to as Massive Cypress Lodge! Who knew?

You may trip the world’s tallest freestanding elevator 28 tales to the highest of the Memphis Pyramid (our children freaked out), stroll out onto the glass flooring statement deck (patterned after the Grand Canyon Skywalk) and get wonderful views 300 toes above Memphis and the Mississippi River.

As they stated, there’s nothing else prefer it wherever on the earth.

I now get why they needed us to go to – solely in America, lol.

10. Get your blues repair on Beale Avenue

You understand you’re in Memphis if you take a stroll alongside historic Beale Avenue – neon lights flashing, dwell music pumping from inside golf equipment, and the scent of barbecue wafting from eating places, Beale Avenue is the center of Memphis music.

This three block radius of golf equipment, eating places, and retailers is a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock’n’ roll, R&B and gospel.

You don’t should be right here within the wee hours to expertise it or depart your children again on the resort.

We visited late within the afternoon, took a stroll alongside Beale Avenue, popped into Moist Willies for a Weak Willie (non-alcoholic drink), then had dinner and listened to some cool music on the unique BB King’s Blues Membership.

What a high night time!

When you come late afternoon/early night to BB King’s, it’s household pleasant. The meals was good, the music nice and we received a style of the blues – what Memphis is thought for.

Beale Avenue was declared a Nationwide Historic Landmark in 1966 and was formally declared the House of the Blues by an act of Congress in 1977. Don’t miss it.

11. Watch an occasion at Memphis in Could

We occurred to be in Memphis in Could, which coincided with the Memphis in Could, a month of festivities citywide.

One of many occasions we attended was the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

They take their BBQ severe in Memphis, and this competition on the banks of the Mississippi River in Downtown takes BBQ to an entire new degree.

To cite their web site, that is America’s most prestigious barbecue cooking competitors with groups from throughout the nation, and abroad.

When you can think about something BBQ associated, they’ve it happening right here and we had been entertained purely by strolling round all of the shows – it’s one massive BBQ occasion!

Additionally in Could is the Beale Avenue Music Competition, which brings main acts like John Mellencamp, Snoop Dogg, Jason Mraz and John Legend to Tom Lee Park on the finish of Beale Avenue.

12. Take the children to Memphis Zoo

Memphis Zoo is a good household pleasant attraction, particularly to see distinctive wildlife just like the Large Pandas.

It’s among the finest zoos within the nation, because it has greater than 4,500 animals.

In addition to having a number of animals from all over the world to have a look at, it additionally has academic packages and talks.

The Teton Trek exhibit is its most well-known enclosure, which has wolves and bears, in addition to the Zambezi River Exhibit, the place you may see African animals corresponding to hippos and zebras.

If in case you have small children, take them to trip the carousel and run round within the splash park.

13. Get artistic on the Brooks Museum

The Brooks Museum is a good museum for the children who love artwork. It was based in 1916,making it the oldest and largest artwork museum in Tennessee.

It homes a various assortment of artwork from historic artifacts to modern works in quite a lot of mediums, corresponding to work, sculptures, ornamental arts, and images.

If in case you have older children, they may take pleasure in spending an hour or two wanting on the works on show right here.

14. Play at Shelby Farms Park

Shelby Farms Park is among the largest city parks within the nation, at 4,500 acres, giving your baby loads of house to play and run.

Shelby Farms Park is among the largest city parks in america, spanning over 4,500 acres in Memphis, Tennessee.

It has over 40 miles of trails the place you may go biking, for brief hikes, or horseback driving, and a number of other lakes which you can paddle round on a SUP or kayak on.

The Woodland Discovery Playground is the place toddlers can have a blast on their climbing programs, slides, and extra, and older children can strive their hand at Go Ape! Treetop Journey, identified for its aerial impediment course.

15. Spark your child’s curiosity on the Lichterman Nature Heart

Talking of nature, the Lichterman Nature Heart is an authorized arboretum and inexperienced oasis within the East Memphis district.

It opened within the Nineteen Sixties as a nature protect, and is a good place to go for nature walks, themed occasions and workshops, or go to the Davidson Pavilion to see dwell animals, together with snakes, turtles, and extra.

Find out about native animals on the Yard Wildlife Heart, and get accustomed to creatures that share our backyards, corresponding to birds, bugs, and small mammals.

16. Get impressed on the Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium

The Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium, also called the Memphis Museum of Science & Historical past, is a well-liked museum to go to for its structure and academic choices.

It’s housed within the former mansion of Clarence Saunders, the founding father of the Piggly Wiggly grocery retailer chain, which was constructed within the Nineteen Twenties. It turned a museum in 1993.

In addition to touring the mansion and studying about its historical past and structure, you may as well study science from the museums interactive reveals on numerous scientific subjects, together with astronomy, biology, and geology.

A spotlight of the museum is the state-of-the-art planetarium, which has immersive exhibits detailing the wonders of the universe.

You too can watch a movie within the Large Display Theater.

17. Slip into nature on the Memphis Botanic Backyard and Dixon Gallery & Gardens

The Memphis Botanic Backyard is a 96 acre backyard identified for its themed gardens, such because the Japanese Backyard, the Youngsters’s Backyard, the Perennial Backyard, and the Rose Backyard.

It’s the right place to go for a stroll via nature or unravel a picnic.

Throughout from the gardens are the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, an artwork museum with 17 acres of fantastically manicured gardens.

It accommodates an enormous assortment of European and American work, with a deal with French Impressionism.

The gardens are our favourite half, with a number of variation in type. It has a mixture of formal gardens, a woodland, and a sculpture backyard.

18. Find out about firefighting on the Hearth Museum of Memphis

If in case you have younger children who’re fascinated by hearth vans and firefighters normally, take them to The Hearth Museum of Memphis, which is nestled in a fantastically restored 1910 hearth station.

It was based to protect the historical past of the Memphis Hearth Division, in what was Hearth Engine Home No. 1 in downtown Memphis.

It doesn’t take lengthy to stroll round, however children shall be fascinated by the massive assortment of vintage hearth engines and firefighting tools.

19. Unlock your creativity and cognitive skills at Memphis Escape Rooms

If in case you have older children, or youngsters, then think about doing an escape room collectively.

Wait, you need me to purposely lock myself in a room with my teenager for an hour? What are you saying!

Belief me, an escape room is an extremely enjoyable and rewarding family-friendly attraction.

In an effort to escape, you might want to remedy puzzles, unravel mysteries, overcome obstacles, and use your mind to reply questions and discover clues with a view to escape.

It’s an entire lotta enjoyable and will get everybody in your loved ones utilizing their mind. Memphis Escape Rooms has 12 rooms throughout two places within the metropolis, so that you’ll you should definitely discover a story and ability degree suited to your loved ones.

Locations to Eat in Memphis

We all know how tough it may be for households to seek out locations to eat, particularly with children, so listed below are some eating places we dined at that we predict you’ll love (and your children will too!).

Arcade Restaurant

Step again in time at The Arcade Restaurant, Memphis’ oldest cafe. It was based in 1919 and judging by the images on the wall it nonetheless has the identical look, and really feel, that I think about it did all these years in the past.

The Arcade has that nostalgic feeling and also you would possibly acknowledge this basic American diner from motion pictures corresponding to Stroll the Line, The Shopper and Nice Balls of Hearth. 

Think about our delight once we sat within the precise sales space the place Elvis as soon as ate – how cool is that!!

Come get your repair of eggs, pancakes, and biscuits.

Central BBQ

Once we requested our good friend in Nashville, who used to dwell in Memphis, the place to seek out the very best Memphis BBQ,  Central BBQ was on the high of his record.

A couple of locals additionally really useful it for soul meals! We prefer to eat the place the locals eat.

Central BBQ has three places; Downtown, Midtown and East Memphis.

We ate on the downtown location and from the skin, the constructing appears to be like a little bit industrial, however the second you stroll in you may inform it has an area vibe in an atmospheric constructing that’s arrange like a restaurant.

You place your order on the register then sit down they usually convey the meals to you.

Nothing flash, however the BBQ is tasty – take your selection of ribs, beef brisket plate, pork plate, rooster or turkey, BBQ nachos, sizzling wings and extra!

Even when you’re not massive meat eaters like us, the BBQ aromas will tantalize your style buds and have you ever licking your fingers very quickly.

Marlowe’s Ribs & Restaurant

Marlowe’s Rib Restaurant was our first introduction to Memphis BBQ.

It’s situated within the Graceland space of city, and the minute you stroll into Marlowe’s, it’s such as you entered a museum about Memphis, Rock & Roll and Elvis. There’s one thing completely different to have a look at on each wall and the decor is enjoyable.

One factor you are able to do at Marlowe’s, and I nonetheless don’t know why we didn’t do that, is you may cellphone out of your resort and be picked up in a pink Cadillac to take you to the restaurant and again to your resort (for a tip). Subsequent time!

Marlowe’s provides all of the BBQ pickings with pleasant employees and a family-friendly environment.

Westy’s

After visiting the Bass Professional Store, we had been wanting on-line for dinner strategies and Westy’s had good critiques, gave the impression to be one other locals fave, and folks had been raving about their wild rice and Scorching Fudge Pie.

We should have visited on a quiet night time, which was good as we had time to talk with our tremendous pleasant waitress about all issues Memphis, however Westy’s is near downtown and serves meals till late on daily basis of the 12 months!

The menu is HUGE and properly priced and though we didn’t go for a slice of the new fudge pie, we had been properly happy.

Metropolis Silo Desk + Pantry

After a number of days of consuming meat, we had been in want of a one thing a little bit lighter and more healthy.

We discovered breakfast significantly onerous in Memphis for our well being aware minds and wished we had of found Metropolis Sil on day one as an alternative of day 4!

It’s situated in East Memphis and a 20-minute drive from Downtown, however when you’re searching for wholesome locations to eat in Memphis with wonderful smoothie bowls, juices, smoothies, salads, wellness lattes or perhaps a kombucha cocktail, go right here.

Click on play for a more in-depth have a look at locations to eat in Memphis:

The place To Keep In Memphis

When you’re on the town to go to Graceland (and who isn’t?), you may actually stroll there from the Visitor Home at Graceland, or there’s a shuttle bus to take you throughout the road, and even into downtown.

This resort was, after all, designed with Elvis in thoughts with a 464-seat theater for dwell performances and flicks. Wish to really feel such as you’re a visitor of the King, keep right here!

Nonetheless, for seeing the opposite points of interest in Memphis I recommend you’re higher off staying downtown. The historic Peabody Lodge is a four-star resort that has a great fame for being clear, having attentive employees, being snug, and having top-notch services.

Closing Ideas

Memphis was a metropolis that basically shocked us by how family-friendly it’s. It has numerous historical past to study, not simply in its musical legacy however in its Civil Rights historical past too.

There are numerous museums, granted, however there was lots to do moreover that. The parks and inexperienced areas, corresponding to Shelby Farms Park, had been a welcoming break from all of the schooling we had been getting.

And let’s not overlook Graceland, what a bucket record merchandise that one is!

We hope this information helped you intend some issues to do in Memphis together with your kids and gave you some inspiration. If it did, tell us within the feedback!

 

Video: Issues To Do In Memphis With Children

Watch all of the enjoyable we had on this video of our journey to Memphis with our children…

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