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19 Insanely Cool Things To Do In Memphis with Kids

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Memphis is a city with a rich musical history and a culture unlike anywhere else in the United States.

While most people know it as the home of Elvis, the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll, but it turns out there are many things to do in Memphis with kids besides music!

We visited Memphis when our two daughters were 9 and 7, and they enjoyed the attractions just as much as us adults.

The Memphis music scene is legendary, but this city is evolving and offers so much more, for young and old.

We’re not a family who spends a lot of time in museums or hangs around playgrounds all day – that’s not to say we don’t do museums, but they have to be GOOD!

So if you’re planning a trip to Memphis, in this guide we have shared what to do in Memphis that our kids enjoyed as much as us big kids!

Table Of Contents

1. Visit the home of the King at Graceland, Memphis

woman and daughters outside Graceland

You can’t visit Memphis and not visit Graceland, even if you have young kids like us! Of all the Memphis attractions, the home of Elvis Presley is the most popular and it’s the most famous house in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

Our kids were just as excited about visiting Graceland as we were.

We peaked their interest for days leading up to our arrival, telling them stories of growing up watching Elvis movies, and once in town almost everywhere you look there’s memorabilia of Elvis.

It’s amazing that over 600,000 people visit Graceland each year to tour the home of someone who died over 48 years ago, but of course, this was no ordinary person.

The jungle room inside Graceland, Memphis
The Jungle Room

From the moment you enter this grand mansion you are taken on a journey through the private life of Elvis and what it must have been like 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 kids were fascinated as we went from room to room.

Graceland is probably not as big inside as one would expect, being the home of a rock star and all, but it’s truly fascinating. And his taste in decor is interesting, I mean, who puts shag pile carpet on their ceiling?

As for my favorite room, that would be the pool room!

The pool room at Graceland

It’s not only the Graceland Mansion you get to tour, but there are several other buildings at the Visitor Entertainment Complex.

You can see his:

elvis grave at Graceland
  • car collection
  • iconic fashion trends
  • private planes
  • stories from his time in the military
  • watch his movies
  • and much more.

Seriously, you could literally walk around for hours reading, watching and looking at all things Elvis!

2. Do a Sun Studio Tour

woman and children outside Sun Studio T

The Sun Studio Guided Tour was fantastic! Back in the 50’s, a man by the name of Sam Phillips started the Memphis Recording Studio that is now known as Sun Studio, the most famous recording studio in the world and known as the birthplace of Rock and Roll.

It was here that Elvis recorded his very first song, and it was fascinating to learn about how he was discovered.

All the greats have recorded here – Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Isaac Hayes, Jerry Lee Lewis, and modern artists like Bob Dylan and U2.

Johnny Cash inside the Sun Studio Tour in Memphis, Tennessee

We got to hear stories about these greats and more, how history was made and continues to be made.

At the end of the tour, don’t miss out on taking a photo holding the original microphone used to record hit songs.

And don’t forget to bring the kids, 5-11 years have free admission.

woman singing into microphone

Plan on being here for 90-minutes to truly enjoy the tour and then browse the cafe.

To continue following the Elvis Presley trail, you may want to visit The Levitt Shell. It’s an open-air amphitheater located in Overton Park, Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley gave his first paid concert there on July 30, 1954

3. Go on a Mississippi River Cruise

two girls on Mississippi River Cruise looking at water

Whenever we visit a city, if there’s a river or a harbor I always like to get out on it for a different perspective of the destination.

They don’t come much bigger than the mighty Mississippi River – the 3rd longest river in the world and the longest in the U.S.

view of a city

I enjoyed this cruise with Memphis River Boats. It was a relaxing 90-minutes filled with interesting commentary about the history of Memphis and of past and present Mississippi River life.

Both educational and entertaining for our kids, and an opportunity to take some close-up photos of the Memphis skyline and bridges as we cruised under them and enjoyed the big river crossing.

4. See the Famous Peabody Ducks at Peabody Hotel

Peabody Ducks

When we were told to visit the ducks at the Peabody Hotel, we weren’t sure what to expect. We weren’t expecting to watch a parade of ducks in the hotel lobby!

Turns out, the Duck March is one of the top attractions in Memphis, and people were lined up along the red carpet (yes there is a red carpet leading from the fountain to the elevator) to watch the ducks. The whole lobby was packed and people were standing two deep around the railing of the second level.

The Legend of the Peabody Memphis Ducks started back in the 1930s, and continues to this day. Every day, they visit the lobby fountain at 11:00am and 5:00pm, hop out of the fountain, walk the red carpet, step into the elevator, and ride to the rooftop. Amazing!

The whole procession only takes 20 seconds, but the “duck master” talks for about 20 minutes beforehand, somewhat interesting and somewhat dragging on.

The famous Peabody Marching Ducks have appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and in People magazine and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

Don’t go too far out of your way to see this, but if you’re in downtown Memphis and looking for free things to do, then check it out.

5. Take the kids to The Children’s Museum of Memphis

girls rock climbing in Children's Museum -

Caz and I like to take it in turns when we visit museums, so while she visited the Stax museum (more on that later), I took the kids to the Children’s Museum of Memphis for two hours of play time.

This place is cool with interactive exhibits and different rooms with activities for kids of different ages, inside and outside, including a splash pad.

It’s open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

6. Visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Stax Museum of American Soul Music Memphis Tennessee

Caz snuck away to get an even bigger dose of musical history and culture at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and decided it would have been a great place to bring the kids.

It was all about learning about soul music in Memphis and is an important part of the Memphis and Nashville musical story.

Even though segregation laws were keeping people apart in Memphis, music was bringing them together. Colour never came through the doors at Stax Recording Studio.

Stax Museum recording studio

People of every race were making music together – raw, soulful, and edgy music. Stax Records proved that music is the language of our soul and transcends all borders and barriers.

Sadly the assassination of MLK changed all of that. The relationships between the races within the Stax recording studio became strained and slowly the company fell apart.

Stax was something in musical history that made a difference.

I recommend spending a bit of time at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. There is a lot to take in through the displays of costumes, records, awards, a replica of Studio A and even a dance floor if you want to express your soul groove while listening to the hits.

I loved the intro video which superbly showed the Stax, Soul and Memphis music story.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music exhibit

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

Not wanting to see Soulsville, USA’s incredible history swallowed by blight, a group of community leaders, philanthropists and former Stax employees formed the Soulsville Foundation to revitalize the area, provide mentoring and music-focused educational opportunities for neighborhood children, and open a museum to tell the Stax story.

It was opened in 2003 and although it is not in the original building,w which was demolished, it’s in the original location.

7. Check out the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

Memphis Rock n Soul Museum exhibit

I came straight to the Memphis Rock n Soul Museum after Stax, and I was short on time so raced through it. Many of the stories I had heard already at the Sun Studio tour, Graceland tour, and at Stax.

However, it gives a great overview of the history of rock, soul, country, and gospel music. It tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the entire world.

woman looking at Memphis Rock n Soul Museum exhibit

You can do the self-guided audio tour which is packed with over 300 minutes of information, including over 100 songs, and takes visitors at their own pace through seven galleries featuring 3 audiovisual programs, more than 30 instruments, 40 costumes, a listening station, and other musical treasures.

I enjoyed listening to some of my favorite songs while browsing the displays which traces the history of music from the corn fields, to the church pews, to the teens creating their own self-expression through rock.

Memphis Rock n Soul Museum exhibit

My favorite quote came from the introductory video talking about soul music and Stax:

It was all about love and happiness. The spirit of the music was black but it involved white people and they got into the spirit of the blackness and it made a beautiful flower.

COMBO TICKET: To the Memphis Rock N Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Click here

This Music Attraction pass gives you admission to four of the most popular Memphis attractions: Elvis’ home of Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis Rock’n’Soul Museum, and Sun Studio. Check prices here.

8. Learn at the Civil Rights Museum

The National Civil Rights Museum rosa parks statue on bus
Rosa Parks

I mentioned earlier that we aren’t typically museum people unless they are very good. Well, the National Civil Rights Museum is probably one of the best museums I have ever visited!

Located at the Lorraine Motel, the actual location of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this museum not only takes you through his life and the tragedy of his assassination but through five centuries of history.

The museum features multimedia presentations on the civil rights movement. You’ll find 260 artifacts, more than 40 films, oral histories, interactive media and external listening posts. 

Civil Rights is a very important and sensitive topic and one that’s important for our kids to be exposed to and understand, and this museum does an incredible job of sharing important lessons.

two girls looking at National Civil Rights Museum exhibit

We started our visit by watching a short film then moved slowly throughout the building over several hours which took us through YEARS of history before finishing up at room number 306, the spot where Dr. King was shot.

A moving and informative museum, and not to be missed when you visit Memphis.

Obviously, your kids need to be at an age where they can digest this topic of the Civil Rights Movement, but I’m proud of the way our kids conducted themselves learning about this important issue.

9. Check out the Bass Pro Shop

Bass Pro Shop, Memphis, Tennessee

This is one of the craziest things to see in Memphis! Before we arrived, several people suggested that we just had to visit the Bass Pro Shop. And we were thinking, “hmm, why would we want to visit a store that sells fishing and hunting gear?”

I mean, no offence to those who are interested in those pursuits, but I think our readers know us well enough that we don’t fish OR hunt.

When we arrived in Memphis, the tourism board suggested we visit too! Again, we thought, what’s going on here?!

Turns out this particular Bass Pro Shop is located inside the giant Pyramid and is one of the craziest places I have ever been inside of.

They don’t just sell fishing, camping and hunting gear, this place is like an adults playground and adventure destination in itself.

Not only is the pyramid home to the Bass Pro Shop, but an aquarium, bowling alley, and award winning 5-star resort called Big Cypress Lodge! Who knew?

Memphis skyline seen from the Bass Pro Shop observation deck

You can ride the world’s tallest freestanding elevator 28 stories to the top of the Memphis Pyramid (our kids freaked out), walk out onto the glass floor observation deck (patterned after the Grand Canyon Skywalk) and get amazing views 300 feet above Memphis and the Mississippi River.

As they said, there’s nothing else like it anywhere in the world.

I now get why they wanted us to visit – only in America, lol.

10. Get your blues fix on Beale Street

family posing on Beale Street -

You know you’re in Memphis when you take a stroll along historic Beale Street – neon lights flashing, live music pumping from inside of clubs, and the smell of barbecue wafting from restaurants, Beale Street is the heart of Memphis music.

This three block radius of clubs, restaurants, and shops is a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock’n’ roll, R&B and gospel.

You don’t have to be here in the wee hours to experience it or leave your kids back at the hotel.

girls posing in front of giant guitar Beale Street, Memphis -

We visited late in the afternoon, took a stroll along Beale Street, popped into Wet Willies for a Weak Willie (non-alcoholic drink), then had dinner and listened to some cool music at the original BB King’s Blues Club.

What a top night!

BB King's Blues Club band playing on stage
BB King’s

If you come late afternoon/early evening to BB King’s, it’s family friendly. The food was good, the music great and we got a taste of the blues – what Memphis is known for.

Beale Street was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and was officially declared the Home of the Blues by an act of Congress in 1977. Don’t miss it.

11. Watch an event at Memphis in May

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

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

They take their BBQ serious in Memphis, and this festival on the banks of the Mississippi River in Downtown takes BBQ to a whole new level.

Memphis in May BBQ Festival

To quote their website, this is America’s most prestigious barbecue cooking competition with teams from all around the country, and overseas.

If you can imagine anything BBQ related, they have it going on here and we were entertained purely by walking around looking at all the displays – it’s one big BBQ party!

Also in May is the Beale Street Music Festival, which brings major acts like John Mellencamp, Snoop Dogg, Jason Mraz and John Legend to Tom Lee Park at the end of Beale Street.

12. Take the kids to Memphis Zoo

elephant at zoo

Memphis Zoo is a great family friendly attraction, especially to see unique wildlife like the Giant Pandas.

It’s one of the best zoos in the country, as it has more than 4,500 animals.

As well as having lots of animals from around the world to look at, it also has educational programs and talks.

The Teton Trek exhibit is its most famous enclosure, which has wolves and bears, as well as the Zambezi River Exhibit, where you can see African animals such as hippos and zebras.

If you have small kids, take them to ride the carousel and run around in the splash park.

13. Get creative at the Brooks Museum

The Brooks Museum is a great museum for the kids who love art. It was founded in 1916,making it the oldest and largest art museum in Tennessee.

It houses a diverse collection of art from ancient artifacts to contemporary works in a variety of mediums, such as paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and photography.

If you have older kids, they might enjoy spending an hour or two looking at the works on display here.

14. Play at Shelby Farms Park

ducks on pond

Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, at 4,500 acres, giving your child plenty of space to play and run.

Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, spanning over 4,500 acres in Memphis, Tennessee.

It has over 40 miles of trails where you can go biking, for short hikes, or horseback riding, and several lakes that you can paddle around on a SUP or kayak on.

The Woodland Discovery Playground is where toddlers can have a blast on their climbing courses, slides, and more, and older kids can try their hand at Go Ape! Treetop Adventure, known for its aerial obstacle course.

15. Spark your kid’s curiosity at the Lichterman Nature Center

garden

Speaking of nature, the Lichterman Nature Center is a certified arboretum and green oasis in the East Memphis district.

It opened in the 1960s as a nature preserve, and is a great place to go for nature walks, themed events and workshops, or visit the Davidson Pavilion to see live animals, including snakes, turtles, and more.

Learn about native animals at the Backyard Wildlife Center, and get familiar with creatures that share our backyards, such as birds, insects, and small mammals.

16. Get inspired at the Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium

The Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium, also known as the Memphis Museum of Science & History, is a popular museum to visit for its architecture and educational offerings.

It’s housed in the former mansion of Clarence Saunders, the founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain, which was built in the 1920s. It became a museum in 1993.

As well as touring the mansion and learning about its history and architecture, you can also learn about science from the museums interactive exhibits on various scientific topics, including astronomy, biology, and geology.

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

You can also watch a film in the Giant Screen Theater.

17. Slip into nature at the Memphis Botanic Garden and Dixon Gallery & Gardens

red bridg

The Memphis Botanic Garden is a 96 acre garden known for its themed gardens, such as the Japanese Garden, the Children’s Garden, the Perennial Garden, and the Rose Garden.

It’s the perfect place to go for a walk through nature or unravel a picnic.

Across from the gardens are the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, an art museum with 17 acres of beautifully manicured gardens.

It contains a huge collection of European and American paintings, with a focus on French Impressionism.

The gardens are our favorite part, with lots of variation in style. It has a mix of formal gardens, a woodland, and a sculpture garden.

18. Learn about firefighting at the Fire Museum of Memphis

If you have young kids who are fascinated by fire trucks and firefighters in general, take them to The Fire Museum of Memphis, which is nestled in a beautifully restored 1910 fire station.

It was founded to preserve the history of the Memphis Fire Department, in what was Fire Engine House No. 1 in downtown Memphis.

It doesn’t take long to walk around, but kids will be fascinated by the huge collection of antique fire engines and firefighting equipment.

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

If you have older kids, or teenagers, then consider doing an escape room together.

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

Trust me, an escape room is an incredibly fun and rewarding family-friendly attraction.

In order to escape, you need to solve puzzles, unravel mysteries, overcome obstacles, and use your brain to answer questions and find clues in order to escape.

It’s a whole lotta fun and gets everyone in your family using their brain. Memphis Escape Rooms has 12 rooms across two locations in the city, so you’ll be sure to find a story and skill level suited to your family.

Places to Eat in Memphis

We know how difficult it can be for families to find places to eat, especially with kids, so here are some restaurants we dined at that we think you’ll love (and your kids will too!).

Arcade Restaurant

family eating at The Arcade Restaurant -

Step back in time at The Arcade Restaurant, Memphis’ oldest cafe. It was founded in 1919 and judging by the photos on the wall it still has the same look, and feel, that I imagine it did all those years ago.

The Arcade has that nostalgic feeling and you might recognize this classic American diner from movies such as Walk the Line, The Client and Great Balls of Fire. 

family in booth at The Arcade Restaurant -

Imagine our delight when we sat in the actual booth where Elvis once ate – how cool is that!!

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

Central BBQ

Central BBQ

When we asked our friend in Nashville, who used to live in Memphis, where to find the best Memphis BBQ,  Central BBQ was at the top of his list.

A few locals also recommended it for soul food! We like to eat where the locals eat.

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

We ate at the downtown location and from the outside, the building looks a little industrial, but the moment you walk in you can tell it has a local vibe in an atmospheric building that is set up like a cafe.

plate of memphis BBQ

You place your order at the register then sit down and they bring the food to you.

Nothing flash, but the BBQ is tasty – take your choice of ribs, beef brisket plate, pork plate, chicken or turkey, BBQ nachos, hot wings and more!

Even if you’re not big meat eaters like us, the BBQ aromas will tantalize your taste buds and have you licking your fingers in no time.

Marlowe’s Ribs & Restaurant

Marlowes Ribs & Restaurant plate of rib

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

It’s located in the Graceland area of town, and the minute you walk into Marlowe’s, it’s like you entered a museum about Memphis, Rock & Roll and Elvis. There’s something different to look at on every wall and the decor is fun.

One thing you can do at Marlowe’s, and I still don’t know why we didn’t do this, is you can phone from your hotel and be picked up in a pink Cadillac to take you to the restaurant and back to your hotel (for a tip). Next time!

Marlowe’s offers all the BBQ pickings with friendly staff and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Westy’s

plate of food
Wild rice

After visiting the Bass Pro Shop, we were looking online for dinner suggestions and Westy’s had good reviews, appeared to be another locals fave, and people were raving about their wild rice and Hot Fudge Pie.

We must have visited on a quiet night, which was nice as we had time to chat with our super friendly waitress about all things Memphis, but Westy’s is close to downtown and serves food until late every day of the year!

The menu is HUGE and well priced and although we didn’t go for a slice of the hot fudge pie, we were well satisfied.

City Silo Table + Pantry

City Silo Table + Pantry -\interiori

After several days of eating meat, we were in need of a something a little lighter and healthier.

We found breakfast particularly hard in Memphis for our health conscious minds and wished we had of discovered City Sil on day one instead of day four!

It’s located in East Memphis and a 20-minute drive from Downtown, but if you’re looking for healthy places to eat in Memphis with amazing smoothie bowls, juices, smoothies, salads, wellness lattes or maybe a kombucha cocktail, go here.

Click play for a closer look at places to eat in Memphis:

Where To Stay In Memphis

Guest House at Graceland -
Image credit: Guest House at Graceland.

If you’re in town to visit Graceland (and who isn’t?), you can literally walk there from the Guest House at Graceland, or there’s a shuttle bus to take you across the street, and even into downtown.

This hotel was, of course, designed with Elvis in mind with a 464-seat theater for live performances and movies. Want to feel like you’re a guest of the King, stay here!

The Peabody Memphis lobby
Photo Credit: The Peabody Memphis

However, for seeing the other attractions in Memphis I suggest you’re better off staying downtown. The historic Peabody Hotel is a four-star hotel that has a good reputation for being clean, having attentive staff, being comfortable, and having top-notch facilities.

Final Thoughts

Memphis was a city that really surprised us by how family-friendly it is. It has a lot of history to learn about, not just in its musical legacy but in its Civil Rights history too.

There are a lot of museums, granted, but there was a lot to do besides that. The parks and green spaces, such as Shelby Farms Park, were a welcoming break from all the education we were getting.

And let’s not forget Graceland, what a bucket list item that one is!

We hope this guide helped you plan some things to do in Memphis with your children and gave you some inspiration. If it did, let us know in the comments!

Video: Things To Do In Memphis With Kids

Watch all the fun we had in this video of our trip to Memphis with our kids…

More Tennessee Travel Tips

Planning on visiting other parts of Tennessee? Here are some other helpful guides!

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What are you most looking forward to doing in Memphis? Let us know in the comments!

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