Things to do in Memphis with kids

What is it?
Elvis Presley's home, featuring a car museum, tours and exhibits, and the singer's final resting place.

Why should you go?
It would be unthinkable not to visit Graceland, the iconic mansion where the King of Rock'n'Roll lived for 20 years. This museum features the world's largest and most comprehensive Elvis collection and offers a range of tours.

Explore the public and personal sides of the King, his gold and platinum records, magnificent jumpsuits, capes, belts, memorabilia from his movies, and much more. Stroll through the mansion and check out the iconic Jungle Room and the Meditation Garden, where the King and members of his family are buried.

We love the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, home to the iconic Pink Cadillac and Elvis's two customized jets: the 1958 Convair 880, named Lisa Marie after his daughter, and a smaller Lockheed JetStar, the Hound Dog II.

What is it?
An impressive zoo that is over 100 years old and hosts wildlife from across the globe.

Why should you go?
Founded in 1906, Memphis Zoo is one of the greatest local attractions for families and has consistently received various awards for providing quality entertainment as well as for its conservation efforts. Located in Overton Park, this spacious park is home to over 3,500 animals across 19 exhibits. Here, you can feed a giraffe by hand, watch a sea lion show, marvel at the grace of giant cats, check out the elephants bathing, and see one of the very few nocturnal animal exhibits in the country.

Among other activities, there are nice cafes and snack bars, from a barbecue to a Moroccan place, a playground, rides including a farm train and a carousel, and a Splash Park that kids absolutely adore!

What is it?
An interactive fire museum located in a historic fire engine house in downtown Memphis.

Why should you go?
Based in the renovated 1910 Fire Engine House, the Fire Museum of Memphis is dedicated to the education of fire safety, the preservation of fire service heritage, and its contribution to society. It's also one of the really fun places to visit!

It is home to a wide range of exhibits, some of which date back to the 19th century. Uniforms, fire helmets, fire extinguishers, models, equipment, memorabilia, and a few fire engines are on display here. The interactive sections include simulations of being in a fire and driving a fire truck, the Arcade Room with fire and life safety video games, and an escape maze. Ol' Billy, an animatronic talking fire horse, is the real star of the museum.

What is it?
Science and history museum with an IMAX theater and a planetarium.

Why should you go?
The MoSH is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Southeast and houses an extensive collection of historical, educational, and technological attractions in a few buildings.

From fossils and ancient artifacts to state-of-the-art planetarium shows, there's a wide range of exhibits for families to explore. Want to meet an animatronic T-Rex or learn about mastodons who roamed the forests of Memphis millions of years ago? Or study the history of Memphis from its birth as a frontier river town to a vital Victorian Era city? Check out the Piggly Wiggly Store replica: its first outlet opened here in 1916. Finally, gaze at the stars in the marvelous planetarium!

What is it?
A complex of museums and historic buildings located on the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Why should you go?
This museum is dedicated to the legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement. It includes the former Lorraine Motel, which used to provide lodging to black guests during the segregation era. The civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on this site in 1968.

The complex includes historic collections, multimedia, and interactive exhibits and organizes educational events about the struggle for human rights, racial equality, and social justice. Paying homage to the legacy of MLK Jr., it provides a great deal of information, from slavery to the modern Civil Rights Movement, from nonviolent protests to armed self-defense.
You'll pass by the museum on our tour of downtown Memphis, so drop by — and don't forget to get the tickets in advance.

What is it?
The quintessential Memphis barbecue joint that has been serving signature dry rub ribs for decades.

Why should you go?
We should warn you: don't expect the locals to agree on which of the barbecue joints in Memphis is the best. However, the Rendezvous is definitely one of the most famous places.

It dates back to 1948, when its founder Charlie Vergos, a descendant of Greek immigrants, opened a restaurant in a basement. He converted an old coal chute into a smoker to add flavor to the ham. In the 1950s, he created the signature dish - dry rub pork ribs. Vergos made a special rub based on his father's Greek chili recipe, the cajun spices he discovered in New Orleans, and paprika for color. The 'Vous ribs have been immensely popular ever since — why not check for yourself right after the tour of downtown Memphis?

What is it?
Iconic pedestrian street in downtown Memphis, home to the historic constellation of music and food joints.

Why should you go?
Nicknamed 'Home of the Blues,' the buzzing neon-lit Beale Street is the place to go for fans of live music, restaurants, and street performances. If you're in town for the first time and thinking about what to do in Memphis with kids (or without them) — a stroll along Beale Street is a must (plus, we've got it covered in our tour).

Created in 1841, the street has been historically associated with trade, music and entertainment, and Black-owned businesses. From the 1920s to the 1940s, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and other blues and jazz legends played here and contributed to the development of Memphis Blues. So grab a snack, get a drink, and walk around absorbing the music — it's a truly memorable experience.

What is it?
A historic luxury hotel with daily duck marches and amazing views.

Why should you go?
Opened in its current Italian Renaissance building in 1925, the Peabody is best known for its duck parade that takes place twice daily. The tradition goes back to the 1930s. The red carpet is rolled out, fans gather around, and the Duckmaster guides the hotel's five resident Mallards from their penthouse to the lobby fountain (and back in the evening).

The duck march is loved by adults and children alike and is certainly one of the most fun things to do in Memphis with kids. We've got one more tip, by the way: the ducks live in their Royal Duck Palace on the hotel's rooftop, and the views from the roof are simply mesmerizing. Our tour of Memphis includes this attraction, so make sure you're around in time!

What is it?
A museum with a whole range of interactive and educational experiences targeted specifically at children.

Why should you go?
Looking for things to do in Memphis with kids that would be tailored specifically for the little ones? We've got one! You can spend hours with your kids at this family-oriented center — just watch them play and learn.

There's a multitude of interactive, hands-on exhibits for kids of different age groups, inspiring them to explore, imagine, and create in the process where games merge seamlessly with education. There's a carousel and a rock climbing exhibit, a section for kids aged four and under and a bank simulator, an art and innovation lab, and a garden-themed splash park where you can bring your own summer gear. Trust us, you'll be hard-pressed to get the kids to leave!

What is it?
Unique gardens and an arboretum spread across 96 acres, with a very popular children's garden called My Big Backyard.

Why should you go?
Located in Audubon Park, this vast urban green space is home to a state-of-the-art arboretum with thousands of trees, and 30 specialty gardens, including Formal Gardens, Japanese Gardens, Woodland, Urban Home Gardens, and others, littered with sculpture and art collections.

The real highlight of the park? My Big Backyard play area, with 16 sections for climbing, splashing, jumping, digging, and daydreaming. This spacious area is chock full of playhouses, musical instruments, mazes, tunnels, and, of course, plants and flowers. The best part of the kids' activities is Raindrop Stop, the water feature that generates a mini-rain falling from the edge of the pavilion roof to cool off in the summer heat.

What is it?
One of the most recognizable structures in town, housing an outdoor gear store, a hotel, a shooting range, and other attractions.

Why should you go?
A former sports arena built around 1954, this pyramid-shaped building is 98 meters tall and is home to a range of attractions. This is the largest single retailer location in the world: Bass Pro Shops — a fishing, hunting, and boating gear vendor - opened here in 2015.

But it's not shopping that makes a trip to the Pyramid an exciting family thing to do. The whole building is a swamp-themed space full of cool stuff: a giant cypress swamp filled with fish and alligators, an aquarium, a bowling alley, an archery range, cafes and restaurants, and a hotel. There's also a 28-story freestanding glass lift that brings you to the observation deck with some of the best views of the city and the river: check out the Mighty Lights!

What is it?
A historic house that may have served as a station on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves, with a museum of slavery and the antislavery movement.

Why should you go?
Built in the mid-19th century, this white house is named the Burkle Estate after its owner, who reportedly played an important role in the Underground Railroad, the network of routes and safe spaces that existed to aid the fugitive enslaved people. Mr. Burkle possibly was a so-called conductor on the Railroad.

During the tour of the house, you can see the small cellar where the escaping enslaved people would hide and check out the trapdoors and hidden passages where the fugitives were harbored. There's also a museum that presents the history of slavery and the informal systems that were developed to escape and fight exploitation.

What is it?
A museum dedicated to the history of the cotton industry and its impact on life in the South.

Why should you go?
Occupying the former trading floor of the Memphis Cotton Exchange in the historic Cotton Row — the 19th-century hub of the world's largest cotton market — this museum shares the story of the 'white gold' and the massive influence it has had on the South's life, culture, and economy.

The space is gorgeous, with its ornate decorations, high ceilings, and beautiful arched windows. Inside, you will find artifacts and interactive exhibits that showcase the nuances of cotton production and trade: you'll get a glimpse of what it was like to work in the field and a booth and focus on the dark relationship between cotton and slavery.

Our walking tour takes place in the vicinity, so you can easily do both in one day.

What is it?
A multi-purpose arena located in Downtown Memphis, home of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Why should you go?
Should your child wish to go see a basketball game (or some other event), FedExForum is the place to check out. Home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, this space does not only host basketball games but also hockey, boxing, WWE, and MMA, as well as concerts and various shows.

The Forum opened in 2004 and pays homage to the city's musical heritage, with murals of the most famous artists hailing from Memphis, including Justin Timberlake, Elvis Presley, and B.B. King, and music-themed eateries. It's been praised for its organization and comfortable seating. And our walking tour of downtown Memphis actually stops just by the Forum!

What is it?
A riverside park with a scale model of the Mississippi River

Why should you go?
Nothing else to do this weekend? Come over to Mud Island, then (well, it's actually a peninsula, but those are details). The area might look a bit less polished than most of the other things on our list, but hey, not everything has to be squeaky clean to be charming!

Located in the heart of the Mississippi River, it's accessible via a sky bridge and is within walking distance from downtown. The best part of the space, and the kids' favorite, is the 600-meter scale model of the river that is carved out of cement and includes plaques with details about the river's history. There's also a concrete outdoor amphitheater that seats up to 5,000 people. Great views of Memphis and the Mississippi are an added bonus.