Things to do in Memphis

Known as both “Home of the Blues” and “The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” sultry blues clubs rule supreme here and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is spoken of with the utmost reverence. Memphis is a city where life can slow down to match the gentle rhythm of the Mississippi River or the easygoing vibe of its legendary barbecue joints. Yet, it’s also vibrant metropolis with revitalized neighborhoods and a thriving multi-industry economy. Above all, it’s a place where small-town Southern hospitality converges with big city Memphis attractions to create a playground for both young and old. Explore our Memphis travel guide to find great restaurants and things to do for kids.

1. Party in the Home of the Blues

Beale Street is where visitors and locals come together to have fun and celebrate.

Get lost in the sweet sounds of live music along Beale Street, the official “Home of the Blues.” The Beale Street Historic District is downtown Memphis’s music epicenter, encompassing three blocks of entertainment venues, restaurants, bars, shopping and street vendors. From a centrally located hotel in Memphis, you can visit famed venues like B.B. King’s Blues Club, Rum Boogie Cafe and the New Daisy Theatre to enjoy shows from up-and-coming musicians and seasoned performers alike. Soak up the festive atmosphere at special events throughout the year, including parades, 5K races and car shows. The celebrated thoroughfare stages the Beale Street Music Festival each May, which showcases internationally renowned musical acts at Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River.

2. Creative Time for the Kids

Museums and interactive exhibits, like this rock climbing wall at the Children's Museum of Memphis, keep kids of all ages entertained.

Head to the Children’s Museum of Memphis, located in Midtown Memphis, and let your kids expel some pent-up energy getting creative. The museum offers more than 30 exhibits to challenge young minds through interactive exhibits science, math, health and art. You can also set the kids loose to climb rock walls, man a fire station, work in a grocery store and learn the inner workings of a barn. For added fun, your little ones can cool off in the splash park with more than 40 sprayers or play in the outdoor space outfitted with slides, seesaws and fossil dig sites.

3. Game Time in Music Land

From country music concerts to sportings events, the FedExForum is where all the action happens.

If you want to catch a basketball game while in town, look no further than the FedExForum on downtown’s historic Beale Street. The venue is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis’ Tigers basketball team, but it also hosts some top entertainment events in Memphis. The arena easily converts into an all-purpose events center, hosting everything from ice skating shows and major concerts to professional wrestling competitions. FedExForum has a distinct theme of “Memphis Music” throughout that celebrates the city’s connection with both blues and rock ‘n’ roll music. Make sure to also visit the Smithsonian’s Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum while at the arena. Its seven galleries showcase historic costumes, instruments and archival footage of the distinctly American music styles.

4. Journey to Graceland

Even though Elvis has left the building, you can still spend a day exploring his Graceland estate.

All hail the King—Elvis Presley, obviously—with a visit to Graceland. Presley’s Colonial Revival mansion on nearly 14 acres now serves as a museum to celebrate the life and music of this American music icon. Just 10 minutes from downtown, Graceland is one of the most visited private homes of anyone in the country. Tour the sprawling grounds and mansion of the legendary rocker, all while learning about his life and career. A stop in the gallery lets you admire more than 300 items on display like albums, costumes and personal effects. You can also take a peek inside Elvis’ vast collection of cars and custom jets, but just remember to pay your respects to the icon at his gravesite in the Meditation Garden.

5. Once Upon a Farm with Pandas

The Memphis Zoo prides itself on being the home of two very large, endangered panda bears.

Come face-to-face with wildlife galore at the Memphis Zoo, one of the largest in the country. The 70-acre facility is just 10 minutes from downtown and tucked inside the expansive Overton Park. Check out the zoo’s 3,500-plus animals in one-of-a-kind exhibits like Once Upon A Farm, Primate Canyon and Northwest Passage. Its two marquee stars, Ya Ya and Le Le, live in CHINA amongst three acres with authentic Chinese gardens and architecture. The two giant pandas make Memphis Zoo one of the few zoos in the country to exhibit the endangered species—making it worth the visit alone. Spend the rest of your day feeding giraffes from an elevated perch, watching elephants stalk across open savannahs and gazing at toucans flying high through the tropical birdhouse.

6. Never Forget the Past

Giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the Civil Rights Movement is an important focus at the National Civil Rights Museum.

Experience the history of the Civil Rights Movement at the National Civil Rights Museum. It offers a dynamic perspective of the movement with powerful, evocative exhibits that chronicle the history of the struggle in America from the 17th century to the present. Included in the complex is the Lorraine Motel, the site of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. You’ll learn more about the challenges African-Americans have faced, from the days of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement to Brown v. Board of Education. Examine more than 260 artifacts including documents, photographs and videos that chronicle great leaders. This is a museum not to miss.

7. The History of Southern Soul

Learn and listen to Southern Soul music at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

A Memphis institution in the 1960s and 1970s, the trailblazing Stax Records music label produced soul masterpieces by luminaries like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers. Though Stax Records is now strictly a re-issue label, you can still learn about its historic involvement with the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is just 10 minutes south of downtown and a replica of the original Stax Records studio. Step inside a recreated control room from the label's most successful time period or bust a move across the wide open dance floor to Stax tracks. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.

8. Tour the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll

Music lovers make Sun Studios and Smithsonian's Rock'n'Roll Museum their top places to visit in Memphis.

Head on over the historic Sun Studio if you haven’t gotten your fill of Memphis' musical roots. The famed record label and recording studio is just one block north of Beale Street and touted as “The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Launched by producer Sam Phillips in 1950, the studio's tight quarters mark the spot where a young Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins experimented with the sounds of rock, country and gospel music. Take a 30-minute guided tour where you can nod your head to the iconic songs that were recorded by the music legends in this very same studio. Continue on your musical pilgrimage and hop on the free shuttle service to and from Graceland and the Smithsonian’s Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.