15 Fun Things to Do in Memphis with Kids
Memphis, also known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, will soon become a favorite vacation spot for your family.
Discover the stunning gardens and spectacular scenery along the rivers and lakes, take a trip through time at the incredible museum, and enjoy the many family-friendly activities that will leave you wanting more.
As you stroll past the streets, homes, and recording studios that renowned and iconic musicians formerly visited, you won’t leave this city without having acquired a brand-new and fresh perspective on music.
With this list of the top family-friendly activities in Memphis, you won’t miss a beat with all the must-visit sites and monuments.
- Fire Museum of Memphis — Downtown Memphis
A nonprofit organization called the Fire Museum of Memphis is committed to educating the public about fire safety, catastrophe risk reduction, and, ultimately, the history of the fire department and its contributions to the community.
Why We Recommend This Activity
One of the best locations to take kids in Memphis for educational, engaging and exciting displays that will teach you how to battle fire with knowledge is the Fire Museum of Memphis.
The memorial wall, a moving exhibit inside the museum that we highly recommend seeing, is situated in a unique kiosk with an engaging computer program.
The archives can hear all the unsung heroes who died putting out fires.
Recommended Ages
Families with kids three and older must visit the Fire Museum of Memphis.
- Sun Studio — Medical District
The Sun Studio, a recording studio made famous by rock and roll pioneer Sam Phillips, transports you to a bygone era through music.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The location where Elvis Presley’s fantastic career first began.
Elvis Presley recorded his debut song at this studio when he was 18.
Today, Sun Studion operates as a recording studio at night and is available to conduct public tours and educational excursions with the city’s most excellent tour guides during the day.
Recommended Ages
The Sun Studio offers free entry to kids ages 5 to 11 and is a beautiful place for families to learn about the long history of music.
- America’s Incredible Pizza Company — East Memphis
Pizza, refreshments, and video games?
An excellent plan!
Enjoy a wonderful day as a family at America’s Incredible Pizza Company.
Why We Recommend This Activity
One of Memphis’ top spots for inexpensive family entertainment is America’s Incredible Pizza Company.
Providing a range of kid-friendly activities will keep the little ones occupied for hours.
This entertainment center is a must-visit destination for families seeking a good time. It has indoor go-karts, laser tag, a spinning roller coaster, an XD theater, and over 80 other arcade games.
Recommended Ages
Children ages five and older should visit America’s Incredible Pizza Company, according to our recommendation.
- Memphis Zoo — Overton Park
One of the best places in the city to go for youngsters who want to get up and personal with the beautiful and intelligent creatures that dwell there is the Memphis Zoo.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Memphis Zoo introduces you to an incredible encounter with the various beautiful and magnificent creatures inside a wide range of designated habitats. The Memphis Zoo is home to more than 3500 animals in over 500 kinds.
With all the exhibits inside, there are many different places to go and things to do, but we strongly suggest visiting the China Pavilion of the zoo for a charming meeting with the well-known and adorable pandas.
Recommended Ages
This fun family adventure to the Memphis Zoo is strongly recommended for families with children ages three and older.
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame — the Memphis Hall of Fame recognizes Beale Street Entertainment Memphis musicians for their enduring accomplishments and contributions to music.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This venue showcases some of Memphis’s most incredible and illustrious performers. It will give you a fascinating tour of the city’s rich history ingrained in its residents’ hearts.
For families looking for things to do in Memphis with kids, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame is a terrific place to go. It recognizes both established and emerging musicians.
The induction ceremony and performance, which have become a well-known Memphis institution and an annual celebration, are worth seeing if you’re in the city between October and November.
Recommended Ages
The Memphis Music Hall of Fame is sure to be popular with aspiring kids aged five years and under.
- Museum of Science & History Pink Palace — Chickasaw Gardens
From the period of Spanish explorers to the Civil War and the yellow fever outbreaks, Memphis has endured a tedious journey.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Through the engaging exhibitions, stunning dioramas, and in-depth audio-visuals at the Museum of Science & History Pink Palace, discover the rich cultural and natural history of the Mid-South.
Enjoy this living time capsule with your entire family with the help of the many expertly kept relics and artifacts. For a fully immersive experience, consider seeing a movie in the museum’s movie theater.
Recommended Ages
The Museum of Science & History Pink Palace is one of the top Memphis family attractions.
- Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park — Shelby Farms Park
A wild, heart-pounding, adrenaline-inducing adventure park is the Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Face the various thrilling challenges inside this adventure park, such as dangling and upside-down hazards, and get the chance to view the woods from an entirely new angle as you jet through and around on several ziplines for an excellent and unforgettable experience.
The Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park is the ideal choice if you’re seeking for outdoor family activities to add some variety to your holiday.
Recommended Ages
For older children and teenagers (10 and up), Go Ace Ziplines & Adventure Park is the ideal spot to have fun.
- American Queen Steamboat Company — One Commerce Square
The American Queen Steamboat, a six-deck reproduction of a vintage Mississippi riverboat, was constructed in 1995 and provided many fun and exciting activities for the whole family.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Enjoy a serene cruise along Memphis’s rivers as you take in the area’s stunning scenery, pristine waters, and crisp, clean air.
Bring home a remarkable experience, greater understanding, and an enlightened perspective of the city’s history as you embark on an extraordinary voyage with the entire tribe. Enjoy the waterways with world-class food, incredible entertainment, and a unique perspective of the city’s history.
Recommended Ages
Families with slightly older children, ages seven and up, are encouraged to take a fun river trip through Memphis with the American Queen Steamboat Company.
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music — South Memphis
Are you looking for a specific family activity in Memphis that will sate your want for a genuine encounter?
A singular journey through the city’s soulful musical style is provided by the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Explore the profound and uplifting tales that underlie the stirring story of soul music deeply ingrained in Memphis.
Check out the various exhibitions, such as the Wall of Sound and Hallowed Ground, and have a blast on the Express Yourself dancing floor, where you can get down to all the Stax and legendary songs this museum offers.
Recommended Ages
For tribes with children three and older, visiting the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is entertaining and motivating.
- The Peabody Memphis — Downtown Memphis
One of the most well-known places in the city is The Peabody Memphis, a 13-story monument with an exceptional interior and infrastructure.
Why We Recommend This Activity
As soon as you walk in, you’ll be mesmerized by the lobby’s marble column and welcomed by the duck residents, whose daily parade to the hall’s fountain has been an important, unique, and enjoyable ritual since 1933.
One of the most excellent spots for any family to visit or stay this weekend is The Peabody Memphis. You’re sure to have a wonderful break with an indoor pool and exquisite French and Italian cuisine.
Recommended Ages
Children of all ages are welcomed and allowed within The Peabody Memphis.
- AutoZone Park — Downtown Memphis
Families seeking to enjoy the thrill of live sporting events will find The AutoZone Park, a Minor League Baseball stadium in the heart of Memphis, the perfect choice.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The AutoZone Park is a conveniently located outdoor area with well-kept amenities and open concession outlets.
We strongly advise purchasing a ticket to a game when you get the opportunity to visit Memphis to fully and authentically experience the city’s competitive and upbeat culture.
Recommended Ages
Children ages five and older should engage in a family-friendly activity like attending a game at AutoZone Park.
- Memphis Botanic Garden — Audubon Park
For families traveling with a newborn and seeking a tranquil stroll through parks and trails lined with trees, the 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden is the ideal destination.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Prepare the whole family to be enthralled by the stunning scenery, exquisite flowers, and tranquil atmosphere of the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Whether you wish to have a fantastic picnic or simply appreciate the lovely walks these gardens offer, you can enjoy a savory experience at any of the numerous cafes and restaurants that line the park.
Recommended Ages
One of the top free, family-friendly activities in Memphis is the Memphis Botanic Garden, open and highly recommended for families with children of all ages.
- National Civil Rights Museum — Downtown Memphis
The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, a collection of museums and historic structures, takes you on a tour of significant moments in American history, including rights and freedom.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The National Civil Rights Museum, widely regarded as one of America’s top heritage and cultural institutions, examines a crucial era in history in which our forebears fought for freedom and civil rights.
The goal of this museum is to keep spreading the history and lessons learned from the American Civil Rights Movement. It provides a fascinating fresh view of the past.
Recommended Ages
Visits to the National Civil Rights Museum are advised for families with children three years old and older.
- The Children’s Museum of Memphis — Midtown Memphis
The Children’s Museum of Memphis is the place to go if you’re looking for kid-friendly activities in Memphis.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Prepare yourself for a wide range of interactive exhibits and educational events inside this museum devoted to kids and the entire family to help you develop lifelong learning experiences.
Observe the kids as they play and learn in a secure setting.
They can play many characters, such as a pilot, dentist, ballerina, firefighter, and others.
Several interactive exhibitions will encourage and support children’s creativity, inventiveness, and problem-solving abilities with all the challenges and activities designed just for them.
Recommended Ages
We heartily recommend a visit to the Children’s Museum of Memphis to families with children ages three to ten.
- Graceland — Whitehaven
Memphis’ Graceland is a residence on the 13.8-acre estate formerly occupied by the legendary Elvis Presley.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visiting the Graceland mansion, which is filled with a variety of stuff that Elvis previously had and has a stunning interior design, is one of the most exciting things to do in Memphis with kids.
Utilize an interactive iPad tour of Graceland Mansion by John Stamos to learn more about Elvis Presley’s legacy. The time includes audio commentary and stories from Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie.
Recommended Ages
The Graceland estate is an excellent place for kids three and older to discover everything there is to know about the iconic artist Elvis Presley.
