Imagine a life colored in BBQ and your blues, Memphis shouldn’t be a second thought for you. But more realistically, people have turned to Memphis in the past for its low cost of living, the rich culture and history, and of course, the many job opportunities available here. Unlike many states, Memphis also gives its residents a chance to witness all four seasons! Basically, if you’re looking to do something in Memphis, you’ve found yourself at the right place. Here are our suggestions for some of the best things you can do in Memphis!
Related: Find Rooms For Rent In Memphis
Outdoor things to do in Memphis
1. Shelby Farms Park
The weather in Memphis is usually on the warmer side, and there’s no better place to enjoy the sunshine than Shelby Farms Park. Located amidst the downtown action, the park offers more than 4,500 acres of green space and more than 20 bodies of water. There are also fun recreational activities for youngsters, such as the unique Woodland Discovery Playground – which was designed by children – and the Water Play Sprayground, a 4,000-square-foot play space featuring spray jets, water pumps, and geysers. There are also zip lines, water sport rentals, and more than 40 miles of trails, including nature trails for hiking and paved routes for biking. If you’re visiting in April, make time for the Down to Earth Festival where parkgoers celebrate Earth Day. If you’re visiting in winter, be sure to admire the glistening lights at the Starry Nights events!
Hours: 6AM to 8PM; Sun-Thurs
Cost: Free
2. Memphis Zoo
The Memphis Zoo’s hieroglyphics-clad entryway leads to a primate habitat, bear and wolf enclosures in the Teton Trek, a nocturnal animal exhibit, a vast big cat area, and the Zambezi River Hippo Camp, among other exhibits. All in all, you can observe approximately 4,500 animals! Including the ever-popular giant pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le – in environments designed to mimic their natural habitats. The zoo spans 70 acres, but recent visitors said it’s well-organized and the visibility of the animals is great. If you’re an animal lover, this is by far one of the best things to do in Memphis. Little legs should have no trouble navigating the grounds, and lectures on the zoo’s furry friends prove entertaining for all ages.
Cost: $21 for adults; $16 for kids 2-11 Hours: Hours vary seasonally
3. The Memphis Botanic Garden
Located east of downtown, the Botanic Gardens at Memphis offer visitors a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are 30 specialty garden areas across 96 acres of land. One visitor favorite is the Asian Garden, which features plants native to countries like China, Japan, and Taiwan. Travelers also enjoy exploring the colorful Iris Garden as well as Daffodil Hill, which showcases up to 300,000 beautiful blooms.
These Botanic Gardens also offer an arboretum area. Not to mention, the garden plays host concerts and events, which are geared toward both adults and children. Refer to the garden’s online calendar to see what events are happening during your visit.
The botanic garden is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Its on-site cafe is open for lunch every day except Sunday. There are also picnic areas for those who wish to enjoy a meal in the garden.
Costs: $10 for adults; $5 for kids 2-12
Hours: 9:00AM. to 6:00PM
Sports in Memphis
1. Cheer on the Grizzlies and NBA!
For all NBA lovers, this has to be one of the coolest things to do in Memphis. By a long shot, pun intended. The beloved Memphis Grizzlies NBA team brings basketball players from around the world to downtown Memphis for exciting games from October to April every year. You should also definitely see the biggest names in the NBA compete at FedExForum. This is along with plenty of music and entertainment like the Beale Street Flippers and Grizz Girls. Arena concessions provide local flavor, including the world-famous Rendezvous barbecue.
After the game, you’ll be just steps away from a neon-infused 5th quarter on Beale Street with more music, food, and fun.
2. Go Tigers, Go! At the University of Memphis!
The University of Memphis supports 18 NCAA college sports teams, including football and basketball.
The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team plays home games at FedExForum (the same place as their NBA peers) from October through March each year. Be sure to go out on the town before or after the game, perhaps in the nearby South Main Arts District.
The Memphis Tigers football team, on the other hand, plays at the historic Liberty Bowl Stadium in midtown every fall. Wear your blue and gray and cheer for the Tigers’ every touchdown; experience the Mighty Sound of the South marching band and spirit squads, plus the Southern tradition of tailgating before kickoff at Tiger Lane.
3. The St. Jude Marathon
Thousands of St. Jude Heroes™ fill the streets for this annual Memphis marathon, held on the first Saturday in December. This is in support of a charity by the same name, that aims to help children with cancer.
The race course leads runners on closed streets in midtown and downtown, and through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s main campus. Whether you’re running the 5K, half-marathon, or marathon, or cheering with one of the many cheering sections along the route, the St. Jude Marathon is a signature Memphis event with a life-saving mission that everyone can get behind.
Cost: Registration costs vary according to race type and package type each year.
Hours: Vary each year.
Museums in Memphis
1. National Civil Rights Museum – Lorraine Motel
Recent travelers agreed the National Civil Rights Museum should be at the top of anyone’s list of things to see in Memphis. Housed in the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, the museum features multimedia presentations on the civil rights movement. With the help of 260 artifacts, more than 40 films, oral histories, interactive media, and external listening posts, visitors are guided through five centuries of history. During your self-guided tour, you’ll view artifacts paramount to the movement, such as a Greyhound bus ridden by Freedom Riders. You’ll also have the chance to see King’s motel room, where he spent his final hours.
Reviewers described the museum as “surreal” and “incredibly moving.” They went on to note the staging of the exhibits is “top-notch” and said the museum helped put seminal events of the period into context for a better overall understanding of the movement. Visitors should budget at least two to three hours to tour the entire facility.
Cost: $17 for adults; $14 for kids 5-17; free for children 4 and younger
Hours: Thurs-Mon 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
2. Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Sitting on the original site of the Stax Records studio, this museum commemorates the musicians who recorded in this legendary space, as well as other American soul legends. Among the museum’s collection of more than 2,000 artifacts, interactive exhibits, films, and galleries, you’ll see Isaac Hayes’ custom Cadillac Eldorado, which was purchased as part of his renegotiated deal with Stax in 1972. The relic is outfitted with some unusual amenities, including a TV, a refrigerated minibar, and 24-carat gold exterior trim.
Recent visitors praised the quality of the memorabilia on display and the introductory film screened at the beginning of the self-guided tour.
Cost: $13 for adults; $10 for kids 9-12; free for children 8 and younger
Hours: Tues-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
3. Pink Palace Family of Museums
If you’ve got kids in tow, plan on stopping by the Pink Palace Family of Museums. Housed in a flamboyant pink mansion constructed by supermarket tycoon Clarence Saunder, the museum is dedicated to educating visitors on history and culture with a variety of interactive exhibits – you can see a full-scale reproduction of an original Piggly Wiggly store, and spend some time at the popular dinosaur exhibit, the miniature circus, the planetarium and the IMAX theater. The wide variety of displays will appeal to visitors of all ages.
Recent visitors said the museum excels at exploring a diverse array of topics, making it easy for everyone in your group to find something that piques their interest. However, some reviewers complained of the high admission cost.
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for kids 3-12; free for children 2 and younger
Hours: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Sun Noon-5 p.m.
Culture in Memphis
1. Victorian Village
The infamous Victorian Village is home to seven colorful 19th-century mansions that will make visitors feel as though they’ve taken a step back in time. Some homes are private residences, but others have been converted into small museums showcasing historic artifacts. The Woodruff-Fontaine House is open for tours each day. But beware, as it’s rumored to house the ghost of Mollie Fontaine. If you want to learn more about the haunted history, grab a bite to eat at the Mollie Fontaine Lounge just across the street.
Another popular stop is the Mallory-Neely House, which was built in 1852 and boasts intricate architectural details including stained-glass windows and stenciled ceilings. It has been immaculately preserved, according to visitors, and it still holds most of its original furnishings.
Cost: Free Admission
Hours: Museum hours vary
2. Sun Studio
Often referred to as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, Sun Studio is a must-see for music aficionados. Former owner Sam Phillips helped launch many a music career, including that of Elvis, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash. In recent years, the studio has been used by artists like Justin Townes Earle, Grace Potter, and the Nocturnals and The Walkmen, among others. On your guided tour, you’ll hear stories about the legendary musicians who recorded here, listen to unreleased tracks, and see memorabilia from the studio’s heyday.
Hours: 10AM to 6PM
Costs: $15 for adults, $10 for children
3. Graceland
With this city’s strong musical identity, there’s no question as to why Elvis Presley chose Memphis as his kingdom. Graceland, located approximately 10 miles south of downtown Memphis, is one of the most-visited private homes in the country. When you stop by for a tour (considered one of the best Memphis tours), you’ll see the King’s famous jungle room, pink Cadillac, record collection, and even shoes and gifts sent to him by avid fans. Elvis’s grave is also located on the Graceland grounds. As you tour the home, you’ll have the help of an iPad to guide you through the rooms, plus audio narration by actor John Stamos.
While some visitors claim Graceland is overpriced and too crowded, most agree to visit is a must – even for non-fans. Reviewers also offered a few tips: get to the house early to avoid the crowds, don’t bring anything you won’t need for the tour (you’ll be juggling headphones and an iPad as you wander the house), and check with the visitors’ bureau for deals and discounts on tickets.
Costs: Tours start at $47 for adults
Hours: Vary seasonally
Restaurants in Memphis
1. Catherine & Mary’s
From the culinary geniuses that have helped bring Memphis into the national dining, the spotlight comes the downtown eatery that’s just too good for words. Think Nona’s marinara, but way beyond that! You’ll find here a blend of Tuscan and Sicilian flavors married to Memphis sensibility. Housed in the historic Chisca building, dinner at Catherine & Mary’s is a multi-course feast for the palate and the senses. The menu changes monthly, and there’s a real emphasis on local producers as well as meat from Ticer & Hudman’s craft butchery. Most plates, including the pasta, are sized and priced to share, and our advice is to indulge. Another real emphasis is on dessert and drinks, with an in-house pastry chef, a wine director, and a craft cocktail genius.
Costs: $31-60
Hours: 4:00PM to 10:00PM
2. Chez Philippe
The most opulent dining experience in all of Memphis is found at Chez Philippe, located in the lobby of the historic Peabody Hotel. Fortunately for diners, the cuisine matches the lush and elegant surroundings. Traditional French fare is the focus of the chef, with a seasonal menu featuring a marriage of locally grown and produced foods; a full tasting menu of seven courses or smaller prix fixe menus of three or five courses include wine pairing options, a must-do. Starters include crawfish consomme and a lobster and fennel salad, while entrees feature dry-aged beef, Filet Oscar, and an array of seafood options. For those who prefer to choose their own wine, a lush menu offers options beyond the $400 per bottle price tag.
Cost: Over $60
Hours: 5PM to 9PM; Sunday & Tuesday closed.
3. Restaurant Iris
The homey feel of the individual dining rooms at Restaurant Iris is supplemented by great artwork and a low-key ambiance. You’ll be comfortable here in dressy jeans or full-out glam. The cuisine is a nice combination of fresh local ingredients and Cajun flair, thanks to English’s home-grown sensibilities – he’s a Southern LA (Louisiana) boy. Recent delicacies have included sweet corn griddle cakes topped with Gulf crabmeat and a surf and turf that blends a strip steak and fried oysters When the weather’s nice, be sure to ask for a table on the small but charming patio.
Cost: Dishes start ar $4 and go up to $40
Hours: 5:00PM to 9PM
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