There's tons of fun to be had in and around Memphis — all year 'round. Whether you're looking for something to do indoors or out, recreational or educational, this roundup of area attractions should help with family planning.
AMUSEMENT PARKS AROUND THE REGION
Dollywood Theme Park
dollywood.com • 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee • 1-800-365-5996
Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions, live country music entertainment, demonstrating craftsmen, and four of the South’s largest festivals, all situated on 150 acres near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. • Admission: Tickets vary based on how many days you go to the park and your age. Best Deal: Ask about the Splash & Play ticket which provides three-day admission to both parks.
Dollywood Water Park
dollywood.com • 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee • 1-800-365-5996
Dollywood’s Splash Country offers 30 wooded acres of water adventure for the entire family. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, experience a Smoky Mountain water park where slides and attractions range from mild to wild. Spend the day on 23 slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and three interactive children’s play. Splash Country is a regularly recognized as Travel Channel of America’s best water parks. • Admission: Tickets vary based on how many days you go to the park and your age. Best Deal: Ask about the Splash & Play ticket which provides three-day admission to both parks.
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
magicsprings.com • 1701 East Grand Avenue Hot Springs, Arkansas • (501) 624-0100
Convenient to historic downtown Hot Springs, Magic Springs boasts more than 75 rides and attractions, with summer concerts by artists from Joan Jett to Blake Shelton. Savor the traditional carousel and log flume, then twist 150 feet in the air on the X-coaster or dangle your feet from The Gauntlet. Crystal Falls (free with park admission) is Arkansas’ largest water park, boasting a wave pool, tube and race slides, and the Boogie Blast, an awesome surf ride. • Admission: $59.99/person on Saturdays, $44.99/person Sunday - Friday. Tickets cheaper online than at the gate. Children 3 & under: free. Children shorter than 48” and seniors 55+ for $34.99 Sunday - Friday, $36.99 on Saturdays. Admission includes both parks. Parking: $10/car.
Silver Dollar City
silverdollarcity.com/theme-park • Branson, Missouri • (800) 831-4FUN(386)
Pioneer days of the Ozarks come to life here, with craftsmen demonstrating period crafts, 40 rides and attractions, live shows and concerts, restaurants, and 60 shops. Adventure rides for older kids include Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast water rafting. Festivals and events showcased from spring through Christmas. • Admission: $68/adults ages 12-64, $58/ages 4-11, $66/adults 65+, under 3 free. Special offers listed on website.
White Water
silverdollarcity.com/white-water • 3505 West Highway 76 Branson, Missouri • 1-800-888-7277
Branson’s White Water park is 13 acres of rides and attractions that offer an escape from the summer heat. Rides are cool, including rides for those who want to relax and for those who want more of a thrill. • Admission: $45/adults ages 12-64, $25/ages 4-11, $33/adults 65+, under 3 free. Special offers included on website.
Wild River Country
wildrivercountry.com • 6820 Crystal Hill Rd., North Little Rock, Arkansas • (501) 753-8600
Arkansas’ largest water park, where big kids can enjoy wave pools, huge slides, and tunnels; and little kids can romp in the splash pool. A great way to chill in the summer. • Admission: $34.99/adults, $22.99/kids under 48”, $14.99/adults 60+, 2 & under free. Special offers online.
Six Flags
sixflags.com/stlouis • 4900 Six Flags Rd. Eureka, Missouri • (636) 938-5300
Sprawling over 200 acres, this theme park packs a punch, 45 rides, shows, and attractions. Seven roller coasters thrill big kids, while little ones can play at Bugs Bunny National Park. Don’t forget, your ticket to Six Flags includes free admission to Hurricane Harbor Water Park. • Admission: $47.99/adult, under 3 free. Best Deal: buy tickets online.
FUN CENTERS
America’s Incredible Pizza Company
incrediblepizza.com/memphis/ • 1245 N. Germantown Parkway, Cordova • 322-4818
Entertainment center includes food, arcade games, indoor go-kart races, and bumper cars. Check out their calendar for hours and special events.
Bowling
Andy B’s
andybbartlett.com • 6276 Stage Rd., Bartlett • 386-7701
Billy Hardwick’s All-Star Lanes
billyhardwicks.com • 1576 S. White Station Rd. • 683-2695
Cordova Bowling Center
cordovabowlingcenter.net • 7945 Club Center Cove • 754-4275
Funquest Bowling
funquestbowl.com • 440 U.S. 72 West, Collierville • 850-9600
Uncle Buck's Fishbowl
big-cypress.com/activities/fishbowl-en.html • 1 Bass Pro Drive • (800) 223-3333
Winchester Bowling
winchesterbowl.com • 3703 S. Mendenhall Rd. • 362-1620
Skating
Photo by Andi Bocsardi on Unsplash
Memphis Skating Centers
All three Skateland locations offer video games, birthday party packages, and skating lessons.
• Skateland Raleigh 4350 Stage Rd. • 388-5152
• Cordova 7970 Club Center Dr. • 755-0221
• East End 5718 Mt. Moriah Rd. • 363-7785
Chuck E. Cheese
• 3649 Hickory Hill Rd. • 363-1064
• 1636 N. Germantown Pkwy. • 757-7776
• 7178 DeSoto Cove, Horn Lake, MS • (662) 536-4684
Golf and Games Family Park
golfandgamesmemphis.com • 5484 Summer Ave. • 386-2992
Minigolf, batting cages, kiddie rides, and bumper boats make this a fun summer destination. Tweens and teens enjoy the double-deck driving range, Lasertron Laser Tag, MaxFlight virtual roller coaster, and indoor ropes course. Website coupons.
SPORTS OUTLETS
FedExForum
fedexforum.com • 191 Beale St. • 205-1234 (Memphis Grizzlies Foundation), 205-1543 (Communications for FedExForum)
Home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team, this state-of-the-art arena is right off the entertainment district of downtown. In addition to sports events, the Forum hosts family shows, concerts, and corporate events.
Memphis Elite United
facebook.com/MemphisEliteCheerAndDance/
310 Moore Lane, Collierville • 737-0022 // 12130 Arlington Trail, Arlington Tn • 737-0022
Home of the nationally ranked Memphis Elite Cheer and Dance teams, Memphis Elite United offers comprehensive cheer and dance athletic programs designed to teach self-discipline, self-esteem, and teamwork at their two locations. They offer summer camps, and have been training champions for 25 years.
Midsouth Extreme
midsouthextreme.com • 8706 Deerfield Dr., Olive Branch, MS • (662) 893-8888
The local All Star cheer and dance gym with the goal of instilling valuable life lessons into their athletes’ lives. Midsouth Extreme offers cheer and dance classes with well-experienced staff.
Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park
memphisredbirds.com • Third St. & Union • 721-6000
An affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Redbirds is Memphis’ class Triple-A baseball team boasting one of the nicest stadiums in the country. In 2018, they were the winners of the Triple-A National Championship game. Going into the 2019 season, they are the two-time defending Pacific Coast League Champions. Come picnic on the bluff, eat a hotdog in the bleacher seats, or cool off in one of 48 luxury suites. The park hosts about 70 home games from April to September, with post-game fireworks on the weekends (check their calendar for exact dates). Don’t miss Sunday home games, when kids get to run the bases!
HISTORIC SITES
Beale Street
bealestreet.com • Downtown Memphis • 526-0115
This world-famous thoroughfare has long been home to the blues, as well as big-name night spots like B.B. King’s Blues Club and Hard Rock Café. If you love live music, it’s here seven days a week. Visit specialty shops and tourist sites, including the early home of bluesman W.C. Handy, and A. Schwab’s Dry Goods Store, a century-old landmark and the only remaining original business on Beale.
Bible Museum On the Square
biblemuseumonthesquare.org • 140 E. Mulberry St., Collierville • 854-9578
Located on Collierville’s historic town square, the museum features artifacts and replicas of archaeological finds from biblical lands, a hands-on exhibit, Bible Lab, library, and museum store. Regular hours are Tuesday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m and Friday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Programs year round, include workshops, storytimes for kids, seasonal activities, and Bible-related learning experiences. • Admission: $5/person, $15/family (4-5 people) + $5/additional guest, Group Rates: (min of 15 people) $4/person
Chucalissa Archaeologiåcal Museum
memphis.edu/chucalissa • 1987 Indian Village Dr. (Exit 7/Mallory Ave., off I-55.) • 785-3160
Demonstrations and exhibits describe the Native Americans who first called the bluffs home. Meaning “abandoned house,” Chucalissa was inhabited by various tribes, only to be deserted in the 1500s and rediscovered in 1939. Learn about astrology, dancing, and ecology. Gift shop features Native American handicrafts. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Admission: $5/adults, $4/AAA Members, $3/ages 4-11 and seniors, under 4 free. Group rates available.
Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
nps.gov/shil/learn/historyculture/corinth.htm • 501 West Linden Street, Corinth, MS • (662) 287-9273
Operated by the National Park Service as part of Shiloh National Military Park, the center interprets the pivotal role Corinth, Mississippi played during the Civil War. View historic photographs and read about the site of Battery Robinett, a Union fortification which experienced some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. • Admission: Free
Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
memphiscottonmuseum.org • 65 Union Ave. • 531-7826
This museum tells the story of cotton, from field to fabric, and its role in the Memphis and world economy. Hear stories from planters and graders, see the room-sized black board where cotton was traded, view the kid-friendly Exploration Hall, and take an audio walking tour through Cotton Row. Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Admission: $10/adults, $9.50/seniors, $9/students and military, $8/ages 6-12, under 6 free.
Davies Manor Plantation House
daviesmanorplantation.org • 9336 Davies Plantation Rd, Bartlett • 386-0715
Standing at the end of a wooded lane, Shelby County’s oldest log house dates to 1807. In 1851, the structure was purchased by the Davies family and expanded into a country farmhouse, becoming the centerpiece of a 2,000-acre plantation. Now a house museum on the National Register of Historic Places, Davies Manor preserves rural life in the midst of an urban setting. Children and adult group tours on pioneer life in Tennessee. • Admission: $5/adults, $4/seniors, $3/students, 5 & under free -- cash only. Open April- mid-December. Tuesday - Saturday, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Elmwood Cemetery
elmwoodcemetery.org • 824 S. Dudley St. • 774-3212
Historic Elmwood is rich in history. The dramatic Entry Bridge, the Carpenter-Gothic Office Cottage, and the entire 80-acre cemetery are all on the National Register of Historic Places. Elmwood is also an official Bird Sanctuary and Arboretum. Find elaborate headstones, sculptures and tombs of military generals, soldiers, immigrants, and victims of the 1870s yellow fever epidemic. Docent-led daytime and evening tours are available. $15/person, $10 audio tours. • Admission: Free
Elvis Presley’s Graceland
graceland.com • 3734 Elvis Presley Blvd. • (800) 238-2000
See how the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll lived. At Graceland, you can tour Elvis’ home, listen to an audio-guided tour featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and daughter, Lisa Marie. In addition, tours of the Elvis Car Museum, custom jets, and fashion exhibits are available. Visit the website for the hours of operation. • Admission: Prices vary with tour options: Ultimate VIP Tour, Elvis Entourage VIP, ELVIS Experience Tour, or Graceland Mansion.
Main Street Trolley
matatransit.com • 444 N. Main St. • 274-6282
Board a vintage trolley for a tour of downtown Memphis. Three lines, Main Street, Madison Avenue, and Riverfront Loop run every 10 minutes. • Admission: $1/adults one way.
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
http://slavehavenmemphis.com/ • 826 North Second St. • 527-3427
Experience a stop on the Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden during the 1800s before boarding riverboats headed to the North. The museum offers a walk through history. Take the 3-hour historical sightseeing tour, which includes the museum and 30 other historical sites. • Admission: $12/adults, $11/students 4-17, college students, & seniors 65+. Group rates available. Tour prices on website.
Sun Studio
sunstudio.com • 706 Union Ave. • 521-0664
One of the most pivotal music events of the twentieth century took place here in 1954, when Elvis Presley cut his first single with Sun producer Sam Phillips. While the studio offers daily tours, Sun continues to be a working studio. Of special interest is the Sun Studio Gallery, which contains records, photographs, and memorabilia of Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. Hours: every day 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Admission: $14/adults, children 5-11 free, under 5 not permitted. Group discounts.
The Peabody Memphis
peabodymemphis.com • 149 Union Ave. • 529-4000
The South’s Grand Hotel is one of Memphis’ most popular attractions. The Peabody ducks march to and from the Grand Lobby daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in a time-honored tradition dating back to 1933. After opening in 1925, the hotel closed for a time during the 1970s, and was restored by the Belz family in the 1980s. Mid-Southerners and visitors alike enjoy people watching in the spacious grand lobby or taking in city views and music from the rooftop. • Admission: Free
W.C. Handy House Museum
352 Beale St., at 4th St. • 527-3427
A far cry from the opulence of Graceland, this tiny clapboard shotgun shack was once the Memphis home of the bluesman W. C. Handy, “the father of the blues.” While living here, he wrote “Beale Street Blues” and “Memphis Blues.” You’ll find memorabilia and period photographs. • Admission: $3/adults, $2/ages 4-17.
Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash
MOVIE THEATERS
CTI 3D Giant Theater
memphismuseums.org/cti-giant-3d-theater/ • 3050 Central Ave. • 636-2362
Located in the Pink Palace Museum, the CTI 3D Giant Theater uses RealD 3D digital, offering a quality experience. • Admission: varies. School/group rates.
Hollywood 20 Cinema
moviepage.com • 6711 Stage Rd. at Kirby Whitten in Bartlett • 763-FILM
Admission: Matinees -- $7.50/adult, $7/kids 11 & under and seniors. Twilight-hour special $6.50 between 4 and 6 p.m. Evening (after 6:00 p.m.) -- $9.50/adult, $7/kids 11 & under and seniors. $2 added for ALL RealD Digital 3D movies.
Palace Cinema
palace.moviepage.com/ • 5117 Old Summer Rd. at I/240 • 763-1111
Admission: Matinees -- $6.50/adults, $5.50/seniors 65+ and kids 11 and under. ECONO HOUR special $5 between 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Evenings (after 6:00 p.m.) -- $7.50/adults, $5.50/seniors 65+ and kids 11 and under. $2 added for ALL RealD Digital 3D movies.
Malco Theatres
malco.com • 761-3480
Fifteen locations in Memphis and Shelby County. Matinee admission before 6 p.m. Discount admission at Bartlett Cinema 10. Kids Summer Film Fest runs every Tuesday and Wednesday from June 7-July 27 at select theaters. Showtime: 10 a.m. • Admission: $2 Benefits local charities.
Malco Summer Quartet Drive-In
malco.com/cinema_shows_summer.php • 5310 Summer Ave. • 767-4320
Open weekends. Schedule might vary - check website. • Admission: $7.50/adults for both single and double-features. Double-features all the time.
CITY TOURS
Backbeat Tours
backbeattours.com • 140 Beale St. • 272-2328
From Beale to Sun to Stax, take a variety of tours rich in history and fun. All of Backbeat’s guides are Memphis musicians who play and sing music from the city’s heritage. See landmarks by foot or by bus. Charters available. • Admission: $13-$26/adults, $9-$14/children ages 7-12, under 6 free.
The Bluff Walk
Downtown Memphis, parallels Front St.
From high atop the bluffs downtown, pedestrians and cyclists are treated to a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River. The walkway provides a wonderful way to enjoy the city’s best natural resource. Start at the Memphis Welcome Center and continue south. The total length is 1.2 miles. Walkway is wheelchair accessible. • Admission: free
The Carriage Company
carriagecomemphis.org • Downtown Memphis • 507-2587
Take a carriage tour and learn about downtown’s history. Rates vary for each occasion. • Admission (Downtown Tours): $45/15-min. $65/30-min. $100/60-min. $125/Beale Street to Bass Pro.
Memphis Riverboats
memphisriverboats.net • 45 S. Riverside Dr. • 527-BOAT
Ride aboard a riverboat with a tour company that has plied the river for more than 50 years. • Admission: Sightseeing tours: $20/adults, $17/seniors 60+ and ages 13-17, $10/ages 3-12, under 3 free. Dinner cruise: $45/adults, $42/children ages 13- 17, $30/ages 3-12, under 3 free.
FAMILY FARMS AND PETTING ZOOS
Cedar Hill Farm
gocedarhillfarm.com • 008 Love Rd., Hernando • 662-429-2540
A family run farm on 120 acres, Cedar Hill offers a petting zoo of animals from cows to peacocks. Take a pony ride, hay ride, or watch fireworks on the farm. A farmer’s market offers local honey, free range eggs, berry picking, and more! Open seasonally.
Kidz Kountry
kidzkountrypettingzoo.com • 5960 Tchulahoma Rd., Southaven • 662-349-2909
With rabbits, pony rides, bottle-fed lambs and a rooster named Elvis, Kidz Kountry is a great destination to get away from the urban scene. Kids experience hands-on learning about farm life in the 67 acres of farmland. Reservations required.
MUSEUMS
The Children’s Museum of Memphis
cmom.com • 2525 Central Ave. • 458-2678
Plenty of adventures await children at this hands-on discovery museum with its interactive exhibits. There’s CMOM-TV, where kids can go to the dentist, shop at a pint-sized grocery store, hang out at the book nook, go on a dinosaur dig, learn about nutrition, and much more. Float a toy boat down a model of the Mississippi or play on a stage. Open 7 days a week, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Admission: $10/all ages, under 1 free. Group rates.
The Fire Museum of Memphis
firemuseum.com • 118 Adams Ave. • 636-5650
This museum traces the history of Memphis firefighting. Housed in Fire Station No. 1, you’ll find station memorabilia as well as interactive exhibits that teach fire safety. • Admission: $10/adults, $8/ages 3-12, $8/seniors 60+, firefighters, and military w/ID; under 2 free.
Memphis Pink Palace Museum
memphismuseums.org • 3050 Central Ave. • 636-2362
The Pink Palace is a fascinating exploration of the natural and cultural history of the Mid-South. Exhibits feature prehistoric creatures; preserved examples of wildlife and fossils; and a reflection of human history from Native American artifacts and Civil War memorabilia to a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly self-service grocery. • Admission: $15/adults, $14/seniors, $10/ages 3-12 for exhibits only. Other options have different prices.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
memphisrocknsoul.org • 191 Beale St. • 205-2526
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, created by the Smithsonian Institute, tells the story of the blues and evolution of pop music. Located at the FedExForum, it offers a comprehensive Memphis music experience from rural field hollers of the 1930s, through Memphis’ musical heyday with the explosion of Sun, Stax, and Hi Records during the 1960s. • Admission: $11/adults, $8/children ages 5-17, under 5 free.
National Civil Rights Museum
civilrightsmuseum.org • 450 Mulberry St. • 521-9699
Located on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this was the first museum nationally to tell the story of the civil rights movement. Interpretive displays and realistic vignettes include such landmark events as the March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the desegregation of Little Rock High School. The museum tour comes to a climax in Rooms 306 and 307, where King was staying when struck by a sniper’s bullet. Cross the street to view the rooming house rented by James Earl Ray. • Admission: $16/adults, $ 14/seniors and students w/ID, $ 13/ages 5-17, 4 and under free. Closed Tuesdays.
Sharpe Planetarium
memphismuseums.org/planetarium/ • 3050 Central Ave. • 636-2362
Located in the Pink Palace Museum, the Sharpe Planetarium features seasonal astronomy programs for children and adults. Experience the night sky and the AutoZone Dome. • Admission: $8/adults, $7/seniors 60+, $6 ages 3-12 for the planetarium only. Other options have different prices.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
staxmuseum.com • 926 E. McLemore Ave. 942-7685
The Stax Museum salutes the artists whose careers were launched by Stax Records in Memphis and examines the rise of soul music. Memorabilia, exhibits, gold records, video footage, even a 100-year-old Mississippi Delta church are some of the artifacts you’ll see here. • Admission: $13/adults, $12/seniors 62+, students and active military w/ID, $10/ages 9-12, 8 and under free.
The University of Memphis Public Earthquake Resource Center
ceri.memphis.edu • 3890 Central Ave. • 678-2007
Free guided tours (by appointment) cover local and international earthquake activity.
Photo by Jenn Evelyn-Ann on Unsplash
REGIONAL PARKS
Chickasaw State Park
tnstateparks.com/parks/chickasaw • Hwy. 100, 20 Cabin Lane, Henderson, TN • (731) 989-5141
From sand-ringed Lake Placid to riding stables, playgrounds, and hiking trails, this park has something for everyone. Just one hour east of Memphis, Chickasaw features some of the highest (and most scenic) terrain in West Tennessee. Families can enjoy fishing, camping, lake swimming, and pedal boats. • Admission: Free. Fees for activities.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
tnstateparks.com/parks/cabins/meeman-shelby • 910 Riddick Rd., Millington • 876-5215
Known as Shelby Forest, this state park sits atop the Chickasaw Bluffs. Enjoy hiking and biking trails, disc golf, horseback riding, fishing, and boating. Standard cabin rates: $100-$125. • Admission: Free
Nature Conservancy of Tennessee
nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/tennessee/
This nonprofit preserves more than 270,000 acres of natural areas across the state. It recently celebrated its 40th anniversary of doing so. Locally, you can explore a cypress swamp at the William Clark Conservation Area in Rossville, or canoe the Hatchie River. Visit the website to learn more.
Overton Park
overtonpark.org • 1914 Poplar Ave. • 214-5450
One of the largest parks in midtown Memphis, Overton playgrounds, a dog park, hiking through an old growth forest, and much more! The park abuts the Memphis Zoo and Levitt Shell where free concerts take place each spring and fall.
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
shelbyfarmspark.org • 500 North Pine Lake Dr. (visitor center) • 222-PARK (7275)
This 4,500-acre park offers a bit of everything for nature lovers and a fantastic playground for kids. Shelby Farms is home to bison, a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and deer. Fishable lakes offer catfish, brim, and bass (fishing with license or permit required). Numerous activties for anyone available -- check out the website. Don’t miss the free fitness classes or the 10.65-mile Greenline bike trail that runs from the park west to Midtown. • Admission: Free
Shiloh National Military Park
nps.gov/shil/index.htm • 1055 Pittsburg Landing Rd. • (731) 689-5696
National Historic Park commemorating the Civil War battle fought here in 1862. Park includes interpretive museum, monuments, burial grounds, and gift shop. Annual living history demonstration the first weekend in April, others throughout the year. • Admission: free.
Spray Parks
colliervilleparks.org • 440 West Powell Rd., Collierville • 457-2770
Open late May through early September, this park offers a fun day splashing around in the sun for kids. Check the site for rules/regulations. • Admission: $10/non-Collierville resident
Strawberry Plains Audubon Center
http://strawberry.audubon.org/ • 285 Plains Rd., Holly Springs • (662) 252-1155
This beautiful wildlife sanctuary, once a cotton plantation, was left to the National Audubon Society by the Finley-Shackleford family. You’ll find a visitor’s center, antebellum home, wildlife viewing areas, 3,000 acres laced with 15 miles of hiking trails, and much more! Special events include the Hummingbird Migration Celebration, every September on the weekend following Labor Day. Hours and trail accessibility vary through seasons. • Admission: $3 to hike and visit, $8 Davis House tour (appointment only), $30 Annual Trails Pass & Membership.
Village Creek State Park, Wynne, Arkansas
arkansasstateparks.com/parks/village-creek-state-park • 201 County Rd., Wynne, AR • (870) 238-9406
Closed for complete renovation, but will re-open sometime in 2019. Village Creek, Arkansas’ second largest state park which spans 7,000 acres, sprawls along Crowley’s Ridge. You’ll find the hilly terrain suitable for hiking or biking on the 33 miles of trails. Bring canoes or kayaks to explore the park’s two lakes. Enjoy an Andy Dye-designed 27-hole championship golf course. Camping and horseback riding are also popular here. Walk on a segment of the Trail of Tears. • Admission, free. Fees for camp sites.
The Greenway Nature Trail
wolfriver.org/visiting-the-greenway • check website on how to access the Greenway from either Memphis or Germantown • Office Address: Wolf River Conservancy 2693 Union Ave Extd. • 452-6500
Parallels the Wolf River and covers a rich variety of ecosystems, including a pond, meadow, wetlands, bottomlands forest, and the Wolf River. Despite its urban location, wildlife abounds here. The wide, paved trail is ideal for walking or biking. Interpretive stations along the way tell of the river’s wildlife as well as how the different ecosystems function. Watch for deer, beaver, turtles, frogs, and over 200 species of birds.
Tennessee State Parks
tnstateparks.comtnstateparks.com
Our region has a number of state parks within one to three hours drive from Memphis. To learn more, go to the state’s website.
SCIENCE AND NATURE
Lichterman Nature Center
memphismuseums.org/lichterman-nature-center/ • 5992 Quince Rd., • 636-2211
This 65-acre park offers walking trails that wind through forest, meadow, and lake habitats. Discover animals and reptiles at the Backyard Wildlife Center with living exhibits, interactive activities, a forest boardwalk, an underwater viewing area, and more. • Admission: $9/adults, $8/seniors 60+, $5/ages 3-12, 2 & under free. Free admission for Pink Palace members. Free to the public Tuesdays from 1:00 until closing.
Memphis Botanic Garden
memphisbotanicgarden.com • 750 Cherry Rd. • 576-4100
Located at Audubon Park, the Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) is the regional center for horticulture and environmental enrichment. Open year-round, MBG offers natural areas with native wildflowers as well as unique gardens like the Japanese Garden of Tranquility and the Tennessee Bicentennial Iris Garden. For families, My Big Backyard is the star attraction, with a tree house and other inventive play stations. Visit the Farmer’s Market April through October and enjoy music at Live at the Garden Summer Concert Series. • Admission: $10/adults, $8/seniors 62+, $5/ages 2-12, Garden members & under 2 free.
Memphis Zoo
Photo by Samuel Ramos on Unsplash
memphiszoo.org • 2000 Prentiss Place • 333-6500
The Memphis Zoo has gained recognition as one of the nation’s premiere zoos. From pandas to pachyderms, you’ll find more than 4,500 animals in state-of-the-art displays here. Teton Trek gives visitors a taste of Yellowstone National Park, with grizzly bears and wolves that prowl and a geyser water fountain. The ever-popular Birds and Bees exhibit runs Memorial Day to September 1. Zoo camps feature hands-on learning during summer and school breaks. Make sure to catch the Zoo Lights during the winter holiday season. • Admission: $18/adults ages 12-59, $17/seniors 60+, $13/ages 2-11, under 2 free. $5/parking.
Mississippi River
Several major events unfold each year at the river, including the Beale Street Music Festival during Memphis in May, and a fireworks extravaganza on July 4th. Numerous parks along the river and on Mud Island make it ideal for biking and picnics. • Free
Mud Island River Park
memphisriverparks.org/mud-island/ • 22 N. Front St. • 312-9190
Mud Island gives you scenic views of the city’s skyline. Walk or bike over the pedestrian bridge for free. Once there, you can sail boats down the River Walk, a five-block-long scale model of the Mississippi River, or step into the Mississippi River Museum, which hosts permanent and changing exhibitions on river culture. In the summer, concerts jam at the amphitheater and canoes and kayaks float the Wolf River Harbor. • Admission: Park grounds, free.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Take advantage of the many athletic programs offered by Memphis and its surrounding communities through the parks and recreation departments. Area churches offer additional programs.
Arlington Parks
townofarlington.org • 867-2620
Bartlett Parks and Recreation
cityofbartlett.org/65/Parks-Recreation • 385-5590
Collierville Park & Recreation
http://colliervilleparks.org/ • 457-2770
Germantown Parks & Recreation
germantown-tn.gov/play/parks-and-recreation • 757-7200
Lakeland Parks and Recreation
lakelandtn.gov/index.aspx?NID=123 • 867-2717
Memphis Park Commission
http://parkreservation.memphistn.gov/#/
Millington Parks
millingtontn.gov/index.aspx?NID=83 • 873-5770
SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS
Greater Memphis Special Olympics
specialolympicsmem.org • 683-1271
Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in many Olympic-type sports for persons with intellectual disabilities. Their goal is to help children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate as respected members of society in sports training and competition, developing their skills and talents while also increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs.
LiveItUP, Inc.
livitupinc.org • 4189 Leroy Ave. • 761-4277
“to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with various types of disabilities” is the mission for this organization that serves the tri-state area. Check the website for various programs.
SWIM LESSONS
Photo by Raphaël Biscaldi on Unsplash
Splash Mid-South
http://splashmidsouth.org/ • Hickory Hill Aquatic Center: 3910 Ridgeway Rd. • 566-9685, Bickford Aquatic Center: 235 Henry Ave. • 578-3732
Organized by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids Mid-South, City of Memphis, Memphis Tiger Swimming, and University of Memphis. Splash offers swimming lessons for undeserved at-risk youth in the area. Over 8,000 children have learned how to swim through this program. Check the website to see if your child meets the qualifications for free lessons.
Memphis YMCA
ymcamemphis.org/main/swim-lessons/ • 766-7677
8 different Y locations offer swim lessons year-round for people of all ages. Check out the website for the various locations.
The Dive Shop
memphis.diveshop1.com • 999 S. Yates Rd. • 763-3483
The Dive Shop offers group and private swim instruction stressing water safety and aquatic independence. Snorkeling and scuba diving lessons are available as well.
The Pool School
swimpoolschool.com • 1880 Wolf River Blvd. • 386-1999
Since 1995, The Pool School has taught thousands of kids how to swim using a play-based structured curriculum. Located on St. George’s Independent School in Collierville.
This list was updated May 2019. To submit a venue for consideration, please email sheryl@memphisparent.com.