Family Fun
Children’s Museum of Memphis
Set up like a miniature city, with a bank, fire station, grocery store, and skyscraper. Newer exhibits include Going Places, which showcases an airplane cockpit and flight simulator, and Art Smart Gallery with its visual and performing arts. 2525 Central, 320-3170
The Fire Museum of Memphis
Features simulated fires, a teaching room of interactive exhibits, and a play area with full-sized trucks and sliding pole. 118 Adams, 320-5650
Memphis Zoo
Home to polar bears, bald eagles, and more — the zoo also includes Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Dragon’s Lair, Animals of the Night, Teton Trek, and CHINA, home to two giant pandas. 2000 Prentiss Place (Overton Park), 276-9453
Memphis Music
Beale Street
World-renowned thoroughfare, home to Hard Rock Cafe, B.B. King’s Blues Club, and other bars offering live music nightly. Also features A. Schwab, a century-old dry-goods store; W.C. Handy’s home; and gift and novelty shops.
Graceland Mansion
Elvis Presley’s home from 1957 until his death. Tours cover the house, racquetball building, Elvis’ vintage car collection, huge assortment of trophies and gold records, the “Lisa Marie” jet, and much more. 3734 Elvis Presley, 332-3322
Memphis Rock ‘N’ Soul Museum
Presents a history of Memphis music using rare film footage, old photos, vintage jukeboxes, stage costumes, and a customized tour of various musical eras. 191 Beale, Plaza at FedExForum, 205-2533
Soulsville USA and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
A 17,000-square-foot soul-music museum on the site of the former Stax Records, where stars such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett got their start. Showcases some 2,000 artifacts, including Hayes’ 1972 Cadillac El Dorado. 926 E. McLemore, 942-SOUL
Sun Studio
Elvis rocked the world in 1954 at the studio founded by Sam Phillips. Displayed at Sun are memorabilia of Presley and other music legends, such as Carl Perkins, B.B. King, and Jerry Lee Lewis. 706 Union, 521-0664
Museums of Culture
and History
Memphis Pink Palace Museum
Built as home to Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders, the pink stone mansion is now a regional museum of local history, culture, medicine, music, and natural science. It also houses a state-of-the-art planetarium and an IMAX theater. 3050 Central, 320-6320
National Civil Rights Museum
Illustrates key moments in civil rights history, such as the March on Washington and the Montgomery bus boycott. Also includes the boarding house from which James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King in 1968 and features an exhibit of previously classified documents and evidence. 450 Mulberry, 521-9699
The Great Outdoors
Lichterman Nature Center
Explore nature trails lined with native plants and trees or visit the center’s backyard wildlife center, native-plant greenhouse, and amphitheater. 5992 Quince, 767-7322
Memphis Botanic Garden
Water lilies bloom in the Sensory Garden, one of many attractions at this suburban oasis. At the center is the Japanese Garden of Tranquility with its lake and arching red bridge. The Botanic Garden hosts summer concerts featuring such entertainers as Earth, Wind, & Fire, the B-52s, and Jewel.
750 Cherry, 685-1566
The Mississippi River
Major events are held on the river each year, including the Memphis in May Sunset Symphony. Winding above the Father of Waters is the bluffwalk, a pedestrian walkway with panoramic views.
Shelby Farms
Visitors can rent pavilions and paddleboats; fish in lakes stocked with catfish, crappie, bream, and bass; or simply enjoy walking, jogging, or biking. Also within the 4,500-acre park is Ducks Unlimited’s international headquarters, which boasts a scenic waterfowl propagation lake. 7161 Mullins Station, 382-2249
Tunica RiverPark
The Tunica RiverPark features a museum with exhibits on the Delta and four aquariums with river life. There’s also a nature trail and an observation deck that has a stunning view of the Mississippi River. In addition, guests can board the Delta Queen, which offers four cruises daily. One RiverPark Drive, 866-51-RIVER.
GAMING
Southland Park Gaming and Racing
The world’s largest greyhound racing facility, with “instant racing” machines and slot machines. 1550 Ingram, West Memphis, 735-3670
Tunica Casinos
The gambling center of the Mid-South, located just 30 miles from Memphis down Highway 61, Tunica County is home to glitzy casinos, which boast hotels, restaurants, gift shops, dance pavilions, and big-name entertainment.
Bally’s Casino Tunica, 800-382-2559
The Fitz, Fitzgeralds Casino/Hotel, 800-766-5825
Gold Strike Casino Resort, 888-245-7829
Harrah’s Tunica, 800-946-4946
Hollywood Casino, 800-871-0711
Horseshoe Casino & Hotel, 800-303-7463
Resorts Tunica, 662-363-7777
Sam’s Town Casino, 800-456-0711
Tunica Roadhouse, 800-391-3777
Only in Memphis
The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
Relates the story of the cotton industry and its influence on a city that remains the epicenter of worldwide cotton trading.
65 Union, 531-7826
Mud Island River Park
Special features are the River Walk and the River Museum, which showcases artifacts of life on the Mississippi. 125 N. Front, 576-7241
Woodruff-Fontaine House
Built in the 1870s with stunning architectural details, this French Victorian mansion displays period textiles, furnishings, and Victorian clothing. 680 Adams, 526-1469
SPORTS
Professional Sports
Memphis Grizzlies
888-HOOP, nba.com/grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are an NBA team that plays at FedExForum.
Memphis Redbirds
721-6000, memphisredbirds.com
The Redbirds are a triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and play home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis.
Mississippi RiverKings
662-342-1755, riverkings.com
The RiverKings are members of the Central Hockey League and the affiliate team of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The season runs from October to April. The RiverKings play their home games at the DeSoto Civic Center.
College Sports
Christian Brothers University
321-3378
They’re the Buccaneers, with women’s and men’s teams in baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, and track.
LeMoyne-Owen College
942-7327
The LeMoyne-Owen Magicians compete in both women’s and men’s basketball.
Rhodes College
843-3940
The Lynx compete in soccer, field hockey, football, volleyball, swimming, basketball, baseball, softball, and more.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
333-5143
The Southwest Saliquis include women’s and men’s basketball, baseball, and softball.
University of Memphis
678-2461, gotigersgo.com
The Tigers compete in football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, track and field, and more.
Parks and Recreation Offices:
Memphis Division of Park Services (MDPS): 576-4200
North Zone: 2893 N. Watkins, 353-9532
East Zone: 4585 Willow, 767-4580
West Zone: 4376 Horn Lake, 789-5665
Germantown Parks and Recreation: 757-7375
Germantown Youth Athletic Association (GYAA): 754-4922
Germantown Athletic Club: 757-7370
Collierville Parks and Recreation: 457-2770
