Things For Kids To Do In Memphis

Memphis is not a quiet city. It hums, sizzles, and sometimes quacks. That makes it a fantastic place for kids.

You can meet ducks with a red-carpet lifestyle. You can climb inside a giant river. You can eat barbecue with your fingers and call it culture. Basically, Memphis is a playground with a soundtrack.

Start With the Famous Ducks

Head to The Peabody Hotel for the Duck March. Twice a day, five mallards waddle down a red carpet into the lobby fountain. It is ridiculously charming.

The ducks live in a rooftop penthouse. A real person called the Duckmaster leads them. Kids love the ceremony because it is short, silly, and full of splashy drama.

Get there early. The lobby gets packed. Then grab a cookie or a fancy lemonade and pretend you are fancy too.

Museums That Feel Like Recess

The Children’s Museum of Memphis is built for touching, climbing, and pretending. Kids can shop in a mini grocery store, drive an ambulance, and splash in water exhibits. It is a parent’s best friend on a rainy day.

The Fire Museum of Memphis lets kids see old fire trucks and learn how firefighters work. Some exhibits show what it feels like to be in a fire drill. It is loud, red, and thrilling.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music has a dance floor. Kids can shake, spin, and pretend to record a hit song. The giant mirrored dance floor is pure fun.

Walk on a Giant River

At Mud Island River Park, there is a scale model of the Mississippi River. You can walk from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in minutes. Kids love stomping on tiny cities and jumping over state lines.

It sounds weird. It is weird. That is exactly why it works.

Bring sunscreen and comfy shoes. The river model is outdoors and very sunny. You might also catch a great view of the Memphis skyline.

25 best things to do in memphis tennessee – Artofit

Animals, Bison, and Big Parks

The Memphis Zoo is huge and full of favorites. Kids can watch hippos, lions, penguins, and polar bears. The zoo also has a carousel and a train, because walking is hard work.

Over at Shelby Farms Park, the fun gets wilder. This park is bigger than Central Park and has a bison herd. Yes, real bison that look like shaggy sofas with legs.

The Woodland Discovery Playground there is a masterpiece. It has nets, slides, and climbing towers. Pack a picnic and plan to stay awhile.

Cheer, Clap, and Eat Snacks

Catch a Memphis Redbirds baseball game at AutoZone Park. The mascot, Rockey the Redbird, is a goofball. Fireworks nights make the sky explode with color.

For basketball, see the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Grizz the mascot does backflips and silly dances. Even kids who do not follow sports get swept up in the noise.

Then there is the food. Memphis is serious about barbecue, so kids can try pulled pork, ribs, and barbecue nachos. Wet wipes are not optional—they are essential.

Quirky Food and Sweet Treats

Go to Jerry’s Sno Cones for a Memphis classic. The sno cones are fluffy, colorful, and huge. Some come with soft-serve ice cream in the middle, which is genius.

Try Gibson’s Donuts for a warm, glazed sugar bomb. It is open 24 hours, which feels dangerous and wonderful. Kids will bounce off the walls, but that is a memory.

For a weird history bite, visit Dyer’s Burgers. The burgers are cooked in the same cast-iron grease since 1912. It sounds gross, but it tastes legendary.

What to Do with Your Family in Memphis, Tennessee

Elvis, Planes, and Jungle Rooms

Graceland is Elvis Presley’s famous home. Kids might not know his music, but they know cool cars and shiny jumpsuits. The jungle room has green shag carpet on the floor and the ceiling.

Elvis also had a private plane called the Lisa Marie. You can tour it and see a gold-plated seatbelt. It is extra in the best possible way.

Even if kids only care about the gift shop, the tour is a wild peek into a rock-and-roll kingdom.

Little Adventures Around Every Corner

Ride the trolley down Main Street. Ring the bell, watch the city roll by, and feel like you are in a moving toy. It is slow, cheap, and charming.

Check out the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum if your kid loves trains. Old cars, shiny wheels, and real bells to ring. Choo-choo obsessed kids will lose their minds.

Walk across the Big River Crossing for a big sky and a big bridge. It is a mile long, so bring a snack and a sense of adventure.

Why Memphis Works for Kids

Memphis does not try to be perfect. It is loud, messy, and full of soul. Kids can be loud, messy, and full of questions here too.

The city gives them ducks, drums, bison, baseball, and barbecue. That is a strange and wonderful combo. Memphis turns a normal afternoon into a story.

So pack wipes, bring curiosity, and let the city quack, sizzle, and sing.