33+ Amazingly Rockin’ Things To Do in Memphis You’ll Love

Memphis, Tennessee stands as a monument to modern day rock ‘n’ roll, as music legends like Elvis Presley produced some of his greatest hits there.

In addition to being home to amazing music, you’ll also find a rich history, delicious food, museums, zoos, parks, outdoor activities, and so much more. Memphis is just a super fun place to visit!

Here are 33+ things to do in Memphis, Tennessee, that you’re going to want to explore.

GRACELAND

Graceland is the home of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll. It’s no surprise that this is one of the biggest attractions — not only in the state of Tennessee, but also in the country. Make no mistake — this property is huge and offers 120 acres dedicated to the legend himself. 

Some of the best things to explore here include the private mansion where The King himself grew up, as well as the Entertainer Career Museum. Here you can check out an interactive experience that makes you feel like he’s right in the midst of his prime years. 

THE PEABODY HOTEL

The Peabody Hotel is an amazingly beautiful historic hotel that features the famous Peabody Ducks. Here, you can watch the five resident Mallard ducks strut down the red carpet and into the famous fountain that sits in the middle of the hotel lobby at 11am and 5pm. It truly is something to quack up about. 

The Peabody opened in 1869 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll find luxurious rooms, an amazing spa, and delicious restaurants and bars onsite.

BEALE STREET ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

Beale Street is the heart and soul of Memphis, and it’s where you can hear live music at a handful of restaurants. What is really interesting is that there are a few record shops where you can really take part in the culture and learn about the history of jazz. 

This is a great spot to hang out at night because you are sure to see the locals dancing outside bars and eateries. Blues Hall is certainly a favorite spot, but what makes this place so cool is that it’s connected to Rum Boogie Cafe, giving you the two-for-one experience. 

THE ARCADE RESTAURANT

The Arcade Restaurant happens to be the oldest cafe in Memphis. The owner immigrated from Greece in 1919 and opened Greek-inspired dishes to local Southerners. It still has the same classical design as when it first opened. 

While it’s a great place to get a lunch or dinner bite, be sure to take some time for breakfast when coming through here. While the menu doesn’t scream modern, their traditional classics — like country fried steak — are sure to send you off with a full belly and feeling satisfied. 

SHELBY FARMS PARK

Shelby Farms Park is a fantastic spot to get all your energy out. For starters, the park has over 40 miles of trails, so you could spend your weekend doing that if you wanted.  But there is plenty more to check out!

You can also explore the area on a bike by checking out the Shelby Farms Greenline or hitting up the BMX park. Want to go more traditional? Spend your afternoon horseback riding! 

For kids, the Woodland Discovery Playground or the Water Play Sprayground are great choices.

There are over 20 lakes located in this park, making water activities a must. Spending a few days here is certainly worthwhile. 

EARNESTINE AND HAZEL’S

Earnestine and Hazel’s is one of the best burger joints in Memphis, and they offer you burgers dripping with their unique “Soul Sauce” and patties cooked to perfection. The burgers are simple, yet their flavors will have you asking for more.

Of course, another reason to visit this soulful burger joint is the rumors surrounding it. Some believe that the restaurant is haunted, while others use magic to create their Soul Sauce.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS

The Memphis Children’s Museum is one of the best attractions in the city for families. With its bright colors and cheerful music, the museum takes various interests that kids might have and offers everything that they would want for it.

Children can have fun on the rock climbing wall, visit a car garage, or explore an art studio. Fly an airplane, dig for dinosaur bones, take a ride on the carousel, go fishing, or visit the splash park! You’ll find it all here.

SUN STUDIO

Sun Studio is easily one of the biggest attractions in the city, as many consider it to be the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. A band recorded the first rock n roll song here in the 1950s, making it an especially fun attraction to visit. Many big names in the rock ‘n’ roll’s musical history started with this studio, with the most popular ones being Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

You can take a guided tour of the studio to find different 50s memorabilia scattered throughout, with different objects of interest, like the microphone a young Elvis used to record his songs.

MEMPHIS ZOO

The Memphis Zoo is a massive compound covering 76 acres, so be sure to pack your walking shoes. With 3,500 animals representing 500 species, there is so much to see and do here.

In addition to all the animals to visit, you’ll also find a farm train and children’s rides, special feeding experiences, dining and concessions, an aquarium, seasonal experiences, and special events.

The zoo is also very historically relevant, as it has been a staple of Overton Park for over a century now. It first opened its doors to the public in 1906, with visitors worldwide coming to see the zoo.

ORPHEUM THEATRE

One of the most popular vintage attractions in the city is the Orpheum Theater. You can catch a variety of Broadway shows here, along with live jazz performances.

Of course, similar to most old architecture in the city, many believe that the theater is haunted. People think that the spirit of a small girl watches over all the performers and audience members. You can test that theory out yourself by taking energy readings of the theater.

BLUES HALL OF FAME

Memphis is most famously known for its music and the overall impact it has had on the entire world. Blues music has been an especially big part of the city’s culture, with the genre finding its most prominent voices here.

The city celebrates its role in blues music and the many pioneers of the genre with the Blues Hall of Fame. It features pictures of its 400 inductees, as well as rooms with different types of memorabilia. 

A. SCHWAB

A. Schwab is one of the most fun attractions you can find in the city, despite being fairly small. A small brick-and-mortar store offers various small knick knacks and souvenirs that are hard to find anywhere else in the city. One of the store’s highlights is the world’s largest overalls, which you can find hanging from the shop’s ceiling.

There is even a candy counter inside to offer various fun treats, as well as a soda machine that can get you a cold beer or some fun ice cream.   

SLAVE HAVEN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM

Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum stands as a difficult reminder of the inequality before the Civil War. For many slaves looking to free themselves from captivity, they would escape to the Burkle Estate, which is now the museum.

The estate is filled with trap doors and smaller secret passages that slaves used to escape the south and go to the north. You can even learn about how slaves were treated back then through various artifacts in the museum. Even if it can be a difficult place to visit, it is still important to learn about this history.

AUTOZONE PARK

One of the best attractions in Downtown Memphis is AutoZone Park, a small-time stadium. Despite its size, you can usually find the stadium packed to the limit, with enthusiastic crowds cheering for their favorite team.

AutoZone Park is home of the Memphis Redbirds baseball team, a Triple A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Memphis loves their team, and you’ll find special events and promotions throughout the year.

MEMPHIS RIVERFRONT

The Memphis Riverfront is a great place to go out and enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River and the city. Take a Mississippi Riverboat tour, let the kids play at Mud Island River Park, walk across the Mississippi’s longest pedestrian bridge, and experience the all-new and transformed Tom Lee Park.

You can also bike the riverfront, rent a kayak or canoe from Kayak Memphis, and take in special events. The riverfront is a one-stop-shop for all things fun.

MUD ISLAND PARK

While the name of this small peninsula will have you thinking of something like the swamp from Shrek, that is part of its charm.

Mud Island is not actually an island — it’s a small peninsula — but it packs plenty to do in its small space. At Mud Island Park you can find a new 50-foot “MEMPHIS” sign, an 18-gallery river museum, a 5,000-seat concert venue, and fantastic views of the Memphis skyline.

SOUTH MAIN ARTS DISTRICT

The South Main Arts District is the type of location photographers love. The vintage trolley cars and restaurants, matched with colonial townhouses, makes for a great place to take pictures.

You’ll find great dining and shopping, special events, the Memphis Farmers Market, hotels and lodging, and more.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

If you’re looking for a quiet place to relax and take in nature, the Memphis Botanic Garden is just the place for you.

Explore the 96-acre property, which includes 30 specialty gardens and a Level 4 Arboretum. Enjoy special events, programs, and classes year-round, and let the kids explore My Big Backyard, their 2.5-acre family garden filled with 16 different themed areas. You’ll also find an amazing art and sculpture collection here, as well as an amphitheater, a cafe, and a gift shop.

CRYSTAL SHRINE GROTTO

The Crystal Shrine Grotto is a unique attraction at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. It’s the only crystal cavern in the world and is mainly a place of quiet reflection.

The cement cavern features statues of Jesus and various other important figures in the Bible. But even if you are not a person of faith, going to this cave can be a great experience.

The Crystal Shrine Grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC

Memphis is the city to visit for anyone who is a fan of American Soul Music, with the Stax Museum being an especially fun highlight. The museum sits in the same location as the original Stax Recording Studio, which helped various big names in the soul genre record their music.

The museum is massive, featuring 2,000 artifacts that dive into the lore of soul music history. Visitors can even find the custom Cadillac Eldorado, which the studio offered Isaac Hayes as part of their new deal.

B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB

Are you looking for the perfect place to indulge in your favorite southern foods as you sway popular blues music? Well, the B.B. King Blues Club is just the place for you.

The brightly decorated listening room features seating arrangements, so you always face the stage. When visiting the bar, you can easily see that the main focus of the blue’s club was the music, but the food is no slouch either. 

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

The National Civil Rights Museum is a place of learning, as you get the chance to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement that changed the American political and social landscape.

The museum is currently in The Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and interactive exhibits while exploring the 260 artifacts that tell the story of the movement and its achievements.

TOM LEE PARK

Tom Lee Park has been newly redesigned, and it is amazing! Like, really, really, really amazing!

Located on the Mississippi River, Tom Lee Park offers beautiful views of the city, along with plenty of things to do. Let the kids explore the new and improved (and huge and unique) playground, play basketball on their courts, walk the trails, explore the beautiful gardens, enjoy the elevated eating and drinking options, and take in the public art.

Tom Lee Park is what Memphis is all about, and it’s the perfect place to spend the day.

C.H. NASH MUSEUM AT CHUCALISSA

Despite the incredible development throughout the city, Memphis has never forgotten its roots. The city was once inhabited by a tribe of Native Americans, who left remnants of their old life behind.

The C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa is not a massive compound, but an open field with small mud huts, each telling a story about the tribe that once lived here. These mud houses are exact replicas of the houses that the Chucalissa inhabited.

MEMPHIS MUSIC HALL OF FAME

If any music fans needed another reason to be excited about going to Memphis, well then why not add the Memphis Music Hall of Fame to the list as well! The compound celebrates the legacy of many musicians born in Memphis, or who are currently living in the city. It also has an incredible sense of humor, with the museum calling itself “just as outrageous as its inductees.”

Some of the inductees include Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Justin Timberlake, Otis Redding, Maurice White, and “Cowboy” Jack Clement, just to name a few.  

THE BASS PRO SHOPS PYRAMID

Visiting a Bass Pro Shop may not be on your Memphis to-do list…but it should be! The Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid isn’t just a store — it’s a thing.

The Memphis Pyramid is a huge structure that’s been used for different things through the years, but is now home to Bass Pro Shops and Bass Pro Shops hotel. The hotel has over 100 rooms, along with treehouse cabins!

The store has everything you’d expect at a Bass Pro, but along 600,000 gallons of water filled with fish, a cypress swamp with alligator pools, and an observation deck at the top of the pyramid. Did we say there were dining options too? There are!

DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

Dixon Gallery & Gardens is a fun museum featuring a garden nearby, taking up a total space of 17 acres. Inside the museum, you can find various exhibits from different local and international artists.

Exhibits include minimalist and expressionist art, all of which are certainly worth checking out if you happen to appreciate art in general. There are also different smaller programs for children to learn how to paint or learn more about local artists.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY (MoSH)

The Museum of Science & History (MoSH), formerly known as the Pink Palace Museum, is one of those fun locations for everyone. Its unique pink color makes it instantly pop from the rest of the city, and it features plenty of exhibits that are fun for everyone in the family.

Children can visit the planetarium, look at the dinosaur exhibit and the miniature circus, which are just some of the highlights.  

MEMPHIS ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM

The Memphis Rock n Soul Museum helps tell the complete story about music in Memphis. The exhibition here tells the story of musical giants who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the world. 

WOODRUFF-FONTAINE HOUSE MUSEUM

One of the oldest structures in Memphis, the Woodruff-Fontaine house rests on 680 Adams Avenue, which once had the name “Millionaire’s Row.” The Tennessee Committee for Preservation took the house after it stayed abandoned for decades.

Visitors will get a chance to look inside a millionaire’s house from the late 1800s. The house has been restored with serious attention to detail, allowing visitors to feel like they have come back in time.

VICTORIAN VILLAGE

Speaking of going back in time, you can get an even better look at what some other Victorian mansions looked like long ago when visiting Victorian Village. These mini museums are great places to visit, as they are seven distinct houses, each with a unique theme.

BEAUTY SHOP RESTAURANT

Most of the shops in Memphis have a great sense of humor, giving people a unique dining experience with delicious southern food.

One of the highlights in the city is the Beauty Shop Restaurant, which features salon-style seats with hairdryers on top, as well as glass brick booths. You’ll enjoy the tasty brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, along with amazing interior design.

MEMPHIS TROLLEY

Memphis is one of the few cities in the U.S. to still have a functional trolley, which offers a nice and slow ride across various major parts of the city.

The trolley takes you through Downtown Memphis, stopping by all of the major attractions in the city, for only $1 each way.

CENTRAL BBQ       

Finally, if you’re in the mood for some juicy, slow-cooked southern meats, then the Central BBQ is where you need to be. Their signature sauce instantly makes their foods stand out, which is why many call it the best BBQ in Memphis.

Have your BBQ with a cold beer and enjoy the rustic setting they have in their restaurant.

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