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Home of the Memphis Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate, this state-of-the-art stadium offers behind-the-scenes tours that include the press box and scoreboard control room, clubhouse, training facilities, and more. The finest ballpark built below the major leagues features the largest video board in the minors, picnic terrace, baseball-themed children’s play area, party decks, luxury suites, restaurants, and more. Corner of Third and Union, 901-721-6000, www.memphisredbirds.com.
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Rock the streets of Memphis on a 1950s-era bus and see Beale Street, Sun Studio, Stax Museum, the Lorraine Motel, movie locations, and more while hearing the music born in this great city performed live. Tour puts Memphis music history in the hands of real musicians with 90 minutes of high-energy fun. A variety of city tours. Open Feb–Dec. Departure from Second and
Beale, 901-272-2328, 800-979-3370, www.backbeattours.com.
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Home of the Blues at the crossroads of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Beale Street has played the blues for more than a century and continues to do so today. Four historic blocks of nightclubs, specialty shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues with millions of visitors annually. Live music nightly (cover charges may apply) and annual festivals. 901-526-0110, 901-529-0999,
www.bealestreet.com, www.bealestreet-merchants.com.
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Home to a world-class collection of 19th century Chinese art and rare Judaic art. The permanent exhibit includes objects created for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), intricately carved jade sculptures, crafted enamelware pieces, rare objects carved in ivory, and impressive ceremonial and historical pieces. The museum also has collections of fossils and minerals, contemporary European art glass, Russian lacquer boxes, and more. 119
S. Main, Concourse
Level. 901-523-ARTS, www.belzmuseum.org.
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Take a fun, charming, horse-drawn carriage tour through historic
Downtown with any number of knowledgeable and courteous drivers who point out historic
sites, share city stories, make suggestions, answer questions, and tell you what to see and where to be seen. Call for pickup from any Downtown hotel or restaurant,
or just walk up to one of the carriages! |
In the heart of Downtown, the Center’s Folklore Hall showcases folk art, photography, media shows, and live performances. The Folklore
Store is a colorful one-of-a-kind marketplace for the folk art, crafts, books,
music, and photographs of the region. Generous tastes of authentic Southern cuisine. Live music, catered
parties, and tours. The Memphis Music & Heritage Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday every Labor Day Weekend. 119 & 123 S. Main, 901-525-3655, www.southernfolklore.com. |
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Hands-on excitement and fun! Be a pilot in a real airplane cockpit; explore the Mississippi River; climb through the arteries of a heart; ride a bicycle on Mars; drive a fire engine or police car; observe honeybees; dance in a disco; climb inside a tree house and a skyscraper; shop for groceries; become a "star" on stage; and more! Special events and
programs all year. 2525 Central, 901-458-2678, www.cmom.com.
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Just minutes from Downtown, visit an oasis of nature in southwest Memphis. Explore the mounds built by American Indians 1,000 years ago, hike the nature trail, and visit the recently certified arboretum. The museum contains exhibits on American Indians past and present, a hands-on archaeology lab, and museum store. 1987 Indian Village, 901-785-3160, memphis.edu/chucalissa.
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Historically hip neighborhood centered around Cooper, Young, and Central avenues in Midtown features an array of antiques and specialty shops, vintage clothing stores, and award-winning
restaurants and bars. Stop by the first Thursday each month for Night Out – retail bargains, food and beverage discounts, and live music. Memphis's largest single-day event, the Cooper-Young Festival draws more than 80,000 attendees annually every September. 901-276-7222,
www.cooperyoungnightout.com, www.cooperyoungfestival.com |
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The Cotton Museum shares the story of the cotton industry
and its influences on daily life, the arts, and the development
of this region. See the Memphis Cotton Exchange restored
to its 1939 heyday with the original trading board and Western
Union office. Enjoy the many films, artifacts, and beautiful
138-foot mural by the David Mah Studio. 65 Union at the
corner of Front and Union, 901-531-7826, www.memphiscottonmuseum.org.
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Designed in a star-like shape with five alcoves, the Pavilion gives a historical record of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; the hospital's founder Danny Thomas; and ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. On the campus of St. Jude, the Pavilion's star-like shape symbolizes the far-reaching scope of ALSAC and the work of St. Jude. 262 Danny Thomas Place, 901-595-4414,
www.stjude.org.
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Shelby County’s oldest log house, open to the public, circa 1830. Dogtrot-style log home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with period furnishings in a country setting that includes trails and several outbuildings. Open Apr thru mid Dec. Off-season by appointment only.
9336 Davies Plantation, 901-386-0715, www.daviesmanorplantation.org.
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Celebrating more than 30 years of cultural and horticultural excellence!
Set amid 17 acres of formal and informal gardens, this
former private estate features Impressionist and post-Impressionist
paintings, the Stout Collection of 18th century porcelain,
and changing special exhibitions from the finest public
and private collections in the world. The Museum Store
offers a myriad of exceptional gifts, many created by
local artisans. 4339 Park, 901-761-5250, www.dixon.org.
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This historic cemetery, founded in 1852, features the
Mid-South’s a unique collection of
Victorian funeral art. Many influential Memphians are buried here in the area’s first
garden movement cemetery. Enjoy 80 acres
of rolling hills, stately trees, statuary, and beautiful gardens surrounding the quaint Victorian Gothic cottage office. Bring a picnic and relax
in the beautiful blend of nature and art. Audio tours and walking maps available. 824 S. Dudley,
901-774-3212, www.elmwoodcemetery.org.
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Home to both the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers,
the MidSouth's premier sports and entertainment facility includes a Memphis-themed
motif, basketball practice
facility, restaurants, outdoor entertainment plaza, 59 suites, 80 club boxes, four party suites,
party areas, and more. It also houses the
Smithsonian’s Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul
Museum and plays host to a wide range of concerts and special events. Corner of Beale and Third,
901-205-2525, 866-648-4667, www.fedexforum.com.
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Slide down a fire house pole, sit in real fire trucks, and experience a virtual house fire. Essential lifesaving information for all ages, antique fire trucks,
firefighting history, and one of the largest collections of firefighting toys in the U.S. Ol' Billy, the talking life-like horse, tells how firefighting began. Outside, a 27-foot-tall memorial honors Memphis firefighters lost in the line of duty. 118 Adams, 901-320-5650, www.firemuseum.com.
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Experience the
incredible craftsmanship that goes into every guitar. Tours of
the factory include an up-close look at the intricate
process of building
guitars. Special group rates and times are available
for 15 or
more people. Come see magic in the making! One block south
of historic Beale
Street, the Gibson Retail Store offers the largest selection
of Gibson &
Epiphone instruments in Memphis. 145 Lt. George
W. Lee,
901-544-7998,
www.gibsonmemphis.com.
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Experience Elvis’s fascinating journey to superstardom
at his home, Graceland, a designated National
Historic Landmark. Discover exciting videos, displays
of authentic clothing, personal mementos, his amazing
showcase of gold and platinum awards, and more. Graceland added three new exhibits in 2009: Elvis in Hollywood, Elvis Lives: the King and Pop Culture, and new exhibits in the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum. Stay at Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel. 3734 Elvis Presley
Blvd, 901-332-3322, 800-238-2000, www.elvis.com.
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See more, hear more, feel more with the ultimate movie experience. Enjoy
crystal-clear, larger-than-life, state-of-the-art motion picture entertainment
and feel like you’re part
of the action. The IMAX screen is four stories tall and
five stories wide with a six-channel, 10,000-watt, half-million-dollar
sound system that provides the ultimate film experience.
Think BIG at the Pink Palace. Pink Palace Museum, 3050 Central, 901-320-6362, www.memphismuseums.org.
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This open-air theater first opened in 1936 to give Memphis a venue for entertainment under the open skies. Elvis Presley's first paid concert happened here in 1954. The Mortimer Levitt Foundation, a family charity dedicated to reviving band shells, brought this unique venue back to life in 2008. The Levitt Shell presents 50 free, family-friendly concerts each year in the spring and fall. 1928 Poplar in Overton Park behind the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 901-272-5159, www.levittshell.org. |
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A nature center for the 21st century is located in the
middle of metropolitan Memphis. Explore 65 acres of forest,
lake, and meadow, and learn about preservation. Includes
the Back Yard Wildlife Center, three miles of trails,
boardwalks across the lake, picnic facilities, a gift
shop, and environmental and interactive multimedia exhibits.
5992 Quince, 901-767-7322, www.memphismuseums.org.
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This 379-acre public park on the banks of the Mississippi River was one of the first parks in Memphis, dating to 1902. It offers a nine-hole golf course, boat ramp and marina, scenic river views, lake, playgrounds, ball field, four lighted tennis courts, picnic areas, and three pavilions. South Parkway at Riverside, 576-4296.
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Bordering the Mighty Mississippi, two-thirds of this 13,467-acre
park is bottomland hardwood forests. The park also contains
two lakes, miles of hiking trails, a museum and nature center, boat ramp, wildlife, 200 species of birds, and other wildlife.
Cabins, camping, swimming, and picnic facilities also
available. 910 Riddick, Millington, 901-876-5215, 800-471-5293,
www.tnstateparks.com.
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Ninety-six acres of specialty
gardens right in the heart of Memphis. Features monthly art exhibits,
special events, seasonal plant sales, weekly Farmers Market (Apr–Oct), wine tastings, summer camps, and educational programs for children and adults. Fratelli's in the Garden cafe and gallery are located in the Visitors Center. Facility rental for weddings, parties, events, and more. 750 Cherry, 901-636-4100,
www.memphisbotanicgarden.com.
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A center of culture in the heart of Memphis.
Spend an afternoon in the museum galleries, Brushmark
Restaurant, and Museum Store. Outstanding collections
of fine art dating from antiquity to the present and superb
international traveling exhibitions. Permanent collection
includes Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings and
sculpture, European and American paintings, and more.
Full schedule of films, lectures, family activities,
and special events complement exhibitions. 1934 Poplar,
901-544-6200, www.brooksmuseum.org.
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As one of the most exciting young teams in the league,
this Western Conference team began in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, migrating to Memphis in 2001 and now playing regular season home games Oct–Apr in the state-of-the-art FedExForum. FedExForum, corner of Beale and Third, 901-205-2525, tickets:
901-888-HOOP, www.grizzlies.com.
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