Please check out our Calendar for an up-to-date list of special events, festivals, story time, and more. If you’ve got little ones, make sure you check out our activity ideas for Preschoolers and Babies & Crawlers.
Museums & Such
Many Memphis museums offer free or discounted admission on certain dates. Check out this post for more info.
• Children’s Museum of Memphis
crawlers to elementary school kids will love CMOMÂ EMM review
• Memphis Zoo
who doesn’t love a visit to the zoo?
• Dixon Gallery & Gardens
the garden is great fun to visit with your kids EMM review
• Brooks Museum of Art
check their events page for special family-oriented events
• Pink Palace Museum
visit the website for info on current exhibits – free Tuesday afternoons! EMM review
• Fire Museum of Memphis
interactive and fun! EMM review
• Mud Island River Park
An indoor museum as well as an outdoor scale replica of the Mississippi River, located on the Mississippi River EMM review
• C.H. Nash Museum at the Chucalissa Archaeological Site
• Sharpe Planetarium
• National Ornamental Metal Museum
• The Cotton Museum
housed on the trading floor of the historic Memphis Cotton Exchange, museum highlights include video footage, oral histories, artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of cotton and its impact on our region and the world, as well as a self-guided audio tour of Cotton Row.
• Tennessee Safari Park
Alamo, TN
• Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum
Thomas the Tank Engine exhibit, model trains and more. EMM review
• Graceland  EMM Review
• Stax Museum of American Soul Music
• Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
Movies, Theaters, Music & Shows
• Malco Theaters including the Summer Drive In
• Palace Cinema EMM review
• Pink Palace IMAX Theater
• The Orpheum
• Buckman Performing Arts Center
• Germantown Performing Arts Center
• Playhouse on the Square
• Theatre Memphis
• Levitt Shell
• Hattiloo Theater
• Harrell Performing Arts Center
• Germantown Community Theater
• The Cannon Center
• FedExForum
Game/Play Places
(aka Putt Putt): miniature golf, BattleZone (water fight), Sky Trail, arcade, batting cages, go karts, laser tag, bumper boats, and more.
• Laser Quest
• Pump It Up (Bartlett)
indoor inflatables EMM review
• Incredible Pizza & Chuck E. Cheese: arcade, indoor games
Note: the Chuck E. Cheese in Cordova has a toddler play area
• Kid’s Play
• Roller Skating: Cordova Skate Center  EMM Review
• Ice Skating: Mid-South Ice House (Olive Branch) & Memphis Zoo on Ice (select days/nights mid-November through late January)
• FunQuest (Collierville)
roller skating, bowling, laser tag
• SkyZone Memphis
indoor trampoline center EMM review
• ClimBRIDGES
indoor rock climbing, open once/month EMM review
Treats
• GiGi’s Cupcakes
• Muddy’s Bake Shop
• Whole Foods (muffins, cookies, cupcakes, coffee etc.) EMM review
• Starbucks
• La Baguette
• Baskin Robbins (Summer Ave & S. Highland)
• YoLo self-serve frozen yogurt EMM review
• Ben & Jerry’s  EMM review
• Sweet CeCe’s self-serve frozen yogurt EMM review
• Cheffie’s Cafe gelato bar EMM review
• Jerrys Sno Cones
• La Michoacana: paletes (ice pops) and ice cream 4091 Summer Avenue
• Mama D’s Italian Ice
• Cosmic Coconut juice bar EMM review
• Gibson’s Donuts
• Howard’s Donuts EMM review
Playgrounds/Outdoor Fun
• Shelby Farms Park
Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms EMM review
Avon Park, 310 N. Avon
Sea Isle Park, 5220 Sea Isle
Marquette Park, corner of Park Ave & Mr. Moriah Rd
Peabody Park, 712 Tanglewood St.
EMM reviews: Tillman to Perkins, Perkins to Shelby Farm
rent a bike on the greenline
10,000 square foot park at Tobey Field near Central and Hollywood, open 6am-6pm in the winter and 6am-8pm in the summer.  Skatelife Memphis has some park info.
• Paintball Park
• CHF Paintball (Hernando, MS)
• Some area farmers’ markets offer kid’s activities and special events. Check this post for a list of area markets.
• Canoe or kayak the Wolf River (rentals available)
• Showcase Equestrian Center (Eads)
spend a day at the farm on a Saturday morning (plus lessons, camps and birthday parties)
• Cedar Hill Farm
• Menagerie Farms
Bookstores & Libraries
• The Booksellers at Laurelwood (aka Davis-Kidd) EMM storytime review
• East Memphis area library branches:
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Poplar-White Station Branch Library
Highland Branch Library
Randolph Branch Library
Sports to Watch
• Memphis Grizzlies
professional basketball
• Memphis Redbirds
minor league baseball
• Memphis Roller Derby
All-female, amateur, flat-track roller derby league
• University of Memphis Tigers
You name it, they play it
• Mississippi Riverkings
Professional minor league ice hockey team, part of the Central Hockey League. Games are in Southhaven, MS. EMM review
• Memphis Polo Club
A 30 minute drive from East Memphis, the Memphis Polo Club plays and trains on 200 acres of beautifully landscaped countryside. Weekend tournaments are open to the public.
• Memphis International Speedway
Other Stuff That’s Fun
Peabody Ducks
Kid Station
Need some time away from your kids? EMM review
Main Street Trolley  EMM review
Chick-fil-A – food and indoor play! Midtown, Mendenhall/Poplar, 240/Poplar
McDonalds (2030 Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN) – indoor play area
Seize The Clay
paint your own pottery, glass fusing and more
Paint a Piece
paint your own pottery
The Art House
at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, classes and open studio times (open to anyone)
Wolfchase Galleria (Germantown) – six screen cinema, carousel and jump area, plus a play area for young kids. And check out their Kidgit Club for special events and gifts.
