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100 Things to do in Memphis in the Spring

High five, Mamas! You (and your kids) survived the 2023 ice storm and all the crazy winter weather. But now, the weather is getting nicer and we’re quickly approaching yet another week off for Spring Break! Not sure how you’ll fill the days (or nights?)…. well, Memphis Moms is here for you….

But first, mark you calendars for a FREE playdate we’ll be hosting. Click on the images and go RSVP “going” on the Facebook event, then tell all your friends! 


chuchalissa playdate graphic

Come be an archaeologist for the day! Chucalissa is a little known gem in the city of Memphis. We’ll tour the museum (for free!), explore the burial mounds, do a scavenger hunt, hike the trails, and see behind the scenes where the archaeologists work! Bring a lunch and enjoy the many picnic areas around the property! Friday, March 17 at 10:30am. Can’t wait to see you!

100 Things to do in our Amazing City!

Downtown

1. Go see a Grizz game! They’re playing March 11 at 7:00 vs the Dallas Mavericks! (They are also playing Golden State on Saturday, March 18; if you have tickets to that game, can we be besties?) Buy tickets here.
the grizz team
2. Visit the Blues Hall of Fame. Didn’t know we had one? (me neither!)
3. Just because school is out doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in some Delta history. Walk the Mississippi River down at Mud Island Riverwalk
4. Walk to Arkansas! — visit Big River Crossing

big river crossing
Half in Arkansas, Half in Tennessee!

5. Tour the National Civil Rights Museum (spring break is the perfect time for a real-life history lesson)
6. You can’t visit downtown Memphis without riding the trolley! Park for free at the bus depo and ride both the Main Street and the Riverfront lines. Base fare is only $1!
7. Visit the Memphis Rock’n Soul Museum
8. The 50th annual Silky O’Sullivan St. Patrick’s Day parade is March 11 at 2 pm on Beale Street!
9. Hungry? You can never go wrong eating gumbo fries at Blues City Cafe on Beale.
10. Take in the city view a little differently! Ride a Memphis Riverboat!
11. See downtown with a birds’ eye view! Ride the largest free standing elevator in the country at Bass Pro! ($10/each). Want to keep your feet firmly on the ground? That’s ok: Check out the giant fish tank and watch the scuba diver feed the fish at 10 am or 5 pm!
12. Beale Street isn’t just famous for drinking! Take the kids “souvenir” shopping at A. Schwab Dry Goods Store, one of the oldest establishments downtown.
13. Be a duckmaster! Every day at 11 am and 5 pm the duck parade happens at the historic Peabody Hotel.
14. Take a tour of downtown via horse and carriage! Rides daily outside of the Peabody and along Beale Street. $40/hour. Most carriages can easily seat a family of 6+.
15. Eat at a food truck in Court Square on Thursdays for Food Truck Thursdays, organized by the Downtown Memphis Commission. food truck thursday

16. Take in a show at the Orpheum Theatre!
17. Eat some homemade cheesecake at The Cheesecake house.
18. Does your kids love trains? Visit a hidden gem: The Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum
19. Take a picture on the courthouse steps and discuss what it means to live in a democracy!
20. Calling all Firemen! Spend an afternoon (or all day!) at the Fire Museum of Memphis. Kids 3-18 $8, under 2 FREE!
21. With its famous chicken hash & waffles and fish pudding, the Waffle Shop provides downtowners with a unique lunch during the season of Lent while supporting the outreach ministries at Calvary Episcopal Church. Takeout available for $1 extra.

The Edge District

22. Be like Elvis and strike a pose.
23. Buy all the Elvis things at Boulevard Souvenirs.
24. Have a car lover? Check out the Edge Alley Motor Museum! (Then grab a beer at High Cotton Brewery)
25. Throw axes at Craft Axe Throwing! See who can make the most bulls-eyes and get a picture taken in the throne
26. Take a picture in front of one of Memphis’ newest murals located on the side of the Riverdeep building.
27. Listen to some Johnny Cash and then go tour Sun Studios!

Midtown

28. Chalk Fest is back! March 25 at 10am at the Brooks Museum
29. Let the kids play on the amazing playground while you enjoy a quiet moment in a hammock at Railgarten. Upscale diner fare for both kids and adults. Frosé (frozen rosé), Mama?
30. Ride the carousel at the Children’s Museum of Memphis {CMOM}.
31. Buy a book at Burke’s bookstore, the oldest bookstore in the city!
32. Walk through the Elmwood Cemetery (8am-4:30pm daily).
33. Crosstown Concourse. So.Many.Options. Need an afternoon treat or pick me up? Grab a coffee from French Truck Coffee or eat burgers for dinner with the whole family at Farm Burger! Besides food joints there’re so many things to check out — especially the library & children’s area on the 2nd Floor.
34. The Memphis zoo is always a family favorite!

“The bubble” at the Memphis Zoo.

36. Play Bocce Ball at South Main Park (Behind the big flower sculptures).
37. Check out 901 Comics in Cooper Young (the back room has a ton of $1 editions!).
38. Children 8 and under are always free at the Stax Museum!

stax museum
photo courtesy of their facebook page

39. Pack a picnic lunch and eat at Overton Park. Afterward burn some energy at the Rainbow Lake Playground.
40. Let out your inner Picasso. Take your kids to The Art Project in Overton Square! They take care of clean up and you save your sanity!
41. Gather your girl friends and daughters and attend tea at one of our favorite places: 17 Berkshire!
42. Stick your heads out of famous Memphians! (Next to the parking garage at Overton Square.)
43. Go swimming in a lazy river (indoors!) at The Kroc Center.

East Memphis

44. Did you know the University of Memphis commissioned 100 tiger statues for their 100th Anniversary? FIND the tigers all over campus and take a picture next to your favorite!
45. The CTI Giant IMAX theatre at the Pink Palace Museum is the PERFECT place to go. Plus it’s dark. And quiet. (Shhhhh! Mommy’s naptime)!
46. Stak’s Pancake Kitchen is the best place for hungry tummies! Curbside available.
46. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens hosts a variety of classes for kids from toddlers to pre-teens. Check out the classes offered here.
50. Memphis Botanic Garden has hidden dinosaurs near a secret playground. See if you can find it.
51. The Crystal Shrine Grotto at Memorial Park Cemetery is a little known gem (ha! see what we did there?)
52. Grab a kolchi (basically a hot dog wrapped in an amazing pastry shell) at OB Donuts.
53. Kids climbing the walls? Then (literally) let them climb them Highpoint Climbing!
54. Go bowling at Billy Hardwick’s All-Star Lanes
55. Hike the trails at Lichterman Nature Center! Or sign up for their Spring Break Camp!
56. Lazy days are made for reading. Get a book delivered from Novel.

Summer Avenue

57. Plan a special outing to eat at El Sabor Latino, an authentic Colombian restaurant. Watch Encanto then order a feast!
58. Get a Sno Cone at Jerry’s Sno Cones
59. Never been in a pawn shop? Check one out along Summer Avenue. You never know what treasure you might discover!
60. Pineapple chili, rice pudding, and salted margarita….those are just some of the unusual flavors of La Michoacana’s famous ice cream! They also offer real fruit popsicles such as watermelon, guava, and spicy cucumber! $2/popsicle.
61. Grab those pillows and pile in! The Malco Summer Drive-In is a great weekend activity for the whole family!
62. Go on a mural scavenger hunt! Take your picture in front of your favorite!

mural scavenger hunt for spring break
This mural has been painted over. Do you know where this is?

63. Peruse the lego aisle at Knowledge Tree
64. Play some putt-putt at Putt-Putt Family Park
65. Did you know there’s a Chick Fil A on Summer Ave? Well, now you do!
66. Eat dinner at Central BBQ. 2 free kid meals on Wednesdays!

… and more fun things to do around town, out in the ‘burbs, or at home!

67. Find the Little Libraries all around town. Take a book, leave a book!
68. Creation Station at Bellevue is back!
69. Head to the Collierville Square and ride the mechanical pony (bring quarters!).
70. Shelby Farms Park is another amazing place in Memphis! Head over to Hyde Lake and rent a paddle boat or kayak. Adventurous family? Try the paddle boarding!
71. For those kids {age 10+} wanting a little more thrills, try GO APE!
72. Bike the Greenline: 10.6 miles tip to tip of paved path! For extra fun, rent a bicycle built for two at either the Hyde Lake Wheel House or the Greenline Wheel House.
73. You may drop some serious dough, but Incredible Pizza Company always is a crowd pleaser!
74. Try your hand at disc golf! There are 3 courses in Memphis: Libertyland, Shelby Farms, and Bud Hill!
75. Plan your relaxing bubble bath later on by shopping at Magnolia Soap Company. They have the BEST bath bombs, made fresh on site. What’s your favorite spring scent?
76. Go swimming (indoors!) at Goldfish Swim School’s 90 degree heated pool. They offer family swim times for caregivers and kids of all ages!
77. Take the kids skating at Cordova Skate Center. Wednesday is discount skate day; skate for only $6 including rental skates!
78. IKEA! Family Members get free coffee every day!
79. Paint 901 rocks and hide them around your neighborhood
80. Shop til you drop at Hobby Lobby and grab a “make your own quilt” kit. Make 1 for yourself and make 1 for someone in a nursing home.
81. If you’re not in a sugar coma yet, grab a gluten-free cupcake or an ice cream creation from Smallcakes in Collierville.
82. Get your tackle box dusted off and head to Nonconnah Creek for an afternoon of fishing!
83. Swing on the swings at McVay Park in Germantown
84. Volunteer to make flower bouquets with 901Pop!
85. For a sweet treat, try the newest Memphis bakery, Sift Bakery.
86. Jump on over to Jumpin’ Jelly Beans, a boutique play space! PS. There’s complimentary coffee for tired mamas! Score!
87. Go hiking in Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
88. Make Tie-Dye T-shirts!

tie dye
89. Fly a kite
90. Checkout the Meditation Garden at Graceland (7:30am-8:30pm daily).
91. Ice Skate at the Mid South Ice House.
92. Have your heard about Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum? Check it out!
93. Is it raining? Head over to the Main Event and eat, bowl, and play!
94. Geocaching gets kids outside and thinking strategically.
95. Make homemade playdoh.
96. Walk your dog! Anyone just get a new puppy?
97. Drive out to Arlington and play all afternoon at their amazing Playground of Dreams.
98. Learn to sew.
99. Get a library card so you’re ready for the summer reading program.
100. Lock up those ipads and school devices and go a week without technology!

Whew! These are just some of the amazing things you can do here in Memphis!

What would you add to the list?
Which one(s) do you think you’ll try?

pinterest spring guide

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