Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Friend Date Night Ideas in Memphis

Motherhood has taught me lots of life lessons over the past 7 years. Topping the list are lessons in humility, flexibility, and preparation (frozen pizza in the freezer + extra clothes in the diaper bag for the WIN!).

Motherhood also taught me one lesson I didn’t realize I needed to learn: I need my besties, and I need time with them.

We’ve all seen the TikToks and the memes: Girls will say “I needed this” and it’s literally just running into a friend at Target that we haven’t talked to in a while. Sure, we love and need our partners and babies… but there’s something about being with your best friend (or friends) that brings out the best in you.

When we can turn “mom” off for a little while and relax with other adults and (maybe) become a sliver of the person we once were before children, I believe we become better mothers. (Can I get an AMEN for adult conversation?)

So, since school is starting back up and the weather is cooling off, consider these fun ways to enjoy time with your besties in Memphis!

Here are a few suggestions for some Memphis fun with a BFF (or two or four).

Enjoy the outdoors – adult style!

Most of us are familiar with Shelby Farms and their many activities you can do year-round, but did you know about “Canoes + Cocktails”? Every Friday from May – September, you can grab a friend (or two) and head to Hyde Lake to rent your choice of paddleboard, single/double kayak, or double canoe and take a 45 minute guided tour. But that’s not all! After the tour, your ticket gives you the opportunity to enjoy specialty Old Dominick Distillery cocktails, wine, beer, and individually packaged snacks from Feast & Graze. They adjust the time of check-in so that your boat ride coincides with sunset, so make sure you pay attention to the start time when making your reservation.

While it’s still hot, did you know that Hyatt Centric Beale offers pool passes and cabana rentals ($100 for you and 5 besties)? Put on that sunscreen and enjoy an afternoon at the pool, without having to put sunscreen on wiggly children or worrying about family members’ ability to swim in the deep end.

If the sun is *not your thing*, the good news is that we are moving towards the cooler months, and with that comes several outdoor events that are great to go with your besties if you need a event a little further down the calendar to plan for. Wine On The River is on October 4th at Tom Lee Park this year, and Art On Fire at The Dixon is happening on October 18th.

Happy Hour + Besties = Saving Money (Girl Math)

I love a Happy Hour, because when given the chance to save money on yummy food and mock/cocktails, why would you not?? And did you know that, according to Britannica, “the term happy hour dates back to the late 19th century, when it began as a name for community social clubs, especially those hosted by and for women”! So we have to…for the culture!

Loflin Yard has $7 fried pickles or queso (let’s be honest, we’re getting both). Drive too fast down Union Avenue and you might miss it, but Cameo has Happy Hour all day on Monday and a yummy zero proof cocktail menu. I just recently got to try out Hog & Hominy‘s happy hour menu and the fried pickles and margarita hit the spot. You get the idea! Check out a more comprehensive list here.

Extroverted Besties

Personally, my favorite BFF date ever is going to a Grizzlies game. The energy of the crowd, the noise, and excitement all make my so hyped and I can feel the love for our great city oozing out of the whole Forum. Add in a best friend, and what could be better??

Other fun, interactive activities are from the minds behind the OG Memphis Escape Rooms: the Amuse museum and the brand new Game Nite Lounge. All three are so fun and make the perfect moms’ night out. Located in downtown, midtown, and East Memphis, these are all conveniently located so that you can do one of these fun activities AND grab dinner after! Win-win!

Introverted Besties

Being with people takes energy, and some of us don’t have as much as others (hi, it’s me). While I love my friends, sometimes the daily grind of the everyday hustle-and-bustle leaves me a little depleted in the social department. But I also know through 38 years of experience, that even a little bit of extroversion with the women who love and know me can do wonders for my soul and I’m always happy I got together with them.

So if you’re like me and need something a little more lowkey, consider these very demure, very mindful bestie options. Sit next to each other in the dark at The Orpheum and enjoy a broadway show (I highly recommend crying your eyes out with your bestie when “The Notebook” musical comes through at the end of October). Bring your bestie book and bestie human with you to Novel on a Sunday afternoon for Silent Book Club. Meander the indoor streets of Chickasaw Oaks or the outdoor streets of Saddle Creek and pop in and out of shops as you pop in updates of your life with each other.

Or maybe a coffee catch up date is more your speed, and if so, you’re in luck because Memphis has amazing coffee shops all around town offering caffeine and sustenance for the catch up yap sesh. Whether it’s a newer coffee shop like Aldar Cafe or a personal tried-and-true, consider setting a date and dedicating time to sit with your friend(s) and laugh (or cry) about the highs and lows of life.

While this list is not meant to be exhaustive, it is meant to inspire you to consider new (or maybe revived) ways of connecting with your bestie. What are some of your favorite Memphis BFF date ideas? Share below so we can start planning even MORE dates! 🙂