Kid-Friendly Attractions to Visit Near Memphis

Featured in this Article: Kid-Friendly Places in and near Memphis

Discovery Park of America – Union City
Memphis Museum of Science and History – Memphis
Ghost Section of Wolf River 
Tina Turner Museum and Flagg Grove School – Brownsville
Battlezone Park - Jackson
Mud Island River Park – Memphis
Shelby Farms Park – Memphis
Tennessee Safari Park – Alamo
Fire Museum of Memphis - Memphis
National Civil Rights Museum - Memphis
Children’s Museum of Memphis - Memphis
Memphis Botanic Garden - Memphis
Reelfoot Lake State Park - Tiptonville
Memphis Music Museums
Beale Street Historic District - Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies Basketball - Memphis
 

• Discovery Park of America is a world-class museum that offers entertainment in an educational setting located about 113 miles from Memphis

• 50-acre heritage park and 100,000 square feet of exhibits

• Topics range from nature to technology to science

• The museum has a Human Slide, Earthquake Simulator, The Tower and the Starship Theater

• Enjoy gardens, Freedom Square with a replica of the Liberty Bell, outdoor art installations, and a train station from the 1800s

• Find great kid-friendly meals at Sabin's Cafe including burgers, hot dogs, nachos and  grilled cheese

• Parking is plentiful, located in front of the museum. Accessible parking spaces are at the front of each side of the parking lot that provides easy access to the main entrance

• Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A medical room is available for those who need privacy, and a nurse is on staff during operating hours

• Exhibits, elevators, restaurants, attractions and retail spaces are wheelchair accessible

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• One of the largest facilities of its kind in the Southeast, the Memphis Museum of Science and History showcases cultural and natural history

• Find exhibits on science and more through immersive exhibits, history and architecture at the Pink Palace Mansion

• Explore wetlands, native flowers and woodlands education at the Lichterman Nature Center

• Travel through space at the AutoZone Dome at the Sharpe Planetarium

• Catch an immersive film in the CTI 3D Giant Theater

• Take a guided tour on Fridays and Saturdays of the Mallory-Neely House, one of Memphis' treasured historic sites. The home includes original historic interiors, furniture and artifacts from over 100 years ago

• Learn how to find and carefully extract fossils at the UT Martin Coon Creek Science Center, a more than 70-million-year-old exposed seafloor deposit that is home to almost 700 preserved marine species. Call 731-646-1636 for more information

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• Kayak or canoe in some fresh West Tennessee air along the Ghost Section of the Wolf River

• Home to some of the last natural landscape of its kind

• It is advised that only skilled paddlers embark on this trail as there are branches, tree stumps and slow waters to maneuver

• The whole trip can last around 4-6 hours

• An untouched forest ecosystem and tranquil waters wait as the cypress trees live in a shadowy pool

• The trail is marked for those paddling along, discovering the natural beauty of this Tennessee location

• The Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School holds the Queen of Rock's memorabilia

• Located on the grounds of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center

• Marvel at stage costumes, gold records and even her high school yearbook

• Flagg Grove School is Tina Turner's childhood one-room schoolhouse. An authentic chalkboard, desks and benches are also preserved to tell the story of education for African-American students in the 1940s and 1950s

• Also tour Sleepy John Estes' last home. Sleepy John Estes, known for his high-pitched "crying" vocal style, was one of the Blues pioneers and instrumental in establishing the country blues sound

• Learn about the species found in the nearby Hatchie River, history of West Tennessee cotton and touring exhibits inside the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center

• Self-guided tours are free; guided tours are $7.50 for adults and $5 for children 7-17 with children under 6 years old admitted free. Reservations are required for guided tours

• Visit the iconic Memphis attraction, Mud Island River Park

• Walk across the Skybridge

• Snap a picture at the colorful MEMPHIS sign with downtown Memphis in the background

• Other than parking, Mud Island River Park is free

• While the Riverwalk isn't currently filled with water, you can walk alongside it, passing 6 states in the span of 5 city blocks

• Enjoy iconic views of the city by pavement. Then, take a 5-minute drive to Mississippi River Expeditions to see the city skyline by canoe where all trips are privately chartered and custom suited to yours and your family's needs

• Did you know Memphis was home to a herd of buffalo? Get a peek at these creatures when you visit Shelby Farms Park

• You can easily spend a full day at the park, participating in age-friendly activities for everyone in the family

• 40 miles of paved and unpaved trails for walking and biking as well as a BMX track. Bike rentals also available

• Shelby Farms Stables provides half-hour guided horseback rides for riders 7 years old and older, 1-hour guided trail rides for riders 8 years and older, and 2-hour guided rides for riders 13 years old and older. Children ages 4 years old can enjoy pony rides, and children of all ages can experience the 30-minute wagon ride safari

• Go Ape Treetop Adventure is great for kids 10 years old and older featuring 40 obstacles and a 624 zipline

• Go Ape Treetop Journey is perfect for children 5 years old and younger as well as 6-15 year-olds. Enjoy 25 obstacles and a 190ft zipline

• Enjoy axe throwing, an escape game and Gorilla golf 

• Have lunch at Cheffie's at Shelby Farms Park or Coastal Fish Company

• Curb cravings with snacks, cold drinks and frozen treats at the Lake's Edge Gift Shop and the Pine Lake Boat House + General Store

• Tennessee Safari Park is one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the state

• 7.5-mile drive-thru safari and 20-acre walk-thru zoo

• Home to primates, exotic birds, cranes, tapirs, kangaroos and buffalo

• Take a tour to see ostrich, emu, a reticulated giraffe, African warthog and axis deer

• Feed cups are $3 

• Gates open 10 a.m. Monday-Saturday; gates open 12 p.m. Sunday. Last car is admitted at 4 p.m.

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• Welcome to Memphis' hottest attraction, the Fire Museum of Memphis

• The interactive fire museum is located in the legendary fire engine house No. 1, built in 1910

• Learn about fire safety and prevention and the history of the Memphis Fire Department

• Children and adults love the antique fire engines displayed

• Toddlers and small children can enjoy the play area with fire engines they can climb on

• Interactive exhibits include a simulated drive to a fire 

• Meet Ol' Billy, the talking horse that lived at Old Fire Station No. 1

• Watch a kitchen fire, see the smoke and feel the heat in the FedEx Fire Room

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• The National Civil Rights Museum is a must-visit when in Memphis, located on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail

• 260 artifacts, more than 40 new films, interactive media

• The museum presents the U.S. civil rights story since 1619

• Learn of Civil Rights Movement leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, students who participated in the 1960 sit-ins and more

• Preserved Lorraine Motel, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, along with Rooms 306 and 307 where Dr. King once stayed

• New Founders Park to open Summer 2025 and the Legacy Building at the Boarding House exhibitions will be renovated and completed by early 2026

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• Children ages 2-10 will love the exhibits that encourage learning through play at Children’s Museum of Memphis

• Kids can explore a variety of activities from rock climbing to making digital art, play in a bank, grocery store and farm

• They’ll learn how the body works, electricity is conducted and how planes fly

• In warmer months, explore water wonders in the H2Oh! Splash Park

• Make larger-than-life bubbles in the new Bubble Gardens, located within H2Oh! Splash Park

• Dino Dig welcomes kid archeologists to use tools and excavating equipment to dig for fossils

• The H2Oh! Splash Park and Dino Dig are open Memorial Day through Labor Day

• Museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays

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• Wander through a tropical rainforest, blooming gardens and marvel at outdoor and indoor art installations at Memphis Botanic Garden in the heart of Memphis

• Children will love exploring, creating and discovering nature around them at My Big Backyard, a kid-friendly space with 16 different themed areas

• Artistic play spaces along Playhouse Lane

• The Backyard Bluff stage invites kids to create rhythms on the drums, bells and marimbas

• Get a bird’s eye view in Treetop Adventure

• Learn about the important roles of plants in our homes in the Home Sweet Home area

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• Take an eagle tour in January and February at Reelfoot Lake State Park

• Two-hour tours include an experienced park naturalist who shares about the natural and cultural history of the area

• See eagles flying, snatching a fish from the lake, perching and soaring

• In the warmer months, reserve a spot on the scenic pontoon boat tours (May through September)

• Take a lily pad canoe tours in July

• Attend the Pelican Festival in October featuring pelican canoe floats and pontoon boat tours, wildlife photography programs and more