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10 Best Family Date Night in Memphis Ideas
Family Date Night in Memphis-
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1- Graceland
Graceland is made up of 120 acres and it is dedicated to the life and legacy of Elvis Presley. Buy tickets for a tour of Graceland and see his mansion, records, jumpsuits, classic cars, exhibits about his life, his land and his private planes!
When you first arrive at Graceland, you will park at the Visitor’s Center and will pick up or buy your tour tickets and then will watch a short film all about Elvis and his life. You will then take a tour bus and head over to his mansion. This was definitely one of my favorite parts. It was so fun to see all of the different themed rooms and see his eccentric taste. If you can time it right, visit Graceland at Christmas time and it’s even more magical! They decorate everything just like he used to and they even had a manger out in the front yard that is the same one he used to put up every year.
Graceland is fun for the whole family and is one of the top things to do with kids in Memphis.
After you are done touring the mansion and his land, you will take a bus back to the main Visitor’s Center area and there are many more buildings to look at and go through including his classic car collection which was huge and incredible! It was definitely my toddler’s favorite area and he couldn’t stop pointing everywhere saying “Car!” “Car!” You also get to see some of his costumes and jumpsuits (as well as other celebrity’s) and you can also tour his 2 private jets. Set aside at least a few hours for Graceland because there is a lot to see! Graceland is incredible and is definitely one of the top things to do in Memphis.
Looking at Elvis’ cars at Graceland- this was one of my son’s top things to do in Memphis!
Graceland is even more memorable and special at Christmas time.
There was also a very cute diner at Graceland perfect for date night!
2- Dine at The Arcade
The Arcade Diner is located right in downtown Memphis in the South Main Arts District and is absolutely a must! (It’s also right on the trolley line if you want to take the trolley to get there). It is easily one of the best things to do in Memphis because of it’s incredible history and it’s actually the oldest restaurant in Memphis. Their food is also so delicious! Make sure to come hungry. I had a breakfast platter that came with some of their famous sweet potato pancakes and it was to die for.
The Arcade opened in 1919 and is a third-generation family owned-restaurant. One of the best parts about this adorable diner is that Elvis actually has his own booth and he used to frequent this joint! He was a regular and he would eat a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. The Arcade has also appeared on many movies including Elizabethtown and The Client!
3- South Main Arts District
The South Main Arts District is a charming and eclectic neighborhood just one block from historic Beale Street. This one-square mile is full of things to do in Memphis including cafes and boutiques to explore. It is full of cool architecture, art and innovation with locally-owned boutiques and chef-owner restaurants.
There is actually millions of dollars in development projects planned for South Main, revitalizing it with more attractions, restaurants, shops and homes.
South Main is buzzing with history and is Memphis’ first arts district, a place to hear the story of the Civil Rights Movement and where Rock and Roll first played on the air.
It’s especially charming during the holidays and is filled with holiday lights and decor in the shops and cafes.
4- Civil Rights Museum
One of the most important historic sites to visit is The National Civil Rights Museum. It is actually located at the former Lorraine Motel- the location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
This museum has over 260 artifacts, oral histories and interactive media that will guide you through five centuries of history from the beginning of the resistance during slavery.
There is also a Legacy Building across from the Lorraine Motel that showcases milestone events that shaped civil rights over the years and the continuous movement happening today. This is one of the most important and top things to do in Memphis.
5- STAX Museum of Soul Music
Memphis is the home of Soul Music- this is where it all started! The STAX Museum of Soul Music is such a gem while visiting Memphis and is constantly rated as one of the top things to do in Memphis. In an era where racial tensions were high, the recording studio never saw race, but instead focused on creating its own sound that would be heard all around the world.
Once you arrive, you get to watch a short introduction video which was really great. There was so much incredible history at The STAX Museum and so many fun displays to look at (over 2000 of them!) including a hall full of records, incredible costumes and memorabilia and Isaac Hayes’ gold-plated peacock blue 1972 Superfly Cadillac El Dorado.
This museum is great for the whole family and you will hear Soul music through out- even my Toddler was jamming out to Soul music and he definitely thought it was one of the top things to do in Memphis!
Stax is an incredible Museum with amazing displays and is one of the top things to do in Memphis for the whole family.
Family Date night in Memphis
6- Peabody Hotel Duck March
One of the things I was the most excited for on our trip to Memphis was seeing the famous Peabody Ducks March- one of the top things to do in Memphis.
The duck tradition has kind of a funny and crazy origin story. The General Manager in the 1930s and his friend went on a weekend hunting trip and they apparently had too much whiskey and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys into the fountain of the Peabody.
To their surprise, they actually had a very good and thrilling reaction from guests so the tradition of the ducks began! Then in 1940, Bellman Edward Pembroke, who was a former circus animal trainer, offered to help with their ducks. He taught them to march to the fountain each day and taught them the now-famous Peabody Duck March.
90 years later, the ducks still visit the lobby fountain from 11am to 5pm. each day. They set up a red carpet for kids to sit around and if you want to have a good view- arrive 20 minutes early!
One of the best things to do in Memphis with Kids is seeing the ducks in the fountain at The Peabody Hotel.
7- Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum of Memphis is incredible! My toddler absolutely loved it and probably could have spent all day there. It’s an amazing place for all ages of kids and we even had a blast as adults!
My son loved the seasonal interactive Winter Wonderland room where there were soft “snowballs” to throw and he got to take his shoes off and slip around on an “Ice Skating Rink” (a semi slippery floor).
It was really fun to see him make friends and interact with other kids. This place is huge and there are so many fun and interactive themed rooms! This is one of the best Children’s museums we have been to!
8- Beale Street
Beale Street is famous in Memphis and although there is a ton to do for adults, it’s fun for kids as well! We first tried going on a Saturday, but it was so busy, we opted to come back Sunday morning and there was a lot less people!
We first stopped at A. Schwab, which was founded in 1874! It is an authentic mercantile shop with lots of fun souvenirs and toys and it’s an old fashioned soda fountain- complete with lots of ice-cream flavors!
Another fun stop for families is Beale Sweets Sugar Shack. You have to try their incredible fudge! There’s tons of fun candy and treats from yesteryear and it’s fun and nostalgic trying some out.
We stopped at The I Love Memphis Mural for some quick shots and then we stopped by Flannagan’s to see their resident goats!
You can also take this guided walking tour on Beale Street.
9- Visit Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid
One of the coolest and most unique things to do in Memphis is to visit what locals call “The Pyramid” or Bass Pro Shops. As you are driving up, you are just in awe at how big the pyramid is! It is actually a former Memphis Sports and Events arena as well. It is now an incredible Bass Pro Shop with more outdoor gear than you could ever imagine, but it’s also a luxury and rustic hotel, an aquarium with over 600,000 gallons of water features (there’s an actual Cypress swamp inside with huge 100-foot-tall trees).
It also holds the country’s tallest free-standing elevator that takes you up to a glass-floored observation deck at the very top of the 32-story pyramid. There’s also a Wahlburgers inside and a Nautical-themed Restaurant called Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill with a saltwater aquarium inside, an ocean themed bowling alley that even has ball returns painted to look like sharks and alligators! (How fun is that?)
It’s especially fun to visit at Christmas time because they transform a whole area into “Santa’s Wonderland” and it was honestly so cute, but if you want to visit Santa, make sure to make reservations in advance.
Christmas Activities in Memphis – Family Friendly
10- Zoo Lights at The Memphis Zoo
Truist Zoo in Memphis is incredible and it’s by far one of the top things to do with Kids in Memphis during the holidays. We were so impressed with the displays at this zoo- it’s seriously one of the best ones we have every been to. When we first entered, my son and I are were absolutely enamored by the huge replica ship decked out in lights and the fake snow falling all through out the entrance. It was like something out of a movie! My son kept pointing and was so excited and honestly I might have been just as excited as him!
The Memphis Zoo is huge and there are so many light displays through out Zoo Lights including an incredible Twinkle Tunnel, Animal structures covered in lights (which our toddler especially loved) and hanging lantern areas. There is also an Ice Skating Rink, a lit up Ferris Wheel, Christmas Trees everywhere, and Arctic Outpost Adventure area and a fun activity for families was the Magic Mr. Nick Animal Meet and Greets!
Don’t forget to bring your cash for some yummy treats at one of their S’more stations and of course some delicious hot chocolate. Santa Claus also is at Zoo Lights visiting with kids. You can’t see most of the animals because it is too dark, but you can go into some of the indoor displays with reptiles and such and this was also a huge hit with our toddler.
I highly recommend visiting Zoo Lights- it was fun for the whole family!
Bonus- Holiday Wonders at Memphis Botanical Garden
Memphis is amazing in all seasons, but I highly recommend visiting Memphis at Christmas time. We were there in December and it was magical and every place was transformed with displays of lights and decorations. One of the best things to do in Memphis at Christmas is to visit The Memphis Botanic Garden which is actually made up of 8 acres! There are lights, decorations and magical displays along with whimsical characters through out for the kids to meet.
There is also an amazing Alice in Wonderland theme through out certain parts of the gardens and they are all decked out in lights too and are so fun! There’s also a very cute kid’s area where they can actually run around and play in little houses that are all decked out in lights. There is also fake snow falling all through out the kid’s area making it seriously magical!
Where to Stay in Memphis
The Central Station Memphis:
The Central Station Hotel is perfectly situated in downtown Memphis on South Main Street and is walking distance to big attractions and restaurants like The Arcade, Central BBQ and The Civil Rights Museum. You can also catch the trolley to downtown areas like Beale Street and The Peabody Hotel.
The design inside is amazing and it has so much history and is built in an actual train station. It’s been there for over 100 years and is an iconic reflection of the spirit of the city.
There’s a really nice restaurant and bar inside and one big plus is the free parking right at the hotel which is really rare for hotels in a downtown. We enjoyed our time here and would definitely stay again.
Where to Eat in Memphis
The food in Memphis is incredible and eating is definitely one of the best things to in Memphis! Here are some of my favorites:
Capriccio Grill- Brunch at The Peabody:
Visiting The Peabody Hotel and watching the Duck Show is a must when visiting Memphis (especially during the holidays!)
Enjoy a delicious 4 course brunch buffet after at The Capriccio Grill.
The food was amazing, but they were also so good with my son and gave him 2 Peabody Rubber duckies for free- it was seriously so cute!
Central BBQ:
Central BBQ has been ranked as the number one spot for BBQ in Memphis so we knew we had to give it a try and it didn’t disappoint! I decided to try the BBQ pork nachos and they were so tasty! You also have to try the banana pudding for dessert. Perfect place for a family date night in Memphis!
Sunrise Memphis:
Sunrise Memphis has some of the best breakfast in Memphis and they specialize in things like homemade biscuits, sausage and a build your own Bloody Mary. This place is very popular so make sure to arrive early!
Gus’ Fried Chicken:
Memphis is many things and among them is the Fried Chicken Capital of the World. Gus’ is an absolute must for trying fried chicken in Memphis. We ordered the fried chicken, the chicken tenders, baked beans, mac and cheese and coleslaw and it was finger licking good!
Belly Acres:
I found out about Belly Acres in Overton Square because I saw their crazy amazing milkshakes on Instagram! (They were incredible by the way).
Belly Acres is very family friendly and our toddler loved the farm like setting and he had so much to look at. Their burgers are actually 100% grass fed beef and they have hand breaded free range chicken tenders. They also have huge delicious salads.
But I must admit, the real winner here are the milkshakes! They were so good.
Hattie B’s:
Looking for a quick sit down that also serves up a delicious fried chicken? Look no further than Hattie B’s- a family owned company from Nashville.
We hadn’t originally planned to go here, but I’m so happy we came across it because the fried chicken and southern food here are so good! The customer service was top notch as well.
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There you have it! The perfect date night in Memphis and The best things to do in Memphis!
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