Family vacations in Memphis can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters -- it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are recommended attractions for those planning Memphis family vacations.
Graceland
The former Memphis home of Elvis Presley,
is the city's No. 1 tourist attraction. The 23-room colonial-style home sits on 13.8 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can take a variety of tours, including the main house, Elvis' car museum, and the estate's stables and grounds.
Address: 3734 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116Phone: 901-332-3322Hours: Hours change every two months. Check the Graceland website for current information.Price: Adults, $31; seniors (62+), $27.90; students and children 3 to 18, $27.90; children 7 to 12, $14; children 6 and younger, free
Children's Museum of Memphis
Located in midtown Memphis, the
features 24 interactive educational exhibits. Among the highlights are City Friends, where kids can climb aboard a real fire truck and jump on a police motorcycle; Going Places, with a flight simulator and almost real cockpit; and WaterWorks, a 50-foot model of the Mississippi River.
Address: 2525 Central Ave., Memphis, TN 38104Phone: 901- 458-2678Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Price: $10; infants under 1, free
Pink Palace Museum
Housed in the former residence of the founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, the
is a mix of natural and local history with a dash of pop culture. Exhibits include a replica of the first Piggy Wiggly store (America's first self-serve grocery store), dinosaur bones, Confederate military uniforms and Native American pottery, just to name a few.
Address: 3050 Central Ave., Memphis, TN 38111Phone: 901-320-6320Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.Price: Adults, $9.75; seniors (60+), $9.25; children 3 to 12, $6.25
Mississippi River Cruises
No trip to Memphis would be complete without a cruise down the Mississippi River. Memphis Riverboats offers 90-minute-long narrated sightseeing cruises with tales of Mark Twain and the history of the Mississippi. Address: 45 S. Riverside Dr., Memphis, TN 38103Phone: 800-221-6197Hours: Cruise departs at 2:30 p.m. March through November; boarding begins at 1:30 p.m.Price: Adults, $20; seniors (60+), military, college students and children 3 to 17, $17; children 4 to 12, $10
Sun Studio
B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis all recorded at
, the Memphis recording studio that claims to be the birthplace of rock and roll. Today, the studio is a National Historic Landmark and visitors can tour the facility and view artifacts and memorabilia from Sun's heyday.
Address: 706 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103Phone: 901-521-0664Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Price: Adults, $12; children 5 to 11, free; children under 5 are not admitted
The Memphis Zoo
The
opened more than 100 years ago, but the 76-acre park is anything but stodgy. Located in midtown Memphis, the zoo features more than 3,500 animals of 500 species. Highlights include a recreation of the environments of Yellowstone Park in Teton Trek, and a giant panda and his friends in "China."
Address: 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112Phone: 901-333-6500Hours: March through October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; November through February, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Price: Adults, $15; seniors (60+), $14; children 2 to 11, $10; children 1 and younger, free
The Peabody Ducks
The Peabody Ducks have become synonymous with the city of Memphis. Each day at 11 a.m. at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis, the five Peabody Ducks depart their rooftop abode for the hotel's lobby fountain amid much fanfare. At 5 p.m., after a full day of fun in the fountain, the ducks are escorted back to the elevator and back to their rooftop home. It's free fun for the whole family.
Address: 149 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103Phone: 901-529-4000Hours: Daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.Price: Free
Graceland or Sun Studio: What's your favorite relic of Memphis music history?
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