COOL THINGS TO DO IN MEMPHIS WITH KIDS (OR WITHOUT)

This is not your typical things to do in Memphis with kids guide. Yes, you can visit Memphis with kids and still do adult stuff. When we travel we like to find a balance between kids and adults activities, and I think we did a good job in Memphis.We're not the type of family who hangs out in playgrounds and museums all day, that's not to say we don't do museums as we have included a few in this post. But they have to be GOOD! We enjoyed our time in Memphis, home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll, and I'm glad we decided to keep heading west on I40 from Nashville. It was a late decision to visit Memphis. After experiencing the Grand Ole Opry Show and the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville, we said to each other, "let's chase the music, let's head to Memphis!" So we did. And although we aren't big meat eaters, we did taste the famous Memphis BBQ and share the best places to eat it down below.

THINGS TO DO IN MEMPHIS WITH KIDS (OR WITHOUT)

You can't visit Memphis and not visit Graceland, even if you have young kids like us! Of all the attractions in Memphis, the home of Elvis Presley is the most popular and it's the most famous house in the history of rock 'n' roll. And to be honest, I think our kids were just as excited about visiting Graceland as much as we were. We peaked their interest for days leading up to our arrival, telling them stories of growing up watching Elvis movies, and once in town almost everywhere you look there's memorabilia of Elvis. It's amazing that over 600,000 people visit Graceland each year, to tour the home of someone who died 40 years ago. But of course, this was no ordinary person. From the moment you enter this grand mansion you are taken on a journey through the private life of Elvis and what it must have been like to be the king of rock!

We did the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour which included an audio tour with headsets and an ipad, and the kids were fascinated as we went from room to room. Graceland is probably not as big inside as one would expect, being the home of a rock star and all, but it's truly fascinating. And his taste in decor is interesting, I mean, who puts shag pile carpet on their ceiling?!! As for my favorite room, that would be the pool room!

And it's not only the Graceland Mansion you get to tour, but there are several other buildings at the Visitor Entertainment Complex.
You can see his:
car collection
iconic fashion trends
private planes
stories from his time in the military
watch his movies
and much more.
Seriously, you could literally walk around for hours reading, watching and looking at all things Elvis! Allow a few hours.

The Sun Studio Guided Tour was fantastic! Back in the 50's a man by the name of Sam Philipps started the Memphis Recording Studio that is now known as Sun Studio, the most famous recording studio in the world and known as the birthplace of Rock and Roll. It was here that Elvis recorded his very first song, and it was fascinating to learn about how he was discovered. All the greats have recorded here - Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and modern artists like Bob Dylan and U2. We got to hear stories about these greats and more, how history was made and continues to be made. At the end of the tour, don't miss out on taking a photo holding the original microphone used to record hit songs.

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