Family Fun 2008
July 1st, 2008 by Jane Schneider
Amusement Parks
(NOTE: Admission prices do not include tax.)
Silver Dollar City
Branson, Missouri • (800) 831-4FUN
silverdollarcity.com
Admission: $48/adults, $38/ages 4-11, under 3 free. Ask about the CityHopper ticket – a multipark combination which gives the best deals. This theme park harkens to the pioneer days of the Ozarks, complete with craftsmen who demonstrate period crafts. Six festivals offer entertainment and activities throughout the year, but the kids will also find plenty of rides, ranging from the explosive launch coaster Powder Keg to an authentic steam train. The park is touting its biggest Kids Fest ever this summer with a slate of entertainment including an Ice Circus, The Magic of Peter Gossamer, and a VeggieTales® live stage show.
White Water
Branson, Missouri • (800) 831-4FUN
bransonwhitewater.com
Admission: $35/adults, $30/ages 4-11, under 3 free. Branson’s White Water — their “beach within reach” — offers an escape from the summer heat. Rides are cool, literally, including the Kalani Towers, a six-lane freefall and racing thrill slide.
Celebration City
Branson, Missouri • (800) 831-4FUN
celebrationcity.com
Admission: $26/adults, $21/ages 4-11, under 3 free.
Celebration City, Branson’s biggest nighttime family attraction, splashes into summer with its newest addition in 2008: Roaring Falls. This water adventure takes riders on an Amazon journey through fast-moving rapids and features a 5-story, 55-degree angle drop for the splash finale. Also new in 2008: the Extreme Parrots show, and JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show. Spectacular nighttime light show takes place each evening.
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
Hot Springs, Arkansas • (501) 624-0100
magicsprings.com
Admission: $45.99/adults & kids over 52”, $35.99/kids under 52”. 55+/under 2, free. Admission includes both parks. $9/parking. Regular season pass, $49.99; Gold Season Pass (includes free parking and $200 coupon book), $79.99.
Convenient to downtown shopping in historic Hot Springs, Magic Springs boasts more than 75 rides and attractions, with 14 concerts summer concerts. Thanks to a $5 million expansion, the park boasts a new pool and slides, making Crystal Falls the largest water park in Arkansas. New for 2008: the Rapid Falls Raceway, a six-lane, 50-foot high water thrill ride.
Six Flags
St. Louis, Missouri • (636) 938-5300
sixflags.com
Admission: $34.99/adult, $29.99/under 48”, under 3 free.
Just when you thought it was too expensive to go on vacation, Six Flags St. Louis has rolled back their prices. With gas and food prices soaring, the park has smartly reduced admissions to entice visitors. Sprawling over 200 acres, this theme park packs a punch, offering plenty of rides and entertainment. Seven roller coasters thrill big kids, while little ones can play at Bugs Bunny National Park. New in 2008: the high-energy coaster, Evel Knievel.
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee • (800) DOLLYWOOD
dollywood.com
Admission: $45/adults, $35/ages 4-11, under 3 free.
This Smoky Mountain Family park celebrates country themes and features more than 40 rides and attractions. With Dolly Parton as your host, you’ll hear plenty of music and see a variety of working craftsmen. Visit Chasing Rainbows, the museum which chronicles Dolly’s star-studded career. New for 2008: the $5 million River Battle Ride. This water adventure has nine rafts, each with room for eight passengers and soaker water guns. Riders take aim at each other or more than 100 targets along the way, including large scale “talking animals.”
Dollywood’s Splash Country
dollywoodssplashcountry.com
Admission: $37/adult, $32/ages 4-11, under 3 free.A mega water park situated in the scenic Smokies. Big kids will love getting wet on the plunging extreme slides and rides. Little ones can splash at the Cascades, a huge, lagoon-style pool. New this summer: SwiftWater Run, where riders rush through a corkscrew tunnel before barreling down the chute.
Bowling
Billy Hardwick’s All-Star Lanes
1576 S. White Station • 683-2695
billyhardwicks.net
Bartlett Lanes (formerly Brunswick Bartlett Lanes)
6276 Stage Rd., Bartlett • 386-7701
Cordova Bowling Center
7945 Club Center Cove, Cordova • 754-4275
cordovabowlingcenter.com
Funquest Bowling
440 W. Highway 72, Collierville • 850-9600
funquestfamily.com
Imperial Bowling
4700 Summer • 683-5224
Winchester Bowling
3703 S. Mendenhall • 362-1620
winchesterbowl.com
Skating
Crystal Palace
3364 S. Third St. • 332-3900
Skateland Skating Centers
MemphisSkating.com
All three Skateland locations offer video games, birthday party packages, adult only nights, roller hockey, and skating lessons.
Raleigh 4350 Stage Rd. • 388-5152
Cordova 7970 Club Center Dr. • 755-0221
East End 5718 Mt. Moriah Rd. • 363-7785
Funquest Skating Center
440 W. Hwy. 72, Collierville • 850-1124
funquestfamily.com
Fun Centers
Chuck E. Cheese
www.chuckecheese.com
3268 Austin Peay Hwy. • 386-0464
649 Hickory Hill Rd. • 363-0909
1636 N. Germantown Pkwy. • 753-2829
America’s Incredible Pizza Company
1245 Germantown Pkwy. Cordova • 309-3132
incrediblepizza.com/memphis
Entertainment center includes food, arcade, indoor go-kart races, bumper cars, and more.
Funquest
440 W. Highway 72, Collierville
funquestfamily.com
Bowling Center • 850-9600 / 32 lanes and arcade, snack bar, proshop. Neighborhood association group discounts available.
Skating Center • 850-1124 / rink and arcade, playland, call for daily special
Laser Tag • 850-1124 / for ages 5 and up
Golf and Games Family Park
5484 Summer Ave. • 386-2992
golfandgamesmemphis.com
Minigolf, batting cages, kiddie rides, and bumper boats make this a fun summer destination. Teens enjoy the double-deck driving range, Laser Tron, and the MaxFlight virtual roller coaster.
Jillian’s
Peabody Place and Second St. • 543-8800
jillians.com
Entertainment center offering food, arcade, bowling, and billiards.
Laser Quest
3417 Plaza Ave. at Poplar Plaza • 324-4800
laserquest.com
Laser Tron
5484 Summer Ave. • 380-8766
golfandgamesmemphis.com
Laser tag for players at least 48” tall. Buy one hour, get one hour free on Tuesdays.
SPORTS OUTLETS
The Cheer Station
7740-B Trinity Rd., Suite 126, Cordova • 624-9000
memphiselite.com
Home of the nationally ranked Memphis Elite Cheer and Dance teams, the Cheer Station offers comprehensive cheer and dance athletic programs designed to teach self-discipline, self-esteem, and teamwork.
Gameday Sports Academy
7790 Fischer Steele Rd., Cordova • 758-2434 x21
gamedaysa.com
Gameday Sports Academy offers private instruction year-round in baseball, softball, soccer, and tumbling. Summer camps as well as an indoor soccer field and batting cages.
Memphis Motorsports Park
5500 Victory Ln., Memphis 38053 • (866) 40-SPEED
MemphisMotorsportsPark.com
NASCAR in your own backyard in June and October, NHRA drag racing in September, and 200-plus events February to November at this action-packed, family-friendly facility. Three distinct racetracks are featured: the NASCAR oval, the NHRA quarter-mile, and the championship road course. Just 15 minutes from Downtown, and 20 minutes from anywhere in Memphis. Check out the Major League of Monster Trucks August 9.
Velocity Sports
7750 Trinity Rd., Bldg. A, Suite 110, Cordova • 756-7116
velocitysp.com/memphis
Sports performance training for ages 8 to adult. Participants work with degreed, certified coaches. Programs combine training technology and performance to improve speed, power, agility, balance, core strength, and flexibility.
Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park
Located at 3rd St. and Union Ave. • 721-6000
memphisredbirds.com
Nothing says summertime like a day at the ballpark. Come munch hot dogs and cheer on the class Triple-A Redbirds. AutoZone Park hosts 72 home games during the spring and summer and boasts 48 luxury suites, as well as the largest video-board in minor-league baseball. Picnic on the leftfield bluff and root for the home team. After Sunday home games, kids get to run the bases. The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Post-game fireworks show July 3, August 9 and 31.
FedExForum
205-1234
fedexforum.com
Home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team, this state-of-the-art arena is right off downtown’s entertainment district. In addition to sporting events, the Forum hosts family shows, concerts, and corporate events.
HISTORIC SITES
Beale Street
Downtown Memphis • 526-0110
bealestreet.com
This world-famous thoroughfare has long been home to the blues, as well as big-name night spots like B.B. King’s Blues Club and Hard Rock Café. If you love live music, it’s here seven days a week. Visit specialty shops and tourist sites, including the early home of bluesman W.C. Handy, who launched his career during Beale Street’s heyday. A. Schwab’s Dry Goods Store, a century-old landmark, is another local favorite offering everything from overalls to Elvis trinkets.
Biblical Resource Center & Museum
140 E. Mulberry St., Collierville • 854-9578
biblical-museum.org
Admission: free, guided tour: $3.
Located on Collierville’s historic town square, the museum features artifacts and replicas of the Bible, a hands-on exhibit, Bible Lab, library, and museum store. Slide presentation included with group tours. In August, the center hosts an archaeology workshop for teens, where participants go on a simulated dig and uncover artifacts. Call for details.
Chucalissa Archaeological Museum
1987 Indian Village Dr. (Exit 9/Mallory Ave., off I-55.) • 785-3160
cas.memphis.edu/chucalissa
Admission: $5/adults, $3/ages 4-11 and seniors, under 3 free. Group rates.
See demonstrations and exhibits that reflect the lives of the Native Americans who first called the river bluffs home. Meaning “abandoned house,” Chucalissa was inhabited by various tribes, then mysteriously deserted in the 1500s and rediscovered in 1939. Gift shop features Native American crafts. Call for information about their Summer Education Program for groups or come and picnic. Learn about Native American astrology, dancing, ecology and more. The Annual Southeastern Indian Folklife Festival takes place October 25-26.
Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
501 West Linden St., Corinth, MS
(662) 287-9273
Admission: Free
Operated by the National Park Service as part of Shiloh National Military Park, the center interprets the pivotal role Corinth, Mississippi, played during the Civil War. View historic photographs and read about the site of Battery Robinett, a Union fortification that was witness to some of the bloodiest fighting of the War. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
65 Union Ave. • 531-7826
memphiscottonmuseum.org
Admission: $5/adults, $4/students, $3 children, under 3 free
This museum tells the story of cotton and its role in the Memphis and world economy. You’ll hear stories from planters and graders, and see the large black board where cotton futures were traded.
Davies Manor Plantation House
9336 Davies Plantation, Bartlett • 386-0715
daviesmanorplantation.org
Admission: $5/adults, $3/students, 5 & under free.
Standing at the end of a wooded lane, Shelby County’s oldest log house dates to 1807. In 1851, the structure was purchased by the Davies family and expanded into a country farmhouse, becoming the centerpiece of a 2,000-acre plantation. Now a house museum, Davies Manor has been designated a Century Farm and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Children’s tours about pioneer life in Tennessee are available for school groups.
Elmwood Cemetery
824 S. Dudley • 774-3212
elmwoodcemetery.org
Admission: Free
The first landscaped, Victorian-era cemetery in Memphis (1852), historic Elmwood is a peaceful place rich in history. Headstones identifying the city’s founding fathers, military generals and soldiers, immigrants, and victims of the 1870s yellow fever epidemic can be found here, along with fascinating examples of Victorian tombstone art. Docent-led tours monthly. Small group tours are $7/person.
Graceland Mansion
3734 Elvis Presley Blvd. • 332-3322 / (800) 238-2000
elvis.com
Admission: Tours range from $24-$27/adults, $10-$24/students, under 6 free. Group rates available for 15+.
The Southern colonial-style house Elvis Presley bought in 1957 is one of the country’s most visited home museums. In addition to the ’70s style furnishings, fans can eye Elvis’ cars and jets, the King’s vast collection of gold records, and “Sincerely Elvis,” a mini-museum of candid photos and other personal mementos. Special activities take place during Elvis Week, August 8th through 16th, and Elvis’ birthday week, January 6th to 8th.
Main Street Trolley
547 North Main St. • 274-6282
matatransit.com
Admission: $1/adults, $.70/disabled and seniors, $.50 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Trolleys run daily, every eight to 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and
1 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Trolley stations serve three lines: the Madison Loop (Madison and Cleveland to Main St.), the Riverfront Loop (Main St. to the Pinch district, along the riverfront and up South Main), and the Main St. Loop (Main Street only).
Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum
826 N. Second St. • 527-3427
slavehavenundergroundrailroad.org
Admission: $6/adults, $4/students up to 17, group rates available
See a stop on the Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden during the 1800s before being smuggled onto riverboats headed north. The museum also has artifacts depicting the hardships of slave life. Ask about special programs such as the “Spirit of Harriet Tubman.”
Sun Studio
706 Union • 521-0664
sunstudio.com
Admission: $10/adults, under 11 free, under 4 not admitted. Group discounts available.
One of the most significant music events of the Twentieth century took place here in 1954, when Elvis Presley cut his first single with Sun producer Sam Phillips. While musicians still come to record, the studio also offers daily tours. Of special interest is the Sun Studio Gallery, which contains records, photographs, and memorabilia of Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.
The Peabody
149 Union • 529-4000
peabodymemphis.com
One of the South’s old grand hotels, made famous by the colorful duck parade, which proceeds to the lobby fountain each day at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Opened in 1925, the hotel closed for a time during the 1970s and was restored by the Belz family in the early 1980s. Mid-Southerners and visitors alike enjoy people watching in the spacious lobby, or taking in city views from the rooftop.
W.C. Handy House Museum
352 Beale St., at 4th St. • 527-3427
Admission: $3/adults, $2/ages 17 and under. Group rates available.
The Memphis home of the father of the blues, where Handy wrote his most famous blues tunes, including Beale Street Blues, Memphis Blues, and St. Louis Blues. Special events include the W.C. Handy Music Award, Nov. 16.
MOVIE THEATERS
Crew Training International IMAX Theater
Located at the Pink Palace Museum, 3050 Central • 763-IMAX
Admission: $8/adults, $7.25/seniors, $6.25/children, under 3 free
View movies on this four-story screen and become immersed in the action. New this summer: Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (suitable for ages 5 and older). Running through November 14: Roving Mars.
Hollywood 20 Cinema
6711 Stage Rd., at Kirby Whitten in Bartlett • 763-3456
moviepage.com
Palace Cinema
5117 Old Summer Rd. at I/240 • 763-1111
moviepage.com
Muvico • 22 screens
150 Peabody Place • 248-0100
Muvico.com
All-stadium seating and digital sound. On-site children’s playroom available for ages 3 to 8.
Malco Theatres
13 locations in Memphis and Shelby County • 681-2020 • malco.com
Matinee admission before 6 p.m. Discount admission at Bartlett Cinema 10.
Malco Summer Quartet Drive-In
5310 Summer Ave. • 767-4320
Movies screened seven days a week in summer. Box office opens at 7:30 p.m., shows begin at dusk.
CITY TOURS
Memphis Riverboats
45 S. Riverside Dr. • 527-BOAT
memphisriverboats.net
Admission: Sightseeing tours: $20/adults, $17/seniors and ages 13-17, $10/ages 4-12, under 3 free. Dinner cruise: $48/adults, $45/seniors and children ages 13 to 17 as well as those with student or military ID, $30/ages 4-12, under 3 free. Ride aboard a riverboat with a tour company that has been plying the river for more than 45 years.
MUSEUMS
(for Art Museums, see Arts section)
Children’s Museum of Memphis
2525 Central • 320-3170
cmom.com
Admission: $8/adults, $7/seniors 65+ and children ages 1-12.
Plenty of adventures await at this hands-on discovery museum. In the Cityscape gallery, kids can shop at a pretend grocery or drive a sheriff’s car. But it’s more fun to be a kid and dance at the Sir Dance-A-Lot disco. A 50-foot model of the Mississippi River gives kids a chance to set boats afloat, an airplane cockpit puts them behind the wheel. A specialplay area awaits for the preschool set. Check out the current traveling exhibit, “Curious George:Let’s Get Curious!” Upcoming events include a Mexican Fiesta on July 19 and Sesame Street Block Party August 16.
The Fire Museum of Memphis
118 Adams • Downtown Memphis • 320-5650
firemuseum.com
Admission: $6/adults, $5/ages 3-12, seniors and military with ID, $4, 2 & under free. This museum traces the history of Memphis firefighting, located in downtown’s fire station No. 1. Interactive exhibits teach about fire safety, the Schwartz Toys exhibit features an interesting collection of fire service toys. Family packs and birthday parties available. Special tour rates for school groups of 10+. Banquet room available for special events such as proms, receptions, and reunions.
Gibson Guitar Factory
145 Lt. George W. Lee Ave. • 543-0800
Admission: $10/all ages. Children under 5 not admitted. Group tours of 15+ are $8/person. Reservations are recommended.
Take a 45-minute docent-led tour and see how the largest guitar manufacturer in the world makes the famous Gibson electric.
Memphis Pink Palace Museum
3050 Central • 320-6362
memphismuseums.org
Admission: $8.25/adults, $7.75/seniors, $5.75/children, under 3 free. Call for school/group rates.
One of the Southeast’s most popular museums, the Pink Palace is a fascinating exploration of the natural and cultural history of the Mid-South. Exhibits feature prehistoric creatures; preserved examples of wildlife and fossils; and a reflection of human history: from Native American artifacts and Civil War memorabilia to replicas of an early
country store and the first Piggly Wiggly self-service grocery. Crew Training International IMAX features large format adventure films.
Sharpe Planetarium
3050 Central • 320-6362
memphismuseums.org
Admission: $4.50/adults, $4/seniors and children, under 3 free.
Located at the Pink Palace Museum, the Sharpe Planetarium is now open Tuesdays through Saturdays for astronomy programs.
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry • 521-9699
civilrightsmuseum.org
Admission: $12/adults, $ 10/seniors and college students with ID,
$ 8.50/ages 4-17, under 3 free. Group rates available.
Located on the site of the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this was the first museum nationally to tell the story of the civil rights movement. Interpretive displays and realistic vignettes include such landmark events as the March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the desegregation of Little Rock High School. The museum tour comes to a climax in rooms 306 and 307, where King’s room appears when he was struck by a sniper’s bullet. Cross the street to view the rooming house rented by James Earl Ray and assassination evidence. The exhibit “Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente” runs through July 27.
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art (formerly The Peabody Place Museum)
119 South Main Street • 523-ARTS
belzmuseum.org
Admission: $6/adults, $5/seniors, $4/students, ages 12 and under free with adult. Group rates and tours available.
Founded in 1998, Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art is home to a collection that spans the art of many cultures and time periods including Chinese art, Jewish art, and Judaica.
Memphis Rock N’ Soul Museum
191 Beale St. • 205-2533
memphisrocknsoul.org
Admission: $10/adults, $7/children ages 5-17. Group rates and private parties available.
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum’s, created by the Smithsonian Institution, tells the story of he birth of the blues and how it gave rise to rock music. Located at the FedExForum, the museum offers a comprehensive Memphis music experience, from rural field hollers of the 1930s, through the explosion of Sun, Stax, and Hi Records during Memphis’ musical heyday in the 60s and 70s. A digital audio tour guide is packed with over 300 minutes songs and information.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
926 McLemore Ave. • 946-2535
staxmuseum.com
Admission: $10/adults, $7/ages 9-12, under 8 free.
The Stax Museum salutes the artists whose careers were launched by Stax Records in Memphis and examines the rise of soul as a musical genre. Memorabilia, exhibits, gold records cut at Stax, video footage, even a 100-year-old Mississippi Delta church are some of the artifacts you’ll find here. The “I SHOT RAY CHARLES, Howard Morehead, Photographer” exhibit runs through December.
The University of Memphis Public Earthquake Resource Center
3918 Central • 678-2007
ceri.memphis.edu
Guided tours cover local and international earthquake activity. School groups welcome (ages 10 and up). Appointment required (no drop-ins).
Tunica RiverPark
One River Park Dr., Tunica, MS • (866) 517-4837
tunicariverpark.com
Admission: $5/adults, $4/ages 3-12
The casinos aren’t the only things lighting up imaginations in Tunica. Here your family can learn about the diverse history of the Mississippi River. Aquariums brimming with fish and turtles, a riverboat kids can steer, and a third floor observation deck will keep kids entertained. Sightseeing cruises also available through the Tunica Queen, tickets from $7 to $15.
PARKS
Meeman-Shelby State Park
13 miles north of Memphis near Millington, off U.S. Hwy. 51 • 876-5215
state.tn.us/environment/parks/MeemanShelby/index.shtml
Admission: Free
More commonly known as Shelby Forest, this state park sits atop the Chickasaw Bluffs. In addition to hiking trails, camping facilities, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool ($3 per person, under 3 free), Shelby Forest offers fishing and boating at its 125-acre Poplar Tree Lake. The park’s nature center contains natural history exhibits; park staffers provide nature tours and other organized activities. Cabins and tent sights available for rental.
Overton Park
2080 Poplar
One of the larger parks in Memphis, Overton offers a public golf course, playgrounds, and hiking in old growth forest, all in Midtown.
Parkin Archeological State Park
Intersection of Hwy 184 & 64 in Parkin • (870) 755-2500
arkansasstateparks.com
Admission: $3/adults, $2/children, under 5 free.
Just 30 minutes from Memphis, the Parkin Site is a 17-acre American Indian village located on the St. Francis River in Arkansas. Ask about free and low-cost kids activities like Arkansas Heritage Month in May and Kids Day in July. School programs include Casqui Days in September and Sawmill Days in October. Visit the Northern Ohio School House, a one-room schoolhouse used by local residents from 1910-1950.
Shelby Farms
500 North Pine Lake Dr. (visitor center) • 767-PARK
shelbyfarmspark.org
This 4,500-acre park offers a bit of everything for nature lovers and sports buffs. Shelby Farms is home to a wide variety of birds, reptiles, deer, and other wildlife, including bison. Pavilions are available for rent at corporate or family rates; over a dozen fishable lakes with catfish, brim, crappie, and bass (fishing with license or permit required). Also available are paddleboats by the hour, ($11/hour for two, $17/hour for four) and horseback riding ($20 for one-hour trail ride).
Shiloh National Military Park
Hwy. 22 (110 miles east of Memphis), 12 miles south of Savannah • (731) 689-5696
nps.gov/shil
Admission: $5/family, $3/individual, school groups free with completed waiver, under 15 free.
National Historic Park commemorating the Civil War battle fought here in 1862. Park includes interpretive material, museum, monuments, burial grounds, and gift shop. Annual living history demonstration the first weekend in April, call the park for details. Periodic demonstrations throughout the year.
Strawberry Plains Audubon Center
Off of Miss. Hwy 311 north of Holly Springs, about 40 miles from Memphis • (662) 252-1155
msaudubon.org
Admission: $8/adults, $5/12 and under, for nature hike, home and garden tour, under 5 free. This beautiful wildlife sanctuary was left to the National Audubon Society by the Finley-Shackleford family, and includes the Davis House, a historic antebellum home, in addition to the near 2,500-acre property. Strawberry Plains was intensively farmed during its life as a cotton plantation, but the property is returning to its natural state. Wildlife abounds here, making it a wonderful place for hiking and bird watching. Be sure to check out the visitor’s center, a remodeled sharecropper’s house and the annual Hummingbird Migration Celebration, September 5-7.
The William B. Clark Conservation Area: Rossville
Hwy. 57 to Rossville, left onto Hwy. 194, 2 miles on right, about 35 miles from Memphis
state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/wbclark/
Admission: free A 1,600-foot boardwalk takes hikers into a cypress-tupelo swamp that parallels a section of the Wolf River. This swamp is part of a 500-acre wetland that serves as the Wolf River flood plain and was protected by the Nature Conservancy of Tennessee. In addition to knobby cypress, look for birds, turtles, fox, and bobcats. The park is handicap accessible; a dirt and gravel path leads to the boardwalk.
The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee also offers these areas of interest:
Lucius Birch Jr. at Shelby Farms
state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/lucius/
A large forested area along the Wolf River within Shelby Farms.
Ghost River in LaGrange
state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/ghostriver/
With an 800-foot boardwalk, this section of the Wolf River is one of the best canoe floats in the state.
Riverwoods in Germantown
state.tn.us/environment/nh/natareas/riverwoods/
This nature area has a parking area, kiosk, and short walking trail.
Sunk Lake at Henning
state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/sunklake/
Some of the most unique cypress trees you will see anywhere, best seen by canoe at high water.
Wolf River Nature Area: Germantown
Off of Wolf River Blvd.
This 2.5-mile park parallels the Wolf River and covers a rich variety of ecosystems, including a pond, meadow, wetlands, bottomlands forest, and the Wolf River. Despite its urban location, wildlife abounds. The wide, paved road is ideal for walking, biking, or wheelchairs. Interpretive stations along the path tell of the
river’s wildlife as well as how the different ecosystems function. Watch for
deer, beaver, turtles, frogs, and over 200 species of birds.
Science and Nature
The Bluffwalk
Downtown Memphis, parallels Front St.
Admission: free
From high atop the bluffs, pedestrians and cyclists are treated to a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River. Seeing the river from here reminds you of its continued importance to commerce, as barges loaded with goods travel north and south. If you tire of walking, hop the trolley; it parallels the Bluffwalk and provides another relaxing way to enjoy the city. Wheelchair accessible.
Craigmont High School Planetarium
3333 Covington Pike • 416-2570
craigmont.org/planetarium.htm
Admission: $2.50/per person, $50 minimum for groups. Shows are free to pubic school groups.
This quality planetarium with 130 seating capacity may be one of Memphis’ best-kept secrets. Show times are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or by special reservation.
Coon Creek Science Center
McNairy County • 320-6320
memphismuseums.org
Admission: varies, open to groups only.
Within the grounds of Coon Creek Science Center, located in rural McNairy County, Tennessee, lies one of the top 10 fossil sites in North America. Acquired by the Memphis Museum System in 1988, this property contains a treasure lode of preserved Upper Cretaceous marine shells and vertebrate remains left 70 million years ago when the water of the Gulf of Mexico receded. Fossils from every geologic period.
Lichterman Nature Center
5992 Quince • 767-7322
memphismuseums.org
Admission: $6/adults, $5.50/seniors, $4.50/ages 3-12, under 3 free.
Escape the city hubbub inside the city by paying a visit to Lichterman. This 65-acre park offers hiking trails that wind through forest, meadow, and lake habitats. Kids can discover animals and reptiles at the Backyard Wildlife Center, with its living exhibitions and interactive learning activities. You’ll ind a native plant greenhouse, an amphitheatre, and special events throughout the year.
Memphis Botanic Garden
750 Cherry • 576-4100
memphisbotanicgarden.com
Admission: $5/adults; $4/seniors, $3/ages 3-12, under 2 free.
Located at Audubon Park, the Memphis Botanic Garden, is the regional center for horticulture and environmental enrichment. The garden encompasses 96 acres and is home to the Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, as well as Hardin Hall, one of the city’s premier event facilities. The gardens are open year-round and offer natural areas with native wild flowers as well as over 23 unique gardens, such as the Japanese Garden of Tranquility and the Tennessee Bicentennial Iris Garden. The Garden features educational events for adults and children, art exhibits, wine tastings, Fratelli’s Café, Live at the Garden Summer Concert Series, and other special events throughout the year.
Memphis Zoo
2000 Prentiss Place (901) 276-WILD
memphiszoo.org
Admission (includes all exhibits): $13/adults, $12/seniors, $8/ages 2-11, under 2 free. Parking/$3.
As one of only four zoos in the country with giant pandas on display, the Memphis Zoo has gained national recognition for its excellent exhibits. You’ll find more than 3,500 animals representing 500 species living in state-of-the-art displays including Cat Country, CHINA, Primate Canyon and Animals of the Night. Watch polar bears frolic in the Northwest Passage exhibit. Butterflies: In Living Color is open every year from Memorial Day to October 1. Special events include Zoo Boo (Halloween) and Zoo
Lights at Christmastime. New for 2008: A new gorilla family in Primate Canyon.
Mississippi River
Several major events unfold each year at the river, including the Sunset Symphony during Memphis in May, and a fireworks extravaganza for July4th. Numerous parks along the bluff make ideal spots for picnics or romantic strolls. Winding along the bluffs is the Bluffwalk, a 2,000-foot pedestrian path with panoramic views.
Mud Island River Park
125 N. Front • 576-7241
mudisland.com
Admission: park grounds, free. Museum admission: $8/adults, $6/seniors, $5/ages 5-12, under 4 free. Price includes Mississippi River Museum, roundtrip monorail ride, and guided River Walk tour. Group rates and rentals available. Roundtrip monorail ride: $4.
Island attractions include the River Walk, a five-block-long scale model of the Mississippi from Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf of Mexico; and the Mississippi River Museum, which hosts permanent and changing exhibitions on river culture. Ride to the museum via the monorail or bike across the pedestrian bridge for an afternoon of fun, attend summer concerts at the amphitheater, or canoe along the Wolf River. Picnicers also welcome! On the second Friday each month (April to October), try Sleep Out on the Mississippi, an all-inclusive camping program (reservations required). Stay overnight on the island, tents and meals are included.
PARKS & RECREATION
Memphis and its surrounding communities offer a host of athletics programs through the parks and recreation departments. Call ahead to find out what’s available in your community, or call your town or area churches for additional programs.
Barlett Parks and Recreation
385-5590, cityofbartlett.org
Germantown Parks & Recreation
757-7375, ci.germantown.tn.us
Millington Parks
873-5770, cityofmillington.org
Collierville Park & Recreation
853-3225, colliervilleparks.org
Shelby County Parks Services
454-5265
Memphis Park Commission
454-5201, cityofmemphis.org
Arlington Parks
867-2620 townofarlington.org
Lakeland Parks and Rec
867-2717, lakelandtn.gov
Special Needs Programs
Greater Memphis Special Olympics
(615) 329-1375
specialolympicstn.org
Offers activities such as golf, tennis and softball for Special Olympic athletes. All athletes should be certified as Special Olympic athletes by getting a physical prior to participating. Check website for ongoing activities.
United Cerebral Palsy
761-4277
ucpmemphis.org
“Life without limits for people with disabilities” is the motto for this organization that serves the tri-state area. UCP offers such services as equipment recycle and loan program, instructional swimming and Magic Moments, which allows children with disabilities to explore the arts.
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