We'll be in Nashville in mid July with kids ranging from 16 down to 8. We're looking for some fun things that most/all of the family would enjoy doing. I think we'll end up in Memphis for a day on the way up or the way back and would be curious about something unique/fun to see there as well.

here's a good place to kill some time with the family in Nashville........

The Parthenon Nashville

We spent a night in Memphis while roadtripping, which isn't the ideal spot. But, we stayed at Big Cypress Lodge, which was very cool. My kids are younger, and perhaps more easily impressed. You do not have to stay there to enjoy a lot on offer...giant Bass Pro store, restaurant/bars, bowling alley, and lookout at the top.

Memphis also has a zoo that is supposed to be fairly decent. Good luck. Have fun.

Memphis zoo and Graceland are not in a great area. Would eat some BBQ, Beale st and maybe stay at the Peabody (if I was staying the night). Then, get out.

Independence H-D said:

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Memphis zoo and Graceland are not in a great area. Would eat some BBQ, Beale st and maybe stay at the Peabody (if I was staying the night). Then, get out.

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Ha yeah, Graceland has never really intrigued me. We've been to lots of zoos so I'd be hesitant to zero in on that.

If going to Memphis keep your head on a swivel. Took my family to BB Kings on Beale St just to do something. Food and band were good but Beale is sketchy enough in the daytime. Definitely would not go at night.
If you have to go to Memphis hit up Bass Pro then get out asap.

Downtown Memphis is increasingly sketchy. Stayed at the Peabody last summer and walked across the street to the Rendezvous for ribs. Wasn't comfortable.

Memphis Zoo is one of the better ones, Sadly, their male panda died and the female is headed back to China.

Accessing the zoo during the day is not bad at all. I would only be in downtown Memphis during middle of day. Staying at the Bass Pro and visiting Mud Island would give folks plenty to do and avoid most all the sketchiness.

We've driven through Memphis twice through the years and did Memphis in about 2- 3 hours each time mostly by car and doing drive bys. We aren't big Elvis fans, but thought it would be cool to drive by to say we've seen it so we drove to his house and parked along the street (many, many tourists there- area to quickly park) and walked along the front sidewalk area, took a pic in front of the gates, and looked at the house from behind the wall. Quick stop/ check off for us- felt safe enough but went midday and there were tons of people around. We also went by the Lorraine Motel where MLK, Jr was assassinated. It's a civil rights museum inside now, but the outside of the building and location where he was killed are preserved and there are things to see/ read / listen to outside there that are free. It was a good history lesson for my kids who this past trip were all old enough to know about MLK and what he did/ stood for. We spent about 20 minutes at the outside part there- free surface parking right next to it. Besides that we went to the visitor's center on the Mississippi River, drove down Beale Street and by a few other areas before heading out. We missed Mud Island years ago and had looked forward to checking it out this past summer, but it was undergoing a major remodel/ revitalization then and was closed. Check to see if it's up and running. Probably would be fun with kids if it was.

We've been through Nashville twice in pretty much the same way- a few hours with quick stops by car. Most recently we went by the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman, the capitol complex, drove through downtown, by Vanderbilt's campus, and explored the Parthenon and Centennial(?) Park there. If you like country music, the Hall of Fame is there too. We stayed the night before in Franklin- cute little town/ suburb south of Nashville.

NoahAg said:

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If going to Memphis keep your head on a swivel. Took my family to BB Kings on Beale St just to do something. Food and band were good but Beale is sketchy enough in the daytime. Definitely would not go at night.
If you have to go to Memphis hit up Bass Pro then get out asap.

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My kids were 10 and 8 when we last went. They enjoyed Memphis. Stayed downtown with no problems

Peabody Hotel to see the parade of ducks!
Trolley down Beale
Graceland
Tom's BBQ

Dryers for burgers on Beale.

I believe if your kids are the right age and you want to splurge, they can help lead the ducks.

I actually love Memphis. Stayed for 10 days in 2021 (TDY trip with the Army). I'm convinced there is zero bad food there. I was with a handful of Army dudes anytime we went out and can't speak on what it's like for families but I'll always be a fan.

Memphis is a cool place to visit but you have to be careful. We like hanging out on Beale Street. Blues City Cafe is great for BBQ. While not a huge Elvis fan and my wife not really a fan at all, we still really enjoyed Graceland. Your kids may not though. I've heard the Civil Rights Museum is nice but I have not been. The Peabody is a cool hotel downtown. Your kids will like the ducks. They have a great bar there as well.

I would recommend the National Civil Right's Museum, which is located at the sight of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Aggie related as the sculpture that is in the lobby was created by Michael Pavlovsky, Class of '79.

National Civil Rights Museum

Flight was a great place to eat in Memphis

Cool concept

Graceland to me was a bit overrated but i ddnt grow up in my parents era

Civil Rights Museum and Lorranine Motel was well worth it IMO

We lived in Olive Branch, MS just south of Memphis for a little while until last summer.
With kids we sometimes enjoyed a half day near downtown - get the Main Street trolley pass, check out the Peabody; have a couple of neat lunch spots around there. On south end of the trolley line is the Arcade Restaurant which is a good diner type place and has been there a long time.
The Memphis Rock 'N Soul museum was quite good - likely not more than two hours with the youngest ones.
We sent people to Sun Record Studio and it was always well received (where the Million Dollar Quartet recorded together - Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins).
The Pyramid (Bass Pro Shops) is neat and definitely a unique Bass Pro.
There's a walking/biking bridge that crosses the Mississippi (parallels I-55) that's a fun and easy walk. It has parking areas on either end of the bridge.
The zoo was good but quite large and we'd typically only see 2/3's of it on any given visit.
Lorraine Hotel was neat to stop and see (never got around to seeing Civil Rights museum that it's now a part of). Nearby is the Mason Temple where MLK made his final speech "I've been to the mountaintop". Wouldn't stop in the neighborhood but a brief drive-by was safe enough.
Mud Island still has the really cool scale model of the Mississippi but it was rather run-down and in some disrepair the only time we went in 2021.

A bit east of Jackson on the interstate is Parker's Crossroads Battlefield. Small visitor center with a short good video of the engagement there. Plenty of area to walk around if anyone needs a stretch.

Stay at the Peabody, you won't regret it. It's a great place and the duck march is a neat tradition.

Most of my suggestions are covered above. My goto for barbecue is Germantown Commissary. Neelys Interstate in Southaven is good too, especially the spaghetti and beef ribs.

We stopped eating barbecue and mostly eat at SoulFish when visit for day trips. Some of the best catfish I've ever had. We eat at the original one on Poplar.

Also, the Casey Jones home and museum in Jackson is interesting if you like trains. It's right off of 40 at US45.