OT - Going to Memphis???

[DisneyTiger]

Hello all. Sorry to go off topic here but I need some advice and thought my fellow DISers may be able to help. I am trying to plan a weekend getaway for my family for this December. I was thinking about Memphis but I don't know anyone who has ever been there and anyone from there. Can anybody tell me if this is a good destination for a family with small children - I have DD3 and DS1.5. I've read a few places that this is a rough city??? We live in South Louisiana and will be driving wherever we go so it can't be too far away. I think Memphis is about a 5-6 hour drive which would work for us. We want to go somewhere cold and Christmas-y. Any tips would be grately appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Irish9697]

I'm from Memphis. I don't know that there's a ton to do for kids so young. And, it may or may not be cold when you came.

But, the zoo will have Zoo Lights and it's a fantastic zoo. Graceland will be all lit up if you're interested in Elvis. There's also a great Children's Museum. And, there will be other various events around town. If you stay way out in Collierville by the new Carriage Crossing Shopping Center (I think it's a Courtyard by Marriott), they have an ice skating rink and Santa is there.

http://www.shoptheavenue.com/FindAn...rossing/StoreDirectory/tabid/130/Default.aspx

Check out this site:

http://www.memphisparent.com/

It doesn't look like they have the December calendar updated yet, but they will and it will have lots of child-friendly activities.

Other destination options that are colder and Christmasy are Hot Springs, AR, Nashville, or Chattanooga.

Check out the Opryland Hotel in Nashville--they have a huge Christmas showcase:

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/?source=www.opryland.com

 

[*pixie*dust*]

It's funny-- I have went to see my brother in Memphis because it was warmer there. I am in MI though so it is al relative.

 

[SnowWhite12]

I'm from Memphis also. I wouldn't suggest here for a weekend getaway with kids. Nashville would be so much better (about 2 1/2-3 hours from here) because you could go look at all the lights at Opryland Hotel (we love to do that), and the Opry Mills Outlet mall is right across the street from it. Graceland in Memphis is in a horrible part of town, so if you do go to visit, do NOT stay in a hotel over there. It gets thousands of tourists a year, so people must love it. We live here and have never been to it (although I have to pass by outside for work a lot). Memphis does have the Pink Palace museum, which is interesting and has a small kids area in it. Also has the Children's Museum, which is supposed to be great. Haven't taken DD to it yet. The Memphis Zoo is a joke to me. So small, and each exhibit only has like one animal. (get depressed every time I see the gorilla all by himself). The Wolfchase area, right by Cordova, is a great shopping area. Big mall with a carousel, and little train in it for kids. Lots of shops and restaurants around it. Good location to stay in a hotel also.

 

[unionville]

My family takes a trip every year at Christmas - no gifts, just a trip together. My sister (the Elvis freak) and I take turns planning the trip. As luck would have it, we had the pleasure of spending one of our Christmas trips in Memphis. My son was 5 and my neices were 7 and 11. This was my second trip to Memphis, and I would never consider it a Christmas destination. Graceland and the zoo were the only highlights of the trip - the kids were not really impressed by any of it. We did not feel very safe walking anywhere at night. Definetly not a tourist destination at Christmas. Although, we do look back on our trip and laugh a lot!

We have stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville at least three different years at Christmas. It is awesome for adults and kids. Lots of fun things to do - ICE, Grand Ole Opry, Rockettes, shopping, etc. The hotel has lots of things going on and the decorations are beautiful. A much better choice over Memphis. Of course, my sister would go back to Memphis at Christmas without blinking an eye. She gazed at Elvis' grave for way too long!

 

[Aunt Flancy]

Memphis is great. My 15 year old son and I went there last March. I won two nights stay at the Peabody and some attraction tickets so that helped. We went to Graceland, STAX, Sun Studios, Gibson Guitar Factory, Rock and Soul Museum, the Zoo, Beale Street, and I can't remember what else. It was fantastic. I can't wait to go back and take my other son. I didn't feel un-safe in any way.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We took two nights out of our time in Orlando to go to Memphis last December. I have to say there is no way I would hurry back again. We enjoyed Sun Studios and the National Civic Rights Museum, was quite disapointed in the area Graceland was in and it was just too dreary and cold after Florida. We couldn't wait to get back to Orlando. We found that we were really battling to find something to do on our last afternoon.

 

[Shelton123]

Hello all. Sorry to go off topic here but I need some advice and thought my fellow DISers may be able to help. I am trying to plan a weekend getaway for my family for this December. I was thinking about Memphis but I don't know anyone who has ever been there and anyone from there. Can anybody tell me if this is a good destination for a family with small children - I have DD3 and DS1.5. I've read a few places that this is a rough city??? We live in South Louisiana and will be driving wherever we go so it can't be too far away. I think Memphis is about a 5-6 hour drive which would work for us. We want to go somewhere cold and Christmas-y. Any tips would be grately appreciated. Thanks!

I've been to Memphis many times, and it is rough but it is SOO fun. When you are in the city, make sure you know where they are ATM. They have so many good destinations for kids. Their Zoo is my favorite zoo I've ever been to. Graceland is where Elvis lived and that is cool for anyone. Have them listen to some Elvis music, so they might get interested. Beale Street might be rough at night, though it is so pretty at night, to see all of the neon lights. Stay at the peabody hotel, or if you don't fancy the price, at least take them to see the duck parade, they'll love that! I'll edit when I can think of more things to do.