This friendly city has a rich history of music, culture and the arts. But it also has great year-round outdoor recreation, a thriving food scene, terrific sports and family-friendly activities, an entrepreneurial spirit, and so much more.
Go to free summer concerts at the Levitt Shell amphitheater, where Elvis played his first paid gig. Eat at the world-famous Rendezvous restaurant. Find the hidden permanent collection of Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Cheer on the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum or jam to the Delta Blues on Beale Street.
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The opportunities for enrichment in Memphis are as diverse as the city itself. Every day, the city has something exciting to see, whether it’s a cultural festival, show, art walk or new exhibition.
Memphis offers:
Exceptional dance studios, including:
- The Memphis New Ballet Ensemble, winner of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program award
- Ballet Memphis
- Collage Dance Collective
Expand your knowledge at one of our many museums, including:
- The National Civil Rights Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, established at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
- The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the oldest and largest fine arts museum in Tennessee
- The Memphis Museum of Science and History, a mansion from the 1920’s that now houses a nature center, an IMAX theater and a planetarium
- The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, showcasing the photography of Ernest C. Withers who captured iconic moments of the Civil Rights Movement and events in mid-century America
- The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, which showcases outdoor beauty, traveling exhibitions and an incredible permanent collection
- Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, walk through an antebellum home and learn about Memphis’ role in the Underground Railroad
- Galleries and regular art walks in the Broad Avenue and South Main Arts Districts
A vibrant theater scene, including:
- The Orpheum Theatre, a favorite stop for the best in Broadway touring productions and top entertainment acts
- Playhouse on the Square
- Theatre Memphis
- Circuit Playhouse
- Theatreworks
- Hattiloo Theatre
When we were being recruited, we were told to get season tickets for the Orpheum and the Symphony, which are way cheaper here than in Houston. We got Hamilton tickets for so cheap! We’re in the St. Jude Theater Club, too.
What I like about Memphis is that you get the sense that they’re always trying to make the city better; there are so many activities and initiatives underway to make it better. I’d tell someone that has never been, come here with an open mind!
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With its affordable cost of living, welcoming community and plenty of kid-friendly activities, Memphis is a great place to raise a family.
Your kids will love exploring:
- The Memphis Zoo
- Children’s Museum of Memphis
- My Big Backyard at Memphis Botanic Garden
- Memphis Museum of Science and History
For big kids:
Our kids enjoy biking and exploring, visiting the Memphis Zoo, and experiencing all the fun and educational opportunities at the Children’s Museum. They love the science and history museum at the Pink Palace. One of our kids wanted to learn how to play the saxophone and it was hard to find a teacher in Ohio, but we found a great jazz sax teacher near our home.
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If you love the outdoors or being active, Memphis has plenty to offer, including nice year-round weather, beautiful parks, lakes and trails, and easy ways to meet other nature and fitness lovers.
Work up a sweat at:
- Shelby Farms, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S., which has a 13-mile greenway, hiking trails, disc golf, “discovery” playground and restaurants
- Kayak Memphis offers guided trips and kayak rentals along the Memphis Riverfront. See amazing views of the Memphis skyline from your kayak.
- Wolf River Conservancy is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the Wolf River and its watershed as a sustainable natural resource.
When people ask me about outdoor activities in Memphis, I tell them about Shelby Farms. There’s so much to do there, like running, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing. It’s big so there are a lot of different trails to run.
There's more . . .
- Overton Park, the 342-acre jewel of midtown, with the Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Zoo, one of the nation's oldest municipal golf courses, playgrounds, dog park, Old Forest State Natural Area and more
- More than 200+ miles of bike lanes (and growing!)
- Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden and specialty gardening clubs and tours
- Plenty of riverfront trails, plus a stunning view of the Memphis skyline on the Harahan Bridge “Big River Crossing,” the longest public pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi
Memphis seemed like a strange location for a renowned research hospital. I was worried about moving away from home and leaving my family and friends. We were landlocked in Indianapolis, but when we got to Memphis, I immediately fell in love with the river view and the sunsets!
Close By
- Memphis River Parks, a collection of parks to suit every need all overlooking the majestic Mississippi River
- Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, a 12,000+ acre area where families can camp, hike, canoe, kayak and more
- Strawberry Plains Audubon Center , one of Mississippi’s finest natural and historic treasures and home to the annual Hummingbird Migration & Nature Celebration
- Lichterman Nature Center, part of the Memphis Museum of Science and History
- Memphis Tilth’s GrowMemphis Community Garden Program
Memphis and the surrounding areas are so green! I love Shelby Forest. It reminds me of the forest in the mountain region of Italy where my husband is from.
It’s not difficult to make friends in Memphis. Memphis people are usually warm and welcoming. What surprises me most about living here is the willingness of people to help.
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Volunteer your time
Memphis is consistently ranked as one of the most charitable cities in America. Give your time to any number of good causes across the city.
Opportunities for the whole family
- Volunteer Memphis: Founded in 1975, Volunteer Memphis leverages its 40-year history to help people of all ages find their fit and best serve their local community.
- Volunteer Odyssey: Serving over 50 non-profit organizations in Memphis, Volunteer Odyssey helps match people with their perfect volunteer opportunity based on skills and interests.
- Bridges USA: Open to students from grade 6 through 12, Bridges USA provides students with a variety of unique learning activities that reach across racial and socio-economic divides throughout the Mid-South.
- Junior League of Memphis: Created by women, for women, the Junior League of Memphis promotes volunteerism and the development of female leaders through education.
- Rotary Club of Memphis: Serving the Memphis area for more than 100 years, the Rotary Club of Memphis supports organizations like Shelby County Schools, St. Jude, homeless shelters, food pantries and more.
- Innovate Memphis: Works to develop initiatives, nurture partnerships and innovate solutions to move Memphis forward and deliver impactful, sustained change
- Memphis City Beautiful: Established in 1930, Memphis City Beautiful is the first & oldest beautification commission in the nation
- Volunteer Memphis: Founded in 1975, Volunteer Memphis leverages its 40-year history to help people of all ages find their fit and best serve their local community.
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Get involved
Memphis is a vibrant city and people from all walks of life call it home. Groups around the city dedicate themselves to beautification, civic engagement and social progress. Passionate about something? Find your fit and start making a difference:
Within a few months of arriving, I fell in love with Memphis. This city has an unparalleled energy and character that you have to live in to feel it. Memphis is a city of resilience, a city full of music, art, BBQ, and history. It’s a city that never gives up.
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The choice to move to a new place is not always a solo decision. Luckily, Memphis is a great city for professionals in a wide range of fields, with everything from Fortune 500 companies to hot new startups.
Professional development opportunities
- Memphis Urban League Young Professionals: Promoting the development of young professionals, the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals serves the Memphis Urban League and National Urban League through social and community action.
- New Memphis: Supporting college students and young professionals, New Memphis provides networking and professional opportunities.
- Memphis Challenge: By teaching high-achieving high school students of color leadership and professional development skills, Memphis Challenge encourages these students to bring their expertise back to Memphis after college.
Get to know the community, city life and distinctive culture that makes Memphis so special.
