Day Trippin' - Memphis

In our attempt to make the most of the freedom we have with our kids (and me!) not in full-time school, we're trying to venture out of Nashville every now and then to see what the surrounding areas have to offer.

We did Chattanooga a few times already, and so on a whim, about a month ago (yeah, I know - I'm behind on the blogging!), we trekked the three hours to Memphis.

Pre-kids, Justin and I never thought to go to Memphis.  What's there really to do there?  We're not interested in Graceland, and it just never appealed to us.

A few month ago, though, when I was rueing the fact that Nashville does not have a decent dim sum/sushi establishment, a friend told us about a place in Memphis that her family goes to.

So, naturally, I started researching what else there was to do in Memphis to make the trip to Eat Well Sushi happen.

And so it did.

We started the day at Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park.  Such a fun place to play!  And there's so much more at Shelby Farms that we just didn't have time to do, so we'll just have to trek back some time.

They had a fun climbing area.

And a cool swing.

And water play!

And a random egg-shaped hut that Lissie turned into an ice cream stand.

Slides!

Sand!

After a scrumptious lunch at Eat Well, we headed to Memphis Botanic Garden solely to visit My Big Backyard.  What an amazing, whimsical, wonderful place!  I might have enjoyed it more than the kids.  It definitely felt magical, and there was so much for the kiddos to do.  If only Cheekwood had a place like this.....

Lissie and her imaginary friend "Bobbie" in a cute little hut thing. 

Musical bowls

A xylophone bench

Swings!

Water!

Sprinkler!

Fun!

It was about 4:00 when we left Memphis.  We came home in time for dinner and bed.  Perfect, fun, busy, successful day trip!

Who woulda thought that there was that much to do?  In fact, we didn't even get to some of the other things that I had pondered going to - like the zoo or the children's museum.  I guess we'll just have to go back.  (Plus, let's be honest.  We're dreaming about that sushi again.....)

Oh, the sushi!!!