OT: Trip with toddlers—Birmingham or Memphis?

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

Family (including 4 year old, 2.5 year old, and 7 month old—God, help me) are going to take a quick 3, 4 day trip in March to either Birmingham or Memphis.

Given the young kids, where would you suggest going, doing? Also what part of town (at AirBNB) would you suggest staying?

We've previously have been to Chattanooga, Atlanta, Greenville, Asheville, NOLA with them, so just looking for something different.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Smoked Toag]

Go to Gulfport/Biloxi.

But if you do go to Murderham, the Zoo and McWane Center are generally the staples.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

With those ages I’d probably go to the beach but if you do Bham, the McWane Center downtown would be a good outing for a few hrs one day and maybe the Zoo, Oak Mtn State Park has fishing, paddle boats, and they do have a small “beach” area on one of the lakes, but after that, not much else to do.
Some really good restaurants for you and the wife tho!
For AirBNB I’d look in Homewood- on the East side of I65, Mtn Brook, Vestavia or Cahaba Heights area.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Maybe Nashville?

And something off the wall that maybe the whole family can enjoy...

Brooklyn Bowl has this going on March 6:

Music of the Beatles for Kids.

Looks like it's a monthly thing.

This Sunday it's the Grateful Dead for Kids and in April it's Bob Marley for kids...

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

If you come to Memphis…
The Zoo
Childrens Museum
The Pink Palace Museum
The Riverwalk
Shelby Farms
Lichterman Nature Center

Foe Airbnb I’d look for something maybe put in East Memphis, Germantown, or Collierville.

 

[dorndawg]

West Memphis got the dog track too*

 

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

I'll edit to add we're based of out Nashville, and wife's family lives in Florida so that's our beach trip. Memphis and Birmingham are only 3 hours away from us, and then me and 4YO might make the rest of the 3 hour trip to Madison to see family.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Bass Pro Shops Pyramid in Memphis is worth it for kids also in Memphis

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I'd pick B'ham.

 

[stateu1]

West Memphis got the dog track too*

Check the schedule first, though. They are cutting back this year and this year be the last. Sucks.

 

[stateu1]

I'll edit to add we're based of out Nashville, and wife's family lives in Florida so that's our beach trip. Memphis and Birmingham are only 3 hours away from us, and then me and 4YO might make the rest of the 3 hour trip to Madison to see family.

Chattanooga?

 

[Dawgbite]

Not really for kids but The Barber Motorsport museum in Leeds, Birmingham, Al is pretty cool. There is a racetrack that you can watch right out of the Museum windows. There is also a Bass Pro and a big outlet mall at the same exit.

 

[HotMop]

Be sure to hit the Steak Night at the Golden Corral.

 

[Swede39]

As a resident of Birmingham with a 4 year old and a 1 1/2 year old, I gotcha.

For areas to stay:
Vestavia, Homewood, and even down 280 where I live is great as well.

Things to do with kids:
-McWane Center
-Zoo
-Oak Mountain State Park has a bunch of things to do. The gate attendants will even tell you where to go based on who you have in the car.
-The Moss Rock Preserve is pretty if that's your thing/hiking
-Red Mountain Park is also cool and mostly flat for strollers if you want to have a nice hike
-Ross Bridge area to hang out and let the kids play
-Veterans Park, Heardmont Park, Byrd Park, Homewood Central Park, Patriot Park, and Overton Park have all been Swedenburg tested and approved
-Cahaba Brewing is a great brewery that's great for kids
-The Backyard in Leeds is great. Outdoor area with a couple of restaurants to order from. Putt putt course, playground, cornhole, live music.
-There's a couple of trampoline parks if that's your thing

Restaurants that we hit up with the kiddos
-Little Donkey
-Pizzeria GM
-Taco Mama
-Ruby Sunshine
-Big Bad Breakfast
-Paramount
-Davenports
-Hero Donuts
-Chuy's
-Soho Social
-Taziki's
-Baumhower's
-Slice
-Post Office Pies

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me!

 

[Herbert Nenninger]

If you come to Memphis…
The Zoo
Childrens Museum
The Pink Palace Museum
The Riverwalk
Shelby Farms
Lichterman Nature Center

Foe Airbnb I’d look for something maybe put in East Memphis, Germantown, or Collierville.

Agree with all those and the pyramid. Could add seeing the ducks at the Peabody. And a Redbirds game, depending on the timing. And the botanical gardens. Belly Acres is a good kid friendly place to eat off of Madison. And Silver Caboose on the square in Collierville, with the model trains that run up along the ceiling.

 

[MeridianDog]

There is a good chance them Youngans have never seen anything fancy like shag carpeting, so that indicates a trip to Graceland should be a part of any trip to Memphis.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Memphis Zoo and Children's museum are both excellent. I took my 5 and 3 year olds to bass pro pyramid last weekend and they absolutely loved it.

 

[Drebin]

West Memphis got the dog track too*

Really more of a casino now. They are doing away with dog racing.

 

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

This would definitely be on the list of “to dos” if we did Memphis. Need to teach these damn kids some culture, and unfortunately Graceland Too in Holly Springs is closed.

 

[dorndawg]

Really more of a casino now. They are doing away with dog racing.

Good.

 

[Faustdog]

NM. Double post.

 

[Faustdog]

My kids love Memphis. The zoo is great.

The kids see ducks on a regular basis but they still love to go see them march in or out at the Peabody. Then they like to eat at the Aldo's pizza downtown. They like breakfast at Arcade. It's pretty greasy, but it's for the kids. We typically stay at the Residence there downtown since the young ones have been around. It's roomy and centrally located.

 

[aTotal360]

Memphis or Birmingham? Were the flights to Mogadishu all book?**

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

If you come to Memphis…
The Zoo
Childrens Museum
The Pink Palace Museum
The Riverwalk
Shelby Farms
Lichterman Nature Center

Foe Airbnb I’d look for something maybe put in East Memphis, Germantown, or Collierville.

Adding to things to do. My kids love Bass Pro at the Pyramid. Big river crossing is a must do if the weather is alright. Make sure to see the Peabody Ducks if you can get there at the right time. Go to a grizzlies game if you can be there when they are in town. They do a good job catering to kids and the seats upstairs are really affordable.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

I apologize Swede. I fat fingered a down vote just as I was about to ***** about the 1st guy that down voted you. Full disclosure, I'm on my 3rd DIPA tallboy - 10.5 abv.

 

[The Fatboy]

Also in Birmingham
Railroad park
The Barons. The stadium and field there is awesome
Birmingham will also be the host city for every USFL game. Most of the games will be in the new stadium. That starts this February.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Good.

Why is that a good thing? Is it because casinos help perpetuate poverty among minorities more than dog tracks?

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I think he’s referring to it being abusive that the dogs are racing.

 

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Good info on both places, but we’ll likely end up going to the state-run dog track in Somalia.** But seriously appreciate it.

 

[ckDOG]

Anyone been to the sports book there?

Really more of a casino now. They are doing away with dog racing.

Any good? I might cross the bridge if there's a good sports betting experience there.

 

[dorndawg]

I think he’s referring to it being abusive that the dogs are racing.

Correct.

 

[CEO2044]

We took our almost 2 year old at the time to Memphis and really enjoyed it. We stayed at the Kasa downtown, which is like a studio apt and was really nice to have- 2BR, 2 bath. We easily walked everywhere downtown. We did the Zoo for Zoo Lights, which he loved. Went to the Peabody and watched the ducks, Bass Pro, mostly just walked around.

 

[Mobile Bay]

Dog racing is basically over in the USA now. Florida has banned it and that was the majority of the action