Overton Park

The park has become a sought-after destination for city-dwelling runners and fitness-focused walkers in search of the forest’s shaded trails, but the park’s formal gardens are also a big draw for anyone looking for a little bit of Insta-worthy relaxation. The carefully tended area, which is the site of recurring group meditation classes and free Tai Chi lessons, includes plenty of space for passive recreation; perennial plantings include crepe myrtles, hostas, roses, ferns and ornamental grasses. 

Beyond the trails and gardens, Overton Park provides dedicated spaces for everything from golf to children’s playtime. Pet parents can use the Overton Bark dog park to exercise their pups in a 1.3-acre enclosure, a nine-hole public golf course provides convenient access for those looking to catch a few quick rounds during the week or on weekends; and the Rainbow Lake and East Parkway Playgrounds offer big family fun including a merry-go-round, noise-making sculptures, swing sets and climbing structures made for supervised exploration. 

For those in search of culture, Overton Park is also where the Memphis Zoo and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art are located.

The Memphis Zoo has been a major attraction at the park for more than 100 years, with a dedicated staff that cares for a menagerie of animals, big and small, including African lions and black-footed penguins. And at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, visitors from all over the world explore the museum’s permanent collection of sculpture, photographs, paintings and prints spanning from antiquity to modern times. Outstanding special exhibitions are also on display here.

Overton Park is also home to the iconic Overton Park Shell amphitheater, where Elvis Presley took the stage in 1954 to play his first-ever public performance. Today, the venue hosts free summer concerts and other special events.