MEMPHIS KEY MAGAZINE - ATTRACTIONS

AGRICENTER INTERNATIONAL 7777 Walnut Grove Rd. in E. Memphis, (901) 757-7777, www.agricenter.org.  World's 1st year-round, international agricultural marketing center.  Exhibitors & company offices in 160,000 square ft.  exhibition pavilion & on 1,000 acre demonstration farm.  Latest agricultural technology on display.  Location for National Weather Service.  Closed Sat. & Sun.

ART MUSEUM of the UNIVERSITY of MEMPHIS 142 Communication Fine Arts Bldg., University of Memphis, near Central Ave., 901-678-2444, www.amum.org. Includes the Institute of Egyptian Art & Archaeology, the largest public collection of Egyptian antiquities in the South; the Spirit of Africa collection of West African art objects; and changing exhibits of contemporary art. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., closed between changing exhibits & UM holidays, admission free.

AUTOZONE PARK 200 Union Ave. at 3rd, downtown, (901)721-6050, www.memphisredbirds.com.  The best minor league ballpark in America, and home of the Memphis Redbirds, features beautiful redbrick exterior, double-decked seating, paved walkway around the park, 24-foot climbing wall, picnic tables, walkway overlooking Redbirds bullpen.  Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is the only non-profit team-owner in the U.S.

BEALE STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT Downtown Memphis between 2nd & 4th St.  (901) 526-0110, www.bealestreet.com. One of America's famous streets; where W.C. Handy gave birth to the blues.  Features restaurants, shows, shops, music, Handy statue in Handy Park.  Also W.C. Handy home.

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS 2525 Central Ave. at Hollywood, by Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 458-2678, www.cmom.com.  Hands-on learning adventure for children & their families.  Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m.; closed Mon. & some major holidays.  Call for prices.

DANNY THOMAS-ALSAC PAVILION/ST. JUDE 332 Lauderdale N. in front of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 495-3300, www.stjude.org.  Information center for St. Jude contains posters, photos, fund-raising memorabilia & audio-visual displays pertaining to hospital.  Danny Thomas & ALSAC (the fund-raising arm of St. Jude).  For tours of pavilion & hospital call 495-4414.  Pavilion open daily.  Free admission.  Gift shop open daily 8:30 a.m.-4 :30p.m.

DAVIES MANOR HOUSE 9336 Davies Plantation Rd., in northeast Shelby County,  901-386-0715, www.daviesmanorplantation.org.  Historic log house begun around 1830, open for tours tues.-Sat., 12-3:30 p.m. when last tour begins.  Season runs Apr. 6-Dec. 6. Visit the pioneer log & chink dwelling of the Davies family who farmed the land for over 100 years.  Nominal admission.  Handicap access first floor.  Call for information & directions. 

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS 4339 Park, 761-5250, www.dixon.org.  One of South's finest collections of French Impressionist art, antique furniture & 17 acres of formal & informal gardens.  Also Stout Collection of 18th Century German Porcelain.  Open Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m., closed Mon.  Admission $5 adults, $4 seniors 60 & over, students & children free, Dixon members free.  Group rates available.

ELMWOOD CEMETERY 824 S. Dudley, 744-3212, www.elmwoodcemetery.org.  Established 1852, the final resting place of prominent Memphians, yellow fever victims, politicians & Civil War generals.  Free.  Open daily 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  Office open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-noon Sat., office closed Sun.  Handicap accessible.

FEDEXFORUM 191 Beale & 3rd, 205-2640, www.fedexforum.com.  Home of the Memphis Grizzlies, the University of Memphis Tiger basketball team and the Smithsonian Rock 'n' Soul Museum.

FIRE MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS Fire Engine House No. 1 at 118 Adams, downtown, 901-320-5650, www.firemuseum.com.   Teaches Memphis fire history and fire safety and prevention. Exhibits include the FedEx Fire Room that recreates the experience of a real fire and rare historic equipment dating to 1870's.  Fire Engine House No. 1 built in 1910 is on the National Historic Register.  Memorial Wall commemorating firefighters who died in the line of duty. Open Monday-Saturday, 9-5.

GOLF & GAMES FAMILY PARK 5484 Summer, 386-2992, www.puttputtmemphis.com.  Features 3 Putt-Putt Golf Courses, 100-plus video games, 100 tee lighted golf range, Max Flight "Virtual Rollercoaster" & LaserTron "The Ultimate Laser Action Game", Go-kart Supertrak & Funtrak, bumper boats, batting cages, Funland for toddlers, private picnic area & birthday parties.  Individual, wristband or group rates available.  Open year round with seasonal hours.  Call for specific hours.

GRACELAND 3734 Elvis Presley Blvd., home of Elvis Presley, King of Rock & Roll!  Stroll through Graceland Mansion & see his famous pink cadillac in the Elvis Presley auto museum.  Climb aboard his custom jets, the "Lisa Marie" & "Hound Dog II".  Excellent souvenir shops & restaurants.  Open Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Mansion tours not available Tuesdays Nov.-Feb. Call for seasonal changes in hours.  Reservations suggested during summer.  (901) 332-3322 or 1-800-238-2000, www.elvis.com.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN 96 acres with 23 unique gardens: Japanese Garden of Tranquility; Little Garden Club-Sensory Garden; Four Seasons Garden; & Tennessee Bicentennial Iris Garden. Rental facilities & outdoor pavilion for events. Art exhibits, horticulture programs. Fratelli's in the Garden Restaurant Tues.- Sat. 11am-2pm. Garden hours: Mar.- Oct.: Mon.- Sat. 9-6pm; Sun. 11am-6pm. Nov.-Feb. Mon.-Sat. 9am-4:30pm; Sun. 11am-4:30pm. $5 adults; Seniors (62+) $4; children (3-12) $3; 2 & under FREE; Garden members FREE. Group Discounts, Wheelchair accessible, free parking, 750 Cherry Rd, 685-1566, www.memphisbotanicgarden.com.

MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART In Overton Park, 544-6200, www.brooksmuseum.org.  Look! Lunch! Shop! Spend an afternoon in the Museum galleries, Brushmark Restaurant and Museum Store. Outstanding collections of fine art dating fromantiquity to present and superb international traveling exhibitions.  Permanent collection includes Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculpture, European and American paintings, and more. The Brushmark Restaurant, overlooking Overton Park, offers southern gourmet in a bistro atmosphere.  Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., closed Mon.   Admission: $6 adults; $5 seniors (65+); $2 students (with ID); discounted admission for scheduled groups; free admission on Wed.

MEMPHIS PINK PALACE MUSEUM 3050 Central, 320-6320, www.memphismuseums.org.  Explores natural & cultural history of Mid-South.  Also features Sharpe Planetarium, Union Planters IMAX Theater & temporary exhibits throughout the year.  Open Mon.-Thurs.. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. noon-6 p.m.  Handicap accessible.

MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORTS PARK 550 Taylor Forge Rd., off Fite Rd. next to Charles W. Baker Airport, 358-7223, .  1 mile north of Memphis, features 1/4 mile drag strip, 2 mile road course, 1/8 mile midget track & ´ mile clay oval.

MEMPHIS ROCK 'N' SOUL MUSEUM FedExForum, on Fourth just south of Beale, 901-543-0800, www.memphisrocknsoul.org.  Seven galleries of Memphis music history featuring the Smithsonian Institution's Rock 'n' Soul:  Social Crossroads exhibit.  Open Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (last entry); Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (last entry).  Call for prices.

MEMPHIS ZOO In Overton Park, 276-WILD, www.memphiszoo.org, CHINA exhibit is home to giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le, and Northwest Passage - featuring polar bears, black bears, sea lions and bald eagles - opens in March 2006. Also features Cat Country, Animals of the Night, Cat House Cafe, Children's Rides, Discovery Center, Primate Canyon & Once Upon A Farm. Open (Mar.-Oct.) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, last admission 5 p.m. Winter hours (Nov.-Feb.) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last admission 4 p.m.

MUD ISLAND RIVER PARK 125 N. Front St. Features 18-gallery Mississippi River Museum, River Walk, Adventure Center, gift shops, 5,000-seat amphitheatre for concerts & shows, food concessions & special events.  Open 2nd weekend of April to Memorial Day Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend open daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. After Labor Day weekend open til end of Oct.  Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Special attractions throughout season.  Call (901) 576-7241, www.mudisland.com.

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM 450 Mulberry St., downtown, 521-9699, www.civilrightsmuseum.org.  The Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968.  Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun.

NATIONAL ORNAMENTAL METAL MUSEUM 374 Metal Museum Dr., by DeSoto Park.  Changing & permanent exhibits of metal or pertaining to metalwork.  Historical & contemporary exhibits.  Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.  Closed Mon.  First floor, grounds & smithy are handicap accessible.  774-6380, www.metalmuseum.org.

ORPHEUM THEATRE Main & Beale, 525-7800, www.orpheum-memphis.com.  A Memphis landmark since opening in 1928.  Once part of Vaudeville's great Orpheum Circuit. Call for tours of restored lobby & auditorium.

PEABODY PLACE MUSEUM 119 S. Main St., Pembroke Sq., concourse level, 523-ARTS, www.belz.com.  Home to one of the most extensive collections of Asian art in the country.  Come see the large jade sculptures, intricate ivory carvings, enamel work & other semiprecious stonework.  On sale at the gift shop are jade & cloisonnÇ jewelry, silk robes & slippers, various panda collectibles, & Chinese handmade clay teapots.  The Dynasty Room may be reserved for meetings or special events.  Open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.  Admission is $5 adults, $4.50 for senior citizens, and $4 for students.

THE PYRAMID At Front & Auction, downtown, 521-9675, www.pyramidarena.com.  Downtown arena for sports, music & special events of all kinds.  The  Pyramid is 32 stories high & sits on 80 acres of Mississippi riverfront. 

SHELBY FARMS SHOW PLACE ARENA At the corner of Germantown Rd. & Walnut Grove in E. Memphis, 756-7433.  Multi-purpose facility for equestrian events like horse shows, sales & auctions, races & rodeos.  Also hosts trade, boat & car shows, concerts, crusades & catered banquets. 

SUN STUDIO 706 Union, 521-0664, www.sunstudio.com.  Experience Guided Tours of the "Birthplace of Rock N' Roll."  Hear session outtakes, touch Elvis' 1st microphone, see loads of memorabilia & re-live the history of the world's most famous recording studio, that launched careers of Johnny Cash, Rufus Thomas, Charlie Rich, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and many other legends! Our Special Anniversary Tour features previously unseen early Sun Studio memorabilia including early Elvis items on loan from Graceland & private collectors. Recently (2003) designated Memphis' 2nd  National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.  Sun Studio open daily, 10a.m.-6p.m. Tours every hour at half past 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admission $9.50 adults; kids under 12 free. Start in the Sun Studio Soda Shop & Record Store for a journey back to the 1950s.

STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC 926 E. McLemore Ave, 901-942-SOUL (7685), www.soulsvilleusa.com.  Less than 3 miles from Beale St., the neighborhood studio that gave us Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs, Otis Redding, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, the Mar-Keys & more, features more than 2,000 fun & fascinating exhibits.  Hours:  Mar.-Oct.   9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun.  Nov.-Feb.   10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun.

WOODRUFF-FONTAINE HOUSE 680 Adams, 526-1469. French-Victorian home, built in 1870, complete with period furnishings & large collection of antique clothing. Open Wed.-Sun. 12-4 p.m.  Limited handicap access.  Also gift shop.  Foreign language translations of house history.