A trio of treats in downtown Memphis

Downtown Memphis certainly doesn’t lack for things to do. When you just want to take your time and wander, here are a few extra things to consider.

Beale Street: Don’t discount this avenue of juke joints as a place to visit with kids in tow. During the day you can browse funky shops like Tater Reds and A. Schwab (the town’s oldest operating store), visit with the goats who make their home on the patio at Silky O’Sullivan’s, enjoy a plate of angelic deep-fried strawberries from Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen and watch the Beale Street Flippers (think Jesse White Tumblers) do their act down the middle of the brick-paved boulevard. On Sunday afternoons, listen to family-friendly live music and munch down on some mean barbecue and killer hush puppies at B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill.

Ride the trolley: For a buck you can jump on an antique trolley car at any of the downtown stations. One line takes you up Main Street and loops around for a scenic ride along the river front. Another line runs up and down Main Street (look at the sign on the trolley or ask the driver if you’re unsure which route you’re on) and its last stop in the South Main Arts District lets you off steps away from trendy boutiques and the Arcade Restaurant. The Arcade Restaurant is a friendly diner that boasts delicious sweet potato pancakes and a place in Hollywood history; it’s been featured in films including “The Firm,” “Elizabethtown,” and “Walk the Line.”

Kooky Canuck: Incredible pork sandwiches and dry-rubbed ribs barbecue are available at every turn, but if you want a break from barbecue and a place the whole family can enjoy, you can’t go wrong at Kooky Canuck. It’s a great place to head for lunch after you’ve watched the ducks march through the lobby at The Peabody. This lodge-themed restaurant offers a pleasing menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers and heartier entrees. If you want something really hearty, order a 4-pound Kookamonga burger. Those who finish the sandwich (which weighs in at 7-plus pounds with bun and condiments) get their picture on the wall. We opted instead to start with poutine, Quebec’s traditional dish of french fries and gravy (don’t knock it ‘til you try it!) and end with a warm-from-the-oven treat of graham cracker, coconut, chocolate and walnuts called a Nanaimo Bar. We called it yummy.