Peabody Ducks, Memphis

It seems like this is the attraction for children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 60. We got pushed out of the way by BOTH groups. We arrived about 20 minutes early and had a decent position, until people started weaseling in front of us. They make a big spectacle for about 10 minutes before the ducks actually come off the elevator. And those little boogers move FAST! Blink and they're gone. Christina didn't even see them at all. If you've seen a duck, and seen those horses at carnivals that follow each other's butts, put two and two together. Like I said, some might find it interesting. We found it incredibly overrated.

Fun Alternatives: Go for a walk along the river instead! Or get out the car and drive a mile down Union Ave to get some Arby's for lunch. (Believe me, you'll need the cash later.)

While the Peabody duck march is a "must see" it is also a circus, with people packed in and crowded around the red carpet to see the ducks do their little thing. Learning the history of the parade and the hotel was the highlight of the event, as well as learning how the ducks are actually trained. The march is at 11 am and 5 pm daily.

Unique Suggestions: Just be prepared for a lot of crowding and bodies (claustrophobics beware!) and also be prepared for a wait. It seemed to take forever. If you have small children, they were letting them sit on the floor at the edge of the red carpet so they could be up front and see the ducks.

Fun Alternatives: Visit the gift shop and read the history online. Or, visit the roof after they have gone to their penthouse palace. We didn't go up, so I don't know how crowded it might be, but it seems like it might be less crowded than the parade.

The ducks at the Peabody Hotel are waddling traps for tourists. Waddle-waddle-waddle. The idea is that twice a day, the ducks crawl out of their fountain, waddle down the red carpet to the elevator and go up to their coops on the rooftop. It's cheezy as hell. Plus, the crowds are big and the ducks are duck-size, ie. small, so you can't really see them unless you've waited around for an hour to get a perfect spot. It ain't worth it, folks. Just enjoy my hard-fought picture instead: