09/24/2024
Nashville is known as the Country Music Capital of the World, but beyond its famed honky-tonks, live music venues, and bachelorette parties, it’s a perfect travel destination for families with young kids. From interactive museums and themed restaurants to water parks, playgrounds, and other outdoor adventures, you’ll find a treasure trove of kid-friendly activities to keep your little ones entertained. Check out our guide to the ten best things to do in Nashville with kids!
10 Fun Ways To Explore Music City With Your Kids
1. Explore the Adventure Science Center. If your kids geek out over science, treat them to a few hours at the Adventure Science Center, which boasts more than 175 hands-on exhibits on biology, astronomy, physics, energy, weather, sound, and space. Kids can discover how the human body works, conduct experiments in a chemistry lab, learn the tricks behind beekeeping, or see how an airplane is constructed. They can explore the galaxy’s outer reaches in the Sudekum Planetarium, which features a visual journey through the cosmos, or catch a laser show in the center’s 63-foot dome theater. Don’t miss Adventure Tower, a climbing structure with panoramic city views.
2. Stroll through the Nashville Zoo. Looking for some wild fun for your kiddos? Spend the day at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, home to more than 3,000 animals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, meerkats and more. Kids can encounter more than 360 species from all over the world and join a zookeeper to watch feedings and learn about the lives and routines of their animal friends. They can walk through a kangaroo habitat or mingle with goats and other friendly creatures in the petting zoo. Finish the day off strong with a stop at the zoo’s carousel and 66,000-square-foot jungle gym, which features swings, slides, tunnels, climbing structures, a huge treehouse, and a spinning globe.
3. Splash around at Cumberland Park. Need to cool down after a long day of sightseeing? Head to Cumberland Park, an innovative play space along the riverfront with incredible views of downtown Nashville. The 6.5-acre park boasts a climbing wall, nature trails, a butterfly garden, and an amphitheater that hosts children’s shows. But its most popular feature is The Hollow, a play area with a sandbox, bouncing pad, green maze, and see-saw, plus a colorful rainbow area with a “cloud bridge” with rain curtains and an interactive splash pad. Spread out a picnic and soak up the scenic river views while your kids play in the water. If you’re visiting Nashville from May through September, drive to Hermitage for a trip to Nashville Shores Water Park on the shores of Percy Priest Lake. The park has it all — a lazy river, a wave pool, a sandy beach, and eight exhilarating waterslides.
4. Catch a show at Nashville Children’s Theater. One of the country’s oldest operating professional children’s theater companies, Nashville Children’s Theater offers a robust schedule of family-friendly productions that bring classic and contemporary stories to life. Shows are generally 60 minutes and rated according to themes like anxiety, language, and violence. From fairy tales to original works, the shows are designed to captivate young audiences and introduce them to the magic of theater. Arrive early or hang around after the show to participate in arts and crafts activities in the theater lobby.
5. Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Even if your kids aren’t country music fans (yet), they’ll enjoy the interactive exhibits, videos, and listening booths at this top Nashville attraction that traces how country music got its start and where it’s headed today. From Johnny Cash’s guitar to Elvis Presley’s solid gold Cadillac limo, the museum showcases country music legends, their instruments, and memorabilia in a way that engages all ages. For the Swifties in your family, check out the Taylor Swift Education Center, which has fun activities, such as musical storytelling, songwriting workshops, and the chance to create your own album cover and artifacts from Swift’s early career.
6. Get artsy at the Frist Art Museum. Consistently ranked as one of the country’s most family-friendly museums, the Frist Art Museum in Nashville’s historic old Post Office Building hosts an ever-changing calendar of traveling exhibitions, including some geared toward children. Admission for visitors ages 18 and younger is free. Inside the Martin ArtQuest Gallery on the museum’s upper floor, children can explore 30 hands-on stations focusing on art essentials, including color, pattern, and texture, and create their masterpieces.
7. Time travel at the Tennessee State Museum. The Tennessee State Museum is a fascinating place to visit for budding history buffs. Kids can explore interactive exhibits and see artifacts that cover the history of the Volunteer State, from the prehistoric age to the Civil War and beyond. The Children’s Gallery offers fun activities that allow kids to engage with history hands-on, including tracing fossils, trying on period costumes, and walking along a giant map of Tennessee. Best of all, admission and parking are free! During baseball season (April-September), you can even walk across the street to First Tennessee Park to catch a home game for the Nashville Sounds, the city’s Minor League Baseball team.
8. Go for a hike at Radnor Lake State Park. Introduce your kids to the beauty of nature at Radnor Lake State Park, a peaceful retreat just outside the city. The park is full of lakeside hiking trails, populated by wildlife such as deer, turtles, and various birds. Take the Lake Trail for a leisurely walk with stunning water views, and stop by the Walter Criley Visitor Center to teach your kiddos about the local flora and fauna.
9. Visit the Parthenon at Centennial Park. A trip to Nashville isn’t complete without a stop at Centennial Park, home to a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon in Athens. Browse artwork inside the Parthenon and see its 42-foot statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. The park’s vast grounds are perfect for picnicking, kite flying, and frisbee. It also has a duck pond and band shell that hosts a variety of kid-friendly performances, including puppet shows and outdoor movies.
10. Eat at a themed restaurant. When it’s time to take a break from sightseeing and chow down, Nashville has plenty of kid-friendly restaurants. These include themed restaurants, such as the Rainforest Cafe, where you can enjoy the sounds of jungles and cascading waterfalls, and the Aquarium Restaurant, which features a huge aquarium with sharks, stingrays, and over 100 species of tropical fish. For local cuisine your kiddos will love, head to the Pancake Pantry, Elliston Place Soda Shop, or Goo Goo Chocolate Company, where they can make their own candy bars!
Where to Stay in Nashville
If you want to keep your trip to Nashville as affordable as possible, book a stay at Music City Lofts. We provide spacious, well-furnished lofts with 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms that can be booked separately or together. Our lofts are centrally located in the heart of downtown and are more comfortable and flexible than traditional hotel rooms. BOOK DIRECTLY for the lowest rates and hassle-free customer service!
