Nashville is a great place to plan a family-friendly vacation with fun-filled activities and exciting attractions. It is famously known as the Music City as it is hosts several live music events throughout the year. The great family tours, enjoyable parks and zoos, lively events and exotic food of Nashville will surely put a smile on your kid’s face and make the trip worthwhile for the whole family. We have great suggestions for the best things to do in Nashville with kids, but first, let us interest you with a quick story.
Nashville is a city of many shades, with a diverse history and musical influences that shape the modern aspects of the town. The architectural wonders of Nashville made it earn the title of ‘Athens of the South.’ The city is a house to the majestic full-scale replica of the statue of Athena and the coffee that President Theodore Roosevelt declared ‘good to the last drop.’ From the Country Music Hall of Fame to the Batman Building of Tennessee, Nashville holds excellent charm and allure for everyone. Here are our ideas of the best things to do in Nashville with kids and make the most of your time.
What to do in Nashville with Kids
There are a lot of fun-filled kid’s activities and opportunities to bond over with your family in Nashville. The city is filled with beautiful gardens and parks to plan picnics and take a stroll, as well as zoos and landscapes to enjoy with the family. Museums may sound like a dull affair, but not when they are named the Taylor Swift Education Center or the unique cars Lane Motor Museum. There are many Nashville family attractions including fun Nashville family events, festivals, and theme parks. The prospects and choices are endless, and we promise that you won’t be disappointed with any of them!
Downtown Nashville Attractions for Families
The Downtown area of Nashville is the energetic hub filled with some of the best attractions the city has to offer. It comes alive with music and laughter and is tastefully lined up with shops and restaurants. Here are some of the best downtown Nashville family attractions.
Segway Tour
This has to be the most fun way of exploring the downtown area. There’s a lot to see so strap on your helmets and get on with the ride to cover the 5 miles of attractions and sights that just can’t be missed. Some of the unique areas include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Farmer’s Market and the Tennessee State Capitol building. The street art is also quite enjoyable and impressive.
Farmer’s Market
Don’t forget to stop by the farmer’s market in downtown Nashville. It is lined up with fresh produce around the year, along with the most excellent restaurants, shops, crafts, artisan goods and much more.
Nashville Ghost Tours
We all enjoy a good ghost story. The customized guided tour includes a trip to the Ryman Auditorium, the eerie and old building that’s said to be haunted. You’ll also get to see the Printer’s Alley which is a famous downtown area of Nashville. You won’t spot any ghosts, but it’ll definitely be enjoyable and interesting for the whole family.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Catch a Broadway show or perhaps a ballet performance at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. It is an epitome of cultural diversity with entertainment performances, theatre arts, and historical war memorial auditorium.
Cumberland Park
Take a walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to the Cumberland Park. From there, you can appreciate the breathtaking skyline of Nashville with the iconic ‘Batman building.’ You can also plan a picnic and enjoy the warm and sunny day amidst lovely scenery and marvelous architectures.
Free Things to do With Kids in Nashville
Nashville has a lot of natural and architectural beauty that doesn’t cost a thing and lets you have a truly profound and pleasant experience with your family. Enjoy these activities for free and give your wallet a much-needed break!
- Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
- Radnor Lake
- Frist Center for the Visual Arts
- Free Concerts
- Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
This wonderful 19-acre park is filled with gems from Nashville’s history. The kids can play by the Rivers of Tennessee fountains and enjoy a nice picnic with views of the iconic Capitol Building.
Radnor Lake
Enjoy quiet and tranquil time with your family amidst the wildflowers and lazy canoe floats at the Radnor Lake. It also hosts events around the year that are open to the public for free.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
This place allows free entry for kids under 18 years of age! You can enjoy the ambitious art exhibits and visit the Martin Art-Quest with a number of interactive kid’s activities.
Free Concerts
The Live on the Green Public Square Park hosts live concerts for free with national artists and established performers, as well as struggling and amateur singers.
Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
Stroll along the conservatory atrium amidst fountains, bridges, shops, and restaurants. The boat rides are pretty cheap and give you a tour of the lovely botanical gardens that the kids will love.
Museums in Nashville for Kids
The best way to impart the significance of culture, history, and arts in your kids, is to take them to an excellent museum. You are in luck because Nashville has an abundance of them! Here are the best museums in Nashville for kids.
Adventure Science Center
This is an inspiring museum which ignites the inquisitiveness and interest of science in kids. It has a Sudekum planetarium, programs on astronomy and much more.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
You have to visit this museum at least once during your trip. It is the ultimate spot that preserves the rich musical history of America and hosts wonderful exhibitions and scavenger hunts for kids of all ages.
Lane Motor Museum
This museum has a mind-blowing collection of the most unique cars you will ever see. It is a hit with kids and offers free entry for kids under five years of age.
The Best Parks in Nashville
There’s a lot that you can do during a visit to the park. You can walk around and witness some of the best buildings and monuments, have picnics and enjoy fun rides and slides along the way, and be a part of several events and festivals. Here are a few of our favorite parks in Nashville.
Fannie Mae Dees Park
It is also known as the ‘Dragon Park’ because of the huge mosaic sculpture of a dragon as its centerpiece. The park has a kid-friendly play area with tunnels, see-saws, swings, and slides.
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center
Plan a fun baseball game with the kids at the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center. It is an excellent place for biking and walks with a view of the beautiful lake and walking trails lined with flowers and trees. The park features a playground, picnic pavilions, and several sports fields.
Woodmont Park
This is a fun little park for sports and picnic. The kids can just run around and enjoy the playgrounds and basketball and tennis court.
Family-Friendly Events in Nashville
Amongst the best things to do in Nashville with kids, the local events are on top. It gives you a chance to explore the talents and potential of the artists and gives you the taste of life as a local in Nashville. There are many events taking place around the year that can be enjoyed with family. Here are our top picks for you.
The Escape Game
Bond over a fun escape game that takes place in Downtown, Opry Mills and Berry Hill. You’ll get 60 minutes to complete a mission and work as a team. These locations have many beautiful shops, hotels, and restaurants so you can plan your whole day around the event.
Kidsville at the Parthenon
This event takes place on Saturdays at the Parthenon and is free for the kids with many fun educational activities, arts and crafts, storytelling and much more.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Nashville Zoo hosts many family-friendly functions round the year. In spring, you can enjoy the fun Eggstravaganzoo with egg hunts and many planned activities.
Frist Art Museum
Frist Art Museum has excellent musical events, family festival days, workshops, and tours around the year as well as film screenings and educational programs.
Tips for Enjoying Nashville with Your Kids
When planning the things to do in Nashville with kids, you should keep your interests and enjoyment in mind too, because the bottom line is to enjoy the trip as a family. There are a wide array of kid-friendly museums, events, and zoos, but it’s much more rewarding if you find activities that you can enjoy with them too.
Plan an itinerary and a set budget to avoid any hassle or confusion later on. The place you choose to live can shape your whole experience in the city. Stay in an area that’s close to the main attractions of Nashville, while the resort itself having something to offer to the family. The Gaylord Opryland Resort has delta riverboat cruise, botanic gardens and atrium views within the resort which is a great family experience that your kids will always remember.
Get them excited for the live music and interactive museums so they can look forward to learning, and make the most out of their trip. Visit the top attractions of the city but don’t forget to include some outdoor fun on your trip. Enjoy walking around the city or biking with your family to explore the city like a local.