This southern city has a rhythm all its own. From Johnny Cash to Paramore, Nashville has been home to many rockstars, and even more creatives. Families will love touring the area’s museums that document its rich musical history. The personality of the city shines at its family-friendly attractions. Here are all of the best ways to plan a family trip to Nashville the kids will never forget:
Nashville is a bluesy southern city that could keep the family entertained for weeks on end. Snag one of its top deals at the Musicians Hall of Fame or explore the Adventure Park. Try these top-rated Nashville attractions for kids:
Visit the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum to see rare artifacts of your favorite musicians
Find your favorite actors and take Instagram-worthy pics inside Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
Jump around the trampoline rooms at Sky High Sports
Become part of the Dukes of Hazzard at Cooter’s Place, where you can play mini-golf inside a replica of the show’s set
Climb around the treetops on a ropes course at the Adventure Park at Nashville
Adults know to head to city’s many music venues and famous honky-tonks for adults-only fun. But what about activities that the kids can join in on? Try these family-friendly adventures around Nashville with the kids:
Head to Dollywood for an afternoon of thrill and adventure in Pigeon Forge
Take a horse-drawn carriage tour of downtown Nashville with Sugar Creek Carriages
Bring the kids for an educational walk of Nashville on a self-guided tour from scavengerhunt.com
Find yourself in fried-chicken heaven at Hattie B’s or Hot Chicken
At the Bridgestone Arena, grab tickets to your favorite touring acts
Nashville’s many natural attractions make for a perfectly affordable daytime getaway. Go window shopping in the city’s popular shopping districts or catch a live music series. Try these kid-friendly activities in Nashville:
Wander down Broadway and window shop near honky tonk central
Play catch and picnic on the lawn at Centennial Park
If you visit during the summer, stay for the free Riverfront Music Series
Snap a free picture of the iconic wing mural on Broadway
Take a tour of Arrington Vineyard to learn how grapes are made into wine
Keep the kids laughing and playing all day with a trip to the Nashville Zoo or one of the city’s waterparks. Here are some of Nashville’s best activities to do with the kids:
Visit the Nashville Zoo’s Expedition Peru to see a variety of Andean animals in their natural habitats
Step inside the Sudekum Planetarium in the Adventure Science Center to experience the milky way
Splash around the whirlpools at Nashville Shores Waterpark
At the Nashville Children’s Theater, see a fairy tale come to life
Pet the goats before taking a hayride around 60 acres of farmland fun at Lucky Ladd Farms
Nashville is a city built for a crowd. Bring everyone you know to an adventure park or go on a city-wide tour of its famous food scene. Try these kid-approved group activities:
Bring the entire group camping at Cimmins Falls State Park
Window shop down 2nd avenue to browse the variety of restaurants, galleries, and shops
Race the entire group on the track at Super Speed Way inside Holder Family Fun Center
Play a game of group volleyball at Centennial Park
Challenge your party to a game of mini golf at Grand Old Golf & Go Karts
With a history as vibrant as Nashville’s, educational fun is easy to find. Learn about music’s great stars or tour the galleries of a renowned museum. Kids will have a great time while learning something new with these fun activities:
Show kids a replica of the Parthenon that exists in Greece
Learn about Johnny Cash on a day-trip to Knoxville
At Adventure Science Center, maneuver your very own spacecraft at the Blue Max exhibit
At Bells Bend Outdoor Center, the kids will learn how the natural world functions during interactive workshops
Explore a spectrum of masterful artwork inside the Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Let the kids march to the beat of their own drum by signing them up for an art class in one of the most artistic cities in the country. Here are the best creative and performing arts classes for kids in Nashville:
For shy actors, bring them to a Shakespeare in the Park theatre performance
Make your own songs at the Country Music Hall of Fame
Fire your own pottery during a workshop at Brushfire Pottery Studio
Study a famous artist and make art using their techniques at Green Elephants Art Studio
Try performing your own monologue at Nashville Acting Studio
A chilly day in Nashville doesn’t mean the fun needs to end. Venture to a local museum or see how chocolate is made inside a factory. Here are the best indoor things to explore with kids:
Walk the line at the Johnny Cash Museum
Eat your way through a Goo Goo Cluster chocolate bar and see how they’re made
Wander through Fontanel Mansion, the largest log home in the world
Admire the opulent Grand Opry Hotel and take a photo by the indoor waterfall