As a bustling hub with rich history, diverse culture, and numerous attractions, Nashville, Tennessee, offers an array of exciting activities designed to entertain and inspire children of all ages. Whether your little ones are budding scientists, artists, or explorers or have boundless energy, Nashville has many kid-friendly venues to visit.
From interactive science exhibits, exotic animal encounters, captivating theatre experiences, and exciting outdoor adventures, this charming city offers educational and fun-filled experiences that will make your family trip unforgettable. Below is a round-up of some of the most outstanding kid-friendly attractions that Nashville has to offer (we think #7 is perfect for our next East Coast road trip):
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Nashville
Adventure Science Center
“Ignite Their Imagination”
Nashville, the city that sings, holds more than just a musical note. Particularly for your little, budding scientists, there’s a particular spot – The Adventure Science Center. Imagination is the first step towards scientific prowess; this institution knows precisely how to spark that.
Located in the heart of Nashville, it’s a vibrant landmark, unmissable in its appeal. The building is brimming with interactive exhibits that make children see science in a new, fun-filled light. Picture your eager kids, eyes wide with excitement as they embark on a journey through the human body, each organ triggering their curiosity like never before.
The beauty of the Science Center doesn’t stop here. Its many artistically constructed exhibits also plunge into the much-coveted field of astronomy, allowing mini-astronomers to explore their rendition of the final frontier. Even in the silence of space, their laughter fills the room as they learn about stars and planets through practical, hands-on exhibits.
Every corner of the Adventure Science Center is meticulously designed to challenge young minds, pushing them beyond the boundaries of textbooks. The lessons here aren’t forgotten with the ring of a school bell. They’re etched onto their craniums, wrapped in the warm memories of their expedition at the center.
The Adventure Science Center doesn’t simply display experiments; it creates enthusiastic learners who discover the joy of science, not theoretically, but by diving hands-first into it. This isn’t just a place to visit; it’s a place to experience. So unleash your kids in this labyrinth of science and let them experiment, stumble, get up, laugh, and, most importantly, learn.
Nashville’s Adventure Science Center isn’t an ordinary field trip; it explores a lifetime waiting to ignite your child’s imagination.
Nashville Zoo
A Wild Adventure
Picture this: a sunny day in Nashville, the city buzzing with an energy that can only mean one thing – it’s time for a family adventure. In the midst of the southern charm and vibrant music culture, there’s a place where your family can come face to face with the wild. And no, we’re not talking about the city’s bustling streets; we’re venturing to the Nashville Zoo.
This isn’t your ordinary trip to the park. Here, you’ll find animals from every corner of the world, all there for you to discover. It’s not simply observing either; the kiddos can get fully immersed in the world of wildlife with interactive exhibits and unique experiences.
Time With The Keepers
With the variety of animals residing in the zoo, there’s no limit to the possible encounters. But the real fun begins when attendees partake in keeper talks and animal shows. Children’s and adults’ faces light up as a zookeeper introduces them to a creature they had only ever seen on their TV screens. Here, they see the animals eating, playing, and even showing off their skills.
Playing In The Jungle
After meeting the animal kingdom’s stars, it’s time to play. Not just any play but a romp in the Jungle Gym – the most giant community-built playground in the United States.
The name isn’t just for show. It is a jungle out there, with rope bridges, giant snake slides, and a 66,000-square-foot area designed to let imaginations run wild. As your kiddos explore, climb and slide, you’ll see their eyes sparkle with excitement, embodying the joy we find in adventures.
The Carousel Spin
And when you think the day couldn’t get any better, there’s the crowning gem – the carousel ride. Nothing compares to the joy of watching them, eyes wide, smiles even wider, as they choose their carousel animal, climb atop, and take off on a ride that, while it may just go in circles, feels like the adventure of a lifetime.
So, forget the usual city activities and dive into the wild side of Nashville. The zoo isn’t just a place to see animals; it’s an opportunity for children to learn, families to bond, and adventures to unfold. So pack your sense of adventure, and maybe a picnic lunch, and experience Nashville like you’ve never imagined. This isn’t just any zoo; it’s the Nashville Zoo – a wild adventure waiting to happen.
Nashville Children’s Theatre
Dive into Magic
Picture this; it’s a semi-cloudy Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Tennessee. You’re in Nashville, Music City, a city that vibrates rhythmically along with the strums of thousands of aspiring musicians, but today, you and the kids are looking for a melody of a different kind.
Just as the city hums with melodies and harmonies, it also dances with the magic of theatrical performances designed especially for the family’s youngest members at the Nashville Children’s Theatre.
Founded in 1931, this treasured pint-sized playhouse radiates with the passion of sparking an imaginative flame in children’s hearts. It’s less about the drama and more about the dream.
But don’t let the name fool you; it may be a children’s theatre, but it’s far from commonplace. Every curtain rise reveals a new wonder, another world unfolding before you. Whether it’s a fantastical fairy tale or a sneak peek into real-life historical events, every performance is enveloped in that unique magic only the theatre world can create.
For the children, it’s more than just watching a story unfold. It’s about stepping into lands unknown, meeting characters from far-flung planets, and even having a tete-a-tete with the Mad-hatter himself. The Nashville Children’s Theatre is an open invitation, a call to let their tiny hearts burst with the love for creativity and inspiration that the stage so beautifully provides.
This is no plain Tuesday afternoon matinee. This is a shared journey between you and your children — a journey of imagination, wonder, and surprise. As the stage lights flare and the actors weave enchanting narratives, the real world slips away; in its place stands a phenomenal panorama one child will remember and cherish.
As an adult, you take on the role of a spectator of this magic, witnessing the wide-eyed wonder on your children’s faces as they experience the power of stories. It’s a slice of time where you, too, can escape the ordinary, surrender to the fantastical, and be reminded of how it felt to believe in the power of dreams.
Even on the cloudiest of Wednesdays, the Nashville Children’s Theatre acts as a beacon for families in search of kindling the artistic flare in the hearts of their little ones. Whether it’s their first exposure to the theatre or another addition to their growing love of the arts, their experience here promises to be nothing short of spell-bindingly magical.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country Music Heritage
On your next family visit to Nashville, prepare to immerse your little ones in the vibrant history of country music at the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. A whirl through the lively displays of music history might seem like an ordinary day at first glance. Yet, it is more than that. It’s an essential cultural experience.
The museum effortlessly stands out amid Nashville’s bustling downtown, its walls echoing the rich tapestry of melodies that shaped the city’s character. It’s not an unusually tall structure, nor is it extraordinarily broad, but its sheer presence captures your attention.
You enter a world steeped in the country’s rhythm and blues when you step inside. The energy is palpable, even as the hush of reverence accompanying all great museums falls over your family.
Before you, an expanse of interactive exhibits draws your kids’ curiosity towards the brass basics of Johnny Cash or the vibrant dressing aesthetics of Dolly Parton, sparking an instinctive sense of wonder.
Embedded in many exhibits, a treasure trove of historic memorabilia awaits exploration. As you and your kids delve deeper, it is easy to be captivated by the array of vintage musical instruments, handwritten lyrics, sparkling costumes, and rare posters, each piece whispering a tale of its own.
The museum is far from being just a passive viewing experience. Music being its essence, it engages the little visitors with hands-on musical workshops designed especially for them. These practical experiences ignite a fresh appreciation for country music in their young hearts.
But the immersive journey doesn’t end there. The museum breaks the boundaries of a traditional museum by hosting mini-concerts. Here, history leaps to life while you and your kids tap your feet into the rhythm of country legends, new artists, and everything in between.
This memorable cultural exploration at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum offers your family a deeper understanding of the roots of country music. And who knows, it might inspire your kids to discover their beat in the heart of Music City.
Centennial Park
A World Within a City
Centennial Park is situated at the heart of Tennessee’s vibrant capital, like a world within a city. Built a hundred years ago, a sprawl of green expanses paused in endless animation, dotted with trees that sway gently in the southern breeze.
As parents, it’s easy to see the quaint charm the park holds – a patch-worked canvas of families laying out plaid blankets for picnics, joggers tracing the winding footpaths, and the melodious quack of ducks echoing across the lake.
But through the children’s eyes? It morphs into an absolute wonderland.
A Step Back in Time
The crowning jewel of Centennial Park is the Parthenon – a full-scale replica of the ancient Athenian temple. It stands tall and firm, its stone pillars weathered by time yet exuding an aura of timeless majesty. However, don’t be surprised if your kids see it as an exciting fort or castle from a far-off land.
By the lake, mealtime becomes fun as awaiting ducks swim up for feed. A simple act of throwing crumbs into the water often turns into a chorus of quacks and splashes, sending ripples of joyous laughter among the little ones.
A Natural Playground
Perhaps the most appealing spot in the park for kids is the expansive playground. Bursting with all kinds of play elements, it’s where children transform into astronauts on a space mission or pirates on a treasure quest.
Centennial Park’s wide, grassy areas invite kids to shed all inhibitions and be kids – darting around chasing butterflies, playing tug of war, or staging mini-soccer matches. Here, under the vast Nashville sky, the infectious exuberance of childhood unreservedly spills out.
A World Within a City
Centennial Park is an open book of adventure for children, every inch ripe with imaginative possibilities. As gateways open from ancient Athens to isolated islands in playful trances, there’s no shortage of things to do, sights to see, and fun at this genuinely family-friendly destination.
Frist Art Museum
An Exploration of Imagination at Frist Art Museum
The city was pulsating with life as we ventured into it, the Nashville sun painting warm notes onto the landscape. We were going to the Frist Art Museum, a local beacon of artistic expression and a treasure trove of interactive experiences dedicated to kids and adults.
Be it the twinkling city lights at night, the harmonic twang of country music, or the sumptuous aroma of food wafting in the air, you can’t stop but revel in the infectious energy of Music City. But, there’s a bet you wouldn’t want to place against the immersive experience of Frist Art Museum‘s ArtQuest gallery – a haven for curious minds.
Nestled on the top floor, the ArtQuest gallery unfolded like a dream, brimming with diverse art forms and educational activities. With over 30 interactive stations aligned like constellations in the mesmeric universe, it spelled nothing less than an imaginative playground.
Children, buoyant with excitement, delved right into the very essence of creativity. You could see their eyes sparkling with discovery, their hands dabbling, and their minds buzzing. They painted, sculpted, sketched, and let their creativity meander through unexplored terrains and stories. Prying away from gadgets and television, it was a vista of exploring and understanding art.
The sense of wonderment shone not only in the eyes of the young visitors; adults, too, were engaged, immersing themselves and aiding their younger companions. The tandem exploration, where adults were neither intruders nor mere spectators, allowed them to reconnect with their forgotten childhood and untapped potential.
At the Frist Art Museum, everything seems to blur into an amalgamation of colors, textures, and imaginations, celebrating art and fostering fun, regardless of age or experience. It is not just an outing but a bonding experience, an enchanting journey where you unravel tales untold and find new ways to communicate through the rich language that art offers.
In short – the Frist Art Museum is a must-visit destination on your Nashville trip. Whether you seek a magical adventure, a creative inspiration, or a fun family outing, your answers rest in the vibrant realm of the ArtQuest gallery.
The Escape Game Nashville
A Modern Adventure Awaits
The evening was settling in over the city of Nashville. The vibrant city lights started to twinkle, outlining buildings stand out stark against the dusk. It was the perfect time for an adventure, not in the vast wilderness but within the confines of a room at The Escape Game Nashville.
This isn’t your ordinary evening activity. This is where older kids and teenagers experience a different thrill. As the name suggests, The Escape Game is an immersive adventure experience set within the confines of a room. But don’t let the term “room” fool you because, inside those walls, anything is possible.
As a story come to life, the agenda is simple–escape. But the methods are manifold, hidden within many clues that must be solved to unlock the door to freedom. Picture a place where each corner holds a secret, each object is a potential game changer, and you are right in the middle of it all.
It’s more than just a game; it exercises teamwork and problem-solving skills. The ticking clock adds pressure, nudging each participant to think faster, work smarter, and to communicate better. But more importantly, it’s fun.
This Nashville gem is as entertaining for adults as it is for kids. The idea is not just to escape but also to create memories. As you work together, deciphering clues and attempting to escape, you weave a rich tapestry of shared experiences.
In the end, whether you manage to escape or not hardly matters. You know you’ve had an adventure as you return to Nashville at night with its twinkling lights. An adventure that leaves you with a sparkling memory of laughter, arguments about clues, high-fives over successfully solved riddles, and the unforgettable adrenaline rush of the race against time.
Because at The Escape Game Nashville, you are always part of a thrilling story. And the best part is, there’s another chapter waiting on your next visit.
Nashville’s colorful and kid-friendly city will leave a lasting impression on your family. Each venue offers a unique blend of entertainment, education, and inspiration, allowing children to learn while they play and stimulate their imaginations in diverse settings.
Amidst the culture and charm of one of America’s greatest cities, your family trip will be filled with marvelous stories of animal adventures, scientific discoveries, artistic explorations, and thrilling escape games. So, let Nashville be your next family vacation destination, and be ready to create cherished childhood memories that will be discussed for years.