35 Fun Things to Do in Nashville with Kids

Nashville is a unique city found in the state of Tennessee. It's known as being a hub for music, especially country music, and for being a great city break destination. This exciting city is also a top family-friendly location, and you can find a host of interesting and fun things to do in Nashville with kids.

Activities on offer for families range from visiting museums and iconic music venues to spending the day at water parks or zip-lining through the forest. If you have Nashville on your list of must-visit family vacation spots, check out these 35 kid-friendly activities in Music City.

• 35 Nashville things to do

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35 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Nashville, TN

Nashville Things to Do Map

A map of Nashville. Use the map to explore all the things to do.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Learn and play at the Adventure Science Center

The Adventure Science Center is a fun kid-friendly attraction in Nashville. The museum features various exhibits on scientific topics, including biology, physics, space, and even beekeeping!

Kids are sure to love how many interactive exhibits there are too. Almost every display has some element that kids can touch or interact with, from creating tsunami waves to trying virtual reality glasses. You can also learn about astronomy at the Sudekum Planetarium.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Discover more about TN history at the Tennessee State Museum

Visiting the Tennessee State Museum is one of the many fun family activities in Nashville, TN, to enjoy. This attraction is the ideal place to learn about Tennessee history and culture. Exhibits cover the state's significant events, and there's also an art gallery.

Your kids will have a great time viewing the variety of artifacts on display, from photographs and art to furniture and flags. The museum also houses a children's gallery.

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Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame

Nashville is known as being the country music capital of the United States, and a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame is a must when in the city. Best of all, it's an attraction that your kids will enjoy as much as you do.

The Hall of Fame features exhibits on Country Music's biggest stars, including Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. There are also over 2.5 million artifacts relating to country music to discover. Having explored the Country Music Hall of Fame, also check out RCA Studio B.

Tackle the Treetop Adventure Park at Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort

Heading to Nashville's Treetop Adventure Park is the perfect thing to do if your kids like adventurous activities. At the park, located at the Nashville Shores Resort, you can zipline across a range of treetop courses.

The courses are located within the woods surrounding the resort and feature obstacles like bridges, nets, Tarzan swings, and much more. Spending a day tackling these treetop courses and flying along zip lines is an exciting activity for all the family!

Explore the Gaylord Opryland Resort

The Gaylord Opryland Resort is a Marriott-owned hotel, resort, and convention center in Nashville. The resort has a lot of fun attractions for kids, from a waterpark to seasonally decorated atriums and kid-friendly dining options.

At the waterpark, your kids will get to enjoy an array of slides, tidal wave pools, a surfing simulator, and much more! Once you've worn yourselves out at the waterpark, head inside for a snack at one of many restaurants. Younger children will also like seeing the hotel's decorated displays if visiting near a holiday.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Spot exotic animals at the Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo is a much-loved Nashville landmark and, of course, is a kid-friendly attraction. The zoo is home to many animals including mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish.

Creatures your kids can see include meerkats, red pandas, flamingos, tortoises, seahorses, and more. The zoo also features a zipline experience, carousel, and kids jungle gym.

Nashville Zoo is one of the fun places for kids in Nashville, TN, that you must check out! To make admission a breeze, purchase Nashville zoo skip-the-line tickets in advance.

Splash around at the Nashville Shores Waterpark

Another fun and kid-friendly attraction at the Nashville Shores Resort is the Nashville Shores Waterpark. Your kids will be able to try multiple waterslides, play in a water treehouse, and splash about in a wave pool.

For a more relaxed vibe, there's also a lazy river and artificial beach to sunbathe on. Being located on Percy Priest Lake also means that you can try lake activities, like an inflatable lake obstacle course. Visiting the Nashville Shores Waterpark makes for an ideal day out for kids of all ages.

Get artsy at the Frist Art Museum

The Frist Art Museum, or Frist Center for the Visual Arts, is one of the great Nashville attractions for families that love arts and cultural activities. The museum hosts a range of exhibits covering various art forms. Artworks to see include drawings, photographs, sculptures, and virtual reality installations, among others.

Frist Art Museum is also very kid-friendly and features resources to make exploring the museum more fun and interactive. After visiting, kids can also access resources to help them create artworks like the ones they saw.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Have a picnic at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is a vast urban park in downtown Nashville. The park also features a 95-bell carillon that plays a song every 15-minutes, with the 95 bells representing Tennessee's counties.

One of the best things to do in the park with kids is enjoy a picnic. You can pack their favorite snacks and eat and relax in the scenic surroundings. The kids will also love running around the park and hearing the bell song. There are fountains for them to run through on hot days as well.

Try to escape from Escape Game

The Escape Game is a Nashville escape room operator offering a range of escape games to try. Escape rooms are a fun activity to enjoy with older kids and also make for a great thing to do on rainy days.

Themes to choose from include Prison Break, space-themed Mission: Mars, and Special Ops. Escape Game also has multiple locations across Nashville, making it easy to get to from wherever you're staying.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

View antique cars at the Lane Motor Museum

The Lane Motor Museum houses the largest collection of European automobiles in the US. If your kids are interested in cars, motorcycles, and the like, then a trip to this museum is a must.

Automobiles on display range from the 1900s to the present and come from various European countries, including England, Italy, and Germany. You can also see planes, bikes, military vehicles, and much more. Along with the main museum, there is a kids museum featuring cars they can interact with and car-themed toys.

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See a show at the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry, or Grand Ole Opry House, is an iconic music venue in Nashville. It's especially known for hosting country music shows, however, performances of other genres of music occur here also.

One of the memorable family friendly activities in Nashville, TN, is seeing a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Your kids will love the live music, and you're sure to find a performance you'll enjoy too. If seeing a live show is too overwhelming for your kids, you can tour the venue instead.

Hike in the Edwin and Percy Warner Parks

The Edwin Warner Park and Percy Warner Park, known together as the Warner Parks, are two stunning scenic parks in Nashville. Located a 20-minute drive from downtown Nashville, the parks feature hiking trails, plus areas to bike and horse ride.

Whether you hike, bike, horseback ride, or wander around the park, escaping the bustle of Nashville for a few hours will be a welcome break. If you want to make a longer day of it, other parks and trails can be found nearby.

Line dance at Wildhorse Saloon

You and your kids will love learning to line dance at the Wildhorse Saloon! This fun restaurant offers daily line dancing classes, which are free for all. You'll be taught basic steps and can dance along to live music.

Having perfected your line dancing skills, your family can enjoy dinner at the saloon. Tasty Southern dishes to try include ribs, mac and cheese, and caramel apple pie. There's also a kids menu with favorites like chicken fingers and grilled cheese.

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Explore Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

Exploring the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is an exciting experience for kids and adults, including couples visiting Nashville! Your kids will love to wander through a range of pretty, storybook-like gardens, spotting different plants and wildlife.

Gardens to discover include a rose garden and a Japanese garden, along with a sculpture trail and many other floral and decorative displays. There's also a children's garden that features a turtle pond, outdoor rooms, and woodland areas.

Spot your favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is one of the best Nashville attractions for kids. They'll have a great time seeing all of their favorite celebrities and taking lots of pictures. Wax works to see include Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Elvis, and many more.

Having checked out all the celebrity replicas, you can grab some merch at the gift shop or listen to music at the Bluebird Cafe. As with other popular attractions, buying Madame Tussauds admission tickets in advance is recommended so that your kids don't have to wait in line.

Enjoy a performance at the Nashville Children's Theatre

The Nashville Children's Theatre is one of the super fun places for kids in Nashville, TN. The kid-friendly theater hosts an array of performances and plays, such as The Elves and the Shoemaker, Peter Pan, and the SpongeBob Musical.

If you're in Nashville for an extended period of time, the venue also hosts summer camps and acting classes. Even if you can only make it to a show, your kids will have an amazing time watching a performance made for them.

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Go backstage at Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium is another live music venue in Nashville that's iconic. Called the "Mother Church of Country Music," you can watch shows here or take guided tours of Ryman Auditorium.

On the tour, your family will get to see the main concert rooms and backstage areas. You'll also learn a lot more about Music City as a whole. If your family are music lovers, seeing Ryman Auditorium is a must!

Try new dishes on a Nashville food tour

If your children are adventurous eaters, going on a Nashville food tour is the perfect activity to try. You'll be taken to some local favorite spots to try various delicious southern dishes.

Dishes to try include Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, BBQ ribs, and banana pudding. Your guide will also offer information on Southern cuisine and the areas you walk through between restaurants. This tour is a great way to get your kids trying new things and interacting with the city they're visiting.

Kayak on the Cumberland River

An exciting activity for kids that love the outdoors is kayaking on the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. You and your family will be provided with kayaks and life vests before getting on the water to explore.

You'll be able to kayak through the calm water and appreciate the Nashville skyline as you sail past it. For an added fee, you can have a guide accompany you. This activity is a fun and relaxing way to enjoy a unique view of Nashville and get some fresh air!

Snap pictures at the Nashville What Lifts You Mural

Being an artistic city, it's no surprise that Nashville has many amazing murals. One of the most famous murals is the Nashville What Lifts You Mural.

The artwork features a pair of angel wings, and when your kids stand in front of it for a photo, it'll look like they have wings! If you want to see more murals, you can take a mural art guided tour of Nashville.

Wander through Centennial Park

A fun fact about Nashville is that the city features a replica of the Parthenon in Greece. You and your kids can see the structure in Centennial Park. At the park, you can also follow trails around lakes and let your children run around.

Tour Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

One of the historical and educational attractions to take your kids to in Nashville is Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. The 1,120-acre site is the former home of the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. It was constructed in 1835, and Jackson lived there until his death in 1845.

At the residence, you can tour the grounds and learn more about Andrew Jackson's life and career. There's also a kid-friendly restaurant and winery with tastings for the adults.

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Shop at Opry Mills

If it's raining, heading to Opry Mills to look around the shops or watch a film should keep everyone occupied. The shopping mall has a multitude of stores, plus food outlets and a movie theater. Your family can also tackle an escape game during your visit, with a The Escape Game venue on-site.

Taste the best donuts in Nashville

A perfect activity for kids with a sweet tooth is going on a Nashville donut tour. Your family will be taken to five of the best donut spots in the city, where you can try a selection of delicious treats.

As you travel between each bakery, you'll also see some famous Tennessee landmarks, like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Bridgestone Arena. The donut tour takes two hours and is all on foot, covering about a mile in half. Keep this in mind if bringing small children along.

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Look around the Johnny Cash Museum

The Johnny Cash Museum is another county music attraction in Nashville. At the museum, you and your kids can learn more about the renowned artist and see various pieces of memorabilia. A BBQ & grill restaurant is also on-site, with lots of kid-friendly options.

To avoid waiting in line, you can purchase prepaid tickets for your family in advance that provide admission to top Nashville attractions. This ticket includes access to the Johnny Cash Museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Madame Tussauds, and more. A moonshine tasting is included too for adults, but it can be passed up on.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Spend the day at Radnor Lake State Park

Located just 25-minutes from downtown, Radnor Lake State Park is one of the best outdoor attractions close to Nashville. The 1,332-acre park features nature trails, a beautiful lake, and wildlife like otters and mink.

If you want to escape the city, Radnor Lake State Park is a perfect place for a day of family fun in the fresh air.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Print posters at Hatch Show Print

Another of many music-related attractions in Nashville is Hatch Show Print. Opened in 1879, the printing shop has produced an array of iconic album covers and music posters over the years.

By going on a guided tour of Hatch Show Print, your family can learn more about the history of the business and will get the chance to print your own commemorative posters to take home.

Get creative at Kidsville at Musicians Corner

Musicians Corner is a free concert event that takes place at the outdoor amphitheater at Centennial Park. Along with seeing a variety of top music acts here, your kids can check out Kidsville. Your children can play instruments, join in activities, have their faces painted, and much more!

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Watch a Nashville Predators game

If your family likes sports, one of the things to do in Nashville for kids that can't be missed is going to a Nashville Predators game. The Predators NHL team plays at Bridgestone Arena, and you can catch them playing between October and April in the regular season.

Locals in the city love the team so much that Nashville has the nickname "Smashville,", which is related to the hockey team. There's also an NHL summer event called Smashville Summer Spectacular that you can attend if you miss the hockey season.

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Sightsee with Old Town Trolley Tours

Going on a sightseeing tour is one of the great family things to do in Nashville, TN. Booking a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour with Old Town Trolley Tours is recommended as this is the most well-known operator in the city.

Places to visit include the Tennessee State Capitol, the Nashville Farmers Market, and Ryman Auditorium.

Eat delicious biscuits at Biscuit Love

You can't go to Nashville without trying some freshly baked buttermilk biscuits. One of the best places to do so in Nashville, which also has many kid-friendly options, is Biscuit Love.

Things to order include classic biscuits with gravy, biscuits with fried chicken, and sweet options like biscuit French toast with strawberry compote. If you're looking for a family-friendly breakfast spot, be sure to add Biscuit Love to your Nashville itinerary!

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Make Goo Goo Clusters at Goo Goo Chocolate Co.

Making candy is, without a doubt, one of the best activities for kids in Nashville, TN. A unique place to do so is at Goo Goo Chocolate Co., which produces its namesake Goo Goo Clusters. These sweets are chocolates that are generally filled with peanuts, caramel, and nougat.

During a chocolate-making class, you can make unique cluster combinations and will be able to take your tasty creations home.

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Have fun on Broadway and the Honky Tonk Highway

Broadway and the Honky Tonk Highway are known for their bright neon signs and Honky Tonks, a type of country music bar. While the area isn't kid-friendly at night, visiting during the day to see the colorful signage is one of the laid-back and fun things for kids to do in Nashville, Tennessee.

You kids can spot lots of neon signs and take pictures with sculptures found along the streets, like the cowboy boot at the Boot Country store.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Dine on a showboat river cruise

One of the fun dining options for visitors of all ages in Nashville is having lunch or dinner on a General Jackson showboat. The cruise takes you along the Cumberland River, and you can enjoy a Southern-style meal, plus entertainment like live music.

After eating, your family can go to the outdoor deck to spot Nashville landmarks and enjoy the river views.

In Summary

Nashville is an incredible place to visit for all types of travelers, including families. If in the city with kids, you'll find endless exciting things to do that will keep everyone in your party amused!

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