A Local’s Favorite Things to Do in Nashville with Kids

Nashville’s reputation as Music City might lead you to think all the best activities are just for adults, but Nashville has plenty of family-friendly attractions, too.

From amazing parks to sporting events and performing arts, there are a ton of fun kid-friendly things to do in Nashville. 

As a local Nashville mom, I’m here to guide you to the best activities for kids of all ages. No matter what your family likes to do, you’ll find a lot of things to do with kids in Nashville!

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20 Things to Do in Nashville with Kids

Tennessee State Museum

Play with the train table, pretend to run a farmer’s market, and more in the Children’s Gallery at this family-friendly museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 741-2692 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday, 1 pm – 5 pm Sunday, Closed Mondays | Entrance: Free

The Tennessee State Museum is one of the best free attractions in Nashville and showcases the history of the state. The museum has something for every member of the family, and young kids will especially enjoy the Children’s Gallery. 

Each part of the gallery represents a part of Tennessee from the STAX record area with costumes and music for Memphis to the train table for Chattanooga. The Children’s Gallery is designed for ages 3 to 8, but my toddler is able to do most of the activities even though she is a little bit younger.

Besides the Children’s Gallery, kids can also enjoy the rest of the museum. There is usually a family scavenger hunt that children can complete as they walk through the museum available at the front desk.

Wasioto Park

Keep it cool at the splash pad in downtown Nashville.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 862-8400 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 11 pm daily

Wasioto Park (formerly Cumberland Park) in downtown is the best place to experience Nashville’s urban outdoor atmosphere as a family. Kids can scale the climbing wall, get wet in the splash pad, navigate a maze, or play on the cloud bridge. Adults will enjoy the riverfront views of the Cumberland.

The park is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of downtown and have some family fun. Especially if kids need a place to release some excess energy from travel days. Plus, if you’re staying in downtown Nashville, you won’t be too far from your hotel.

Nashville Zoo

See animals from around the world and be sure to check out the carousel, train, and zipline.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 833-1534 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: $16-26, adults and teens, $12-21 under 13, Free under 2 

The Nashville Zoo is the ultimate stop for an animal-based outdoor learning adventure. The zoo has over 350 species in habitats designed to mimic the animals’ natural environment as closely as possible.

Visiting the zoo is akin to a mini-adventure around the world. Kids absolutely love the Lorikeet Landing and the Kangaroo Kickabout. There’s also a huge jungle gym, a carousel, and a zip line. Young kids especially love riding the Wilderness Express Train. The zoo is a great place to spend several hours with kids of all ages.

The zoo is extremely popular, and you’ll need to reserve tickets in advance unless you’re a member.

👉 Pro Tip: Pack your own snacks and drinks to save a few dollars. The food at the zoo is on the pricey side.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

Have a picnic, listen to the bells, and take a stroll at this charming park in downtown Nashville.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 867-2757 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 10 pm daily

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is an 11-acre park in downtown Nashville with a view of the Tennessee Capitol Building. The park has a nice paved pathway with monuments and inscriptions celebrating the history and culture of the state.

One of the best parts of the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is the 95 bell carillon that plays every 15 minutes. Even though there’s no playground here, there’s lots of green space for kids to spread out and play. 

The park is one of my favorite spots for a family lunch picnic. The Market House across the street has a lot of food options, so you don’t even have to worry about packing anything yourself.

Nashville Public Library – Main Library

See the Wishing Chair Productions puppet shows, play on an indoor playground, climb a rock wall, and of course, check out the books at the downtown library.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 862-5800 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm Mon-Fri, 9 am – 5 pm Sat, 2 – 5 pm Sun

⚠️ Closure Note: Main Library is closed, following a fire in the library parking garage.

All of the Nashville library branches that I’ve visited have great spaces for children along with weekly story times and other activities. However, the Main Library in Downtown Nashville is especially impressive. The Children’s Area is huge and has multiple sections.

Besides tons of books, the area has an indoor playground structure that looks like the Nashville skyline and even a small rock climbing wall. One of the most popular things for children at this library is the puppet theater, which is home to Wishing Chair Productions. The award-winning puppet group puts together incredible puppet shows and story times every week!

Parking in the Library Garage is free for the first 90 minutes as long as you remember to validate your parking. After that it costs $3 per half hour.

Nashville Shores Water Park

Beat the heat on a summer afternoon at this popular water park on Percy Priest Lake.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 889-7050 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $56.99 adults, $36.99 children 

Nashville Shores is a water park located on Percy Priest Lake about 15 minutes outside of the city. It’s the perfect way to beat the summer heat.

Kids will love the wave pool, water slides, and lazy river. The park recently added a slide called Mega Mayhem. It’s over 6-stories tall and is perfect for thrill-seeking kids (and adults).

Nashville Shores is an awesome place for a day full of action or for a day of lounging by the water. The property also has an RV park on-site, so it’s great if you’re traveling by RV.

📚 Related Reading: Nashville’s weather can be somewhat unpredictable. Read more about what to expect in Nashville by season.

Opry Mills Mall

With a movie theater, play area, cool restaurants, and more, all ages will enjoy a trip to the mall.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 514-1000 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 8 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am – 7 pm Sun

Opry Mills Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Nashville and a great place to go with children. There are a number of shops children will love like the Lego Store and Build-A-Bear. 

Younger children will love the children’s play area and the carousel. Older children and youth will enjoy the movie theater and the Escape Game. Families will also like the themed restaurants like Johnny Rockets and the Rainforest Cafe.

On rainy days, the Opry Mills Mall is the perfect place to walk around with kids. Watching the trains at Lionel Trains and seeing the fish at the Bass Pro Shop are two favorite activities for my family.

Grand Ole Opry

Get a look behind the scenes at the venue where country music stars become legends.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 871-6779 | Website | Hours: Varies daily, Open Sunday-Saturday | 👉 Browse Backstage Tours on Viator

The Grand Ole Opry is part of the reason Nashville became Music City. The radio broadcast (which is the longest-running broadcast in the world) introduced people all over the US to country music.

The show launched the careers of notable music legends and continues to be a platform for rising stars and country greats today. Kids who love music will enjoy getting a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry House. A guided tour lets you see how the magic happens.

You can also get tickets to see a show. Watching the Grand Ole Opry is a great way to experience live music in Nashville.

Nashville Sounds

Enjoy a classic summer outing and catch a baseball game at First Horizon Park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 690-4487 | Website  | Entrance: Tickets range from $10-40

If you’re in Nashville from March to September, be sure to plan a trip to the baseball field. The Nashville Sounds is Nashville’s Minor League Baseball team. Seeing a baseball game is a classic summer activity that every kid should experience at least once. 

The park regularly has special activities planned for kids to participate in during and after the game. Check the schedule online to see what’s happening during your family vacation.

Centennial Park

Explore a replica of the Parthenon complete with a giant statue of Athena inside.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 862-8400 | Website 

For a trip to Greece without an expensive plane ticket, head to Centennial Park. Before Nashville got the nickname Music City, it was known as the Athens of the South. The park is home to a life-size replica of the Parthenon, including a golden statue of Athena inside. 

On Saturday mornings, there’s frequently an event called Kidsville at the Parthenon with activities, stories, and crafts for kids. I especially like this event because it’s completely free for families with children 12 and under.

The park, located right between Midtown and West End, also has a walking trail and a lake, making it a perfect place to get kids outdoors on a beautiful day. You can even make a stop at the Taylor Swift Bench.

👉 Pro Tip: Old Town Trolley Tours is a hop-on double decker bus that will take you from downtown to sites all around Nashville, including Centennial Park. The Old Town Trolley is an easy way to see sites in Nashville without having to park each time. Book tickets in advance to make getting around easier.

Treetop Adventure Park

Swing through the treetops during a day of outdoor fun and thrills.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 889-7806 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 2 pm daily, Closed Mondays | Entrance: $49.99 adults, $24.99 children ages 7-9 

Get ready to channel your inner Tarzan at Treetop Adventure Park. The park, which is set on the same property as Nashville Shores, has all kinds of thrilling activities and outdoor fun.

There are three courses, an adult course, a junior course, and a kid course with specific age and height requirements. Children must be at least 7 years old to do the kid course. The courses are not for the faint of heart (or those scared of heights), but for everyone else, it’s an unforgettable adventure of overcoming challenges and obstacles.

Nashville Ghost Tour

Discover Nashville’s spookiest spots (while also learning some interesting facts about the city’s history).

Tickets: $26 adults, $16 children | 👉 Browse Tours on Get Your Guide

If your family loves the spooky and supernatural, then you’ll love the Nashville Ghost Tour. Your host will take you on a walk around Nashville’s paranormal hotspots and reveal the dark history of some of Nashville’s iconic locations.

The family-friendly tour begins in downtown Nashville. Besides uncovering the somewhat sinister aspects of Nashville, you’ll also learn a bit about Nashville’s rich history. It’s the perfect family outing for brave kids.

Nashville Children’s Theater

See a children’s play or sign theatrically-inclined kids up for fun classes and summer camps.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 254-9103 | Website 

Seeing a show at the Nashville Children’s Theater is a fun family-friendly experience. The shows change each season, and the programs appeal to a range of ages with everything from dance parties to adaptations of popular children’s stories.

The non-profit organization also has lots of options for kids interested in the performing arts. Throughout the year different acting classes and summer camps are available. It’s worth looking at the online schedule if you have a budding performer in your family.

Frist Art Museum

Create and appreciate art together at the hands-on Martin ArtQuest Gallery.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 244-3340 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm Monday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am – 8:00 pm Thursday, 1:00-5:30 Sunday, Closed Tuesday & Wednesday | Entrance: $20, adults, Free under 18

Normally an art museum wouldn’t necessarily be the best place to bring kids, but the Frist Center has an excellent hands-on area for all ages. The Martin ArtQuest allows visitors to rotate through a variety of art-making stations.

The whole family can try out drawing, animation, printmaking, painting, and other interactive art forms. The other exhibits at the Frist in downtown Nashville rotate regularly and may or may not be interesting for all children. But, visiting the museum is sure to spark artistic creativity for all visitors.

Plus, entrance is free for anyone under 18.

Fannie Mae Dees Park

Discover Nashville’s dragon park featuring a mosaic dragon (along with a playground and splash area).

📍 Google Maps 

Thanks to the gigantic mosaic dragon featured at the park, Fannie Mae Dees Park is better known as Music City’s “Dragon Park.” 

While this feature makes the park unique, there are plenty of other cool things to enjoy. The playground has recently been redone. Now, there are spaces for toddlers and older children plus equipment that is more accessible for all kids. If you have children who love to climb, they will be obsessed with the larger play equipment!

Fannie Mae Dees Park is the perfect place to bring a picnic and spend a while relaxing while kids play. Parking is limited, so I suggest looking for street parking on 24th or 26th Avenue if all the spots are taken.

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Wander through the indoor atriums at Nashville’s one-of-a-kind resort.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 889-1000 | Website

Staying at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort is an amazing experience, but you can visit the resort completely free even if your Nashville itinerary has you staying elsewhere. The resort is in Music Valley right near the Grand Ole Opry House, so it’s easy to get to if you’re already visiting the Opry.

You can spend a long time wandering through all there is to see in the resort, including the 9 acres of indoor garden atriums. If you’re looking to splurge on accommodations in Nashville, the Opryland Resort is a great choice. Especially since the resort’s water park is only open for guests.

Note that during the holiday season, the garden atriums are sometimes only open to guests as well due to crowd sizes. I usually check the resort’s website before heading over, but it isn’t closed often.

🎸 Read Next: How to Do Nashville on a Budget

Goo Goo Chocolate Co.

Make your own chocolate at this beloved candy company’s storefront in downtown.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 490-6685 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily (closes at 4 pm on Thursdays)  | 🍫 Book a candy-making class on Viator

Head to the Goo Goo Chocolate Co. in downtown Nashville for a little bit of a Willy Wonka experience. The beloved candy bar was first produced in 1912 and has remained a Southern staple since.

Just looking at all the Goo Goo products in the storefront is an experience in itself. Kids will love getting to make their own candy bars on-site. Older kids may enjoy signing up for a candy-making class.

📚 Related Reading: You’ll need more than chocolate to keep you full. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Nashville.

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway

Hike, rollerblade, or bike at this outdoor space right in East Nashville.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 862-8539 | Website 

Nashville has an incredible series of parks and greenways for visitors and locals to enjoy. Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is located in East Nashville. It’s one of the best parks in Nashville for kids.

The Nature Center has a variety of educational exhibits and programs for all ages. Shelby Park has an awesome nature playground for children.

Plus, there are miles of paved greenways that are easily accessible. Visitors can push strollers, ride bikes, and rollerblade along the pathway without issue. It’s one of my favorite places to take an easy hike in Nashville.

Adventure Science Center

Have fun climbing through an enormous guitar or lifting a car single-handedly while also learning about science.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 862-5160 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 3 pm Monday, Thursday, Friday, until 5 pm Saturday & Sunday, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday | Entrance: $22 adults, $18 under 13, Free under 3 

The Adventure Science Center allows kids to have a hands-on, fun experience while learning about science. In my opinion, it’s one of the coolest places to take kids in Nashville. In fact, there are even night events at the museum just for adults who want to get in on the fun.

Kids get to enjoy exciting activities like climbing through a giant replica of a heart, going through an enormous guitar, and even trying to lift a car single-handed. Kids will want to stay for hours to try all the different exhibits. There’s something for all age groups to enjoy.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Share a love for country music at this museum that’s got something for all ages to enjoy.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (615) 416-2001 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $31.95 adults, $21.95 youth | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame while in Nashville is one of the top things to do and not just for adults. One of the best museums in downtown Nashville, it has a huge collection of over eight hundred stage costumes, six hundred instruments, and countless other artifacts related to country music history.

Adults will love the well-designed exhibits. Kids can complete a scavenger hunt while going through the museum. Families can also check out a Young Explorer Bag for additional fun activities for kids ages 2-7. The bags need to be reserved in advance, so plan ahead.

👉 Love country music? You can get a ticket combo that lets you into the museum and RCA Studio B, Nashville’s famous recording studio.

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Thanks for reading my guide to the best things to do in Nashville with kids! If your kids are on the younger side, be sure to check out my guide to Nashville’s best attractions for toddlers, next.

(Cover Photo Credits: Stan DaMan / Shutterstock)