Nashville is a vacation destination that has grown significantly in popularity within the last 10 years. Always popular with country music lovers, it is also a popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. But there are tons of kid-friendly things to do in Nashville as well, especially if you’re going to be there just for a weekend. Here are some of the top things to do in Nashville Tennessee with kids.

Things to Do in Nashville Tennessee with Kids

1. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

Visit the Hermitage, home of the 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson. When you go to the Hermitage, you’ll get to learn all about President Andrew Jackson via a museum and through touring his home. Tours for the home and grounds/museum are sold separately, so you don’t have to do the mansion tour if you don’t have time. Either way, kids will love getting to learn all about Andrew Jackson and his property. 

Although I do recommend doing the home tour because it’s magnificent. However, it’s important to keep little kids close to you as no one is allowed to touch the walls or anything in the mansion in order to help preserve it. You could easily spend several hours here with your kids.

2. Cheekwood

Cheekwood is a botanical garden and estate that can be fun for kids, especially during the fall and around the holidays. During the fall, kids can experience Cheekwood Harvest by visiting the Pumpkin Village, complete with three pumpkin houses and 75,000+ pumpkins. There is also a scarecrow trail featuring fun scarecrows created by the community.

During the holidays, Cheekwood also hosts Holiday LIGHTS, with a 1-mile walking path through the gardens illuminated with over 1 million lights. There are several other cultural, art, and fun events happening throughout the year as well, so be sure to check out their event page. You can also tour the Cheekwood Estate with a separate ticket.

See Also: Botanical Gardens in the Southeast (8 Amazing Places)

3. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Little country music lovers will love the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Located in Downtown Nashville, this museum explores country music from its roots to the present day, including temporary and permanent exhibits focusing on different artists and musical groups that influenced country music, such as Brooks and Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, and more, as well as costumes and memorabilia.

You can also visit the Country Music Hall of Fame to see plaques of all the artists that have been inducted. There are hands-on activities throughout the museum, so it is a must-do for any country music lover of any age. 

4. Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo is one of the best zoos I’ve ever been to, just because of the diversity of animals they have there. There are more than 350 species represented at the Nashville Zoo, including unique and rarely seen animals such as axolotls, cougars, meerkats, and alligator snapping turtles. The meerkats were super entertaining to me, and there are so many of them! Kids and adults alike are sure to love them.

You can also see a variety of fish, snakes, and reptiles, but there is also a 4-D adventure theater, zipline, carousel, train, playground, and animal encounters. Other fun zoo events happening around the year, such as Boo at the Zoo, make the Nashville Zoo a year-round destination for anyone traveling to Nashville with kids.

5. The Parthenon

This full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Greece is also an art museum. It was originally built for the 1897 Centennial Exposition, and it’s a fun activity for anyone, adult or kid alike, who is interested in art or ancient Greece. Fans of Percy Jackson will surely love it, due to the giant gilded statue of the goddess Athena that can be found inside. They also have props that were used in the filming of Percy Jackson on display.

The Parthenon is one of my favorite places in Nashville just because of its uniqueness. It’s also really affordable, and the park surrounding it is beautiful as well. The park is a good place for little ones to run around and get some of their energy out.

Other Fun Things to Do in Nashville Tennessee with Kids

I haven’t done any of these things personally, but there are plenty of other things to do with kids to suit a variety of interests.

• Adventure Science Center – A science museum with hands-on activities and a state-of-the-art planetarium.
• Bridgestone Arena – Take in a Nashville Predators hockey game or a concert
• Grand Ole Opry – See a country music show or take a backstage tour
• Madame Tussauds Nashville – A museum with wax figures of country music artists and other artists.
• Nissan Stadium – Watch a Tennessee Titans football game or concert

Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Downtown Nashville is full of bars and honky-tonks, most of which don’t allow kids. But there are some cool restaurants for kids also. Inside the Opry Mills mall, you can find several more family-friendly restaurants and even do some shopping while you’re there. Here are some of my favorite kid-friendly restaurants in Nashville.

1. Aquarium Restaurant

This restaurant has a 200,000-gallon fish tank in the middle of it, so you can eat surrounded by fish, sharks, stingrays, etc. As you can probably guess, it is a seafood restaurant. But the menu is very kid-friendly and my daughter got a salad with goldfish crackers on it, which I thought was a cute touch.

2. Dave & Buster’s

Nashville does have a Dave & Buster’s, which if you don’t know, is a giant arcade and sports bar serving wings, burgers, steaks, and more. But they also have a really fun menu for kids including some fun drinks, and kids won’t get bored waiting for their food because they can play arcade games while they wait.

3. Rainforest Cafe

The Rainforest Cafe is a chain restaurant, but really cool and most kids love it. You feel like you’re dining in a rainforest, complete with rain sounds and animatronic animals. The menu has some unique dishes as well. I recommend making a reservation here, as wait times can be long.

Nashville Is Super Family Friendly

Despite being a popular destination for bachelor/bachelorette parties and other adults looking to have a good time, there are still lots of things to do in Nashville Tennessee with kids. I hope you found some inspiration from this list, and that you and your kids can have a great time exploring Nashville and making memories together.