Nashville is often known for live music, Broadway, and bachelorette trips, but there is a lot more to the city than the nightlife. If you’re planning a family trip to Nashville, Tennessee, there are quite a few kid-friendly activities in and around the area that make it a fun destination for a weekend away.
One of the things I like about visiting Nashville with kids is that you can make the trip whatever you want it to be! You can plan a more relaxed getaway with a resort style stay and a few easy outings, or you can fill your days with museums, animal experiences, and outdoor attractions. There really are enough family-friendly things to do in Nashville to build a fun trip without needing to center it around downtown at all.
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Nashville Family Travel Guide Highlights
- Stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort if you want a hotel that feels like part of the vacation
- Visit the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
- Spend time at Adventure Science Center
- Walk through Centennial Park and visit the Parthenon
- Stop by American Girl Place at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin
- Add a few extra family-friendly stops if you have more time
Find outfit ideas to wear to Nashville, Tennessee in this article!
Where to Stay in Nashville With Kids
For a family trip, I would personally lean toward staying outside of the downtown core. Nashville’s downtown area can be fun to visit during the day, but the evenings there can be much more adult-focused, especially with the number of celebrations and party groups in town. We like staying in one of the more outlying locations that still make it easy to drive to different activities in the area.
Our favorite place to stay in the Nashville area would be Gaylord Opryland Resort. It’s located just north of downtown Nashville and close to Nashville International Airport, which makes it especially convenient if you’re flying in with kids.
This resort really works well for families because it feels like more than just a hotel. It’s home to SoundWaves water park, restaurants, shopping, and the three main atrium sections: Cascades Atrium, Delta Atrium, and Garden Conservatory Atrium, with the main check-in area in Cascades.
Check out our full review of the SoundWaves water park!
If you’re planning a weekend trip to Nashville with children, staying somewhere like Opryland can make the whole trip feel easier. You can do one attraction during the day, come back for dinner, and still have plenty to do without loading everyone back in the car.
Other Hotel Areas to Consider
Some other family friendly areas to stay in Nashville are:
Opryland / Airport Area
This area makes a lot of sense for families because it’s close to the airport, Gaylord Opryland, and some of the easier-to-navigate attractions outside the downtown core. It tends to work well if convenience is your main priority. This area is a useful launch point for visitors who want easy access without staying directly in the busiest downtown zones. There are a number of hotel options in this area from most major hotel chains.
Franklin / Cool Springs
If you’re planning to visit American Girl Place at CoolSprings Galleria, then staying farther south near Franklin could also make sense, especially if you want a suburban feel and easy shopping access.
There are also lots of restaurant options in this area and it is an easy drive to get into most Nashville attractions.
Dining and Restaurants in Nashville
Nashville has a lot of food options, of course! Here are some good choices for a family.
Restaurants at Gaylord Opryland
If you’re staying at Opryland, eating on property can make the trip a lot easier. Some on-site options include Ravello, Cascades American Cafe, Solario Cantina, Delta Marketplace, Conservatory Cafe, Cocoa Bean, Fuse Sports Bar, Jack Daniel’s, and signature dining at Old Hickory Steakhouse.
Breakfast is available at several resort spots as well, including Cascades American Cafe, Delta Marketplace, Conservatory Cafe, Cocoa Bean, and A la Carte.
All of these are paid options that are at a range of pricing. We enjoyed the Cascades American Cafe Breakfast when we were there and would definitely return there on a future trip!
Other Restaurant Suggestions
If you want to venture out for a meal, Elliston Place Soda Shop and Edley’s Bar-B-Que are both easy family-friendly choices, while BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse is a fun option for pizza night with older kids. If your itinerary includes Franklin and the American Girl store at CoolSprings Galleria, Connors Steak & Seafood or Pyramids Cafe can be convenient stops nearby.
Things to Do in Nashville With Kids
Wondering what to do while you are in Nashville with the family? Here are some of our favorite family-friendly things to do! Get your free family friendly trip planning checklist for Nashville below!
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Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is one of the best family attractions in the city and one of the easiest places to recommend if you’re visiting Nashville with kids. It gives you a full outing, and it has enough variety that it works for a wide range of ages.
The zoo is open year-round. It also includes extra attractions beyond the animal exhibits, including a carousel, playground-style areas, a 4D theater, and the Soaring Eagle zip line.
That mix makes it feel like more than a quick zoo stop and helps it fill a solid half day or more.
Adventure Science Center Nashville
If your kids love hands-on activities, Adventure Science Center is another easy pick for a Nashville family trip. This is a really good option for a rainy day, a very hot day, or just when you want something interactive that still feels educational.
Adventure Science Center offers hands-on exhibits, interactive experiences, programs, and full-dome productions in the Sudekum Planetarium, along with specialty exhibits that change often.
We love all of the hands on activities here and can spend the better part of an afternoon exploring!
The Parthenon at Centennial Park
One of the most unique things to do in Nashville is visit The Parthenon in Centennial Park. This is the kind of stop that gives you something iconic and memorable without feeling overly complicated with kids.
The Parthenon is Nashville’s full-scale replica of the original in Athens; both the building and the 42-foot Athena statue inside are full-scale recreations. It sits in Centennial Park, so this stop works especially well because you can pair time outdoors with a shorter museum-style visit.
It’s a great option if you want one activity that feels distinctly “Nashville” without being nightlife-focused.
American Girl Place at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin
If you have a child who loves American Girl, this is such a fun extra stop to add to your Nashville-area trip. The American Girl Place at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin is one of our recommended family-friendly additions, and it makes sense as a good suburban stop outside the main city.
They have a small cafe at the American Girl store here and we’ve enjoyed stopping by for special occasions like a birthday!
Activities at Opryland Hotel
If you stay at Gaylord Opryland, I would absolutely leave time to enjoy the resort itself. Between the indoor gardens, atrium walks, dining, shopping, family programming, and access to SoundWaves water park, the hotel can easily fill your arrival day or a slower afternoon.
There’s lots to do here and they host seasonal activities as well. So if you’ll be there during the holidays, make sure to check into their holiday offerings for families.
We have loved visiting during Christmas time and taking part in the outdoor ice skating and ice slides!
Other Things to Do in Nashville With Kids
Need even more to add to your itinerary? Here are some suggestions.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a really pretty option if your family likes nature, gardens, and more relaxed attractions. The estate includes 55 acres of gardens and art, and Cheekwood also has family-focused spaces like the children’s garden and sculpture trail. It’s a good choice if you want something scenic that still works well with kids.
Frist Art Museum
The Frist Art Museum can also be a nice family stop, especially if your kids are creative. Its Martin ArtQuest space is specifically designed as an inclusive, interactive art-making area for all ages. That makes it a helpful option if you want a more artistic indoor activity in Nashville.
Free and Seasonal Family Activities
Nashville also offers many free and seasonal family activities, including parks, festivals, toddler-friendly museum access, and kid-friendly history stops. That makes the city a little easier to adapt to if you want to keep a trip more budget-friendly. Check the official Nashville website for events.
Transportation and Getting Around Nashville
For families, I would definitely recommend having a car in Nashville. This isn’t the kind of trip I would plan around only walking or rideshares unless you’re staying mostly in one area.
By Car
A rental car or your own vehicle is probably the easiest way to do this trip, especially if you want to visit Opryland, Centennial Park, the zoo, Franklin, and a few other spread-out spots. Gaylord Opryland is also close enough to the airport that flying in and renting a car is a simple option.
Parking
Parking will vary by neighborhood and attraction, but staying outside downtown generally makes the trip easier. Keep in mind that you will need to factor parking fees into your budget.
Tips for Planning a Family Trip to Nashville
When you’re planning Nashville with kids, I think it helps to approach it a little differently than you would a typical adults’ weekend in the city.
First, don’t feel like you need to stay downtown. I recommend staying on the outskirts or in the suburbs. You’ll often get an easier pace, better parking, and a more relaxing place to come back to at the end of the day.
Second, mix active attractions with slower ones. A high-energy stop like the zoo or science center pairs well with resort time, a walk through Centennial Park, or a relaxed evening back at your hotel.
And finally, let the hotel be part of the trip if you stay at Opryland. When a resort already offers dining, family activities, indoor walking spaces, and water attractions, it takes a lot of pressure off your itinerary and makes the trip feel much more manageable with kids.
Visiting Nashville With Kids
Nashville may be best known for music and nightlife, but it can also be a really fun family destination when you plan your trip around the right places. Between the zoo, science center, Centennial Park, suburban shopping stops, and a resort like Gaylord Opryland, there are plenty of ways to build a family-friendly Nashville itinerary that feels easy and enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a city getaway that gives you a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, kid-friendly attractions, and a few special experiences, Nashville is a great place to consider for your next family trip. And if you stay a little outside the busiest downtown areas, it can feel much more family-friendly than many people expect.
If you’re planning vacations to any of the cities below, I have travel itineraries and trip suggestions for all of these on the blog!
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** All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. Being Mommy with Style is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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