Nashville Fun Activities for Toddlers
Even if your tiny travelers are not yet fans of country music, they can enjoy a visit to Nashville.
The "Home of American Music" from country and beyond is alive and well. Thanks to the perseverance of its residents, Nashville, Tennessee is back and better than ever after spending millions of dollars to repair damage from the May 2010 Cumberland River floods. But it's not just music that sways Tennessee's thriving capital, it's also home to the historical farm of President Andrew Jackson, the world's only Hall of Fame for behind the scenes musicians, and Vanderbilt University.
Stroll through downtown to take in some local flavor in the developing urban area known as the Gulch. While the South is known for hot, humid summers, Nashville is frequently greeted with a refreshing breeze off the Cumberland River and shade from its tree-lined streets.
Family Savings Alert!
This destination participates in the following savings programs that give families access to tours and attractions at discounted prices. Check out what's available:
Citypass: Save up to 50% off a select group of top family attractions in 10 exciting cities.
Go City Cards & Explorer Passes: Top attractions and tours for 1 low price at 14 destinations.
Viator: Lowest price on separate tickets for top attractions and events in 450 destinations.
A Cowboy Town
3665 Knight Drive
White Creek, TN 37189
615/259-0848
A Cowboy Town caters to the cowboy and cowgirl in all of us, taking visitors back in time for old-fashioned entertainment and fun. Explore 116-acres of valley at Ramblin' Breeze just 10 minutes from downtown Nashville for Wild West gunfights, horseback riding, live cowboy music, canoeing, hiking, live music, camping, picnics, fishing, bonfires, hayrides, cookouts and more.
Adventure Science Center
800 Fort Negley Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37203-4899
615/862-5160
Adventure Science Center brings the universe to your fingertips with hands-on, interactive exhibits. Test your knowledge with space exploration tools, a two-story high astronaut training and technology simulation, walk through the solar system, and learn about the planets. The BlueMax flight exhibit allows two people take flight and control flips, loops, spins, and dives for a unique flying experience. Explore Adventure Tower and lift a car right off the ground or scale a human epidermis wall of skin.
Nashville Shores
4001 Bell Road
Hermitage, TN 37076
615/889-7050
Spend a hot summer day cooling off at the local waterpark, Nashville Shores. Attractions, rides, and slides include Music City Racers, Wacky Pond, Tennessee Twisters, Suntan Lagoon, and The Hippo. Or you can take the family out for a day on J. Percy Priest Lake for water skiing, kayaking, and boat rides. Open late spring to early fall, depending on weather, so check their website for the latest operating calendar.
Nashville Zoo At Grassmere
3777 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN 37211
615/833-1534
2008 marked the year of the frog and the Nashville Zoo responded by opening six new frog exhibits on Leap Day to foster worldwide amphibian conservation efforts. The new exhibit space in the Unseen New World educates the public on issues amphibians currently face and highlights the golden frog and the Puerto Rican crested toad. The zoo also houses leopard, cougar, porcupine, lemur, Piranha, red panda and many more creatures scaly, fury, and feathered.
Opry Mills
433 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
615/514-1000
Located within walking distance of the Grand Ole Opry and Gaylord Resort, the Opry Mills mall offers a 20 screen movie theater, restaurants, and dozens of retailers including fashion, jewelry, accessories, and more. The specialty Aquarium Restaurant offers a unique underwater dining experience where you can dine among marine life. Plan your visit around a boat ride at the neighboring Opryland Resort or performance at The Grand Ole Opry.
For more information, visit Nashville's Convention and Visitor's Bureau (800/657-6910).
