5 Family Friendly Activities To Do In Nashville

If you’re looking for some great, family friendly activities to do in Nashville, Tennessee, check out these 5 fun places to visit (plus a bonus one)!

My family and I recently returned from Nashville, Tennessee to visit some family. While there, we went to a lot of different places. With 8 kids between the two families, keeping them entertained was important and the following 5 places did not disappoint! Below you’ll find a brief summary, as well as the address and any costs to take into consideration. I’ve also included the websites so you can find out more information if you decide to visit.

Parthenon

No need to travel to Greece in order to visit the Parthenon! The Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It was built in 1897 as part of Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition. Today you can walk around the entire building, which is complete with large grassy areas, paths, a duck pond, playgrounds and more. You may even find some food vendors there depending on the day. If you want to go inside, you can visit Nashville’s Art Museum. However, there is a fee (see here for hours and admission) so be prepared if you decide to go in. Weekends are going to be busier than weekdays. You can visit the Nashville Parthenon’s official website for more information and directions.

Address: 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Cost: FREE to enter the grounds. There is a fee to enter the Parthenon and see the art inside the museum.

Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is one of the smaller zoos I have been to. What it might lack in the number of animals, it makes up for in atmosphere and landscape. There are tons of trees, flowers and other plants as you walk around each exhibit. One of the most unique attractions is their Kangaroo Kickabout. It is an area where you walk through the kangaroo enclosure and can even pet the kangaroos! If you’ve never touched a kangaroo, you are in for a treat, because their fur is so soft. They are friendly and used to people and it’s a great experience. You will also find a few rides, such as: the Wilderness Express (train ride), Wild Animal Carousel and the Soaring Eagle Zip Line (seated), which each cost extra. Additionally, you are allowed to bring your own food in which is a great way to save a little money!

Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

Cost: Pricing varies depending on the day. Ranges from $12-23 per ticket. $8 for parking. Must make a reservation for day and time. (See the official website for pricing and reservations.)

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

You could literally spend all day at the Opryland Resort. With 18 restaurants, an arcade, indoor garden atrium (9 acres) and live music, there is a lot to see and do. There is even an indoor river where you can take a 45 minute boat tour. The Opryland Resort is also the largest hotel in the country that isn’t a casino and the Grand Ole Opry is just a short 10-minute walk away. They also offer different events during the holidays that are fun and–you guessed it–family friendly. You do not have to be a guest in order to visit these attractions.

Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

Cost: FREE to visit the gardens. Other activities, such as the arcade and water park, cost extra. (See their website for more information on events and activities available.)

Strike and Spare Family Fun Center

Located about 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, Strike and Spare is a great place to spend a few hours doing a variety of activities. We got the wristbands which included unlimited activities like laser tag, roller skating, bumper cars, trampoline bungee jumping and (1) game of bowling and shoe rental. They also have a small arcade area where you can earn tickets to be redeemed for prizes. We spent about 5 hours there and the wristband was definitely the way to go!

Address: 90 Volunteer Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Cost: varies depending on activity and day of visit (Check website for pricing.)

Bledsoe Creek State Park

The Nashville area is located by the Cumberland River which winds through the city before going northeast and northwest. If you travel about 40 minutes northeast, you can visit Bledsoe Creek State Park. We visited the area twice during our stay and our kids loved it. There are so many trees and plants and animals to see! They have both paved trails and dirt trails ranging in length from .25 miles to 1.5 miles. (It was great being able to take our stroller on the paved trails!) You can see a map of the trails here. There are bathrooms located at the visitor’s center and the main campground, as well as a couple of playgrounds and grassy areas for the kids to play on. For parking, there is a lot by the visitor’s center. However, if that is full, you can also go around to Racoon Creek Lane or the end of Bledsoe Creek Lane for more parking.

Address: 400 Zieglers Fort Road, Gallatin, TN 37066

Cost: FREE to visit

BONUS: Murals

Nashville has SO MANY murals! We visited just a few of them in The Gulch area of Nashville (which was about all my kids could handle). These are the murals we went to because we were able to park at 11th Avenue South (in the lots across from Milk and Honey) and walk to all of them. *Note* There is a fee to park here, but the first hour is free.

Angel Wings (What Lifts You Wings) by Kelsey Montague

The Colorful Geometric by Jason Woodside (part of the Nashville Walls Project)

Green and Blue Abstract by Ian Ross (part of the Nashville Walls Project)

*NOTE* No picture of this one (kids were DONE) but it is right next to the colorful wall shown above.

Legoman (Forbecks) – next to the Jason Woodside piece

The Paper Moon by Elise Drake (in Noble Park)

I hope you found this list of family friendly activities helpful as you plan your trip to Nashville!