10 Best Family Things to Do in Nashville

Nashville Zoo is home to rare animals such as white rhinoceros, clouded leopards and cotton-top tamarins. It also offers many unique activities and hands-on exhibits for visitors of all ages like a magical carousel with 39 wooden animals and a 4D cinema.

Animal lovers get to interact with over a dozen free-wandering red kangaroos at the Kangaroo Kickabout, while the little ones can enjoy hours of fun at the Jungle Gym, which has a tree house, slides, swings and a giant snake tunnel. Ticket prices vary, but we recommend visiting on a weekday, when it tends to be cheaper.

Honeysuckle Hill Farm, located on Martins Chapel Church Road, is one of Tennessee’s largest outdoor attractions. The 200-acre farm is home to numerous attractions. Explore Nashville's Country Music Corn Maze, fly through the Hunter's Challenge Course and cheer on your favourite participants in the pig races.

If you're visiting in the later months, its annual Fall Festival often draws a huge crowd of families with its miniature train, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and shops selling popcorn, homemade fudge and caramel apples. It's sure to bring smiles to everyone's faces.

The Old Town Trolley Tour is a convenient way of exploring the city’s many historical landmarks. You can enjoy a fully narrated tour of Nashville while cruising on a trolley, making it an efficient option for seeing the sights if you're short on time. The trolleys are hop on/hop off and open-air, so you're free to take pictures as you listen to the knowledgeable guide.

There are 13 stops throughout the Old Town, where you can disembark to explore iconic distilleries, record stores, state parks and buildings such as the Vanderbilt University, Country Music Hall of Fame and Union Station. It's a stress-free way to experience the city's history.

Nashville Children's Theatre has been entertaining families since 1931, making it one of the city’s oldest theatres. Aside from regularly scheduled theatrical productions, the theatre also offers many community events, drama classes and courses all year round.

They’ve thought of everything. In the lobby, you’ll find fun activities and crafts stations set up. These will keep your kids entertained while you wait for the show to begin. It’s not just a distraction, it leaves them with something to take home as well. You’ll be pleased to know there’s free parking, and selected tickets are offered on a 'pay what you can' basis.

The Cheekwood Estate and Gardens consists of a botanic garden, woodland sculpture trail and fine arts museum that displays American paintings dating back to between 1910 and 1970. The 55-acre landscape is divided into 12 gardens with gorgeous views of the Tennessee hills.

One of its oldest gardens is the Martin Boxwood Gardens, which was designed by Bryant Fleming during the late 1920s. Here you can explore a wooded stream and a reflecting pool with sculptures of Greek icons Thalia and Urania. An audio tour of Cheek Mansion is included in your admission fee, and guided tours are also available for extra insight into this amazing estate.

Centennial Park spans 132 acres of natural gardens and features tree-shaded paths, sand volleyball courts, picnic tables, a playground and an activity centre. The Centennial Park Playscape is a popular spot for families as it has a playground with many slides and swings for the little ones. 

Looking about as out of place as it’s possible to be, The Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the famous temple in Athens, Greece. In this recreation you can see replicas of the statues in the original, as well as a substantial art collection. The park is only 2 miles west of downtown, so it's very easy to get to.

The Belle Meade Plantation is a private hilltop estate that features many historical buildings within its 30-acre landscape. Some of its most impressive landmarks include a Greek revival mansion, a 19th-century carriage house displaying original carriages and a winery where you can enjoy Tennessee red and white wines.

All funds go to supporting Belle Meade’s educational mission: to help highlight and record the history of Black Americans in the American South. There is grounds-only admission, but opt for the mansion tour if you'd like a deeper exploration of this dark side of history.

The Treetop Adventure Park features 100 aerial obstacles that are divided for 3 age groups: adults, juniors and children. Located within Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, you get to spend hours navigating along more than 10 ziplines, suspended bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders and Tarzan swings.

As well as exploring the treetops, take a splash in Nashville’s biggest water park, nearby, great for cooling down on a hot day. A huge wave pool and twisting slides are just some of the fun attractions on offer. If you're having too much fun to leave, why not consider renting a cabin and spend a night under the stars in this gorgeous lakeside woodland?

The Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory at Radnor Lake State Park is where you can view the galaxy through the Seyfert and DeWitt Telescopes. Explore the observatory grounds to find many picturesque landmarks such as the Star Chamber, which is a spiral art sculpture made with logs and 150 tons of native limestone.

Near the installation are cluster of stones called the Solstice and Equinox Rising Stones. Visits to Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory are only available by appointment, but you can enjoy many outdoor events such as Bluebird on the Mountain concerts and astronomer talks.

Nashville Public Library’s main branch on Church Street has an extensive collection of DVDs, books and digital magazines that are suitable for visitors of all ages. Reading materials here range from comics, Japanese manga and romance fiction to biographies, cookbooks and fitness guides.

As well as the books, the library has a calendar of events. Every Tuesday morning, families get to enjoy stories provided by Wishing Chair Productions. The 30-minute puppet showcase also features singing, dancing and games. There are also occasional concerts and other events to entertain.