What comes to mind when you think of Nashville, Tennessee? If you’re like most people,
probably country music, honky tonks, hot chicken; and streets full of drunken tourists
and bachelorette parties. At least that’s was what flashed through my head when my
husband told me he had received a job offer he couldn’t refuse, in Nashville. The first thing
I did was consult the Google - “Is Nashville family friendly?” As a stay at home mom to
two toddlers, having access to parks and libraries, as well as activities for the entire family
are high on my list of must haves when considering where to live; and I was prepared to
put up a huge stink if Music City couldn’t deliver. To my surprise, the internet not only provided
endless examples of family friendly activities, but we also came to discover plenty during
our explorations of our new home. The following is a list of my personal favorite
(and FREE!) things to do in Nashville, as well as some that are still on my bucket list.
probably country music, honky tonks, hot chicken; and streets full of drunken tourists
and bachelorette parties. At least that’s was what flashed through my head when my
husband told me he had received a job offer he couldn’t refuse, in Nashville. The first thing
I did was consult the Google - “Is Nashville family friendly?” As a stay at home mom to
two toddlers, having access to parks and libraries, as well as activities for the entire family
are high on my list of must haves when considering where to live; and I was prepared to
put up a huge stink if Music City couldn’t deliver. To my surprise, the internet not only provided
endless examples of family friendly activities, but we also came to discover plenty during
our explorations of our new home. The following is a list of my personal favorite
(and FREE!) things to do in Nashville, as well as some that are still on my bucket list.
Centennial Park and the Parthenon. This large green space is perfect for picnics,
and offers so many activities, all in one spot. There are splash pads and a large playground,
with a wonderful view of the Nashville Parthenon, which is an exact replica of the one in
Greece and houses a 42 foot tall statue of the goddess Athena. (Who knew, right?)
There is a small art museum underneath the Parthenon. While there is a fee to enter
it, if you have small children there is a way to get in and see part of it for free!
Every Saturday, an organization called Kidsville holds an arts and crafts hour
that is completely free of charge. Also, the Centennial Performing Arts studio
is just south of the Parthenon and is home to the Black Box Theatre. They host
many events including “pickin’ parties” where everyone is encouraged to bring
an acoustic instrument, take a seat, and play.
Nashville Farmers Market. Parking can be tricky during lunch hour and on weekends,
but it is free! The Farmer’s Market is composed of two large buildings - both are bright and airy,
full of exciting sights, sounds and smells. There is a wide variety of excellent food, and
lots of stalls full of local produce and art! In both buildings and the outdoor spaces, there are
courtyards and small pockets of free space where you can catch a free mini-concert.
And don’t forget to stop and pose for a picture with the I Heart Nash sculpture.
and offers so many activities, all in one spot. There are splash pads and a large playground,
with a wonderful view of the Nashville Parthenon, which is an exact replica of the one in
Greece and houses a 42 foot tall statue of the goddess Athena. (Who knew, right?)
There is a small art museum underneath the Parthenon. While there is a fee to enter
it, if you have small children there is a way to get in and see part of it for free!
Every Saturday, an organization called Kidsville holds an arts and crafts hour
that is completely free of charge. Also, the Centennial Performing Arts studio
is just south of the Parthenon and is home to the Black Box Theatre. They host
many events including “pickin’ parties” where everyone is encouraged to bring
an acoustic instrument, take a seat, and play.
Nashville Farmers Market. Parking can be tricky during lunch hour and on weekends,
but it is free! The Farmer’s Market is composed of two large buildings - both are bright and airy,
full of exciting sights, sounds and smells. There is a wide variety of excellent food, and
lots of stalls full of local produce and art! In both buildings and the outdoor spaces, there are
courtyards and small pockets of free space where you can catch a free mini-concert.
And don’t forget to stop and pose for a picture with the I Heart Nash sculpture.
J. Percy Priest Reservoir/Anderson Beach. There is a $2 parking fee but worth every penny. Picnic tables are first come first serve, plentiful, and offer picturesque views of the vast expanse of water. This was another surprise for me, as I thought we would only be seeing hills and mountains in this area. J Percy Priest offers a great escape from the city and a welcome change of scenery from all the rolling hillsides. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch, extra sunscreen, and a beach blanket or two in case all of the picnic tables are taken (it can get crazy busy here!)
Nashville Public Library. The library has always been a favorite sanctuary for my girls,
so getting a library card was a priority when we moved. The Nashville Public Library has
a calendar full of events for every age group, all day everyday. But it’s most popular event
begins in early September and lasts through the first week of October - Courtyard Concerts
are a series of free musical performances in the Robinson Courtyard, at the Main Library
downtown. It is free, rain or shine, from 11:45 am to 1 pm; and futures artists of every genre,
from local songwriters to world renowned performers. And of course each branch offers
classes, workshops, and story hours for the little ones.
so getting a library card was a priority when we moved. The Nashville Public Library has
a calendar full of events for every age group, all day everyday. But it’s most popular event
begins in early September and lasts through the first week of October - Courtyard Concerts
are a series of free musical performances in the Robinson Courtyard, at the Main Library
downtown. It is free, rain or shine, from 11:45 am to 1 pm; and futures artists of every genre,
from local songwriters to world renowned performers. And of course each branch offers
classes, workshops, and story hours for the little ones.
Tennessee State Museum. This is definitely on my bucket list. It is located next to the
Farmer’s Market, Bicentennial Park and the Capitol Building. And it is FREE - free parking
and free admission. As the name indicates, it is a museum dedicated to all things Tennessee,
and has a Children’s Gallery that offers Story Time on Thursdays and Saturdays, for
children ages 3-6; and includes a craft activity after the reading.
Farmer’s Market, Bicentennial Park and the Capitol Building. And it is FREE - free parking
and free admission. As the name indicates, it is a museum dedicated to all things Tennessee,
and has a Children’s Gallery that offers Story Time on Thursdays and Saturdays, for
children ages 3-6; and includes a craft activity after the reading.
Mary’s Magical Place. This is an all inclusive playground located in Hendersonville (fourth largest city in the Nashville Metropolitan area and home to yours truly.) And it really is magical - it is a play space that was built specifically to include children of all ages and abilities. The main play area has a huge wheelchair accessible ramp, there are specialized swings for special needs children, and even a tiny jungle gym for babies. What I love about this park is that the main section is covered by giant sunshades; and the ramps and almost all of the play surfaces are composed of materials that stay cool to the touch - it makes it hard to go to any other playground!
Nashville Symphony by The Lake. Also in Hendersonville is the Historic Rock Castle, the oldest home and privately owned property in Middle Tennessee. Each June, they host a free concert featuring the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, as one of the five locations for the Symphony’s Community Concert series. This was one of our first family outings when we first moved to the area, and it is one of our most favorite memories of this summer. There were concession stands, but everyone was encouraged to bring their own food and beverages (alcohol is permitted.) And there were games and bounce houses to help entertain the kids before the music started.
Nashville Murals. Music City is definitely devoted to all things music, but it is on its way to
being Mural City. Art in all forms is celebrated here and street art is becoming my new favorite.
It’s bright and colorful, it’s eye catching and exciting, and it really just dresses up the place.
Plus it is extremely helpful in keeping little people occupied during traffic jams; and it’s just so
much fun to try and find as many of them as possible. So far we have taken pictures with
“The Wings” and the Nashville Walls project, both in the Gulch neighborhood, but there are so
many more! Currently there are several tours that you can book to help you find all of them,
but there are also maps you can print out so you can go mural hunting at your own pace.
being Mural City. Art in all forms is celebrated here and street art is becoming my new favorite.
It’s bright and colorful, it’s eye catching and exciting, and it really just dresses up the place.
Plus it is extremely helpful in keeping little people occupied during traffic jams; and it’s just so
much fun to try and find as many of them as possible. So far we have taken pictures with
“The Wings” and the Nashville Walls project, both in the Gulch neighborhood, but there are so
many more! Currently there are several tours that you can book to help you find all of them,
but there are also maps you can print out so you can go mural hunting at your own pace.
I have three places that are on my bucket list, that are not one hundred percent free but you
could definitely work around it and have a great time with your family, without breaking the budget!
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Rooms here run from a couple hundred
dollars per night, plus additional parking fees. However, it is completely free to enter the could definitely work around it and have a great time with your family, without breaking the budget!
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Rooms here run from a couple hundred
Opryland Resort (park your car at the adjacent Opry Mills Mall, and walk to the resort)
and explore their atriums. They have thousands of species of tropical plants, waterfalls,
and even a river that you can tour via boat. The Resort is massive and offers over 20
restaurants and bars, plus a variety of shops in addition to the Mall. And every evening
at 6 and 8 pm, there is a fountain and light show, also free of charge. The historical Grand Ole
Opry is just across the street, and offers family friendly tours and activities as well.
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens. There is an admission and a parking fee to see this
amazing house and its 55 acres of land. A yearly membership can help offset costs and
members get free parking as well as early access to events. They have over 12 different
gardens, including a children’s garden that has different exhibits each year. This year they
had mini Storybook Houses, each representing a popular children’s book or fairy tale. The
Cheekwood Pumpkin Festival and their Christmas lights are also popular attractions
that we are looking forward to seeing!
Frist Art Museum. The good news is children under 18 are able to go to the museum for free, just have to cover the adults! And while art museums aren’t always the best places for rambunctious little ones, Frist offers over 30 hands on experiences for the whole family - arts and crafts, painting, building, and stop animation are just a few of the fun things you can do at the museum.
And lastly - I highly recommend taking the kids for a walk down Broadway...in broad daylight, the earlier the better, and preferably not during a sporting event. Broadway is lined with the world famous honky tonks, and while it can quickly turn inappropriate once the sun starts setting, there are several places that are very kid/family friendly. Learn to line dance, shop for cowboy boots for the whole family, and stop in front of any open doorway to hear some truly talented musicians. If you’re uncomfortable with letting your kids see everything so up close and personal, there are lots of Hop on/Hop off double decker tour buses that stop frequently up and down Music Row and continue to all the hot spots around town. Food and beverages are allowed, so bring snacks and let the little ones run amuck while you listen to the knowledgeable bus drivers tell you all about the great city of Nashville.
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I hope this information is helpful to anyone considering a trip to Nashville but unsure of its capacity to be a family friendly city! As a transplant from the northern state of Ohio, I have experienced first hand the charm, hospitality, and particular sweetness towards children that is found all across the South, but exemplified here in Music City. I have no doubt y’all will witness it too!
