Nashville with Kids

Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT) is a longstanding community and cultural facility that was established to inspire young children about the performing arts. Founded in 1931, the theater is the oldest professional children’s theatre in America and enjoys a national and international reputation for excellence. The NCT presents a calendar of performances throughout the year, along with educational programs, workshops and acting classes for children of all ages. In addition to regular classes, the NCT also present a series of classes for children on the Autism Spectrum and specialty classes that culminate in Summer Youth Productions. The black box theater has modern facilities, including a ‘Comfort Room’ for nervous children, ample bathrooms and comfortable seating.

2040, 25 Middleton St, Nashville, TN 37210, Phone: 615-254-9103

Lauding the genre, history, and traditions of country music through world-class exhibits, presentations and educational programs, The Country Music Hall of Fame® is one of Nashville’s major attractions, with an unrivaled collection of country music memorabilia. Located just a block away from the celebrated honky-tonks of Broadway, in the heart of Music City’s rapidly growing center, The Country Music Hall of Fame® is also known as the “Smithsonian of country music,” boasting state-of-the-art galleries, spacious event halls, dynamic retail space and modern classrooms. The museum’s main exhibition, “Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music” send visitors on a journey through the history and sounds of country music, exploring its origins and traditions, and showcasing the voices, faces, and stories of many of its legends. Along with world-class galleries, the museum is also home to the CMA Theater, the Taylor Swift Education Center and the Grammy-winning re-issue label of CMF Records.

222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, Phone: 615-416-2001

For History Buffs

The Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens and houses a 42-foot high statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos with a small statue of Nike (Victory) in her right hand on the main level. Designed by Confederate veteran William Crawford Smith, the structure was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and functions today as an art museum. The Parthenon's permanent collection can be found on the lower level of the structure and features a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists. During the summer, local theater productions present free classic Greek plays such as Sophocles' Antigone and Euripides' Medea on the steps of the Parthenon with the beautiful building as a backdrop.

2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Visited by thousands of people every year who come to enjoy the beautiful outdoor landscapes, walking trails and a variety of recreational facilities, Centennial Park is Nashville's favorite green space. Located on West End and 25th Avenue North, the park spans 132 acres and features a fantastic array of things to see and do. Walk or hike the attractive one-mile walking trail or head to the unique exercise trail if you want to jog or run. Explore the iconic Parthenon and other historical monuments dotted about the park; take in some local art at the Centennial Art Center or spend a day with the kids at the art activity center. Have a romantic picnic in the stunning sunken garden or work up a sweat with a game of volleyball with friends. Hit the water on Lake Watauga for some boating, kayaking or paddling on warm summer days.

2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Unique Museums

Formerly known as the Grand Ole Opry House and the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the Ryman Auditorium is a historic 2,362-seat live performance venue that has a haloed place in entertainment history. Located at 116 5th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, the Ryman Auditorium has been a popular place for all types of gatherings from community events and political rallies to turn-of-the-century entertainment including ballets, operas, musical and theatrical productions, and symphonies. Fondly known as the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, the Ryman Auditorium is now a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Grand Ole Opry - Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37219, Phone: 615-889-3060

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is a beautifully preserved plantation house and museum in Davidson County, just 10 miles (16 km) east of Nashville. Once owned by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, who lived there permanently after he retired from public life, the colonial-style mansion is a National Historic Landmark. Step back into history and take a stroll through Andrew Jackson’s life with a visit to this magnificent abode. The museum features an excellent array of exhibits and displays documenting the heritage of the home and the President’s life, and a variety of tours around the property are offered, including Lantern Evening Tours, Tulip Grove Tour and the Hermitage by Wagon Tour. The museum also plays hosts to several informative and entertaining events throughout the year.

4580 Rachel's Lane, Nashville, TN 37076, Phone: 615-889-2941

Housed in a beautiful Art Deco building that was initially built as a U.S. Post Office building, the Frist Art Museum showcases an excellent collection of well-curated contemporary art. Formerly known as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the non-collecting Frist Art Museum offers wide-ranging and ever-rotating art exhibits that display a wealth of works from large-scale portraits to Viennese postcards from local, state and regional artists. The Museum also hosts major national and international exhibitions throughout the year and is housed a spectacular example of early-20th century American architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, Phone: 615-244-3340

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is a beautifully appointed 55-acre estate on the western edge of Nashville that houses the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Once the elegant home Nashville's Cheek family, the 30,000-square-foot Georgian-style mansion was opened as a museum in 1960, while the spectacular gardens are a haven for contemporary and classical art. Founded in 1959, the art collection boasts around 600 paintings and 5,000 prints, drawings and photographs and encompasses genres such as American art, American and British decorative arts, and contemporary art, along with many outdoor sculptures which are dotted about the gardens. The mansion itself is part of the collection and features perfectly conserved historical architectural motifs and stunning illusionist murals. The botanical gardens are home to an extensive collection of local flora, while the Carrell Woodland Sculpture Trail boasts a collection of fifteen sculptures by international artists.

1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205, Phone: 615-356-8000

For Mom and Dad

Founded in 1807 by John Harding, Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is a 5,400-acre estate with a thoroughbred horse farm with an original homestead, a deer park, and a Greek Revival Mansion, which functions as a museum dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee’s rich Victorian architecture and history. Once a stud farm when it was in its prime, the Belle Meade Plantation offers guided tours of the beautiful plantation house, while the gardens and grounds, the slave quarters, horse stables, and carriage house can be explored on your own. A modern visitor’s center and a winery have been constructed on the property and visitors can also enjoy wine-tastings at the end of their tour.

5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205, Phone: 615-356-0501 ext. 125

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, also known as the Bicentennial Mall, is a family-friendly historical urban state park in downtown Nashville situated northwest of the Tennessee State Capitol building. The 19-acre park features several attractions that relate to Tennessee history, including a 200-foot granite map of Tennessee highlighting its counties, rivers, and major roads and the circular Court of 3 Stars made of red, white, and blue granite representing the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee. The plaza is surrounded by 50 columns and a 95-bell carillon, representing the 95 counties of the state, and a pristine tree-lined linear lawn leads to a magnificent 2,000-seat amphitheater with terraced gardens and spectacular city views that can be used for special events. The Pathway of History features a 1,400-foot wall inscribed with the state's history, and several war memorials include the World War II Memorial, the Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial, the Centennial Memorial, and the Statehood Memorial.

600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243, Phone: 615-741-5280