Road Trip Guide for Families: Exploring Nashville, Tennessee

Jul 7, 2023

We’re back again with another fun road trip guide to visiting good ol’ Nashville, Tennessee! We want to highlight some of the more unique and interesting places that are often left off travel guides, and we hope you’ll find them intriguing enough to explore on your own! This year’s guide also includes some great Family Friendly options to explore with kids (and for the kid at heart!) We’re going to check out some of the classic stops and sites to visit, but also some great places with more untapped potential. You’ll have plenty of options to explore even if it’s not your first visit to Nashville! Check it out and plan your itinerary now.

The Adventure Science Center Museum is the perfect place for families to get a hands-on learning experience with science, inspiring creative young minds to explore their world through touch, interactive displays, exciting presentations at the Sudekum Planetarium, workshops, and rotating exhibits! It’s non-stop fun and always something new to explore. Enjoy the “Tinkering Garage” program where you get to design and build your own gadgets and gizmos, the “Weird Science” event that explores plastic-eating fungi and other natural wonders, and other exciting programs such as the Touch-a-Truck events!
Kidsville is a program in Centennial Park brought to you by Centennial Park Conservancy. It’s an outdoor area for children to enjoy creative and artistic expression, and a chance to play at the Musicians Corner Events. The ongoing program offers outreach and educational opportunities for creative kids through over 100 activities at different locations throughout Nashville!
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is a stunning 180+ acre property encompassing a zoological garden and historic plantation farmhouse. It’s home to over 6,200 animals and more than 300 species! It’s also an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, making it a top facility for animal care and husbandry, so you can rest assured the creatures that reside there are well cared for. Check their calendar for special events, live demonstrations, and featured exhibits for an extra special visit.

Lane Motor Museum holds one of the largest collections of European Cars and Motorcycles in the whole USA! This non-profit organization was founded by the Lane family to commemorate the family automotive business, and chronicle the automotive industry. Explore the permanent collection and a rotating series of exhibits with memorabilia, media, and more. Your whole family will love looking at the unique cars and vehicles and archival goodies!
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum was established to help preserve the legacy of music and entertainment on Jefferson Street. It aims to inspire future generations to pursue art, music, audio, and other preservation projects in the arts and music industry.
Nashville Children’s Theatre
Fannie Mae Dees Park is a wonderful choice for a family picnic and stroll! It’s got a wonderful outdoor area with shade trees, a playground, and features local artwork such as the mosaic dragon sculpture! In fact, the park’s local moniker is “Dragon Park”, referencing the gorgeous sculpture that slithers through the center of the park. It’s close to many nearby attractions and restaurants or cafes, making it a wonderful place to have lunch or a snack after breaking from your tourist itinerary.
Lucky Ladd Farms is just outside Nashville and a great way for kids to learn about agriculture, farming, and livestock animals. With more than 100 animals to feed and pet, outdoor play areas, and more than 50 activities and seasonal events, there’s plenty to do for all ages!
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Garden Conservatory is more than just a beautiful place to stay! In fact, you can enjoy it even if you haven’t booked your lodgings there. The grounds are open to the public and managed by a staff of more than 20 horticulturalists. You can book a ticket and explore the grounds, visit the indoor and outdoor water park, and take a walk through the historic hotel.
Country Music Hall of Fame Museum is a leading institute for research and preservation of American Music History, and one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to music. It has an incredible and extensive musical collection of more than 2 million artifacts from the industry. And it’s been building new exhibits and preserving more history year after year since the mid-to-late 1960s! Visit on your own self-guided, or schedule a tour with a local guide and group.

Other fun activities to check out:

Madame Tussauds, Treetop Adventure Park and Zipline, Wave Country, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens ,Belle Meade Plantation, A Daytime visit to Broadway’s Honky Tonks (kid friendly at most places before 6PM!), Hatch Show Print Block Parties (Saturdays)

Great local eateries to explore: