Planning a family trip and looking for fun family things to do in Nashville in 2026? Known for its lively atmosphere, music culture, and welcoming vibe, Nashville offers far more than just country music. Families can enjoy a mix of interactive attractions, outdoor spaces, kid-friendly entertainment, and unique local experiences that keep both kids and parents engaged.
While many guides focus on popular tourist spots, parents and repeat visitors often recommend activities that are truly enjoyable, stress-free, and worth your time. In this guide to fun family things to do in Nashville in 2026, you’ll discover a mix of must-visit attractions, hidden gems, and practical ideas that families actually love-helping you plan a trip filled with fun, comfort, and unforgettable memories.
The best fun family things to do in Nashville include visiting the Adventure Science Center, exploring the Tennessee State Museum, riding at Grizzly River Outfitters, touring the Grand Ole Opry, spending a day at Nashville Shores Waterpark, hiking Percy Warner Park, and taking a General Jackson Showboat cruise on the Cumberland River.
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Why Nashville Works Well for Family Travel
Nashville sits in north-central Tennessee and draws over 15 million visitors per year. Most of them come for the music. Families discover quickly that the city offers a lot more than honky-tonks on Broadway. The fun family things to do in Nashville range from hands-on science museums to lakeside waterparks, free historic sites, and enough outdoor green space to fill several days. Most major attractions cluster within 20 minutes of downtown, and the city has a reliable network of family-friendly restaurants at every price point.
Nashville Family Attractions to do Fun Things
| Attraction | Best Age Group | Approx. Cost | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Science Center | Ages 2-14 | $18.95/person | 2-3 hours |
| Nashville Shores Waterpark | Ages 3 and up | $39.99-$49.99/person | Full day |
| Tennessee State Museum | Ages 6 and up | Free | 2-3 hours |
| Grand Ole Opry Tour | Ages 6 and up | $35/adult, $25/child | 1 hour |
| Percy Warner Park | All ages | Free | 2-4 hours |
| Nashville Zoo | All ages | $19-$24/person | 3-4 hours |
| General Jackson Showboat | All ages | $59-$89/person | 2.5 hours |
| Lane Motor Museum | Ages 5 and up | $10/adult, $6/child | 1.5-2 hours |
Fun Family Things To Do In Nashville: The Full Guide
1. Explore the Adventure Science Center
The Adventure Science Center at 800 Fort Negley Boulevard is Nashville’s hands-on science museum and one of the most visited fun family things to do in Nashville with younger children. It covers 42,000 square feet of interactive exhibits designed for children aged 2-14.
Key exhibits:
- Space Chase – A full-scale space exploration gallery with a simulated rocket launch, mission control station, and a Mars habitat children can enter and operate
- BodyQuest – A life-size walk-through human body showing organs, blood flow, and skeletal systems with interactive stations at each point
- Adventure Tower – A three-story climbing structure with rope bridges, slides, and crawl tunnels that runs through the centre of the building
- Health Works – An exhibit focused on nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits built around activity rather than passive displays
- Sudekum Planetarium – A digital full-dome planetarium with public shows daily, included in general admission
Admission is $18.95 per person for adults and children over 2. Children under 2 are free. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. It closes Mondays. Book online to save $2 per ticket and avoid gate queues on busy weekends.
The Adventure Science Center is consistently cited as the top pick for fun family things to do in Nashville with children under 10.
2. Spend a Day at Nashville Shores Waterpark
Nashville Shores at 4001 Bell Road in Hermitage sits on the eastern shore of Percy Priest Lake, 15 miles from downtown Nashville. It operates as both a waterpark and a lakeside resort.
The waterpark section includes:
- Kowabunga Bay Wave Pool – A 500,000-gallon wave pool with timed wave cycles, the largest in Tennessee
- Shark Cove – A dedicated children’s water play area with water jets, dump buckets, and shallow splash zones for children under 48 inches
- Cuda Falls – A collection of six high-speed body slides ranging from beginner to advanced
- The Lazy River – A 650-foot continuous float circuit suitable for all ages
- Zoom Flumes – Four enclosed tube slides for older children and adults
The lake section adds kayak and paddleboat rentals ($15-$20/hour), a sandy beach with lifeguards on duty, and open swimming in Percy Priest Lake.
Admission: $49.99 for guests 48 inches and over, $39.99 for guests under 48 inches. Children under 2 are free. Season passes start at $79.99 per person and pay for themselves in two visits. Nashville Shores opens Memorial Day weekend and operates through Labor Day.
3. Visit the Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard is one of the largest state museums in the United States and one of the genuinely great free fun family things to do in Nashville. The building opened in 2018 after a $160 million construction project and spans 137,000 square feet.
The collection covers Tennessee’s history from pre-contact Native American cultures through the Civil Rights era:
- Natural History Gallery – Covers 450 million years of Tennessee geology and prehistoric life including full dinosaur specimens and a mastodon skeleton
- First Peoples Gallery – Documents Native American cultures of the region from 10,000 BCE through the 19th century using original artefacts
- Civil War Gallery – One of the most extensive Civil War collections in the South, with original weapons, uniforms, field equipment, and battle maps
- Nineteenth Century Tennessee – Covers daily life, agriculture, and industry from statehood through 1900
Admission is free for all visitors. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday noon to 5 PM. Parking in the adjacent garage costs $5.
4. Tour the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry at 2804 Opryland Drive has run continuously since November 28, 1925, making it the longest-running live radio program in American history. The current Opry House opened in 1974 and seats 4,400 people.
Family options at the Grand Ole Opry:
- Backstage Tour – A 1-hour guided tour through the backstage area, dressing rooms, and the stage itself. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $25 for children aged 4-11. Tours run daily starting at 9 AM.
- Live Show – Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evening performances feature 10-12 acts rotating through the stage in a traditional variety show format. Ticket prices range from $45 to $125 depending on seat location and show lineup. Children aged 3 and under are free in a parent’s lap.
- Circle 6 Feet Stage marker – The famous circle of wood cut from the original Ryman Auditorium stage sits at centre stage. Every performer steps on it for shows and tours.
The Grand Ole Opry sits adjacent to Opry Mills mall, so families can combine a tour or show with shopping and eating at one of the mall’s restaurants.
5. Hike and Play at Percy Warner Park
Percy Warner Park covers 3,180 acres in the Belle Meade neighbourhood southwest of downtown Nashville and is the largest municipal park in Tennessee. Entry is free year-round.
Activities for families:
- Steeplechase Course Walking Trail – A 4-mile loop on a paved road through wooded terrain, suitable for pushchairs and all fitness levels
- Deep Well Picnic Area – A large open-air picnic complex with grills, shelters, and a playground for younger children
- Horse Show Ring Trail – A 2.5-mile unpaved loop suitable for children aged 6 and up
- Equestrian trails – 11 miles of horse trails also open to hikers seeking longer or more technical routes
- Natural area exploration – The park contains old-growth forest sections with visible rock outcroppings, creek crossings, and wildlife including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and red foxes
The adjacent Edwin Warner Park adds a nature centre with free public programming and additional trail networks.
Percy Warner Park is one of the most practical free fun family things to do in Nashville because it suits multiple ages simultaneously.
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6. Explore Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Nashville Zoo at 3777 Nolensville Pike covers 188 acres and houses over 2,700 animals across 335 species. It opened on its current site in 1997 and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Major exhibits:
- Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear – Andean bears, vampire bats, piranhas, and Peruvian Amazon birds in a themed South American habitat
- Bamboo Trail – Aldabra giant tortoises and other large reptiles in open-access viewing areas
- WildTown – A children’s zoo and play area with domestic animals, ride-on tractors, and a water spray park
- Gibbon Islands – A series of elevated island habitats housing four gibbon species accessible by a suspended rope bridge walkway
- Kangaroo Kickabout – A walk-through Australian habitat where kangaroos and wallabies roam freely alongside visitors
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (13-61) | $24 |
| Children (3-12) | $19 |
| Seniors (62+) | $21 |
| Under 3 | Free |
The zoo opens daily at 9 AM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. WildTown splash pad operates May through September.
7. Take a General Jackson Showboat Cruise
The General Jackson Showboat departs from Opryland’s riverfront dock and operates sightseeing and lunchtime cruises on the Cumberland River. The vessel is a four-deck, 300-foot paddle-wheel boat based on 19th-century Mississippi River steamboat design.
The Sightseeing Cruise runs daily from April through October, lasting 2.5 hours. Tickets start at $59 for adults and $39 for children aged 4-12. Children under 4 are free. The cruise includes narration of Nashville’s river history and views of the downtown skyline from the water.
The Nashville Lunch Cruise adds a buffet meal and live music for $89-$99 per adult and $59-$69 per child. Both cruise types depart from the dock adjacent to the Opryland Hotel and are bookable at opryentertainment.com.
A river cruise is one of the more unusual fun family things to do in Nashville and works particularly well with children aged 5 and up who have already done the land-based attractions.
8. Visit the Lane Motor Museum
The Lane Motor Museum at 702 Murfreesboro Pike houses one of the most unusual vehicle collections in the United States. It focuses specifically on European and experimental vehicles rarely seen in American collections.
The collection includes:
- Over 500 vehicles on a rotating display of 150 at any time
- Microcars from postwar Europe including Messerschmitt bubble cars and BMW Isettas
- Amphibious vehicles including WWII-era DUKWs
- A complete collection of Citroën 2CVs and DS models
- Purpose-built vehicles including a former French military helicopter on wheels
- A working collection of 1960s-70s experimental electric vehicles
Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children aged 2-12, and free for children under 2. The museum is open Thursday through Monday, 10 AM to 5 PM. This is one of the most distinctive and undervisited fun family things to do in Nashville for families with children interested in unusual machines.
9. Spend a Morning at Centennial Park
Centennial Park at 2500 West End Avenue in Midtown Nashville covers 132 acres and anchors the Vanderbilt University neighbourhood. The park’s centrepiece is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition.
The Parthenon replica houses the Nashville Art Museum inside:
- A 42-foot statue of Athena Parthenos, the largest indoor sculpture in the Western world
- A permanent collection of 63 19th and 20th century American paintings
- The Cowan Collection of ancient Greek artefacts
Museum admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children 4-17. Children under 4 are free.
The surrounding park has a lake with paddleboat rentals ($8-$10/hour), walking paths, a bandshell hosting free summer concerts, and open lawns popular for frisbee and picnics. Entry to the park itself is free.
10. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at 222 Fifth Avenue South is the world’s largest popular music museum by collection size, holding over 2.5 million artefacts. It documents country music from its roots in Appalachian folk traditions through contemporary commercial country.
Family-relevant features:
- Sing Me Back Home exhibit – A chronological walk through country music history with listening stations, original instruments, and stage costumes from major artists
- Ford Theater – A 220-seat performance theatre hosting ticketed live performances several times weekly, suitable for children aged 6 and up
- Hatch Show Print – A working letterpress print shop operating since 1879, with daily demonstrations of traditional poster printing techniques
Admission is $29.95 for adults and $18.95 for children aged 6-17. Children under 6 are free. Studio B tour add-on costs $12.95 and visits the recording studio where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Roy Orbison recorded. The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Best Free Fun Family Things To Do In Nashville
| Activity | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State Museum | 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd | World-class collections, parking $5 |
| Percy Warner Park | 7311 Highway 100 | 3,180 acres, trails and picnic areas |
| Centennial Park | 2500 West End Ave | Lake, walks, and free summer concerts |
| Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | 600 James Robertson Pkwy | Outdoor history park with fountains |
| Cumberland River Greenway | Riverfront Park | 6.5-mile paved riverside trail |
| The Farmers Market | 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd | Free entry, food and crafts year-round |
Practical Tips for Families Visiting Nashville
- Book Adventure Science Center and Nashville Zoo tickets online. Both sell discounted advance tickets and weekend entry can sell out before 11 AM in summer.
- Visit Nashville Shores on a weekday. Weekend crowds at the waterpark are significantly heavier. Tuesday and Wednesday in July and August offer the same experience with shorter queues.
- Use the WeGo public bus for Centennial Park and the Farmers Market. The 3 West End and 23 Bordeaux routes run regularly from downtown and cost $2 per ride. Nashville does not have a metro rail system, so buses or rideshare cover most family movement.
- Plan Broadway for daytime only with children. The honky-tonk strip on Lower Broadway is loud and busy even during the day but becomes an adults-only environment after 9 PM. Daytime visits let children experience the live music without the evening crowd.
- Combine the Grand Ole Opry tour with Opry Mills. The tour takes one hour. The mall directly adjacent has over 200 shops and a Bass Pro Shops flagship store that many children enjoy walking through at no cost.
- Check the Tennessee State Museum calendar. The museum runs free family programming on the first Saturday of each month, including hands-on history activities for children aged 4-12.
Best Time for Fun Family Things To Do In Nashville
| Season | Conditions | Best Family Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 55-75°F, mild, occasional rain | Percy Warner hikes, Centennial Park, museums |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 85-95°F, humid, hot afternoons | Nashville Shores, early morning hikes, indoor museums |
| Fall (Sep-Nov) | 55-75°F, excellent visibility | Nashville Zoo, Percy Warner foliage hikes, Grand Ole Opry |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 35-50°F, low crowds | Tennessee State Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame, Lane Motor Museum |
Fall offers the best all-round conditions for fun family things to do in Nashville. Temperatures cool from the summer humidity, foliage at Percy Warner and Radnor Lake peaks in October, and most outdoor attractions remain fully open through November.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for the fun family things to do in Nashville?
Three to four days covers the Adventure Science Center, Nashville Zoo, Tennessee State Museum, Percy Warner Park, and the Grand Ole Opry tour comfortably. A fifth day adds Nashville Shores in summer or the Country Music Hall of Fame in cooler months, with time for Centennial Park and the Farmers Market.
What are the best free fun family things to do in Nashville?
The Tennessee State Museum, Percy Warner Park, Centennial Park, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, and the Cumberland River Greenway are all free to enter. The Nashville Farmers Market charges no entry fee. Together these free options can fill two full days without spending anything beyond food and transport.
Is Nashville walkable for families?
Downtown Nashville and the Gulch are walkable, but most major family attractions sit in different neighbourhoods and require transport. Rideshare services are reliable and affordable for families. The WeGo bus covers key routes for $2 per ride. Renting a car gives the most flexibility for visiting Percy Warner Park and Nashville Shores.
What are the best indoor fun family things to do in Nashville on a rainy day?
The Adventure Science Center, Tennessee State Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame, Lane Motor Museum, and Opry Mills mall all work well in wet weather. The Sudekum Planetarium inside the Adventure Science Center runs shows regardless of weather and suits children aged 4 and up particularly well.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in for fun family things to do in Nashville?
Opryland and the Music Valley area gives families the closest access to Nashville Shores, the Grand Ole Opry, and the General Jackson Showboat. Midtown suits families who want walkable access to Centennial Park and the Adventure Science Center. Downtown works for families without young children who want to experience Broadway and the waterfront.
Are Nashville’s attractions suitable for toddlers?
Yes. The Adventure Science Center has exhibits specifically designed for children under 4. Nashville Zoo’s WildTown and Kangaroo Kickabout work well for toddlers. Percy Warner Park’s paved trails suit pushchairs. Nashville Shores has a dedicated shallow splash area for children under 48 inches. Most paid attractions admit children under 2 or 3 for free.
Conclusion
Nashville delivers a genuine full family trip without leaning entirely on its music reputation. The fun family things to do in Nashville cover science, history, wildlife, outdoor space, water parks, and live performance across every age group and budget. Start with the Tennessee State Museum and the Adventure Science Center to anchor the trip, then build outward based on your children’s ages and your available days. The fun family things to do in Nashville that stick longest are usually the ones that cost the least.
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