Kids' Nashville: 6 Kid-Friendly Nashville Activities

When raising a family in a new place, it's important to know where the family-friendly activities are. Discover some of the best things to do with kids in Nashville, TN.

Kids' Nashville: 6 Kid-Friendly Nashville Activities Close
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Kids' Nashville: 6 Kid-Friendly Nashville Activities

Posted by Gary Ashton on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 at 9:13am.

Things to Do With Kids in Nashville

Nashville, TN, is a great place for everyone. The list of things to do in Nashville includes everything from childhood enrichment and education to just getting out and having some fun outdoors. Nashville is a fun-for-everyone kind of city. For those new to town or thinking of moving to Nashville may be wondering what there is to do with little ones. Keep reading to learn about six fun things to do with kids in Nashville.

Nashville Zoo

Nashville Zoo Amenities

  • Critter Encounters
  • Aviary
  • Soaring Eagle Zip Line
  • Over 300 species

The Nashville Zoo is located in the Caldwell neighborhood. There are numerous attractions at the zoo for kids of all ages. Critter Encounters is a chance for hands-on time with Galapagos tortoises, goats, alpacas, and other animals. The Kangaroo Kickabout has 18 kangaroos in an Australian habitat. The Lorikeet Landing is an aviary filled with friendly Australian and African birds and parrots. The Tiger Crossroads and the Andean Bear are big hits with most visitors. The Soaring Eagle Zip Line carries visitors over the exhibits with giraffes, rhinos, and other animals (riders must be 42" tall). And the Shell Station is an exhibit with some African tortoises that the little ones can interact with.

The Nashville Zoo charges $16 to $23 (currently) for teens and adults, with discounts for kids aged 2 to 11. Kids under two can attend free with their parents. There's also an $8 parking fee.

Nashville Children's Theatre

Nashville Children's Theatre Amenities

  • Drama camps
  • Drama classes
  • Yearly plays and musicals
  • Stage on Middleton Street

The Nashville Children's Theatre has been a fixture in the Downtown Nashville area since 1931. The NCT hosts drama camps for kids throughout the year and drama classes for all ages. It also stages children's plays and musicals every year. The drama school provides in-person and online classes for kids of all skill levels. The courses lead to children performing informal plays to full-scale professional productions on the Nashville Children's Theatre stage on Middleton Street. NCT classes typically happen on Saturdays. Day-long camps take place in the fall, spring and summer, typically during breaks from school.

Supporters of the Nashville Children's Theatre can purchase memberships at various levels that allow access to the Theatre's shows. Individual tickets for shows start at around $12. Current prices are $135 for ten weekly Saturday sessions to attend the drama classes.

Goo Goo Chocolate Co.

Goo Goo Chocolate Co. Amenities

  • Chocolate-making classes
  • Store
  • Full-service chocolate bar

The Goo Goo Chocolate Company in Downtown Nashville offers a true "Willy Wonka"-style experience for all ages. This shop offers interactive chocolate-making classes, a retail store, and a full-service chocolate bar. The big draw of this experience is that visitors can design their candy bar with whatever gooey ingredients they want. While the kids are making their candy bars, parents can enjoy dark chocolates with beverage pairings.

The "Taste of Goo Goo" classes are recommended for children ages five and up. Kids get the chance to design and make their candy bar and wrap it. They get to take home treats from the class and a Goo Goo Chocolate Co. apron.

Madame Tussauds Nashville

Madame Tussauds Nashville Amenities

  • Life-sized wax statues
  • No roped-off areas
  • Dozens of musicians represented

When coming up with kid-friendly activities in Nashville, Ozzy Osbourne is probably not the first person one thinks of, but there's a life-size replica of him at Madame Tussauds Nashville. This branch of the world-renowned wax museum is dedicated to musicians from nearly every genre. The attraction is just across the street from the Grand Ole Opry on Opry Mills Drive. It has dozens of life-like wax statues of the biggest stars in country music, rock n' roll, jazz, and more. Unlike some other versions of Madame Tussauds museums, there are no roped-off areas in this one. Visitors can get right next to the statues and take selfies with replicas of Reba McEntire, Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Katy Perry, and dozens of other artists.

Admission to Madame Tussaud's Nashville starts at around $26 per adult. Groups of ten or more can typically get tickets for as low as $10 apiece. Special events are priced a little bit higher.

Adventure Science Center

Adventure Science Center Amenities

  • 175 hands-on experiences & labs
  • Planetarium
  • Full-dome theater

The Adventure Science Center is located just south of Downtown Nashville in the Chestnut Hill community. Plan for at least a three-hour visit to see most of the attractions offered in this massive, 44,000-square-foot building. It has 175 hands-on science experiences and labs for kids of all ages. A must-see attraction is a planetarium, for a look at the stars. Catch a show in a 360-degree, full-dome theater. The exhibits and activities offer learning experiences about biology, medicine, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, technology, and more. The staff of scientist educators hosts daily science labs and demonstrations for visitors. The Adventure Science Center offers a fun and accessible way to spark children's imagination as they're learning more about science.

Tickets for admission to the Adventure Science Center are $18 for adults and $14 for kids aged 3 to 12. Admission is free for kids two and under.

Fannie Mae Dees Park

Fannie Mae Dees Park Amenities

  • 180-foot-long dragon
  • Playground
  • Picnic areas and gazebos
  • Tennis courts
  • Spray fountain

Fannie Mae Dees Park is in the Vanderbilt University area. It's named for a woman who fought City Hall and lost an eminent domain battle when Nashville wanted to expand the university's size. The park is nicknamed "Dragon Park" after its most distinguishing feature: A 180-foot-long, colorful sea serpent. The dragon surrounds the playground equipment at the park, and there's also a "fort" for kids to play in. The park also has shaded picnic areas and gazebos for visitors, so families can easily spend several hours there. The park also has tennis courts and a dragon spray fountain for anyone who wants to cool off during the hot Nashville summers. Since it is a city park, admission is free.

Kids Love Nashville

Kids in Nashville will never run out of fun things to do! The city offers hundreds of adventures and activities for those willing to explore and uncover its many hidden gems. Aside from this shortlist, there are tons of musical and cultural activities offered in Nashville that people of all ages can enjoy.

If the opportunities of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage with Nashville's MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in touch with local real estate agents who can help find the perfect Nashville home for you today.

 

 

Gary Ashton

The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage

The #1 RE/MAX team in the World!

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