For a bit of rest and relaxation, take a stroll around Centennial Park. Bring a picnic lunch and feed the crusts to the local flocks of ducks or rent a paddle boat and cruise around the lake. For something a bit livelier, try Riverfront Park instead. They frequently offer free live music and have a large carousel that's very popular with small children, and ice skating is available for more active kids. If it's bigger thrills your crew is seeking, head to Nashville Shores for a ride on the Big Scream or barrel down 700-foot Tennessee Twister water slide.
Bring the past to life by paying a visit to Manskers Station or the Belle Meade Plantation, where costumed tour guides and painstaking renovations capture the atmosphere of times gone by. The Bowen House at Manskers Station is one of the oldest in Tennessee and was used by the militia during the American Revolution. At Belle Meade, you can experience a southern plantation as it was prior to the Civil War, with guided tours of both the mansion and the slave quarters.
They don't call Nashville "Music City" for nothing. Your music fans will enjoy browsing the colorful artifacts on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Once you've seen what they used to wear on stage, wander on over to the Music Valley Museum of Wax and take a gander at life-like representations of more than 50 stars of country music. Then walk down the Sidewalk of Stars and admire the handprints of more than 250 singing legends. Round out the music fest with a trip to the Grand Ole Opry for a lively celebration of country music.
Absorb some of the local culture by swinging through Puckett's Grocery and grabbing a burger. There's bound to be a few locals hanging around picking out bluegrass tunes on a banjo and the burger is big enough to remind you that in the South they don't stop eating, they give up. After lunch, walk off the extra calories by exploring the Nashville Toy Museum. Follow the progression of playthings through time by wandering through the largest privately owned assortment of toys in the United States. Or, if you're looking for something a bit more creative, take your budding artists to the Art Quest Gallery where they will have access to more than 30 different art projects.
Encourage your kids to get involved in the hands-on displays at the Adventure Science Center. Each exhibit is designed to demonstrate the fun side of hard science. Alternatively, you can climb the tallest peak in Nashville and allow your junior astronomers to peer into space at the Dyer Observatory. For a more down-to-earth experience, explore the 55-acre Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Make sure your kids are dressed for a mess as younger visitors are encouraged to create any number of garden-themed crafts.
