If you think Nashville is all dive bars, honky-tonks, singers wearing cowboy hats and people crying in their beer, you're in for a big surprise. Sure, those things exist in Music City, but Nashville is so much more than just the capital of country music. Families traveling with children will find a wealth of kid-friendly activities on tap when they visit this middle Tennessee metropolis filled with culture beyond country. The trick is choosing what to do from all that's available in the Volunteer State's capital city.
If the goal is to expose your kids to good music in a way that won't bore them to tears, the Grand Ole Opry is a must. One of the world's longest running radio shows, the Opry prides itself on being family-friendly and doesn't even mind supervised kids running up and down the aisles of the Opry House during performances. You'll see country, folk and Americana legends performing on the same bill with tomorrow's stars. The Country Music Hall of Fame with its dazzling displays and interactive exhibits is worth a visit afterward so your kids can see and feel the full effect of what the Opry and Nashville mean to American music.
Don't mention the educational part to your kids, because that takes care of itself at the Adventure Science Center. As the name says, a visit to this center is an adventure. Everything here is hands-on. Feel what it's like to walk on the moon. Take an imaginary walk through the galaxy. And that's just for starters.
At the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, children can discover their inner Picasso at art-making stations inside this world-class art museum. The Frist is housed inside a beautiful and historic art deco-style building that long ago served as Nashville's main post office.
Most people don't think of Nashville as a water town, but the wide Cumberland River cuts right through the heart of it. The General Jackson Showboat has a number of day and evening cruises that welcome children. This is a good catch-all choice for a family because for one price you get the riverboat ride, a meal and a family-friendly show. Other outdoor fun awaits at Cheekwood Botanical Garden's 55 acres; at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, which includes an animatronic experience with extinct dinosaurs; and at the Nashville Shores full-fledged water park that also includes the Treetop Adventure Park, a zip line and ropes course through the tree canopy.
The holiday season is a magical time in Music City. What kid doesn't love seeing a mega display of Christmas lights? That's what they'll get at Gaylord Opryland Resort, which decks itself out with millions of lights on the grounds and inside a hotel atrium so huge there's a man-made river running through it. You don't have to be a guest of the resort to enjoy all the holiday offerings at Opryland because the public is welcome to experience the lights, shows and rides. Another holiday tradition is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, when the famed, high-kicking Rockettes come to town to put on a show at the Opry House. During this time, the Grand Ole Opry moves to its former home, the legendary Ryman Auditorium, which is a treat itself.
