music cityfamily friendly attractions

MUSIC CITY
FA MILY FR IENDLY ATTR ACTIONS
E N T E R TA I N M E N T F O R T H E W H O L E F A M I LY
Nashville’s warm and friendly atmosphere and countless familyfriendly attractions make it the perfect destination for a family getaway.
From indoor, rainy-day activities to outdoor water parks, from art and
music to theatre, Nashville has plenty to stimulate the mind, exercise
the body, and entertain the whole family!
ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER
adventuresci.org
It’s an amazing, original, scientific adventure! Make your way down the hatch
to the “Heart of it All,” engage in “Body
Battles,” or explore “Adventure Tower”
that features 2,800 square feet of hands-on
learning plus other exciting, interactive exhibits and displays. The newest addition to
the Adventure Science Center is the $21.4
million, 160-seat Sudekum Planetarium.
The state-of-the-art planetarium has a 63foot dome and can display 6.5 million stars.
The addition also includes the Space Chase
exhibit hall which houses 30 original displays and 63 interactive stations, including
a simulated star walk.
B E L L E M E A D E P L A N TAT I O N
bellemeadeplantation.com
Belle Meade Plantation started in 1807
with a log cabin and 250 acres. It grew into a
beautiful Greek Revival Mansion and one of
the largest private estates in Nashville covering
over 5,400 acres. Today, visitors can explore
the remaining 30 acres and find the original
cabin, a log cabin, and a massive carriage house
and stables built in 1892, housing an impressive carriage collection. After your guided tour
is complete, you can enjoy a complimentary
wine tasting in the winery. Indulge in our
muscadine and blackberry wines or any of the
hand-made chocolates, then visit the gift shop
for unique treasures.
BICENTENNIAL CAPITOL MALL
S TAT E PA R K
tn.us/environment/parks/Bicentennial
Tour Tennessee via a 200-foot granite
map, a walkway featuring the 95 counties,
31 fountains representing the major rivers
of Tennessee, and an extraordinary history
wall. The park also includes a large carillon,
World War II Memorial, and a 2,000-seat
amphitheater.
BLUEBIRD CAFE
bluebirdcafe.com
Nashville’s legendary hotspot allows patrons to enjoy songwriters performing original material in an intimate “in-the-round”
setting. Bluebird Cafe is a great spot for older
children to hear from the songwriters behind
their favorite radio tunes and learn a little
about the not-so-public names that are so
important to Music City. May not be suitable for younger ages, as the Bluebird Cafe
has gained a reputation as a listening room
and has a ‘shhh’ policy. This is designed to
keep conversation minimal to not distract
other listeners and the songwriters
performing
C A R N T O N P L A N TAT I O N
carnton.org
Built in 1825 by Randal McGavock and
later used as a field hospital, Carnton played a
central role in the Civil War. Four Confederate generals were killed during the bloody
Battle of Franklin and their bodies were laid
on Carnton’s back porch. The floors of the
restored home are still stained with the blood
of the men who were treated there. Today,
visitors tour the distinctive large brick house
to learn of 19th century Tennessee life.
C H E E K W O O D B O TA N I C A L
GARDEN & MUSEUM OF ART
Adventure Science Center
cheekwood.org
Cheekwood is the perfect place for the
whole family. Mom and Dad can enjoy the
55-acre botanical garden and art museum
located on the historic Cheek estate while the
kids enjoy family-friendly activities offered
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Fontanel Mansion
throughout the week including “Tuesdays for
Tots” and “Backpack Adventure.” Backpack
Adventure backpacks, loaned free of charge,
are filled with clip-boards, art supplies, and
fun activity books for up to three people, making the experience even more enriching for
families and visitors of all ages.
Take a garden scavenger hunt. Count frogs
by the pond. Discover the sculpture trail. Or,
just let your children roam free throughout
the grounds, following the stream and chasing
butterflies. Family-focused, self-guided tour
experiences (both indoors and out) will fire
your children’s imagination and awaken them
to the marvels of the natural world. With
morning, lunch, and afternoon sessions offered to create an all-day experience for kids,
Cheekwood is the place to be this summer!
ERNEST TUBB RECORD SHOP &
GRIMEY’S NEW & PRE-LOVED
MUSIC
etrecordshop.com
grimeys.com
Shop for the hard-to-find vintage classic or the latest release at these legendary
record shops. Ernest Tubb specializes in all
things country, and Grimey’s is known for
its vintage and indie collection. Both were
listed in Paste Magazine’s “Coolest Record
Stores in America.”
F O N TA N E L M A N S I O N A N D F A R M
fontanelmansion.com
The Fontanel Mansion, a 27,000-squarefoot log home formerly owned by Country
Music Hall of Fame® member Barbara Man-
drell, opened its doors to the public in 2010.
Located less than 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, The Mansion at Fontanel
boasts three stories, more than 20 rooms, 13
bathrooms, five fireplaces, two kitchens, an
indoor pool, and even an indoor shooting
range, all on 136 acres of pristine land. An
exclusive spot for the stars, the home and
grounds have been the setting for numerous
photo and video shoots.
Guests can experience an outdoor concert at The Woods at Fontanel, soar through
a shaded forest canopy during a zipline tour,
hike The Trails at Fontanel, visit the new
Goo Goo Outpost and Prichard’s Distillery,
dine at Café Fontanella, stay at the luxury
boutique hotel The Inn at Fontanel, and
much more. Nashville’s only country music
mansion tour, the Mansion at Fontanel gives
visitors a sneak peek into the lives of country
music greats by providing a truly interactive
experience. Tours are available seven days a
week from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
FORT NEGLEY
nashville.gov
Visit the largest and most important
of the fortifications built by Union forces
after Nashville fell in 1862 during the
Civil War. Fort Negley is the largest inland
stone fortification constructed during the
Civil War. Admission is free, so be sure to
stop by the Visitors Center and tour the
fort for spectacular views of Nashville.
FRIST CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS
fristcenter.org
A 24,000-square foot visual art exhibition
center and educational facility located downtown in Nashville’s art-deco, former U.S. Post
Office building has an ever-changing schedule
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME®
AND MUSEUM
countrymusichalloffame.org
Engage your children in a hands-on history of country music at the Country Music
Hall of Fame® and Museum. Many of the
exhibits in the museum are interactive and
tell the story through songwriters, musicians, and artists.
New to the museum is the Taylor Swift
Education Center, a fun space that offers
programs for toddlers, afterschool workshops for teens, and book talks for curious
adults. Three classrooms, an interactive
gallery, youth art installations, and more
create an exciting learning environment
where visitors of all ages can experience the
culture of country music.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Treetop Adventure Park, an aerial adventure
course that features 100 obstacles including
suspended bridges, 10 zip lines, cargo nets,
Tarzan jumps, and more. The park is divided
into courses based on age and ability so everyone can participate.
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
nashvillesymphony.org
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra
offers several programs for children that are
both entertaining and educational. Programs include “Is It a Fiddle or a Violin?”, a
program in collaboration with the Country
Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, the Pied
Piper Concert Series, and Young People’s
Concerts.
Lane Motor Museum
of exhibitions from local, regional, national,
and international sources. The center also
features the interactive ArtQuest gallery that
houses 30 incredible hands-on stations. Visitors of all ages are invited and encouraged to
create prints and collages, paint and sketch,
or learn about photography, architecture and
the essentials of art, including depth, color,
light, and perspective. The activities at the
stations change as the Frist Center’s exhibitions change, so there’s always something new
to try. Kids 18 and under are always welcome
free of charge.
GENERAL JACKSON
generaljackson.com
Take a ride on the famous General
Jackson Showboat where you can enjoy
delicious meals and world-class entertainment while cruising the majestic Cumberland River. Midday cruises and evening
cruises include a three-course dinner and
live music show.
GRAND OLE OPRY
opry.com
Expose the entire family to some of
country’s greatest stars at the famous
Grand Ole Opry. The world’s longestrunning radio show has become a liveentertainment phenomenon dedicated to
honoring country music’s rich history and
dynamic present.
T H E H E R M I TA G E
thehermitage.com
Explore Nashville’s past as your family
tours The Hermitage, Home of President
Andrew Jackson by guides in period costume.
Take a hands-on-history class or enjoy a ride
N A S H V I L L E Z O O AT G R A S S M E R E
on a horse-drawn wagon as you hear about
the exciting and controversial life of our seventh president.
LANE MOTOR MUSEUM
lanemotormuseum.org
Located in a former 132,000-square-foot
bakery, this eclectic museum is home to the
largest European collection in the U.S. featuring 150 extraordinary cars and motorcycles
from around the world including micro-cars,
amphibious vehicles, competition cars, and
motorcycles. The museum also has a kids’
indoor play area.
N A S H V I L L E C H I L D R E N ’ S T H E AT R E
nashvillechildrenstheatre.org
Ranked by TIME Magazine as one of the
top five children’s theaters in the country,
the Nashville Children’s Theatre is the oldest professional, non-profit theatre dedicated
exclusively to kids and families in the country.
NCT is enjoying its 83rd season producing
quality theatre in its state-of-the-art theatre.
NCT also offers camps and classes throughout
the year for children of different ages.
NASHVILLE SHORES
nashvilleshores.com
This 385-acre family recreation destination is located on the shores of Percy Priest
Lake, just 15 minutes from downtown Nashville. Nashville Shores Waterpark features
more than one million gallons of summer fun.
Brave the waves in the gigantic water pool,
plunge down the thrilling water slides, enjoy
a leisurely float in the lazy river, soak up the
rays on the beautiful beach, or play, slide and
splash in Kowabunga Beach, a massive treehouse and sprayground. Be sure to experience
nashvillezoo.org
Nashville Zoo offers more than 400
different species thriving in beautiful habitats along shaded pathways. Experience
up-close encounters with clouded leopards
and red pandas along Bamboo Trail, see
elephants and giraffes grazing on African
savannahs, wander through Flamingo
Lagoon, and discover amazing creatures
like the Galapagos tortoises in the Unseen
New World. You can also monkey around
on a 66,000-square-foot Jungle Gym, take
a spin on the Wild Animal Carousel,
ride the Wilderness Express train, or be
surrounded by more than 50 Australian
parrots at Lorikeet Landing. Unique to all
other zoos, Nashville Zoo also offers the
Historic Grassmere Home and Farm.
TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER
tpac.org
The Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera,
and Tennessee Repertory Theatre all call
TPAC home. In addition, several Broadway
shows, concerts, and special engagements
come to TPAC annually presenting up to
500 performances a year and attended by
more than 500,000 audience members.
TENNESSEE SPORTS HALL OF
FAME & MUSEUM
tshf.net
The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
and Museum features sports from team to
extreme! Visitors can play virtual reality
one-on-one basketball, strength train like an
Olympic swimmer, hop in a kayak to simulate
shooting the rapids on the Ocoee River, and
learn about Tennessee’s sports heroes.
T R AV E L L E R S R E S T P L A N TAT I O N
& MUSEUM
travellersrestplantation.org
Built in 1779 by Judge John Overton, friend
and law partner of President Andrew Jackson,
Travellers Rest allows guests to experience life
in early Nashville from its frontier days through
the Civil War and Reconstruction.
WAV E C O U N T RY
nashville.gov
Dive into the wave action fresh water
pool and water slide complex at the area’s
original wave-action swimming pool. Ride
the waves or drop from a 40-foot tower.
G R E AT R E S TA U R A N T S
FOR KIDS
C A LY P S O C A F E
calypsocafe.com
Their mission says it all: high quality,
hearty dishes at a reasonable price in a fun,
relaxed, and efficient setting. The kids’ menu
offers smaller portions of the restaurant’s signature items.
Wave Country
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
FARMERS’ MARKET
nashvillefarmersmarket.org
The Farmers’ Market is an indoor and outdoor public market, featuring locally-grown
produce, ethnic food, restaurants, specialty
items, and live music ranging from bluegrass
and jazz to country. It’s open every day.
ELLISTON PLACE SODA SHOP
This old-fashioned soda shop (opened in
1939) is known for its great burgers, frothy ice
cream sodas, and delicious chocolate shakes.
This time capsule of Americana, with its
red-and-white tiled walls, old beat-up Formica
tables, and individual booth jukeboxes, will
make you think you have stepped back in
time.
LOVELESS CAFE
lovelesscafe.com
Loveless Cafe, which started serving its
famous fried chicken and biscuits in 1951,
remains unchanged in the quaint country
charm and good cooking that has made it a
landmark in the South since the doors opened.
MAFIAOZA’S PIZZERIA
mafiaozas.com
Mafiaoza’s Pizzeria is located in Nashville’s
12South neighborhood. With two-for-one
slices of pizza on Tuesday nights and a kids
menu that includes delicious pastas, it is no
wonder that Mafiaoza’s is a favorite neighborhood hangout.
MARTIN’S BBQ JOINT
hardrock.com/cafes/nashville
Walls covered with decades of Top-40
memorabilia, rock songs blaring in the background, and an all-American menu typify this
music-themed restaurant.
martinsbbqjoint.com
Owner Patrick Martin incorporates the
art of West Tennessee whole hog BBQ at his
award-winning restaurant. Martin’s has been
named by Bon Appétit as one of America’s Top
10 New Barbecue Restaurants. They offer a
great kids menu for 12 and under.
T H E L O C A L TA C O
N O S H V I L L E D E L I C AT E S S E N
HARD ROCK CAFE
thelocaltaco.com
The Local Taco is located in Sylvan Park.
Their menu embraces the simple pleasures
of Tex-Mex and has a fabulous outdoor patio
and televisions. Kids 12 and under can enjoy
a kids menu that features quesadillas, tacos,
and chicken tenders.
noshville.com
An authentic New York style delicatessen, Noshville New York Delicatessen’s goal
is simple: to prepare and serve the highestquality delicatessen food in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere.
THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY
Pancake Pantry
osf.com
For more than a generation, families and
friends have been going to The Old Spaghetti
Factory to enjoy the delicious food, charming atmosphere, and friendly service. You
will dine amid fine antiques, collected from
around the world, while savoring perfectlycooked pasta and spaghetti sauces, freshly
made, using only the finest ingredients.
PANCAKE PANTRY
thepancakepantry.com
For a special breakfast treat, head to the
Pancake Pantry in trendy Hillsboro Village,
where you can choose from 24 different varieties of pancakes. The line forms early and
people will wait to get a taste of the worldfamous flapjacks.
PARK CAFÉ
parkcafenashville.com
This upscale and vibrant restaurant
boasts a perfect blend of simple Southern
comfort and big city flair. It has a great
kid’s menu with smaller portions of their
most popular dishes.
PEG LEG PORKER
peglegporker.com
With deep-seated roots in the West
Tennessee barbecue culture, Peg Leg Porker is a lifestyle brand founded by awardwinning Pitmaster Carey Bringle. Located
in The Gulch, they offer excellent barbecue sauces and rubs and delicious foods.
The kids menu is for 12 and under.
Taco Mamacita
PFUNKY GRIDDLE
thepfunkygriddle.com
This cute cottage restaurant is outfitted
with tables that double as griddles. Amateur pancake makers are given unlimited
amounts of their choice of pancake mix
and toppings to create their own pancake
creations.
THE PHARMACY BURGER PARLOR
& BEER GARDEN
thepharmacynashville.com
Voted “Best Burger 2013”, The Pharmacy is a popular restaurant located in
East Nashville that serves house-made
soda and shakes and gourmet and unique
hamburgers and brats. The kids menu
comes with a side and soda and is priced
at $4.50.
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
A N D R E S TA U R A N T
puckettsgrocery.com
With mismatched tables and chairs and
an eclectic clientele of farmers, songwriters, and country music stars, Puckett’s is a
restaurant serving up a dining experience
unlike any other. Located at Fifth Avenue
and Church in downtown Nashville,
Puckett’s offers a great kids menu for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
ROBERT’S WESTERN WORLD
robertswesternworld.com
Robert’s Western World is located on
Lower Broadway and is Nashville’s undisputed home of traditional country music.
Grab a table (kids not allowed by bar)
and enjoy live music and a tasty burger or
chicken fingers.
ROTIER’S
rotiers.com
Started in 1945, Rotier’s is a familyowned meat-and-three restaurant with an old
mid-South style charm. Located in Elliston
Place near Vanderbilt campus, Rotier’s is a
local favorite that has won “Best Cheeseburger” in town for 11 years in a row.
TA C O M A M A C I TA
tacomamacita.com
This hip and casual restaurant in Edgehill
Village offers a made-fresh-daily menu of
Mexican-inspired food and a family-friendly
atmosphere. Kids eat free every Monday
when they wear their Taco Mamacita shirt.
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