City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 636 Farrell Pkwy.
47. Elliston Place Soda Shop
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 327-1090
Address: 2111 Elliston Place
Description: Okay, so your kids are now watching reruns of Happy Days. But have they ever been in a good old-fashioned diner a la Arnold’s? Elliston Place Soda Shop is the real deal, from its tile floor and Formica tabletops to its fare: thick chocolate milk shakes (one is easily enough for two people); root beer floats, banana splits, and sundaes; burgers, fries, and onion rings; and daily “meat-and-three” specials. Elliston Place Soda Shop was established in 1939 by J. Lynn Chandler, and it still packs ’em in. The minijukeboxes in the booths will make you nostalgic, though they don’t work; to compensate, there’s a Wurlitzer in the back of the room with actual 45 rpm records (remember those?) of pop and country hits.
48. Pancake Pantry
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 383-9333
Description: Yes, you’ll usually have to wait in line, and yes, the food is worth it. But what puts this Nashville favorite on our kid list is the fact that children really are welcome here. There’s a basket of kids’ magazines and games at the entrance to occupy the tykes while everyone endures the inevitable wait. Once you do get seated, the waitstaff is accustomed to dealing with kids—a quick look around on any Saturday morning, and it’s easy to see why. So if Junior’s plate of pancakes ends up on the floor, no fear—no one will bat an eye. With a menu of classic comfort-food favorites—pancakes, waffles, grilled cheese, and the like—even picky eaters are bound to find something yummy. Pancake Pantry serves breakfast and lunch daily.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 353 Opry Mills Dr.
50. Davis–Kidd Booksellers
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 385-2645
Address: 2121 Green Hills Village Dr.
Description: Davis–Kidd has an outstanding children’s section that includes a toy train. Kidds’ Corner storytime is held Mon through Sat at 10 a.m.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
52. Jewish Community Center
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 356-7170
Address: 801 Percy Warner Blvd.
Description: The Jewish Community Center’s pool and gym are popular with all ages; for kids, the center has a full slate of programs, including drama and ballet. On the recreation side, there are lessons in swimming and kids’ yoga. A variety of sports leagues are also available here, such as soccer, T-ball, summer basketball camps, Little League, and the Tiger Sharks swim team. Membership is open to everyone.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 900 Church St. (main office)
54. Youth Inc. Athletics
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 865-0003
Description: Youth Inc. has operated in Middle Tennessee since 1945. Programs and activities include sports leagues such as basketball, bowling, rifle, and in-line hockey. YI also operates the Circle YI Ranch, an ACA-accredited summer camp for boys and girls located on 170 acres at Percy Priest Lake. The ranch houses the organization’s football training facility, where high school football camps are held. YI also has state-of-the-art football and hockey facilities in La Vergne, Bellevue, and Spring Hill. Boys’ and girls’ basketball programs are offered for ages 5 through 14; YI has nonathletic programs as well, including an employment service.
55. West Nashville Youth Sports Association
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: The West Nashville Youth Sports Association provides tackle football and cheerleading programs for youth 5 to 14 years of age. While the name says West Nashville, kids from all over the Metro area are welcome to participate in the group’s programs. Association teams, known as the Broncos, are divided into AAA (11 and 12), BBB (9 and 10), CCC (7 and 8), and Pee Wees. Teams play in the Mid-State Youth Football League and while serious about their play, association staff members pride themselves on putting the emphasis on molding character and being positive role models for kids, not just winning games. Bronco football and cheerleading squads practice and play in Hadley Park in north Nashville. The organization is run by volunteers; the best way to contact the group is via its website.
56. Street Pride
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 770-2372
Description: Street hockey is sort of like ice hockey, only the players wear in-line skates and play in parking lots and other large paved areas. Nashville’s Street Pride program was launched in 1998 by the Nashville Predators in conjunction with Nike and the National Hockey League. Street Pride is designed for youth ages 6 through 16, and games are played at 29 Metro Parks & Recreation Community Centers and YMCAs around the Nashville area. Nashville also hosts the NHL Breakout, a street and in-line hockey tournament each year.
57. Tennessee Futbol Club
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: Formed in 1999, this league has ballooned to more than 30 teams. Boys’ and girls’ teams, soccer camps and academies, and even assistance in college recruiting are available to league members. This group is serious about its play and has some state championships to prove it.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
59. Special Olympics Tennessee
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (615) 329-1375
Description: The Special Olympics offers athletic training and competition for children and adults with mental disabilities. There are more than 10,000 participants in Middle Tennessee. Special Olympics Tennessee hosts 8 state games and tournament competitions each year. These events encompass 22 official sports, including softball, aquatics, volleyball, horseshoes, tennis, power lifting, and even bocce (though not all sports are available in all locations). Nashville competitions are held at Vanderbilt and Lipscomb Universities, with aquatic events held at the Centennial Sportsplex.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 301 East Broadway