In the more than 200 years since its founding in 1779, the community now known worldwide as Nashville, Tennessee, has earned fame and prestige in many areas and, in the process, earned a proportionate number of nicknames. “Music City” . . . “Athens of the South” . . . “Wall Street of the South” . . . “The Buckle of the Bible Belt” . . . “City of Parks”—those are just a few of the names Nashville has been given throughout its history.
The problem we have with such nicknames is that each is severely limited, generally paying tribute to only one facet of what is truly a multifaceted metropolitan area. At the same time, we appreciate that each of these names, in its own way, serves as a tribute to some of the accomplishments that have made our city great. In other words, it is significant that Nashville has inspired so many terms of endearment, and so we’ll look at these nicknames in greater detail later in this chapter. But first, we’d like to take time to point out something that, although you probably already know it, can occasionally get obscured by all the hype. And that is: Nashville is a wonderful place to live or to visit.
There is a lot more to Nashville than music, as you’ll see in this chapter. Whether you are a longtime resident, a frequent visitor, or a first-timer, Nashville has a great mix of attractions to entertain and enlighten. In fact, we have so many great places to visit and so many fun things to do, we can’t possibly list them all here. For that reason, we’re highlighting some of the Nashville area’s most popular attractions—the ones residents and tourists alike visit year after year. In this chapter we arrange attractions by the following categories: Historic Sites, Museums, Amusements and the Zoo, and Fun Transportation and Tours. If you’re planning an itinerary filled with country music–related locales, you’ll find all the information you need in our Music City chapter. We list music attractions there—including country music museums, the hottest live music venues, and annual music festivals. Also, be sure to look in our Parks, Recreation, The Arts, Day Trips & Weekend Getaways, Annual Events, Kidstuff, and Shopping chapters for other fun and interesting places to visit in and around Nashville. Since fees and hours of operation are subject to change, it’s a good idea to call before visiting the attractions listed in this chapter.
No doubt about it, Nashville is a kid-friendly place. Ask new Nashvillians why they chose to live in Music City, and more often than not, the answer is the same: “We thought this would be a good place to raise children.”
That’s not idle hyperbole, either. Nashville’s diverse arts, sports, education, and religious communities offer a wealth of opportunities for kids of all ages. Nashville’s “family-friendly” character manifests in a variety of unusual ways: This is a town where school cafeteria menus are broadcast on the morning news, and kids have access to a teacher-staffed “homework hotline” if they need help with their schoolwork.
Nashville’s abundant creative energy has given rise to some unique youth-oriented activities, as well. The city is proud home to the country’s oldest children’s theater and the world’s largest community-built jungle gym.
Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly activities and fun spots. Keep in mind that in a city growing as rapidly as Nashville, some attractions will have closed or moved, and others will have taken their place. Remember to call first to check hours of operation.
There is plenty do in Nashville. If you don’t believe that, just take a look through some of the other chapters in this book. But every now and then, we get the urge to hit the road, to get away from it all and explore new territory. Lucky for us, Nashville is centrally located. Three interstates travel through Music City, offering easy access to a number of great destinations in any direction. Highways and back roads can provide an altogether different experience, taking us on a slower pace through charming towns, historic locations, beautiful farmland, rolling hills, and mountain villages. In this chapter we feature some of our favorite day trips and weekend getaways. Most of these are within an easy 3-hour drive from Nashville. It’s a good idea to call ahead for the latest information on operating hours and rates. The next time you’re feeling a little restless, stressed out, or bored, or if you’re just in search of a fun way to spend a day or weekend, consider one of these trips, or pick up a map and plot your own getaway. Think of it as a minivacation.