12 Free Things to Do In Nashville, Tennessee with Kids
Ya’ll headed to Nashville, Tennessee with the kiddos? You will have a great time! Nashville is a beautiful city. I love how it has that big-city vibe but still maintains a small-town feel.
There are several activities there that the whole family can enjoy in Nashville. I always like to find inexpensive things our family can enjoy together. I’ve made a list of all the free things to do in Nashville, Tennessee with the kids and I wanted to share it with you. Your wallet can thank me later!
1. Radnor Lake
Hike the high trail or participate in one of their scheduled canoe floats, wildflower walks, and aviary tours. These events are all FREE and open to the public. You can see a list of events on the calendar HERE.
Radnor Lake // 1160 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN 37220 // 615.373.3467
2. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Above photo via
The kiddos will love exploring this 19-acre park and learning all about the history of Tennessee. They will also have a blast in the summertime playing in the Rivers of Tennessee fountains. There is also a 200-foot granite map of the state of Tennessee and a World War II memorial. It’s a great spot to have a picnic, take photos of the family, and catch a fantastic view of the Capitol Building.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park // 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave. // Nashville, TN 37243
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park WEBSITE
3. Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
It’s free to walk around the Opryland Garden Conservatory Atrium even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. Parking at the resort can cost $20 so we park at the nearby mall and walk to the Opryland Resort. My kids love walking along the pathways in this lush atrium. It feels like a small city inside a botanical garden inside an atrium. It has restaurants, fountains, bridges, shops, and even a boat ride (boat rides are about $10)
Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens // 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, Tennessee // 615.889.1000
Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens Website
4. The Nashville Flea Market
The Nashville Flea Market is held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and it is considered to be in the top 10 in the nation. It is a great place to look for treasures (treasures such as antiques, jewelry, handmade clothing, etc.) The market is held every fourth weekend of the month. The entrance is free.
The Nashville Flea Market // 625 Smith Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 // 615.862.5016
The Nashville Flea Market WEBSITE
5. Cumberland Park
Located right along the river, Cumberland Park offers many play areas and water features. There is a splash pad, an area to play in the sand, a bouncing pad, a green maze, The Gorge area (with a rock climbing wall, sliding poles, and climbing ropes), and a tandem see-saw for parents and kids. Lots of free activities for kiddos and the whole family!
The park is open every day from dawn until 11 p.m.
Cumberland Park // 592 South First Street, Nashville, TN 37213 // 615.862.8400
6. Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Adults and older children will enjoy all of the art exhibits and children will love visiting Martin ArtQuest at the Upper Level. Martin ArtQuest is full of fun, interactive activities for the little ones.
There is an entrance fee for adults ($12) but kids 18 years and younger are FREE.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts WEBSITE
7. Centennial Park & The Parthenon
Located within a few miles of Downtown Nashville, Centennial is a great park to visit with the family. There are events almost every weekend (like Culture Events, Craft Fairs, and Shakespeare in the Park). There is also a greenway that is about a mile long that goes around the edge of the park. It is a nice place to walk by the kids and as you walk by the lake, the kiddos can feed the ducks.
The Parthenon was built in Nashville’s Centennial Park in 1897 as part of Tennessee’s centennial celebration. It is an exact copy of the Athenian Parthenon and is still a very popular attraction in Nashville. You can enter and pay $6 for the art museum located inside, but visiting the exterior is free and well worth a visit.
Centennial Park and Parthenon WEBSITE
8. Free Concerts at Live on the Green
Above photos via
This concert series is held at Public Square Park and hosts local and national musical artists every Thursday evening in August and September. Live on the Green features concerts with established music performers and emerging and up-and-coming artists.
9. Parnassus Books
Above photo via
Parnassus Books is a cute, neighborhood bookstore that offers free storytime events for children and free readings. There are also free signings of books, but the book must be purchased of course. You can learn more about special events HERE.
10. Tennessee State Museum
Above photo via
The Tennessee State Museum focuses on the history of Tennessee and the history of the South. It has one of the largest Civil War Collections in the USA. The exhibits range from guitars to cotton gins to mastodon bones to log cabins to covered wagons.
Tennessee State Museum // 505 Deaderick Street // Nashville, TN 37243-1120
Tennessee State Museum WEBSITE
11. John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge connects downtown Nashville to the football stadium. There is no traffic, so people can walk or bike across the bridge. It’s nice to be able to take your time and stop to enjoy the view or take photos.
12. Walk Broadway Street
Broadway Street is exciting and fun both day and night. I honestly prefer to take the kiddos to Broadway Street during the day. We enjoy the shops and live music. At night, the music gets louder and the partying and bar hopping begins, so I think Broadway is more family-friendly during the daytime.
Have you been to Nashville? Have you discovered some free activities for kiddos there? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Related Posts
About The Author
KristyB
Wife. Mom. Graphic Designer. Photographer. Professional Nap Taker. Part-time Traveler (with kids in tow, of course!)
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Thank you for this content. During my last visit to Nashville, I had a great time at The Stage On Broadway, a live country music and full service bar. You can also include that place in your blogs.
Thank you for this content. During my last visit to Nashville, I had a great time at Legends Corner, a live country music and full service bar. You could also include that place in your blogs.
Thank you for this content. During my last visit to Nashville, I had a great time at “Legends Corner, a live country music and full service bar. You could also include that place in your blogs.
I loved your pictures and the information shared by you! Very helpful!
Wow such a great information! I have never been to TN but would love to check these places out when i do 🙂
Omg that park! Kids are always trying to get in touch with any water. That park is a hit!!!
Looks and sounds like some great things to do and places to viist – even better they are free! i love a free day out! Makes all the difference!
What a great post. I want to take my kids and travel so much. Tennessee is definitely on the list. I love that you’ve shared these kid friendly ideas.
Will have to bookmark this for my Nashville trip later this year! Thanks for being so thorough.
It would be so fun to visit Nashville and do some of these activities with the kids in tow. My wallet definitley appreciates the list! Should we ever make the trip we have lots of frugal options to pick from, thanks!
I haven’t been to Nashville. But I would really love to visit these places! That would be a very fun and exciting place to visit.
This looks like so much fun! I have never been to Tennessee before, and I bet there are tons of family friendly things to do.
I would love to go to Nashville sometime. I love that you listed a bookstore as a place to visit.
The art center, I seriously need to see if something like that is offered locally. I love the idea of bring art to the children while being surrounded by art and creating their own.
Sounds like an amazing trip to Tennessee that’s very much worth it. I’ve never been to Nashville and this post makes me want to go there now. I’d love to try all the good food!
These look like great and visually stunning places to visit and I adore that they are free! The water features look like a lot of fun.
Those are really great things to do when you are in that place and I know it will be enjoy not only by kids but all ages.
Kristy, this is such a great round up. I am sure this is going to be so useful for the locals. I wish more folks would do this for their local areas. <3
In Nashville it looks like there are so many free things to do–from Hiking, or participating in canoe floats, wildflower walks, and aviary tours.
My son, chronically 35, and I would love the Aviary Tour at Radnor Lake. He has been a bird enthusiast since age 5. I would love checking out the history in the Bicentennial state park and the Centennial Park as well as the Tennessee State Park. Thanks for sharing all these great places. Free is wonderful but I have found some places I would love to visit free or not.
You had me right at the title! I LOVEEEE that you have a blog about taking a vacation that is kid friendly. I really want to check out Frist Center for the Visual Arts. That looks like an awesome place.
Great article, with great ideas on how to spend your free time with your family in Nashville.
Radnor Lake looks gorgeous, especially with that fall foliage! And I’m always a sucker for a good book store and flea market. I’ll keep these in mind if I ever get to Nashville!
Looks like there’s so many fun things to do!
Yes! There are so many fun things to do in Nashville for kids and adults!
Thank you for sharing! Cumberland park looks like a good time for all ages! We have have to visit when passing through on our way from Florida to Ohio!!
Nashville would be a great stop for your family!
The Opryland Resort is GORGEOUS and so peaceful! You would love it Caroline!
I would love to go to Nashville i’ve never been
You would love it Bryan! There are lots of fun things for adults too in Nashville!
This is so cool! I can’t wait to go there on a family vacation.
You will love Nashville Elisabeth!
I want to go to opryland so bad!
You really have something for everybody on here! Nashville is not just about the grand ol opry…thanks for exploring!
Thanks Amy!