Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Your visit to the Nashville, Tennessee area doesnt have to be boring for the kids! There are many, many things to see and do that will amuse, amaze and educate your entire family. Nashville offers museums and historical displays, statues and impressive architecture, and the natural beauty of the Cumberland River. When you need diversions of a more entertaining sort, there are water parks, rides, a zoo, and even a laser tag game. The city is full of a variety of attractions that will please nearly every taste and budget.
The Hermitage (615-889-2941) is a large plantation built by President Andrew Jackson and his wife. Jackson was the first U.S. President to come from an undistinguished and poor background. Costumed tour guides host the museum tours, and visitors can enjoy revolving exhibits and a movie about President Jackson. Heres living proof that anyone, from any background, can grow up to lead our country.
The Music Valley Wax Museum (615-862-5950) offers more than fifty wax likenesses of country musics brightest stars, including Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, and Loretta Lynn. Kids will enjoy the lifelike wax figures as they learn a bit about the areas musical heritage.
For a change of pace, visit the Parthenon (615-862-8431) in Nashville. This concrete replica of the real Parthenon in Athens, Greece is imposing and impressive. Its the only one of its kind in the world. Built to scale, the huge edifice is an art museum housing works by Andy Warhol and other modern artists. Be sure to check out the forty-two foot statue of the Greek goddess, Athena, while youre there.
Belle Meade Plantation (615-356-0501) is a place where history comes alive. Tour the restored 1853 mansion and carriage house, and see first-hand the grand era of the South prior to the Civil War, then tour the 1832 slave cabin that serves as a stark reminder of the darker parts of the areas history. Belle Meade Plantation calls itself the Queen of Tennessee and boasts tours with guides decked out in period costumes.
Country music fans will enjoy peering at the memorabilia in the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum (800-852-6437) to learn more about famous stars. The museum also will educate your family about the areas rich history. There are over 3,000 stage costumes and musical instruments on display.
The Nashville Toy Museum (615-742-5678) is a nice change of pace from typical historical museums. Kids will be fascinated with the displays of toys from yesteryear. It can be wonderful fun to see the toys and games enjoyed by children of long ago. Grandparents and grandchildren can converse about the changes in childhood fun over the years. Antique toy trains are also part of the exhibit, and sure to please train enthusiasts, hobbyists, and nearly everyone else.
Kids will love the interactive and hands-on exhibits at the Adventure Science Museum (615-862-5160). The displays are designed to teach children about science and technology. Kids will be able to learn in an active way, and such learning nearly always is most effective. Be careful, or your entire family just might learn something new!
The Tennessee State Museum (800-407-4324) offers 60,000 square feet of educational and informative exhibits on the areas history for the past 15,000 years. Its one of the largest state museums in the country. From prehistory to the early 1900s, the history buffs in your family will be fascinated. Learn about prehistoric cultures in the area, Native Americans, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and Sam Houston, to name just a few of the subjects you will find covered here.
Fort Nashboro (615-862-8400) holds the keys to the beginnings of the citys history. You can learn all about it when you visit this partially reconstructed 1779 fort. Forts were often the center of pioneer life, and this one is no different.
When the great outdoors beckons, check out the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (615-833-1534). Animals galore await your visit to this newly renovated zoo. Cougars, black bears, tigers, and otters are just a few of the animals that you will see. Be sure to visit the Unseen World exhibit; youll see over 250 insects!
The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art (615-356-8000) also offers an outdoor diversion. Enjoy the museum containing pieces by regional artists, then head outdoors to view the lovely flowers and plants in the botanical garden. The site also features a woodland sculpture trail.
Take a break and bring a picnic to Centennial Park (615-862-8405) in downtown Nashville. Relax on the green picnic areas and play on the open green lawns. Stretch your legs on jogging paths or while away the afternoon on the small lake riding a paddleboat.
At Riverfront Park, you can ride the carousel and enjoy concerts. The Fox Trot Carousel features thirty-six hand carved figures, representing famous Tennesseans. The park also has an ice-skating rink if youre looking for a more active pursuit.
Tour Nashville from the Cumberland River on the 57-foot boats operated by Opryland River Taxis (615-871-6100). These evening tours leave every half hour, so its very convenient.
Nashville is home to two water parks, as well. Wave Country (615-885-1052) has waterslides and a giant wave pool where the waves can surge up to four feet. Nashville Shores (615-889-7050) has a 700-foot water slide called Tennessee Twisters. There are also three pools, mini-golf, Jet Ski rentals, picnicking, and a beach area to enjoy.
There are assorted miscellaneous activities and attractions that are difficult to categorize, but still well worth checking out with your children. Opry Mills (615-862-8405) is a 200-business complex that offers shopping, dining, and entertainment for the whole family. The General Jackson Showboat (615-871-6100) cruises the Cumberland River in the afternoons and evenings. Step aboard for a taste of a by-gone era as you ride this replica of the big paddlewheel boats of long ago. You will have an unforgettable experience! If youre in the mood for an adventure, check out Laser Quest (615-256-2560). This popular laser tag game will have you racing through a dark maze. Will you be the predator or the prey? And finally, Nash-Trash Tours (800-342-2132 or 615-226-7300) boasts that they have the funniest tours in town. Jump on the bus for a tour with guides who will have you laughing and singing for the entire ninety-minute ride. The tour is complemented with gossipy commentary about the areas celebrities. Adults and well-behaved children are welcome, but parents should be aware that alcohol is served and that the guides sometimes tell bawdy jokes.
With all that the Nashville area can offer families, you will have a difficult time choosing how to fill your vacation. No matter what sort of fun you have in mind, the city has treats that you wont want to miss. Museums and educational activities abound, so you and your family will have no trouble justifying your visit. There are plenty of outdoor and just plain fun activities to round out your stay, and chances are very good that parents and kids of all ages will leave with happy memories of your trip.
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