Nashville gets a lot of attention as a bachelorette and nightlife destination, but it's also a genuinely strong family travel city. The Country Music Hall of Fame, interactive children's museums, wide open parks, and a restaurant scene that accommodates families make it worth the trip even with kids in tow. Here's how to build it right.
Where to Stay With a Family
For families, a large Airbnb beats a hotel almost every time. You get more space, a full kitchen for meals, and bedrooms that separate different wake times. East Nashville and 12 South both have family-friendly properties. If you prefer a hotel, the Westin Nashville and Marriott downtown are the most family-accommodating large hotels with reliable amenities.
Best Family Activities in Nashville
The Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the best music museums in the world — genuinely interesting for adults and engaging enough to hold kids. The Adventure Science Center in Wedgewood-Houston is excellent for younger children. The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is a solid half-day for families with younger kids. Cheekwood Botanical Garden is beautiful year-round and has seasonal programming for families. Centennial Park's Parthenon replica is a free, visually striking hour.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Nashville
Hattie B's Hot Chicken: casual, outdoor-friendly, and endlessly interesting for kids. Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant on Broadway: live music, comfort food, family-accommodating space. Adele's in the Nations: great food and a relaxed environment. The Grilled Cheeserie food truck (often found near East Nashville and 12 South). Pinewood Social: all-day food, bowling, and outdoor space that keeps different ages busy.
Day Trip Options That Work for Families
The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga (1.5 hours). Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky (2 hours). The Louisville Slugger Museum and Louisville Slugger Factory (2.5 hours). Dinosaur World in Cave City, KY (2 hours). Nashville's proximity to these makes the city a natural hub for a family road trip that keeps kids engaged over multiple days.
Nashville With Kids: What to Skip
Skip Lower Broadway with young kids at night — it's loud, crowded, and not designed for families after 8pm. Skip the honky-tonks entirely. Skip any restaurant without clear family accommodation in its reviews. The rest of Nashville is far more accessible and family-appropriate than its reputation suggests.
Prep the Rental Before You Arrive
Music City Weekend Co. can stock your Nashville Airbnb with everything a family needs to start the trip without a grocery store run: kids' snacks, breakfast items, beverages, and any supplies for the rental stay. Families traveling with young children especially benefit from arriving to a stocked house. Shop the full catalog at musiccityweekend.co/shop, or learn more about Nashville grocery delivery and fridge stocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nashville good for families with kids?
Yes. Nashville has strong family infrastructure — good children's museums, a world-class music museum, Nashville Zoo, Cheekwood Botanical Garden, and multiple restaurant options that accommodate families. It's not primarily marketed as a family destination but it delivers well for families who research it.
What are the best things to do in Nashville with kids?
Top picks: Country Music Hall of Fame, Adventure Science Center, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Cheekwood Botanical Garden, Centennial Park and the Parthenon, Pinewood Social (bowling and food), and a walk through East Nashville or 12 South for a neighborhood experience.
Is Nashville safe for families?
The Nashville neighborhoods popular with visitors — East Nashville, 12 South, the Gulch, Germantown, and downtown outside of late-night Broadway — are all safe for families. Avoid Lower Broadway with children at night, which is more appropriate for adult groups.
What is the best area to stay in Nashville for families?
East Nashville and 12 South have good Airbnb inventory with spacious family-appropriate properties and walkable access to family-friendly restaurants and coffee shops. For a hotel, the downtown Marriott and Westin are reliable for families who prefer hotel amenities.