Things to Do: Nashville area?

[Amy in NH]

I am interested in taking a group of teens to the Nashville area next summer.  What are some of the must-see or even off-the-beaten-path things we shouldn't miss?

[Dmmetler]

The Parthenon-it's where they filmed part of the first Percy Jackson movie, and any kid who has done Greek mythology or history would probably enjoy it.

 

Park at the back of the mall lot and walk over to the Opryland hotel to walk through the atrium-it's a "Can't miss" and is pretty amazing (and is air conditioned-Nashville can be pretty hot in the summer), but it is expensive to park there. The Gelato is good :).

 

The Opry Mills mall and the Galleria (can't remember what it's called, but the new big mall) if you have teens who like to shop-the Opry Mills is an outlet-type mall, the new one is more upscale.

 

The art museum is great if you have kids who won't roll their eyes and sigh constantly. Same with the zoo, which is small compared to some, but has great naturalistic settings.

 

If you have kids who watch American Pickers, they have a store in the old Marathon Automobile factory. 

 

LOTS and LOTS of colleges if you have students who are in the campus visit stage.

 

If you want places to go field herping, I can give you those too :)

 

 

[MEmama]

The Bluebird for music!

[ScoutTN]

Where will you stay? That might determine some of what you do. 

 

Downtown or close by:

For history, the Belle Meade Plantation is great. There are lots of civil war and late 19th century places to visit here, but BMP is one of the best.         

The Bluebird Cafe for singer/songwriters. Also check the Nashville Scene (free paper/magazine) for who is singing where that week.

The Ryman! Check to see if anyone is performing there during your visit.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is a lovely, small art museum with a fun hands-on art lab, Art Quest upstairs.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is fun, though touristy. There are tours of Music Row and horse drawn carriages downtown too.   

The Parthenon for sure. Centennial Park, where it is, has just been renovated and they have free Big Band dances there every Saturday night in the summer. Good restaurants within walking distance. PF Changs's, Flemings for great steaks or Bread and Co for sandwiches.   

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center has free tours on Saturday mornings. Concerts are limited on the summer but usually excellent.  

An even better Saturday tour is Olive and Sinclair Artisan Chocolate Factory!! 

The Green Hills Mall is very upscale. 

The Nashville Sounds baseball team has a new stadium, very nice.

Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities are both close by. 

 

  

If you take some time to go to Franklin:

Just walking around downtown Franklin is fun. Cute small town.There is a walking tour too, Lots of history. 

Franklin has a great Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings

Cool Springs is a dense shopping area around the Galleria Mall. Just shopping. Nothing unusual or Nashville-y, IMO.

To beat the heat, canoeing on the Harpeth or the Duck river is fun.

 

East of town:

Opryland Hotel and The Grand Ole Opry.  (IMO, Opry Mills mall is just another outlet mall and I would skip it.)

The Zoo is excellent, but not huge. It is under major construction right now and various animals have been off-exhibit throughout this past year. I would check to see the status of the construction and exhibits before going. They may have most of it done by the late spring. There is lots of    shade and it is fun to see the keeper talks or learn about the research projects. Don't go on a weekend unless you love crowds.