Family Friendly Getaway to Nashville

Soundwaves Water Park

Our recent visit was in early August and we purchased a package that included a room at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and admission for four to the Soundwaves Water Park - an indoor/outdoor upscale water attraction. The indoor part of Soundwaves stays at 84 degrees year round so this is an option for a fun escape any time of year. Or you can go during warmer months to enjoy both sections. We had a lot of fun here and it was actually our second time at the water park because we had enjoyed it so much our first time. Our daughter was not even two years old during our first visit. For our recent visit she was five and there was enough for her to do at both stages. There is a toddler splash area in the indoor section and there’s also two water playgrounds with slides for smaller kids, one for each outdoor and indoor section. For older kids, there are five slides at slightly different thrill levels, plus there are two “lazy” rivers with one being more calm and the other a little more “wild”. This park also features an obstacle course, rock climbing, basketball goals (all indoors and set in the water), a Flowrider attraction and a wave pool (outdoor). Also available are two adult only areas - the outdoor area features a flat water pool while the indoor has an infinity pool as well as a bar and seating area. Some things to know:
There are no coolers or outside food allowed into soundwaves so be prepared to order your food at the venue provided. Guests staying at the Gaylord can bring food from the hotel’s other restaurants.
The park has limited capacity to make it a better experience for guests and avoid overcrowding. This means that it can sell out and may not be available. If you want a guaranteed admission you will want to book the water experience package. This also gets you early access on the day of your arrival. You will be able to enter Soundwaves anytime during opening hours on the day of your check-in, during your stay, and up to noon on the day of your checkout.
If you are a Bonvoy Member you can earn points on your purchase of the package however if you want to use points to book you would have to do it separately by booking your room and then sending your confirmation number to get a link for soundwaves passes.
The facility provides CPR-trained lifeguards, Coast Guard approved life vests, towels, and lockers. Private Cabanas are available for rent.

Gaylord Opryland

If you’ve had enough of the water park or even if you decide that’s not your thing, the Gaylord Opryland has a variety of family and kid friendly things to do. The Adventure Kids Clubhouse is new at the Gaylord. On weekends in the summer and fall kids can participate in making crafts. The cost ranges from $10.99 - $12.99 and the club is only available during certain hours, so check the website. The Delta Riverboat Ride and the Delta Fountain Show are great options for families. The riverboat has a tour guide that provides little fun facts about the atrium plants and history and the fountain show is really neat with the lights reflecting in the water and all of it moving in sync with the music. My family enjoyed both of these and I can’t express enough how lovely it is to simply walk around the beautiful lush green atriums and listen to the sounds of the water. The Gaylord Opryland also hosts a marvelous Christmas event with life size ice sculptures. There is plenty to do at this property!

Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere would be another great choice for a family outing during your visit. I’ve been to this zoo many times and I can say it is a nice choice, but I would caution that it can get pretty crowded on weekends. If you can, avoid going on a Saturday. I also wouldn’t advise going in peak summer heat. Fall, Winter or Spring would be better. The zoo also has some fun seasonal events including Zoolumination - a Chinese lantern festival held nightly from about mid-November to early January.

Adventure Science Center

For fun and educational indoor activities, I highly recommend the Adventure Science Center. I couldn’t believe in all my time visiting the Nashville area I had never been here before. A day exploring this place is a day well spent. There are 16 exhibits/attractions plus a planetarium and a climbing area with multiple options. My five and 15-year-olds absolutely loved it here and didn’t want to leave.

Downtown Nashville

After staying at the Gaylord for two nights, we then made our way to downtown Nashville, staying at The Hermitage Hotel for three nights. This may have not been the most kid-friendly hotel in terms of things that they could do on property (there was no pool here), however, what it lacked in that regard is completely made up for the size of the rooms. Our kids, and us parents, appreciated the space to spread out more and each of us enjoyed the beauty and elegance of this hotel. We all share an interest in history and love going to any kind of museum or historical place to learn. This hotel is rich in history, playing a massive role in Tennessee Woman’s Suffrage and hosting many celebrities. It’s also located near the Tennessee State Capitol, which boasts walking areas and monuments.

Cheekwood

On our last day, we decided to explore Cheekwood. We heard great things while living there, but were never able to make it. We’re glad we made it this time because we were not disappointed! Cheekwood is a botanical garden and historic estate with an art museum and 55 acres of gardens. This was our favorite outing as a family. It is about a 20-minute drive from downtown and very much worth the drive. Beautiful and serene with all kinds of different flowers and plant life you can encounter butterflies, turtles, creeks, fountains and miniature trains moving about on tracks. Young kids can explore playhouses with cookware and some areas to dig and play with rocks. The Cheek Mansion is 30,000 square feet of art galleries, antique furniture, architecture, and history of the 1890-1930 period. There is a large balcony on the side with beautiful views of the grounds and the many sculptures dotting the campus. If you find yourself in Nashville looking for things to do that marries nature and history, this should be at the top of your list. Cheekwood has seasonal events and children’s activities throughout the year. I can’t wait to return to see the holiday lights!

If none of these options are appealing to your family here are a few others to consider:
Visit the Parthenon
The Tennessee State Museum
Frist Art Museum
Musician’s Hall of Fame
The Ryman Auditorium
Johnny Cash Museum
Take a Trolley Tour
Live music along Honky Tonk Highway before 7 pm

Puckett’s Grocery - laidback atmosphere with the setting of an old country store, southern comfort food and live music from local artists.

Jackalope Brewing Company - kid-friendly brewery with a desire for sustainability and values community. Regularly hosts movie nights. Have a flight and look for Cousin’s Maine Lobster food truck.

Dicey’s Pizza- tavern-style pizza, salads and sandwiches

Bringles Smoking Oasis - smoked brisket, pulled pork, Mexican street corn and Texas Style baked beans

The Diner - six floors of both casual and upscale dining open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Cafe 29 at Cheekwood - a lovely little cafe with delicious snacks and quick bites to keep you going after walking through the gardens. I enjoyed the deviled eggs and they had nice kids meal options.

Assembly Food Hall - this place is amazing!! There are more than 25 places to eat and drink all in one centralized location, plus there is a rooftop and live entertainment. We ate here multiple evenings because it was a short walk from our hotel and we could get something different each time. I recommend the Velvet Taco, The Pharmacy Burger and Horu Sushi Kitchen.

The Pink Hermit Cafe - This cafe has a lot of pink decor. My daughter adored it. We also loved the food. It is an Italian-inspired menu created by a renowned chef. You can grab coffee and pastries in the morning or sit down for some appetizers and pizza at lunch and dinner as well as wines and cocktails.