If you’ve ever spent summer in Tennessee you know how quickly the temperatures can go from mild and pleasant to blazing hot in a matter of 24 hours. It literally feels like someone turned the oven on. The intense heat can really put a damper on any outdoor playtime plans you’ve made with your precious littles. And, unless you have a pool, you’ve got to find some way to cool off and keep those little hands, feet and minds busy at the same time!
Nashville is full of fun indoor spots where you and the kids can find relief from both the dreaded heat and summer “brain drain.” The following “chill” spots offer a cool respite for families, and lots of interactive, educational entertainment! Trust me…they’ll be so busy having fun they won’t even realize they’re learning.
Nashville’s “Coolest” Indoor Educational Spots for Kids!
Musician’s Hall of Fame & Museum
“The Musicians Hall of Fame is a premiere Nashville attraction and the one and only museum in the world that honors the talented musicians who actually played on the greatest recordings of all time.” (musicianshalloffame.com)
In my opinion, this museum is one of the coolest, yet most underrated, museums in Nashville. It’s off the beaten path, sitting at the crossroads of Rosa L. Parks and Gay Street in downtown Nashville. This place is packed with interactive, state-of-the-art exhibits and memorabilia from the music industry’s most popular and renowned musicians from every genre including Elvis Presley, Glenn Campbell, Jimi Hendrix, Garth Brooks and more! My absolute favorite part of this museum is the immersive GRAMMY museum gallery. Get up close to actual GRAMMY awards, learn what it takes to cut a record, sing back-up for Ray Charles, or lay down some beats as a DJ! You AND the kids are guaranteed to have fun and learn something new.
Location: 401 Gay St, Nashville
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
PAID Admission
Charity: Water Experience Lab
“Experience water in its most powerful and transformational form. Understand what a world without it looks like. See what’s lurking in your water through a microscope. Walk for water with a girl in Uganda. Learn how we can solve the world’s water crisis in our lifetime and how you can help.” (charitywater.org)
If you are searching for something truly unique AND educational for your kids to experience, you’ve got to take them to Charity: Water Experience Lab. You’ll get to carry water alongside a young girl from Uganda. You’ll get to see clean water solutions in action and what’s lurking in dirty water. You’ll also get to experience a Ugandan community getting clean water for the first time through Virtual Reality! All ages are welcome and kids are encouraged to interact and touch the exhibits (hooray)! My son thought the lab was one of the coolest things we’ve done this summer! The experience stuck with him for days and he kept asking pretty deep questions for a 6-year old. Also…it’s completely FREE. Just make your reservation online before you go!
Location: The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Ste. 11-II, Franklin
Hours: Fri-Sun 12pm-5pm
FREE Admission
Earth Experience: Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History
“This is not a typical natural history museum! Earth Experience offers an interactive, dynamic experience for visitors — you’ll see ongoing research and activities, and you’ll view relics and exhibits that reflect the ground you walk on and the environment where you live.” (earthexperience.org)
Got a kid who loves dinosaurs? Or maybe just wants to know more about the history of Earth? You have to check out Earth Experience in Murfreesboro. Your kids will, quite literally, see a whole new world. Watch an actual paleontologist clean, repair and inspect real dinosaur bones that you can touch! See how dinosaur relic displays are made and learn what once roamed the earth you walk on every day in Tennessee. The exhibits will blow your mind and spark your children’s imaginations for days to come.
Location: 816 Old Salem Road, Murfreesboro
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm
PAID Admission. Children 3 and under FREE
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
The Discovery Center is one of Nashville area’s best children’s museums, in my humble opinion. It’s got every age and interest covered through entertaining, immersive STEM exhibits. Kids will get energy out while they learn…brilliant! The Discovery Center always hosts amazing “featured” exhibits, so definitely check out which one is featured before you visit! Your kids will most likely beg to return, so check out their membership! It’s worth every penny.
Location: 502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 12-5pm
PAID Admission. Children under 1 FREE
aMuse’um Children’s Museum
“With interactive, hands-on exhibits designed especially for young children, aMuse’um is a joyful, family-friendly destination where fun meets learning at every turn.” (amuseumcolumbia.com)
aMuse’um Children’s Museum offers tons of spacious exhibits for kids to roam and wonder as they learn and make-believe. They can spend the day being anything they dream of: a doctor, a banker, a painter, a dentist, even an ice cream scooper, while they learn and develop important skills. Part of the charm of this children’s museum is the town it calls home. Columbia, TN, affectionately known as Muletown, is one of the quaint rural towns that surround Nashville. You’ll definitely want to set aside plenty of time to shop, dine and wander the historic square after you explore aMuse’um!
Location: 123 W 7th St., Columbia
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm | Sat 10am-2pm
PAID Admission. One FREE (18+ years) adult per paid child. Children under 1 FREE.
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center
“The SBNC nature center houses natural and cultural history exhibits…, a library with many field ID guides, natural and cultural history titles and children’s books; an organic demonstration and teaching garden; a Cumberland River Compact rain garden; a children’s Nature Play area and trails…” (nashville.gov)
I feel like nature centers often get overlooked when we search for educational and entertaining options for our kids. Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is one of my favorites because it’s super kid-friendly! They offer special programs like Nature Storytime, Tiny Hikes for explores 4 and under, puppet shows, arts and crafts classes, and many more! If you want to head outside, the park offers plenty of beautiful greenways and trails to explore.
Location: 1900 Davidson Street, Nashville
Nature Center Hours: Tues/Thurs/Sat 9am-4pm | Wed/Fri 12-4pm
FREE Admission
Dyer Observatory
““Wow!” is a common word heard around Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Crowning one of Nashville’s tallest peaks, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory is a Tennessee treasure. Surrounded by scenic Radnor Lake State Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Dyer’s telescopes have pointed toward the sky since 1953.” (dyer.vanderbilt.edu)
The Dyer Observatory is one of Tennessee’s truest “hidden gems” and offers indoor and outdoor programming throughout the year. Head inside the observatory* to check out maps of stars, the coolest astronomy tools, a library and more. Most outdoor programming happens in the cool of the evening (thank goodness) like Telescope Nights, when you can take a peek at the stars and see a world beyond our own. They have so many other fun community events, you’ll have to add Dyer Observatory to your summer “chill” spots!
*UPDATE: The Dyer Observatory is currently undergoing renovations, but plans to reopen at the end of summer. You may still attend any scheduled outdoor and pop-up ticketed events.
Location: 1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood
Hours: Dependent upon programming schedule.
Paid + FREE events
Williamson County Archives & Museum
“The Williamson County Museum is the county’s first permanent history museum, dedicated exclusively to interpreting the people, events, and communities that shaped the development of Williamson County, TN.” (williamsoncounty-tn.gov)
I couldn’t believe the amount of seriously cool artifacts this museum holds inside, dating back to the early 1800’s! Life-size exhibits and displays fill the main area including a stagecoach, a log cabin kitchen and even a casket…that was robbed! Dun, dun, duuuuuuun. They even have scavenger hunts and activity books for kids, which made exploring the museum with my son memorable and fun.
Location: 611 W Main St, Franklin
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm | Sat 9am-5:30pm
FREE Admission
Tennessee State Museum
“With a whimsical design inspired by Tennessee’s many state symbols, the Children’s Gallery encourages children ages 3-8 to explore, play, and discover Tennessee’s history and culture in a hands-on way.” (tnmuseum.org)
The Tennessee State Museum is one of my favorite indoor spots to visit when I want something low-key and out of the elements. The entire museum holds so many treasures and incredible history, but my favorite area is the Children’s Gallery. There are tons of hands-on, interactive exhibits and entertaining programming every week. Check out their calendar of events to plan your family’s perfect day!
Location: 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville
Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 1-5pm
FREE Admission
Nashville Public Library
There is always something fun happening at Nashville’s libraries, but the Main Branch is something truly special. The whimsical decor and atmosphere of the children’s area help spark imaginations and the programming is superb. It is also home to Wishing chair Productions – a first-rate puppet show based on beloved children’s stories. There is also a teen area and a cafe on site! For older kids, I highly recommend visiting the Civil Rights Room. It’s a great monument to the people and places that sparked change during the Civil Rights Movement right here in Nashville.
Location: 615 Church St, Nashville
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm | Sat 9am-5pm | Sun 2-5pm
FREE Admission
Martin ArtQuest at The Frist Art Musem
“Martin ArtQuest® is the Frist Art Museum’s inclusive and interactive art-making space where guests of all ages get creative with activities that delight and inspire.” (fristartmuseum.org)
The Frist Art Museum is already one of Nashville’s top places for families to visit, but the Martin ArtQuest center makes this place A MUST for my family. All ages are welcome to come and create artwork to their heart’s desire. The activities change throughout the year to coincide with the exhibits, which I think is such a brilliant way to connect the exhibits to hands-on learning. The space has lots of other fun, creative activities as well as sensory kits for individuals needing some extra support.
Location: 919 Broadway, Nashville
Hours: Mon/Fri/Sat 10am-5:30pm | Thurs 10am-8pm | Sun 1-5:30pm
FREE Admission for 18 and younger. PAID Admission for adults over 18.
And if you’re willing to take the kids on a little adventure…
Wonders Center & Science Museum
“At over 100,000 square feet, The Wonders Center & Science Museum is the largest science museum in Tennessee—and the largest in the world that upholds biblical values. Located just 35 minutes from downtown Nashville in Dickson, TN, our museum invites visitors to explore the incredible beauty and complexity of God’s creation through science, history, and hands-on discovery.” (wonderscenter.org)
Located in Dickson, TN, this Science Center has everything: life-sized dinosaurs, real dino fossils, experimental physics and engineering exhibits, an awesome planetarium and more! High-end exhibits await you around every corner and you and the kids will definitely come away with a new appreciation for the world and its creation. Since this attraction is a bit of a drive from Nashville, plan to spend the day and definitely build in some time to explore the town of Dickson.
Location: 855 TN-46, Dickson
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm | Sun 1-5:30pm
PAID Admission
