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15+ Awesome Things to do in Nashville with Kids

Written by Chuck G. in Things to Do

There are lots of fun things to do in Nashville with kids. From teens to toddlers there is something in Nashville for all the younger crowd.

What things are there to do in Nashville with Kids? During certain hours teenagers and even smaller ones can get into the bars on Broadway. Go see some of the many murals around Nashville. Play in the many parks that kids would enjoy. Check out the many exotic animals at the Nashville Zoo.

But, that’s not all. Let’s go over even more of what Nashville has to offer for kids.

Where are kids allowed in Nashville?

Kids are allowed in many places throughout Nashville. I mentioned a few above, but there is so much more for kids in Nashville. There are parks, museums, petting zoos, the Nashville Zoo, and indoor go-karts, just to name a few. Don’t forget there are some awesome eateries and ice cream shops when you visit Nashville with kids!

Being that I raised my kids myself I am fairly familiar with what Nashville had to offer then. I say “then” because they are grown and gone. My youngest has kids of his own now, I love my little grandbabies. There is nothing like them!!

Times have changed and there is so much more for kids in Nashville now. So, in my research, I found many options. Buuuut …. I don’t agree with all of them. Me being a single dad that raised 3 boys, and now I’m a grandpa of a beautiful grand-daughter and a handsome grand-son, I think that qualifies me knowing a bit of what kids do and do not like.

Before we cover all those great places I want to answer one of the most asked questions about visiting Nashville with kids.

Can kids go to bars on Broadway in Nashville?

The short answer is yes, kids can get into bars on Lower Broadway. This varies from one bar to another but most places will allow 18 and under inside up till about 7pm. There are some establishments that will allow minors in much later for dining. There are a few establishments that still allow smoking inside, these places are a no-go for kids.

I hang out in several Nashville Facebook groups, this is the #1 question asked inside every group by parents coming to Nashville with kids. Some people may not understand why parents would do this. It’s simple, many kids enjoy the live music, the lights, and dancing so they want to be close to it. Being that I am a Nashville native, I’ve seen those little smiles just dancing to the music several times. Parents, just please be responsible and make sure your children are wearing hearing protection.

Also, read this article: Things to do on Lower Broadway.

Things to Do In Nashville with Toddlers and Small Children

Cumberland Park Splashpad

Cumberland Park

On the bank of the Cumberland River downtown is Cumberland Park, this is a 6.5-acre park that is located between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and Koreans Veterans Memorial. From downtown Lower Broadway just walk across the pedestrian bridge you will see the park to your right as you cross. Or, if you happened to park in Lot R at Nissan Stadium, you are just a short walk away from it.

The little park is lots of fun for older children and toddlers alike. There is the splash pad that has water jets shooting around as the kids play and splash in the puddles. There are little rolling hills with artificial turf and a cute little bridge to cross from one hilltop to the other.

On down the park a bit are climbing ropes, a climbing wall, and a neat little walking trail.

More info: Cumberland Park

Nashville Adventure Science Center

For teachers and students, this is one of the most popular places in Nashville. The Science Center offers fun learning experiences that are hands-on, interactive, and educational.

When you visit make sure you have time to check out the Sudekumm Planetarium which is a 63-foot dome theater. I personally have seen shows about stars and constellations. I’ve also seen laser light shows and even concerts. It is a really neat place!!

It is worth mentioning that the Adventure Science Center does hold events that are strictly for adults as well. One such event is the Science of Beer.

More Info: Nashville Adventure Science Center

Nashville Zoo

There are 90 acres of critters to check out here at the Nashville Zoo The Tennessean newspaper has named this zoo one of the top attractions in the state, Best Regional Attraction, and Best Day Trip. It is also the 9th largest zoo in the country by landmass. There are another 98 acres that haven’t been developed yet.

The Nashville Zoo has nearly 3,000 animals from around the world representing more than 350 species. Also throughout the year, they have themed events for the different holidays, just for kids, and just for adults.

As of this writing on 05/2022 they have an awesome Dinosaur exhibit going on. If you come to Nashville with kids, this would be a must-do!!

More info: The Nashville Zoo

Defy Nashville

OK, I’m gonna be real with ya, anyone who any kid at heart left in them will have fun here. Defy Nashville has a trampoline area, a ninja course, a zip line and so much more.

This isn’t located downtown, it is actually in Brentwood which is a short drive from downtown Nashville. For you and your kids to have a great time, it is totally worth the drive.

More info: Defy Nashville

Little Art House

When you visit Nashville with kids, this Little House Art would be a great place to have some family creativity time. There are activities for adults and kids so you can create together. After you create your masterpiece you can take it home to hang it on the wall for your own legit personal decor.

Adults have classes taught by featured artists. Bring your wine to sip while you paint. That sounds like a fun outing for a group to have some creative fun .. right??

More info: Little Art House

Wildhorse Saloon

This 66,000 square foot live music venue is World-Famous! The Wildhorse Saloon has been featured in many movies and TV shows. LOTS of very famous musicians have graced the stage here.

There are 3 floors of fun. There is a restaurant, catering, a bar, a concert venue, a dance floor, and even a TV studio. The restaurant is of the southern smokehouse cuisine, yep there is a kid’s menu.

More info: The Wildhorse Saloon

Nashville Sounds

Love baseball? Catch a Nashville sounds game! The Sounds are a minor league team that Nashville has had since about 1978. Actually, Nashville has been a baseball town since about 1860.

More info: Nashville Sounds

Pins Mechanical

If you are in Nashville with Kids on a Sunday, here at Pins Mechanical kids bowl for free! They have Fooseball, Pinball, Duckpin, Ping Pong, Bocce so there is something foun for everyone!

There is an outside play area that is fur baby friendly along with really cool yard games.

Just a heads up, after 8pm it’s 21 and over.

More info: Pins Mechanical Company

Music City Indoor Karting

MCIK is a 77,000-square-foot facility with an indoor track that is approximately a 1/4 mile long. The karts can get up to 40 miles per hour. Younger drivers under 18 without a driver’s license or permit will be throttled down to a slower speed.

Also, they have Omni-VR at this location. Immerse yourself in a virtual reality game fighting zombies, or ghosts, be a gunslinger, fight in an elite force battle, or be a pirate!!

More info: Music City Indoor Karting

Soundwaves at Oprlyland Hotel

If you are in Nashville with kids and y’all really enjoy water parks, you may wanna consider staying at the Opryland Hotel. As a guest of the hotel you have the option of adding in a Soundwaves Water Experience package. There are many fun water attractions to enjoy such as Stage Dive the body surfing experience, Down Tempo Lazy River where you just chill as you float along the river in a tube and much more!

For the kids there is Groovin Lagoon Activity Pool which has a rock climbing wall, lily pad walk, basketball hoops, and a 30′ water curtain. Then there is Quarter Note Cove whish is a splash pad and pool designed for young children. The Half Note Cove has a multi-level play structure for kids of all ages with child safe water slides, shallow pool, and spray fountains.

As you reach the end of the hallway leading from the Magnolia area hallway leading into Soundwaves you will enter a really cool game room with a climbing wall.

Can anyone get into Soundwaves at anytime?

I have had conflicting information on gaining access to this place. Meaning … some people stated that you have to be a guest at the Opryland Hotel to get in. Other people says you don’t have to be a guest.

So, I called them myself. There are only 2 ways to get into Soundwaves. One … you have to be hotel guest and then add a Soundwaves Experience package.

Two … they have a “Party Play Area” where you can rent some time for a birthday party or other special event. There has to be atleast 8 in the party to qualify.

Due to how event packages can change at any given moment, I am not going to go into details as to what all you get access to for each package. You will have to contact them to see what is up for grabs at that time.

More info: Soundwaves Water park at Opryland Hotel

Where are the Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Nashville?

This was a bit of a tough one. Not because there are few restaurants that are kid-friendly, there are lots of restaurants and even some bars that have kid-friendly cuisine.

If you are in Nashville with kids, you want them to have a fun experience as well. I was looking for places that made sure the kids had fun stuff to experience, not only had a “kid menu” and accommodated seating.

Pfunky Griddle

I’ve eaten at the Pfunky Griddle a few times, I personally love this place. Why do I start by saying that? There are many people who are against going to a restaurant and cooking your own food.

I personally think that with the right people in your party you can have a lot of fun being creative with your food as you prepare it. If you are in Nashville with kids, they will really enjoy playing cook and then eating the food they made.

You can make pancakes with M&Ms to fruit as additions. Plus there are eggs, grilled cheese, and more. If making your own food isn’t your idea of “going out to eat”, you can order off of their menu as well.

More info: Pfunky Griddle

Hugh-Baby’s

The creator of one of the best barbeque places in Nashville also has one of the best burger places in Nashville. Check out Hugh Babys at one of their three locations. They have a great selection of burgers, bbq, and hot dogs. The little one get their drinks are free. That’s not all they do for the kids, there is a fun play area for them as well.

More info: Hugh Babys

Scoreboard Bar and Grill

I’ve been to Scoreboard Bar and Grill a time or two. It has a neat atmosphere and great food. On Sundays, they have Sunday Fun Day where they have live entertainment from their band called “The Spazmatics”. There are games for all to enjoy as well. The games aren’t just for Sunday, you can play them anytime. There is a fun play area outside with various yard games. I enjoy Scoreboards, you should check it out as well!

More info: Scoreboard Bar and Grill

Aquarium Restaurant

If you are in the Oprymills Mall with your child. Or even if you are alone, it would be a great experience to check out the Aquarium Restaurant. There is a huge aquarium inside with lots of saltwater fish just swimming around.

I’ve eaten here several times, the food is pretty good and I’ve always had good service. If you are in Nashville with kids, I do recommend checking this place out. I’ve had more fun watching the children’s faces light up at the cool fish than watching the fish themselves.

Be sure to check the website link for their calendar of events. They occasionally have the Mystic Mermaids show. This is where ladies dress up as Mermaids and put on an underwater show to music.

More info: Aquarium Restaurant

Caney Fork

Been here several times! Caney Fork is Nashville’s #1 Wild Game and Southern food restaurant. If you are an adventurous eater and want to try something new in the lines of wild game, this is your place.

There is one area that I really enjoy being seated, and that is right beside the live catfish pond! If you are Nashville with kids and want them to have a great eating experience at Caney Fork, request to be seated by the pond.

It is not just a pond, it is more of a nature scene that has “stuffed” deer, coyote, and other animals around the pond. If you get lucky an get there at the right time you may get to see the catfish being fed. I was there one night kinda late, the employee feeding the fish let a child throw the food into the pond. That little girl was so excited getting to “feed the big fish” as she kept saying.

More info: Caney Fork River Valley Grill

Dave and Busters

This is one big game room!! Dave and Busters is a nationwide chain that has everything from bowling to pinball. There are all kinds of choices for adults and if you are in Nashville with kids .. there is plenty for them as well.

There are differnt eateries inside D&Bs so there will be a good selection of food choices as well.

More info: Dave and Busters

Rainforest Cafe

Animated animals everywhere!! Wings flapping, hippos laughing, and monkey sitting in the trees. Kids visiting Nashville will have a really good time eating here. It is located inside OpryMills Shopping Mall in the Music Valley area of Nashville.

I can’t with a clear conscience not mention this. There are hundreds of people that eat there daily and enjoy everything about it. Rainforest has good reviews with locals and tourists. I’ve eaten there twice and both times I had the Chicken Salad. Both times I was really friendly with the toilet that night.

So, It is a fun great place to check out. I love the decor and “sights” inside. So, I can’t leave it out because it would be fun for the kids to experience all the mechanical critters. I will ALWAYS be honest about any experience I have at any place I visit. So, take what I told you in consideration if you wanna eat there or not.

More info: Rainforest Cafe

Is this all the kid friendly restaurants?

There are lots of other restaurants that are kid-friendly, maybe I’ll write a dedicated article to just child friendly restaurants so I can cover that topic in more detail. Save this site in your favorites so you can refer back to it as I update or add new information.

Is Nashville Child Friendly?

Based upon the information given in this article it feel its safe to say if you are in Nashville with kids, you have things to do and eat that they will enjoy.

Its one thing to accomodate a child coming into an establishment, but to make sure the child has fun and it truely entertained is another subject all together.

Throughout any of the writings I’ll ever do on this site, I do it from a personal point of view of what I might enjoy or in this case what a child will legitimately … actually … will not be bored … have a good time experience.

So, bring your kids of all ages to Nashville! There are LOTS of great stuff to do for all ages. Hope you found this article helpful!

Peace out!

P.S. I’ll add some pictures once I get the editing done on the ones I’m gonna use. It is a beautiful day outside and I got a Jeep to get built.

Music Valley – The fun top 10 things to do in the area

Written by Chuck G. in Things to Do

Music Valley is a part of Nashville I visit often. If you want to enjoy local country music artists and great food away from the craziness of Lower Broadway, this area is THE place to be! It is also the most reasonably priced area of Nashville.

Music Valley Nashville is where you will find most of the locals. There are lots of places with live music, restaurants, put-put golf, museums, a shopping center, and great hotels some with shuttles to downtown. It is within walking distance of the Opryland hotel so you can check it out as well.

Music Valley Nashville has lots of great live music
Music Valley has lots of places for live music

If you are wanting to stay or party in an area away from the chaos of Lower Broadway, then the Music Valley area is where you need to be. I was gonna do a top 10 list, naaa .. there is way too much cool stuff in Music Valley to just limit it to 10. Let’s go!

Table of Contents

Live Music in the Music Valley

The Music of Nashville

The Music of Nashville is one of the fastest-growing live musical acts in Nashville. This show takes you through 70 years of Nashville’s most famous songs and the stories behind them. Songs by the most world-renowned artists such as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Reba, and sooo many more!! Click here for more information.

The Nashville King

Elvis lives in Nashville!! Well, not really but this is really close. John Beardsley put on a heck of a good show in tribute to the King himself. The show consists of over 30 songs and 5 costumes taking you through many phases of Elvis’ musical career. Here is the Facebook page. Here is the website.

The Nashville Palace

This is probably one of the most well-known live music places in the Music Valley Nashville area. If you want a chill laid back environment away from the downtown Broadway tourist chaos, this is the place to be. The Nashville Palace has been on TV shows such as “Hee Haw” and “Nashville Now” and has helped launch many famous music artists into the limelight. Artists such as Laurie Morgan, Randy Travis, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and many more have played here. Jerry Reed was once a frequent performer for many years.

So, if you gotta ask where the locals go to chill, eat, drink, and enjoy some good music, it’s right here at the Nashville Palace. Here is the Nashville Palace Facebook page.

The Nashville Palace in Music City Nashville
The Famous Nashville Palace in Music Valley Nashville

There are many restaurants in the Music Valley area that feature live entertainment throughout the evenings. The places mentioned above are some of the most famous or are more dedicated to music than food as well.

Things to do

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds wax museum features over 60 wax figures of legendary musicians such as Johnny Cash, Beyonce’, Taylor Swift, and many more. For the 21+ crowd, there is an opportunity to experience a wine tasting of 19 award-winning wines from Amber Falls Winery and Cellars.

Gaylord Opryland Hotel

Come explore 9 acres of indoor gardens, waterfalls, and walking trails. Along with beautiful scenery, there are lots of great places to eat and grab a drink or two. Got an Instagram account? There are lots of places for that perfect selfie to post up. Check out the article about walking around the Opryland Hotel for free.

AxeVenture Axe Throwing

Got some built-up work frustration? Got an X that has you down in the dumps? Come to AxeVentures to vent your frustrations. Obviously by the name they have axe throwing that can take us back to our beginning days of primal existence. Then there is the Rage Room, grab a bat, golf club, or hammer and start smashing! Take your rage out on all types of objects such as TVs, and computers, you just never know what’s going to be in the room with you. You can even bring your own items to smash upon their approval.

Nashville Tours

Grayline tours are located in Music Valley and they are the premium sightseeing tour service in Nashville. Book a tour to see the homes of the stars, a historic city tour, the General Jackson Showboat tour, or a nighttime trolley tour. Click here for more info.

Things to do for kids

Grand Old Golf and Go Carts

My boys and I have had lots of fun here! There are 3 outdoor mini-golf courses each with its own unique challenges. Along with each unique challenge, there are great bits of scenery such as waterfalls, rock gardens, and a very cool waterwheel house.

The go-karts are lots of fun as well with the tight turns and bumper-to-bumper fast-paced thrills. You can have some friendly competition against friends and family in a single-seat cart or side-by-side.

There are also indoor bumper cars for lots of bumps and bangs with giggles and laughs for the whole family.

Dave and Buster’s

Located inside Oprymills shopping mall this entertainment venue has tons of games, pinball, basketball, and bowling. With such a huge variety of games to play there is something for the little ones all the way up to the older generation. Along with the games, there are lots of great selections for food to keep your energy up for all the playtime. For legal drinking age gamers, there is a great selection of adult beverages available as well.

Jae’s Gem Mine

Do you or your child enjoy collecting unique minerals and gen stones? If so then while you are in Music Valley Nashville come check out Jae’s Gen Stones. They use an interactive mining experience with water separating the stones from the sand and dirt. They have four bucket options ranging from $20 to $100 giving an opportunity for a good variety to add to the collection.

Shopping

Oprymills Shopping Mall

Opry Mills features more than 200 stores, along with a food court, fine dining, and indoor entertainment. The entertainment consists of a wax museum of many famous musicians and other entertainers, little animal carts that can be ridden in the mall, The Escape Room, children’s play area, and a Regal IMAX theater. Oprymills mall has something for everyone young or the young at heart.

Kids’ Corral

Inside the Opryland hotel in the Delta atrium is a little kids’ shopping store called the Kids’ Korral. They have a great selection of toys and games for all younger ages to enjoy. One might think that being located inside the glorious hotel that the prices would be inflated. Welp, the prices are fairly comparable to what you would find on Amazon. So you could get your little ones some cool Nashville souvenir toys on your visit to the Music City.

SmART Supplies

Calling all crafters! This is Nashville’s craft supply thrift store, where most of their stock is less than $5. At Smart Art and Craft they reuse, recycle and repurpose products and art supplies to keep costs down and leftover supplies from being in landfills. There are art classes such as basic sewing machine functions, making wind chimes, and more. Just check the website or call to check for class availability due to supply stock. Smart Art and Craft’s mission is to offer employment opportunities to adults with intellectual disabilities. Here is the website.

Music Valley Village

This is basically the strip mall of the area. Within this strip mall, there are many unique merchants and more. There is SmART Supplies mentioned above, AxeVentures, an antique shop, a coffee shop, Grey Line Tours, and even a recording studio. So if you are in the area, drop in and take a stroll to see what is there you would enjoy.

Places to eat in Music Valley

Caney Fork River Valley Grille

I’ve eaten here several times. I always request to be seated by the live indoor Catfish pond. If you get lucky and arrive at the right time you may get to see the Catfish being fed. It’s kind of fun to watch them.

The restaurant decor is in a southern backwoods camp-style theme with lots of natural wood and mounted deer, elk, and other animals throughout. The menu has great offerings of Southern food such as Catfish, burgers, Chicken wings, and fried green tomatoes just to name a few. What makes Caney Fork so unique is the wild game menu, wild game such as Gator tail, crawfish cakes, Bison, Venison, Elk, and even frog legs.

I’ve eaten at several restaurants in the Music Valley Nashville district, I tend to migrate back to Caney Fork very often. I just really enjoy the vibe and the food is great. Just one little caveat, don’t order any slices of pie. I’ve tried it 3 times and each and every time the pie still had ice on it from being frozen. But everything else is GREAT!

John A’s

I’ve eaten at John A’s a couple of times. The food is very good. The catfish is very good and they even offer an “all you can eat” on select days. Now, they claim “Worlds best”, I think that may be a stretch. I’ve been to NOLA, that is where you want to get some cajun catfish done right!! YUM!!

John A’s has a very good down-home vibe with great live music, good beers, and great people. There is a patio where they throw a good party with live music. So definitely worth going to check it out.

Scoreboard Bar and Grill

As for restaurants in the Music Valley area, this is where the large variety of food and fun is! They got a huge menu to select from. Foods ranging from burgers, pizza, wings, sandwiches, salads, bbq, and unique to Scoreboard appetizers. Each of the food items I mentioned above is made in many unique ways so there is a flavor available for most anyone.

Now I mentioned fun at Scoreboard … oh yea! First of all, there is the stage for the band, but this is Nashville, there are lots of places with live bands. There is an outside patio .. I know .. lots of places have that as well. Now what I’m leading up there are several other places in Nashville that have this, but Scoreboard is the only one in the Music Valley area. They got yard games for everyone to enjoy such as life-size Jenga, Connect Four, Cornhole, and more. So, get your grub on and go play off the calories having a good time in the yard at Scoreboard Bar and Grill.

Lodging in Music Valley

Gaylord Opryland Hotel

I’m not going to go into detail here in this article about the Opryland hotel. Simply because the Music Valley area of Nashville is known to be the most reasonably priced as far as lodging and bars are concerned. The Opryland hotel is anything but reasonably priced so it really doesn’t fit into the “let’s find a cheaper place away from downtown to stay” theme. The only reason I mentioned it is because it is really fun to check out the atriums and there is some good food in there.

Fairfield Inn and Suites Nashville at Opryland

This is a great location to stay that is much less expensive than the hotels downtown near Broadway. Earned 2021 Travelers Choice from Tripadvisor and a Three Diamond AAA member so you can be assured you are staying in a nice place. One of the big perks is the shuttle to the airport and to Gaylord Opryland to walk around the awesome atriums.

Courtyard by Marriott at Opryland

Reading in the FB groups this is the most popular hotel to stay in the Music Valley area. They have a restaurant on-site, indoor pool, fitness center, dry cleaning service …. Oh … FREE parking!!

This location is about a mile away from the Grand Ole Opry, Opryland Hotel to tour the atriums, General Jackson Showboat, and the Oprymills shopping mall.

I can’t remember which hotel it is at this moment. But one of them offers a shuttle ride to downtown for something like $10 per person each way. When I find out which one it is and the details I’ll update this post.

Music Valley Drive Campgrounds

If you are pulling or driving a big camper, here are some options for you that are very close to all the great restaurants and shopping in the Music Valley area. These campgrounds are located less than three miles from the Grand Ole Opry and Oprymills shopping mall. This means it is a short trip to downtown where all the party action is. Or, just stay in the Music Valley area and still have a great time with all the food and music it has to offer. It is all up to you so have fun in Nashville!!

Two Rivers Campgrounds

They have a little grocery store on-site that has food and RV items that you may need. There is a game room with video games and a pool table. The front desk can assist you in making car rentals, booking tours, or any other Nashville event that may appeal to you. They even have shuttles available that can take you downtown where the party is. Click here for more info.

Nashville Resort and Cabins

This campground has lots of great amenities, including a dog park for your fur baby! There is mini-golf, mining, a playground, swimming pool, yard games, free WIFI, and even inflatables for the kids to jump on.

Their RV parking pads are paved pull-throughs that can accommodate rigs up to 80 feet long. They have a variety of different amenities levels depending on what you require.

You like cabins? Got ya covered! The Deluxe cabins have full linen, towels, and kitchen supplies. Get a cabin for two for a romantic getaway. Or, you can pitch a tent and rough it in the wild .. for cheap.

Nashville KOA campgrounds

This KOA location has about anything you may need for your camping stay. They offer swimming pools, hot tub, playgrounds, yard games, free WIFI, and much more. There are fully paved pull-through pads to back up rustic sites.

Not using a camper? No problem. They have cabins available with linens, towels, and kitchen supplies. Romantic Studios for the perfect getaway with your significant other. Or, if you just want to pitch a tent, they got you covered for that as well. Click here for more info.

Transportation to downtown Lower Broadway

The Taxi Triange – Nashville features a flat-fee service triangle between the airport, downtown, and the Gaylord Resort. So, any taxi ride between those points should be a flat rate of $25 per ride for up to 4 people per ride. If you are staying in any of the hotels mentioned on this page besides Gaylord Opryland, you might just get dropped off at the entrance to Gaylord and walk to your hotels location, about all of the hotels are within easy walking distance to the Entrance to the Opryland Hotel.

Summary of Music Valley Nashville

Welp, I said in the beginning 10 things … I kinda got carried away.

If a person wanted to visit Nashville but didn’t want to get into the hustle and chaos of Lower Broadway, Music Valley is the only place that could be a proper substitution. I say this because it still has that crazy energetic musical vibe no matter where you go in that area. Although, I do recommend The Nashville Palace to do it right.

The food in this area still rocks even though there is less variety than downtown. The people are typically more friendly and laid back in Music Valley because this is where the locals go to relax for a drink and enjoy some good music.

I’ll add more of the hotels and some pics later.

Yes, you can walk around Opryland Hotel.

Written by Chuck G. in Things to Do

I walk around Opryland Hotel often just as a place to chill with some friends or family. There are lots of great restaurants and can’t forget the great scenery.

You can walk around Opryland Hotel to enjoy the sights for free. There is even free parking at Oprymills Mall that involves just a short walk to the Delta atrium entrance.  Also, you do not have to be a guest staying in any of the rooms to tour all the beautiful gardens.

What kind of cool stuff will you see walking around at the Opryland Hotel? Well, let me tell ya about it.

Table of Contents
Walk around Opryland Hotel Delta Atrium. This is the Delta Island where the shops are.
Opryland Hotel Delta Atrium

Walk around the Opryland Hotel Atriums

Opryland Hotel has 3 main atriums to walk around for free. I’ll detail each of the different atriums later in the article. There is also Soundwaves Water Park, I’ll get to that in a different article.

All three atriums combined are about 9 acres total. Each atrium has its own set of special features such as lights, overhead walking paths, and awesome water features. There are also lots of great restaurants to choose from as well. There are seasonal attractions throughout the year that you should not miss! The Christmas lights are the biggest attraction for the hotel. Click here to check out a water fountain light show during Christmas.

Let’s talk about the different atriums and what each has to offer.

The Delta Atrium

This is the main and largest atrium of the three. If you walk in the entrance coming from the “Opryland free parking area” this will bring you directly into the Delta. There are a couple of things you will notice right away as you come out of the lobby into the atrium to walk into Opryland Hotel. To your left, you will see the area where the little boutique shops and restaurants are. Kinda directly in front of you will be the Delta indoor river and the dancing water fountain. The “Delta” gets its looks and vibe from the ambiance of New Orleans/French Quarters.

Book Your Room: Gaylord Opryland Hotel

Delta Riverboat Cruises

Did I say river?? Yep, sure did. There is a 1/4 mile long river that even includes a boat ride if you want. Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat and take a relaxing cruise while learning the history and origins of the hotel. If you have your little ones with you, have them keep an out for the fish in the river. Sorry, no fishing is allowed. Oh, one interesting fun fact about the river. The river contains water from more than 1,700 rivers from around the world. I’m sure you expected some great sights walking around inside Opryland Hotel, I doubt you expected a river inside.

Opryland Hotel Delta Riverboat Cruise
Opryland Hotel Delta Riverboat Cruise

Delta Shops and Restaurants

As I mentioned above, coming in from the doors going to the free parking area, to your left will be the shops and restaurants. There is a good variety of foods to choose from such as burgers, pizza, beer on tap and in bottles, a bakery shop, an ice cream shop, and on down the path a bit is a high-end steak house.

As for the shops, there is a good selection of those as well. You can of course purchase the typical souvenir t-shirts, hats, small collectibles to put on a shelf. But that is not all, you will have to come to check it out to see what all is available in the Delta.

Opryland Hotel Delta Atrium Pastry Shop
Opryland Hotel Delta Atrium Pastry Shop

Other Opryland Hotel Delta sights

As you walk around Opryland Hotel in the Delta, you will walk by dancing fountains, small waterfalls, and seasonal displays. There is also a beautiful gazebo that makes a great photo opportunity for you and your date.

Garden Conservatory of Opryland Hotel

This area has the most trails to walk around in the Opryland Hotel. This part of the atrium was modeled after a Victorian-style garden. There are thousands of tropical plants that include 60-foot tall palm and banana trees, many waterfalls, fountains, and even some gazebos.

Garden Conservatory Restaurants

There is a few really good place to eat in this area with a great scenic view of the gardens. Right as you walk into the Garden from the Magnolia area, just to your right is a great little stand with some delicious frozen treats. Most of the restaurants are in the Delta or the Cascades.

Multilevel walking paths

There is an upper-level walking path that offers awe-inspiring views of the beautiful garden below. You can see the paths below, water fountains, waterfalls, statues, and gazebos.

Of the three atriums you can walk around in at the Opryland Hotel, the Garden Conservatory has the most interesting walking paths in my opinion. There is one path that takes you behind a small waterfall. There are little bridges that take you over small streams that have Koi fish in them. From a scenic point of view, there is more variety in this atrium. For a good chill time walking around the Opryland Hotel, this is my favorite area.

Maps to help walking around the Opryland Hotel
Maps are placed throughout the hotel and atriums to help guide your way.

The Cascades Atrium

The Cascades doesn’t have as much of the densely packed plants and walking paths. It’s more of a “rocks and waterfalls” area, with a really nice restaurant and a lounge. The main front lobby is connected to The Cascades as well.

The largest waterfall of all the Opryland Hotel is located in the Cascades. Actually, there are two of them there. There is a cave-like walking path going behind the big falls where there are two “windows” through the rock to see the back of the waterfall. The waterfalls are right beside The Falls Bar and Lounge.

Over around Wasabi Sushi, the “Lake” has dancing water fountains that shoot water back and forth from rock to rock. If you have children with you, this is a good place to get a better view of the larger fish.

Some people like staying in the Cascades

It would also be good to mention that from the people I’ve spoken with and reviews I’ve read, getting a balcony room overlooking the Cascades is the best in the house! Mostly due to the awesome views of the waterfalls. Also, the crashing of the water from the falls is so very peaceful to most people. Now if you are one of those people that must have it totally quiet, maybe your best choice would be the Garden or the Delta atriums.

Does Opryland Hotel have free parking?

Written by Chuck G. in Transportation and Parking

I have been to the Opryland hotel many times. Friends or family would come in for a visit, they would request a tour of the Opryland Hotel. Thank goodness for Opryland Hotel having an option for free parking.

Yes, Opryland Hotel has a free parking option for people who want to simply walk around and see the beautiful atriums. The free parking area is in the Oprymills shopping mall parking lot across the street from the opening in the wall going to the hotel.

I’ll tell you what you need to do to get free parking at the Opryland Hotel.

Opryland Hotel Free Parking
Oprymills Mall Parking lot for Opryland Hotel free parking

Free parking at the Opryland Hotel

Instead of giving you an explanation of how to get there in “conversational format”. I’m actually going to give you a step by step directions on how to get to the free parking spot. There are 3 ways of getting there, I’ll show you all three ways. Oh, check out the YouTube video below to get a POV driving tour of where to park. Let’s go!

Opryland Hotel parking from the backside of the mall

  1. From Briley, get off on Oprymills Drive.
  2. Depending on which way you are coming into Oprymills Drive, either you will be in the left hand lane or turning the right hand curve. If you are in the right-hand curve, get in the left hand lane. Be careful of merging traffic in the left lane.
  3. When you get the stop light, go straight.
  4. Stay straight and you will eventually see Paula Deans restaurant. Stay straight.
  5. At the 2nd stop sign after Paula Deans you will turn right. Look for the sign that says Gaylord Opryland at the very top, you will turn right at that intersection. See picture below.
  6. After turning right, you should see the top of the Opryland Hotel. Keep an eye out to your right for an opening in the brick wall.
  7. When you see the gap in the wall. To your right will be the Opryland Hotel free parking.
  8. Walk though that opening in the brick wall to get to the Delta atrium entrance of the Opryland Hotel.
Opryland Hotel direction sign
When you see this sign, turn right. You will be reaching the Opryland Hotel free parking spot to your right after turning.

Opryland Hotel parking from the front side of the mall

  1. From Briley, get off on Oprymills Drive.
  2. This time you want the right hand lane.
  3. At the stop light you will be turning right. You will see concrete dividers that help with the flow of traffic.
  4. After the dividers you will start into a right hand curve.
  5. After you will get out of the curve you will see Bass Pro shops to your left and Briley Parkway to your right. Continue straight until you start to get into a left hand turn.
  6. After coming out of the left hand turn you will see Mission BBQ to your left. Continue in the right hand lane.
  7. As you continue past Mission BBQ you will see the Aqurium restaurant to your left along with Dave and Busters to your left. You will be approaching a cross walk going to the Grand Ole Opry.
  8. Continue past the Grand Ole Opry to your right and the parking lot to your left.
  9. You will get to anothe intersection with a crosswalk that will have a sign that says “Opry House”, stay straight through that intersection.
  10. After going through the intersection, there will be a white fence to your right.
  11. Watch the surface of the road, you will pass some cross walks with “Slow” written on the road surface, count 4 of them. After that 4th one there will be a gap in the frnce with a crosswalk sign and dashed paint marker going across the road.
  12. Look to your left for the Opryland Hotel free parking.
  13. After walking through the gap in the fence turn left.
  14. Walk through the gap in the brick wall and follow the sidewalk.
  15. At the end of the covered sidewalk, look right and you will see the doors taking you into the Delta Atrium.

Getting to Opryland Hotel free parking from McGavock Pike

  1. Set your GPS to get to Cooters Dukes of Hazzard Museum on McGavock. This will get you going in the right direction on McGavock. Just a heads up … you will see the entrance to Opryland Hotel to your left. Don’t go there, you will be charged for parking. I’m trying to get you to the Opryland Hotel free parking area. so anyways .. on to step 2.
  2. Continue past Cooters (which will be on your right) and go down the to the light at Oprymills Drive, turn left when the light allows.
  3. Just continue on that road as you see all the warehouse looking buildings until you get to a stopsign.
  4. At this stop sign, to your front right you will see a vertical sign similar to the one in the picture above. Take a slight right, this is going to take you towards Orymills Shopping Mall.
  5. You will see a parking area to your left as you travel up this road, don’t turn in there. Continue to the stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign and continue until you see a white fence and a red brick wall to your left.
  6. Coming in from this side you will see a drop down gate in that white fence to your left. That is where you will walk in and then to the opening in the red brick wall.
  7. Follow the sidewalk to the end of the covered part of it. At the end of the covered part of te side walk look to your right, you will see the doors going into the Delta Atrium.

Want more information about the Opryland hotel? Click here for more info.

So Opryland Hotel Free Parking really is a thing I see. Sweet!

Yep, it is a real thing. Just park in the Oprymills shopping mall parking lot and walk over. Another tip would be if it is a nice day, to park a bit farther up towards the mall and you will be between the Grand Ole Opry and the Opryland Hotel. Then you could visit both and not have to be moving your car around so much.

Need some ideas for a place to stay? Check this out for some ideas.

Check out the YouTube video giving you point-of-view driving directions to the free parking area.

Nashville Nickname

Written by Chuck G. in Nashville Fun Facts

Nashville has several nicknames. Some only locals use. Some the tourist use. We are gonna go over these Nashville monikers telling you what they are, where they originated from, and possibly who actually uses each one.

There are several Nashville nicknames such as Music City U.S.A., Athens of the South, NashVegas, Cashville, Little Kurdistan, The Protestant Vatican, or The Buckle of the Bible Belt. The most common is Music City U.S.A. in which is known across the world. Lots of the locals joking use NashVegas.

So where did these Nashville monikers come from? Let us look at each one to figure it out.

Table of Contents

Nashville Nickname – Music City U.S.A

Let us start with the most popular first, The Music City.

The nickname Music City dates as back as far as 1873 when Queen Victoria heard an astounding performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The very talented singers were touring Great Britain and Europe to raise money for Fisk University, a famous college here in Nashville. Queen Victoria was so taken by the performance of the Fisk Jubilee singers that she was reported saying “These young people must have surely come from a musical city.

Now let’s move the clock forward to the 1950’s where a WSM-AM radio announcer by the name of David Cobb used the term Music City over the air. It just stuck from thereon.

Honestly, this is by far the most fitting Nashville nickname that can be used. With all the radio stations, musical museums, recording studios, and Nashville is the home of the Grand Ole Opry. No wonder the name stuck.

A big thank you to the Fisk Jubilee Singers for making Nashville known worldwide.

Nashville Nickname – Athens of the South

The next possibly worldwide known Nashville nickname would be Athens of the South. This is actually Nashville’s first nickname it is just not as well known as Music City.

Now, one might believe this is because we have an exact replica of the Parthenon located in Athens Greece. This isn’t exactly true. The Nashville Parthenon is a symbol of Nashville being the Athens of the South, not the actual reason the nickname exists.

Centuries ago Athens Greece was recognized as a center of learning. What does that have to do with Nashville? Fairly simple actually. Even in Nashville’s early beginnings, it had a dedication to higher learning. It was the first city in the south to establish a public education system. The Fall School building was built in 1898 is located on 8th Ave, this is the oldest public school building still remaining in Nashville. It is now the Nashville Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre.

By the end of the 19th Century, there were many highly respected colleges built in Nashville. One of the first bing Frisk University mentioned above, it was founded in 1865.

Parthenon in Nashville
Nashville Parthenon

The Protestant Vatican

I’m actually gonna have to expand on this Nashville nickname. The Protestant Vatican, The Buckle of the Bible Belt, and The City of Churches are pretty much used equally for the same reason.

It has been said that Nashville has the highest denominational buildings per capita of any city in the United States. Based upon some of the research I’ve done for this entry of this article there are about 700 worship buildings. This number encompasses many religions.

The term “The Buckle of the Bible Belt” is also shared with Abilene, Texas.

Little Kurdistan

The is in reference to an area in South Nashville that has about 15,000 Kurds living in that area. The little area is home to the largest Kurdish community in the United States.

Kurdish immigration to Nashville began in 1976 to escape persecution at the hands of Sadam Hussein. In the early 1990’s was when “Little Kurdistan” had the most growth. This was due to Saddam Hussein unleashing genocidal attacks on the Kurds, forcing thousands to relocate. Many came to Nashville to settle in.

When I was IT at a college in Nashville I worked with a couple of fellas that lived over in that area. They both are awesome caring people. I had so many good laughs and good times working with them.

Check out this article about the “Tour of Little Kurdistan“.

Cashville

This Nashville nickname came about because of a rapper named Young Buck who is from Nashville. In 2004 he released an album with G-Unit called “Straight outta Cashville”.

NashVegas

Well, this one is just a head-scratcher for me. I’ve been to Las Vegas and obviously Nashville. The only remote similarity would be the lights at the Honky Tonk Highway end of Lower Broadway. Which is exactly why Nashville got that nickname. All the pretty lights on Lower Broadway … Yee Haw, time to party!!

The Parthenon Nashville

Written by Chuck G. in Attractions

The Parthenon in Nashville was built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. This event marked Tennessee’s one-hundredth anniversary of statehood. For the different states that participated in this exposition, there were over 100 structures created to symbolize the theme of each state. Our Nashville Parthenon had become one of the more famous of all the structures that were built. Nashville had already earned the nickname “Athens of the South”. So came to be this full-scale replica of the real Parthenon located in Athens Greece, therefore epitomizing that nickname.

Lake Watauga

Centennial Park

The Parthenon is the centerpiece for one of Nashville’s greatest parks. Centennial Park is a 132-acre park that has many different amenities for your day out for fun. Go there on any warm summer day and you will find hundreds of people enjoying this great place. A one-mile paved jogging path, or walk if you prefer. Oh, the beautiful lake called Watauga where waterfowl and fish are abundant just waiting to model and pose for your camera. Sorry .. leave your fishing poles at home ’cause you ain’t a fishin’ in this lake. Hey on the upside, it is free to visit the park.

The landscaping is awe-inspiring! The rock bridge that joins the flower gardens is a popular spot for couples wanting to get their pictures taken. Beautiful sunken flower garden that accentuates the rock bridge. As you walk around the park you will also notice the historic monuments such as the fighter jet and train engine. There is even a dog park to entertain Fido the Wonder dog or spot .. or .. ya know whatever your pooches name is. If you happen to be in Nashville for the day or a romantic Nashville couples getaway. I highly recommend you make this place one of your visits.

Need a place for a large social gathering? There are event shelters for your festivities! Does it involve some jamming tunes? Got that covered with an outside bandshell. I’ve been hanging out there and honestly, you can’t count the people that are there. They are having events to simply have a family picnic on the front lawn.

The 42′ tall Statue of Athena in The Nashville Parthenon

Inside of the Parthenon, there are many pieces of beautiful art. Without a doubt, the one that stands out the most (that could be a pun) is the statue of Athena standing 42 feet tall (told ya). They used Gypsum Cement and chopped fiberglass bonded to a metal frame to create the replica of Athena. There were lots of details to be carefully sculpted. Once they done, they painted the skin, eyes, and other features. Next came the step that makes it really impressive.

42′ Tall Athena

Real Gold was used!!

All the gold color is just that that .. real 23.75 karat gold leaf. The process of layering the gold leaf is called gilding. This leaf is crazy thin .. 3 times thinner than cigarette paper and is 3-3/8″ square. Look at all that gold and imagine laying it at 3″ at a time. That took a long process, like 3 months of that tedious work. The gold has no protective layer because REAL gold doesn’t tarnish. So adding some form of protective coating would have actually hurt the beautiful patina of the gold. The statue within The Nashville Parthenon was completed on September 3, 2002.

In Athena’s outstretched right hand is Nike, the winged goddess of victory, strength, and speed. Nike is to crown Athena with the Laurel Wreath. In Athena’s left hand she holds her shield that has the head of Medusa in the center of it. The painting on the shield is very interesting!!

Caring for the statue seems to be fairly simple and straightforward.  Simply a soft damp cloth and gently wipe her down. I mentioned above how thin the gold leaf is. Well, back in the old days they used a mallet to beat the gold that thin. Recently there is now a machine that takes care of the boring hard work of making the thin sheets. Just in case you are wondering .. it’s Italian Gold.

Elgin Marbles

More Great Art in The Nashville Parthenon

Inside the Parthenon, there is much more than Athena to check out. On the lower level, there is an art gallery with amazing paintings on display. In this area, you cannot take pictures. The day I was there taking the pictures of Athena, they had paintings of the Grimms’ fairy tales. They had me rather fascinated. I really appreciate some forms of paintings because to be totally honest, I can barely do color by numbers!

Also in the gallery are exquisite sculptures of stone and ceramic from Nayarit, Colima, Michoacan, and Jalisco regions of Western Mexico.

Athena is located on the upper level. Around her are nicely detailed replicas of Greek sculptures. The originals were carved from marble, these replicas are cast and carved from plaster. These sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Marbles, are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures that were made mostly by Phidias and his assistance.

Years ago, the times I’ve visited the Parthenon Nashville, the Elgin Marbles were located along the walls of the same room as Athena. When I was there this time they had been moved to the room behind Athena. I tried to get a good picture of the massive doors, but the sunlight coming through was glaring out the camera.