jeanned

We are going to Nashville this week with three boys (ages 1, 7, & 8). Please recommend some activities that the children might enjoy, restaurants and lodging. Thanks.

tcapp

When we were in Nashville we stayed at the Residence Inn Airport. This place had come highly recommended to us, and at first we were a little put off because it is an older property.
When we went inside our room, it was very nice. All the rooms had been renovated with beautiful furnishings down to leather chairs. We had a very nice stay. For dining, your boys would probably love Rainforest Cafe at OpryMills. Go early, the lines get very long. They're opened for lunch and dinner.

tcapp

ttt

leahinsc

We stayed in Nashville a couple of years ago on our way from Asheville to STL and spent a few hours in the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. At that time our son was 6 and he loved the kids area which was a very large gallery full of hands on art activities for kids to create. He was thrilled to have something of his own as a souvenir. Even mom and dad got into a couple of the areas. I was very impressed with all of the stations and there was plenty of on-site assistance from Frist staff to explain.

jeanned

topping

lisettemac

Here are a few ideas:

http://www.nashvillecvb.com/Visitors/Family.aspx

I would also add the Parthenon (cool model of the Parthenon inside a nice park).

atlswan

Most little guys tend to like trains, so a visit to the Tennessee Railway Museum might fit the bill:

http://www.tcry.org/

The Adventure Science Center has a lot of hands-on activities for kids:

http://www.adventuresci.com/

A trip on the General Jackson riverboat, over near the Grand Ole Opry, might be a fun afternoon activity. I would not book a show cruise as it might be hard for the little ones to sit still that long. The Cruising the Outer Decks cruise might fit the bill:

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord...ay_cruises.cfm

One other place you might like is a visit to the Elliston Soda Shop, a diner that serves great food and ice cream/malts, etc. Great for kids, too.

http://nashville.citysearch.com/profile/9319102

DebTS

Hi, for fun I'd suggest Cumberland Science Museum, Opry Mills - has wall climbing in a sports theme store, has children's play area near movie theater. Theaters are regular types and a couple of Imax. There's Jillian's video (can be expensive).

Food - downtown 2nd Avenue - Spaghetti Factory. Go to their website and for the two older children you can fill out a paper showing books they've read (in children's section of website). Their meals will be free. Opryland Hotel Delta Area has fast food type restaurants. You can ride a boat thru the hotel for reasonable price. If you need a condo call Fairfield Resorts near Opryland Hotel and see if they rent by the night. Sometimes Opryland Hotel has specials too. Might be worth checking on. Website for Nashville is www.nashville.citysearch.com. Hope this helps. Have fun in Music City.

jeanned

thanks for the suggestions!

palmettoprincess

If you love books check out (no pun intended) the public library in Nashville. It is the nicest library I have every been in any county including college campuses. I went as a adult when they openned several years ago and remembered an awesome children's section, but since I didn't have a kid with me at the time, I can't remember any details.

Saraho

There is Fort Nashborough, a children's museum, definitely Centennial Park on West End which has playgrounds, gardens,a duck pond, maybe pedal boats and the Parthenon.