From mesmerizing museums to charming zoos filled with rare animals and so much more, the Volunteer State has a ton of family-friendly activities that will amuse and educate both kids and kids at heart. Tennessee features some of the most exciting children’s activities around—your kids won’t even realize how much they’re learning!
The Adventure Science Center in Nashville is the kind of place children will always beg their parents to go back to. With both permanent and changing exhibits that are both entertaining and enlightening, your kids will always be fascinated while simultaneously learning. Check out the BodyQuest Gallery, a favorite, to walk through the human body and interact at the different stations for each system.
If you’re in the downtown Chattanooga area, head to the Creative Discovery Museum for an educationally stimulating activity for the kids. Check out the Science Theater for hands-on workshops or the Excavation Station to uncover dinosaur bones. Here, there’s so much to learn about and discover!
With over 3,500 animals to see and learn about, you child won’t get bored at the Memphis Zoo. Ride a camel, feed giraffes or visit a rare giant panda! Check out the new Zambezi River Hippo Camp to learn about one of Africa’s most fascinating bodies of water.
What child doesn’t love trains? With North Pole-themed events in the winter and Thomas the Train activities, your kids will have fun here while learning about how trains work! Take a trip back in time and take a ride on one of their old-fashioned trains. This is the perfect activity for grandparents and grandkids!
From cute and cuddly red pandas to sleek and scaly snakes, children will have so much fun learning about each of the fascinating animals at the Nashville Zoo. Guided tours, a Wilderness Express Train, kangaroo interactions and more will have you and your family entertained for the whole day!
Explore over 70,000 square-feet of exhibits focusing on nature, technology, history and more at Discovery Park of America in Union City. Kids with all kinds of interests will surely find an exhibit that they love. Experiment with whirlpools and geysers at the popular “Water Works” exhibit for a fun time.
Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge has everything from interactive activities to mind-blowing shows. Investigate each “wonder zone” to learn about topics like outer space, light and sound, natural disasters and more! This is a great spot to check out on a rainy day in the mountains.
The mission of this awesome kids spot is to “create memorable learning experiences through the joy of playing in hands-on exhibits and programs.” A tornado generator, real airplane cockpit and tons more are all available for children to explore here.
It’s hard to drive past this giant ship-shaped museum without wanting to stop in! Study the world’s most well-known luxury liner and touch a real ice burg, view personal artifacts and get your own boarding pass.
Instead of turning on a kid’s movie on the TV at home, get tickets to one of the feel-good shows at the Nashville Children’s Theatre for a family-friendly night out. If your child wants to give acting a try, sign them up for one of their classes to learn more about the arts!
