It happened. I, the great hermit from the Blue Ridge Mountains, was invited to a bachelorette party in Nashville. I know that sounds fun. Honky-tonk bars and sweaty country music festivals are a whole thing for most twenty-something-year-olds.
But as I said: I’m a hermit.
And I was invited by that friend. The one I’ve had forever. The one who remembers my blue eyeshadow and Twilight poster phase. So, I had to go. And I was committed to going with a smile on my face.
I got to thinking. Nashville is a big city. Over 500 square miles of things to do and people to see. There had to be something other than bars and clubs, right?
Turns out, the answer is yes! If you, like me, need family-friendly things to do in Music City, I’ve got you covered.
The Nashville Zoo
I know we’ve all been to a zoo, but I promise this isn’t just any zoo. This 188-acre oasis is home to some of the most beloved wild animals on the planet: red kangaroos, clouded leopards, and rhinoceros hornbills, to name a few.
Plus, all the animals live in habitats that feel like their natural homes. Not a single one was lying on a concrete slab needing Sarah McLachlan to sing their background music.
I lured the bridesmaids to the zoo with the promise of elephants and ice cream. They didn’t even seem to mind after seeing the flock of bubblegum-pink flamingos.
The only problem was we missed the dinosaur exhibit by one month. One month! It’s not too late for you, though. Take your family to the Nashville Zoo this summer and you can stroll through the forest alongside life-sized animatronic dinosaurs with Dinotrek!
The Grilled Cheeserie
The Nashville Zoo offers a few different restaurants on-site, but save your appetite for dinner and head over to The Grilled Cheeserie. This family-owned food truck turned brick-and-mortar restaurant cooks up the most ooey-gooey, cheesy sandwiches every day from 11 am-9 pm.
I had the pimento mac-n-cheese sandwich and seriously considered relocating on the spot. I might be a hermit, but I’m easily convinced to socialize if there’s a promise of cheese.
Search for Street Art
In between the zoo and The Grilled Cheeserie, we scoured the city for iconic street art. I’ve never seen so many beautiful paintings. Murals coat the walls of buildings, alleys, bridges, and parking lots. Truly everywhere.
All for free!
Were there bars in between? Of course. That’s how I kept the crew rolling from block to block. They didn’t even complain. They were too busy posting pictures of the murals all over their Instagram stories and making everyone back home jealous.
You’ve probably seen one of the most famous pieces all over social media: the “What Lifts You” mural by Kelsey Montague. We each snapped a picture between those gorgeous wings in The Gulch, and I’m tempted to put it on my Christmas card.
Turns out, Nashville is Pretty Darn Fun and Hermit-Approved.
The group might have dubbed me “mom” by the end of day one, but ya know what? We all had a great time. Nobody got snatched by a drifter and we all avoided sunburn.
So, if you find yourself needing a family-friendly getaway, consider Nashville. If only for the grilled cheese and dinosaurs.
Jordan Thompson 