Your new home means a new neighborhood to explore. Each month, Onward brings you “Your New Favorite” – our team’s hand-selected places unique to Middle Tennessee that locals love.
This month, find your new favorite family-friendly summer activity. Whether you want to beat the heat with a kayak trip on the Duck River, or expand your mind at the Adventure Science Center, Middle Tennessee offers tons of unique activities for your family to enjoy.
ArtQuest at Frist Art Museum
The Martin ArtQuest space at Frist Art Museum lets visitors find their inner artists through creative, hands-on activities like drawing, painting, animation and printmaking. Special activities connect to exhibits featured in the museum throughout the year. So, there is always something new to see and create.
- Location: Downtown Nashville
- Address: 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Stardust Drive-In Theatre
Located in the heart of historic Watertown, Stardust Drive-In Theatre offers a memorable cinematic experience for a fraction of the cost of a traditional movie theater ticket. Featuring a selection of current blockbusters and nostalgic favorites on Stardust’s “Retro Wednesdays,” there’s something for any moviegoer at any age. Families have a fun, age-appropriate solution for entertaining kiddos when the theater operates on its summer schedule seven nights a week.
- Location: Watertown
- Address: 310 Purple Tiger Drive, Watertown, TN 37184 (driving directions here)
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
If you want fresh air and beautiful scenery right in the middle of Nashville, look no further than Cheekwood. As you make your way back through the magical gardens, you’ll find the Cheekwood Mansion, where you can learn about the historic Cheekwood Estate and wander through the art gallery. Cheekwood also hosts a variety of events, from crafts and concerts to larger-than-life art exhibits and pieces, every season of the year.
- Location: Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood
- Address: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
The Discovery Center turns learning and curiosity into interactive play and activities for all ages. There are regularly featured exhibits to enjoy, and permanent exhibits like 5 Senses, Farm to Table, and The Great Outdoors are family favorites. The Discovery Center also hosts programs like Tasty Tuesdays, where kids use kitchen chemistry skills to create delicious snacks.
- Location: Murfreesboro
- Address: 502 Southeast Broad Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Higher Pursuits Kayak & Canoe Rentals
For outdoor enthusiasts, Higher Pursuits offers a chance to enjoy the scenic Duck River waterway in a safe, family-friendly environment. Guests can choose their boat and paddle at their own pace, or they can sign up for one of several guided trips, including a guided nighttime paddle. A fun fact: the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it the most biologically diverse river in North America!
- Location: Columbia
- Address: 3114 Cheeks Bend Rd, Columbia, TN 38401
Brushfire Pottery
Whether it’s a fun holiday outing or a birthday party, the whole family can paint their own perfect piece of pottery at Brushfire. A longtime neighborhood favorite, Brushfire has all sorts of colors and designs that inspire you to bring your ideas to life, and instructors guide your group through the whole process. Along with self-guided pottery painting, Brushfire also offers private pottery painting events and special events.
- Location: Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood
- Address: 4004 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215
Nashville Children’s Theatre
Imaginations run wild at Nashville’s Children Theatre, where stories come to life on stage. With almost a century of shows and educational opportunities, Nashville Children’s Theatre is the oldest theater for kids in the country. During the summer,
children ages 4 to 18 can participate in drama classes that promote collaboration, creativity and life skills through performance art.
- Location: Downtown Nashville
- Address: 25 Middleton Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Adventure Science Center
The Adventure Science Center has been creating memories for families since 1945 when it was known as the Children’s Museum of Nashville, and the Center has since grown to include the first planetarium in Tennessee. Visitors can learn about all things human and earth, including beekeeping, flying, fossils and the solar system. The Sudekum Planetarium is a state-of-the-art dome theater that hosts a variety of shows daily, whether you want to watch a laser display or marvel at the Milky Way.
- Location: Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood
- Address: 800 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Did you know that Nashville is home to the ninth-largest zoo in the country? A diverse variety of amphibians, arthropods, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles call Nashville Zoo home. Learn more about them at a show in the Zoo’s theater or by catching a meet- and-greet with one of the zookeepers and the animals in their care. Along with being able to see all sorts of animals, visitors can ride the Soaring Eagle Zip Line, Wild Animal Carousel and Wilderness Express Train.
- Location: Nashville’s Radnor/Elysian Fields neighborhood
- Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
Big Band Dances at Centennial Park
Beginning on the first Saturday of June and continuing until early August, Metro Parks Music and Creative Parks Nashville present their Big Band Dance series at Centennial Park. Every Saturday, the community is invited to lace up their dancing shoes and participate in this free event, featuring Nashville swing and jazz bands, along with local food trucks. For individuals eager to dance but seeking guidance, Dynamic Ballroom and Performing Arts offers free dance lessons before the performance, focusing on beginner-friendly styles such as Rhumba, Cha-Cha, Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot, and Two- Step.
- Location: Nashville’s Centennial Park Bandshell
- Address: 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203
Contact an Onward agent to bring you one step closer to your new home and what you can experience right in your backyard.
