ON THE FIELD:
Nature Center Programs
Warner Park Nature Center hosts kid-focused classes to educate about the park and its inhabitants; topics include Build Your Outdoor Skills, Spineless Wonders, and Animal Anglers.
Good for: Ages 6-12
Location: 7311, Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221; 615-352-6299
Dates and Times: June 22, 29; July 6,13, 20, 27 — 10 a.m.-noon
Cost: Free; nashville.gov
Vintage Baseball Games
The Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball recreates the civility of the game in the 19th century by using rules, equipment, and costumes from the 1860s.
Good for: All ages
Location: Various fields
Dates and Times: Through September 10 at 12 or 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free; tennesseevintagebaseball.com
Nashville Baseball Club
The Nashville Baseball Club is a new Sandlot-style pickup game at Cleveland Park offering a casual and family-friendly environment to swing for the fence.
Good for: Teenagers and Adults
Location: 610 Vernon Winfrey Ave, Nashville, TN 37207
Dates and Times: July 10; August 7, 2-4 p.m.
Cost: Free; facebook.com/nashvillebaseballclub
Cheekwood International Playhouses
The locally-designed International Playhouses at Cheekwood take inspiration from the Cheek family’s voyages in the 1920s and 1930s.>
Good for: Ages 3-15
Location: 1200 Forest Park Dr, Nashville, TN; 615-356-8000
Dates and Times: May 21-September 4; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults ($16); Seniors ($14); College Students ($12); Youth 13-17 ($9); 2 and under (Free); cheekwood.org
IN THE WATER:
Canoeing and Kayaking
Several companies offer canoe and kayak trips on the Harpeth River ranging from easy (2 miles) to intense (9.5 miles). For something closer to home, reserve a spot on Radnor Lake's sunrise or sunet guided canoe floats (June 24).
Good for: Ages 10 and up
Location: Hwy 70 S, Kingston Springs, TN 37082 // 1160 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN 37220
Date and Times: Call for reservation
Cost: $38 +; tip-a-canoe.com; foggybottomcanoe.com; canoemusiccity.com; adventuresontheharpeth.com; radnorlake.org
Flyboarding
Defiance Flyboard services most Nashville area lakes with their flying water equipment—with training times of under 20 minutes, you can be flying in no time.
Good for: Ages 13 and up
Location: Percy Priest and other Nashville area lakes; 615-956-3669
Dates and Times: Book online
Cost: $99-$900; defianceflyboarding.com
Paddle Boarding
Stand-up paddling is a great way to workout while exploring Nashville’s many rivers. Bonus, the Nashville Paddle Company donates a portion of their proceeds to the Cumberland River Compact to help protect Nashville’s waterways.
Good for: Ages 12 and up
Location: Hamilton Creek Recreation Area, 2901 Bell Rd; 615-682-1787
Cost: $25-40 per 90 minutes of instruction time; nashvillepaddle.com
Waterfest + Splash Pad
Cumberland River Compact hosts a festival to educate families about water quality. Fun activities like a dance party, prize giveaways, water slides, and trivia make for a great afternoon at Nashville's Cumberland Park. The park's splash pad is a great summer spot combining water with play structures like a climbing wall studded with fossils and a butterfly trail.
Good for: All Ages
Location: 592 S 1st St, Nashville, TN 37213
Dates and Times: July 10, 1-4 p.m.; Park open daily from dawn-11 p.m.
Cost: Free; cumberland-river-compact.org
INDOORS:
Break Out Games
The Break Out Game locks you in a room and provides clues to help you escape from different scenarios.
Good for: Ages 14 and up
Location: 1209 Lakeview Dr, Franklin, TN 37067; 615-645-3450
Dates and Times: Reserve online
Cost: $25; thebreakoutgames.com
Car Racing
Race in a Sodi RTX Electric kart around this ¼ mile indoor race track, which includes world-class safety features at Music City Indoor Karting.
Good for: Ages 12 and up
Location: 400 Davidson St, Suite #403, Nashville, TN 37213; 615-242-3275
Cost: Priced per race; musiccityindoorkarting.com
Little Labs
The Adventure Science Center hosts Little Labs as a way for young children to learn about science, explore their creativity, and interact with other children.
Good for: Ages 3-5
Location: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203; 615-862-5160
Dates and Times: July 20, 23; August 17, 20; September 21, 24
Cost: $3 members, $5 non-members; adventuresci.org
Nashville Escape Game
Enjoy the thrill of the game as you and your group race against the clock to escape from the locked room using common sense, problem solving skills, and quick thinking.
Good for: Ages 12 and up
Location: 162 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201; 615-647-8229
Dates and Times: Reserve online
Cost: $28; nashvilleescapegame.com
Jump Sky High
A room filled with trampolines, foam pits, and dodge ball is sure to make the whole family jump for joy.
Good for: All ages
Location: 5270 Harding Pl, Nashville, TN 37217; 615-366-4252
Dates and Times: Open daily, times vary
Cost: $14 first hour, $6 each additional hour; nas.skyhighsports.com
Nashville Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’
The fairy godmother uses music and photos from the Nashville Ballet’s production to help her tell the story of Cinderella.
Good for: All ages
Location: Various Nashville Public Library locations
Dates and Times: June 24, 29; July 2, 5, 7, 11, 13; times vary
Cost: Free; nashvilleballet.com
IN THE SKY:
Full Moon Zip Tour
Around the time of the full moon, Adventureworks puts on a special night time zip tour, which allows visitors to fly around a dark forest.
Good for: Ages 6 and up
Location: 1300 Narrows of the Harpeth Rd, Kingston Springs, TN 37082; 615-297-2250
Dates and Times: August 20, September 17, October 15
Cost: $65; adventureworks.com
Soar Adventure
Soar Adventure has a climbing tower with different level courses, so everyone in the family can enjoy climbing fun.
Good for: Ages 3 and up
Location: 3794 Carothers Pkwy, Franklin, TN 37067; 615-721-5103
Dates and Times: June 1-August 31, Tues-Thurs: 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Fri-Saturday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: $25 and up; soaradventure.com
Star Party
The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society plans local star gazing parties—just bring a red flashlight and a star chart.
Good for: All ages
Location: Edwin Warner Park; 7311 US Hwy 100, Nashville, TN 37221
Dates and Times: July 9, 9 -11 p.m.
Cost: Free; adventuresci.org
Treetop Adventure Park
Treetop Adventure Park offers an above-the-forest-floor adventure for kids and adults alike.
Good for: Ages 7 and up
Location: 4001 Bell Rd, Hermitage TN 37076; 615-889-7050 x215
Dates and Times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., call in advance for reservations
Cost: Ages 7-11 course ($24.99); Ages 9-11 course ($34.99); Adult course ($49.99); nashvilleshores.com