Wow, is it me or did summer just fly by this year? We have a few weeks left before my kids head back to start their 11th and 7th grade years (cue mom in the corner silently crying at how grown up they are). We hope to get in a few more adventures before the school year takes over. For those looking for something to do, here are a few end-of-summer things to do around Nashville.
One of our favorite places to spend some time together is still the Nashville Zoo. We love the new Adventure 4D Theater. It is a great place to cool off while visiting. The DinoTrek dinosaur exhibit is there through July 30, so check it out if you enjoy all things that roar! Remember – it is a separate ticket, not included in your admission ticket. The zoo also announced that the Komodo dragon exhibit would be open as of July 27. My son has been waiting for this day for a while. We cannot wait to go see these awesome lizards.
Cheekwood has a fun night exhibit right now. LIGHT: Bruce Munro at Cheekwood now through Oct 27, 2023. My family went in June and loved it. It is very pretty to look at and explore. It is over most of the grounds, so be prepared to walk a lot. In addition, it is best to see as darkness falls and darker so be aware of that if you have young kids. It will be a later night during summer, so I would suggest a good nap before lol. If you use a stroller or a wheelchair, a few of the displays were harder for me to get my daughter to – mostly the ones near the mansion, which were behind the building down the historical steps. This exhibit is also not included in regular admission or membership. They often have live music there at night as well, just check the schedule to see what is happening.
Do not forget kids bowl free at select bowling alleys in summer. Tennessee area allows kids up to 17 to be included. You get two free games a day, and you just pay for shoe rental. We go to Thunder Alley in Dickson and love it. Great cheap outing. Do pay attention to blackout times when they do not allow the free tickets, which varies, depending on location. There are a few locations in this area. Search kids bowl free for the one near you.
The Frist ART Museum is on the top of my list to see soon. They have the Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibit happening until September 17. I love Peter Rabbit. I cannot wait to go and explore that exhibit and, of course, all the other displays as well. A really cool guitar exhibit, Storied Strings, is also there right now which my teens will be excited to see. This is a great place to hang out on a super-hot day. Remember, kids 18 and under are free and they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. I always forget that. When you are at the museum make sure to visit the ArtQuest area. This is a fun hands-on area for kids and adults. Make sure to leave plenty of time to play and explore.
As summer break winds down for your family, I hope you will also be able to have some fun adventures and make new memories.
