by Sande Waybill

Created on: July 10, 2009   Last Updated: September 20, 2009

Nashville offers its visitors a vast array of activities all year round to suit all ages. The plans for Nashville activities during the summer months should contain a combination of outdoor and indoor activities, to allow you to enjoy the sunshine but not be too sunburned or over heated.

If you fancy some time outside, The Nashville Zoo is situated at Grassmere, not far out of town. Among their animal exhibits you will find zebra, alpacas, leopards, pandas, lemurs, alligators, elephants, giraffes, and macaws. It is amply fitted with a restaurant and restrooms and suited to all age entertainment.

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is another outdoor attraction well worth a visit. You will find a giant map laid out on the ground at the entrance. Inside are numerous plaques, memorials, fountains, and a large amphitheater. There is a carillon at the back of the park. Germantown is just outside the state park and worth a short exploratory walk if you have spare time. There is a farmer's market to one side, where you will find a food court and restrooms.

Sometimes open and sometimes closed, the famous Nashville Carousel is an artistic and fun attraction worth sighting. Rides cost less than $2 when we were last in town. The carousel was created by Red Grooms and stands in Riverfront Park. Unlike most carousels, you will not find animals or cars to ride, but 36 caricatures of well-known personalities.

Fort Nashborough is a reconstructed settlement stockade open to the public. It consists of wooden structures resembling the original buildings that were once situated nearby. The buildings are made of logs and are quite small. You can investigate the past traditions and take photos. There are only 2-3 buildings and these are contained within a wooden fence.

For rainy weather or time out from the sunshine, you might consider one of the museums. The Adventure Science Center is great for all-age entertainment. They have a planetarium with laser shows and several exhibitions catering to various interests. As an example, in July and August of 2009 they are holding a wine tasting and a Science of NASCAR event.

Another popular museum is the Tennessee State Museum. They open Tuesday to Sunday, except for special holidays. This is more of a traditional museum with many of the exhibits relating to local history. Music buffs might prefer to pop along to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It is situated on Fifth Avenue and holds a collection of artifacts concerning

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>