Ultimate Fun Guide: 31 Must-Do Fun Things with Kids

Summer should be a blast for kids! Why not enjoy it with them?
We’ve compiled a great list of super-fun options to make your July the best one ever!

splishin’ & splashin’ at Nashville Shores

1. There may be several ways to conquer summer’s swelter in Middle Tennessee, but none are quite as fun as the wonderful water world at Nashville Shores. During the past couple of years, the park has gone through a few major expansions, revitalizing the now popular family destination. Nineteen attractions fill the grounds now ranging from water slides to wading pools to jet ski rentals and two exciting new additions this season:

Castaway Creek is a delightful 1,000-foot-long lazy river — it’s the first in Middle Tennessee, and the widest in the state, boasting 17 feet from side to side. Grab a tube (or float on your back) and let the current pull you around the river. It takes about six minutes to go all the way around, and along the journey, riders can get extra wet thanks to a couple of cool waterfalls and several sprayers along the course. It’s a great way to cool off and chill!

Then there’s the Breaker Bay Wave Pool. When this 25,000-square-foot baby cranks up and starts roaring, it simulates an ocean experience. A WaveTek system produces five different patterns with rolling waves up to four feet high. Again, guests can go at it alone or grab a tube to ride the waves. The pool operates 10 minutes on/10 minutes off. Believe me, as fun as it is, 10 minutes of the strong current is a lot. Both the new attractions have brought Nashville Shores to an entire new level of fun; you won’t want to miss out on it this summer.

Also this month, Nashville Shores offers Dive-In Movies on the beach every Friday at 8:30 p.m. The lineup includes Jaws (July 9), Star Trek (July 16), Monsters vs. Aliens (July 23) and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (July 30). Movies are free with park admission.

Operating hours in July are Sun - Thu 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 4), Fri - Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Admission is $28.99 for guests 48 inches and taller, $23.99 for guests 47 inches or shorter, free ages 2 and younger. Season passes are $69.99. 4001 Bell Road, Hermitage. For more info, call 889-7050 or visit www.nashvilleshores.com.
— chad young

2. Explore Amazing Feats of Aging
This interactive exhibit at the Adventure Science Center explores the mysteries of aging on display through Monday, Sept. 6. Check out the wondrous achievements made by humans and animals as part of this biological process. 800 Fort Negley Blvd., Nashville; 862-5160; www.adventuresci.com.

3. Get creative at All Fired Up
Tucked away in Hillsboro Village, All Fired Up is a paint-your-own-pottery studio for artists of all levels. It’s a great way to creatively kill a few hours and walk away with a priceless souvenir. Pick your unglazed clay piece (everything small to large from $3 - $500 and paint it. For a small studio fee, All Fired Up provides paint, brushes, stencils and kiln firing. Pick up your finished project in a few days! 1813 21st Ave S., Nashville; 463-8887.

4. Chill with a homemade popsicle from Las Paletas
This locally owned gourmet popsicle shop has more flavors than you can imagine, including wild cards like Pineapple Chili, Avocado and Rice. With a constantly rotating list of flavors, you can try something new each time you stop in. Every $2.50 frozen bar is made with whole fruits and fresh ingredients and is worth every penny. 2907 12th Ave., S., Nashville; 386-2101.

5. Hop Around at the Nashville Zoo
Always a great day trip for kids, in addition to the animals housed on the grounds, it also features one of the largest kid’s jungle gyms around. Cool off in the Unseen World exhibit with frogs, bugs and more, and if you are looking for really chilly zoo fun, head over on Saturday, July 24 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. for Ice Day! 3777 Nolensville Road, Nashville; 834-1534 or www.nashvillezoo.org.

6. Soar through the woods on an Eco-Adventure Canopy Zip Tour
Adventurous families unafraid of heights can sail through the air on steel cables, secured in a safety harness and attached to a zip pulley system. Guides point out native trees, plants and wildlife. All ages can participate. Kingston Springs; www.adventureworks.com/zip.

7. Experience Pied Piper Creamery
East Nashville’s only full-service ice cream parlor, the homemade ice cream comes in 147 flavors such as “Here He is, the Muffin Man” (blueberry muffin), and the classic “Vanilla Ice, Ice Baby,” which they change daily. 114 South 11th St., Nashville; www.thepiedpipercreamery.com.

8. Toy fun at Phillips
Phillips Toy Mart’s aisles are stocked with classic toys unavailable elsewhere and more. They have Lionel trains, Legos, kites, Frisbees, Middleton dolls, wooden toys and trains, Breyer, Corolle dolls, and hundreds of other toys. 5207 Harding Road, Nashville; 352-5363; www.phillipstoymart.com.

9. Beat the heat at Wave Country
Located in Two Rivers Park (two picnic shelters are reservable by calling 862-8408), Wave Country has a wave pool, slides and the big 80-foot long one with a 40-foot drop. Pop over Monday through Thursday between 3 and 5 p.m. when kids’ admission is half price. 2320 Two Rivers Pkwy, Nashville; 885-1052; www.nashville.gov/parks.

10. Frolic in the fountains at the Bicentennial Mall
Put on swimsuits and head to the Capitol for an afternoon of free water-play. Teach your kids that the 31 vertical water fountains represent each of the predominant waterways in Tennessee. Afterward, play geography tag on a massive 200-foot map of the state carved into the concrete.

11. Drum or dance at the Global Education Center
The Center offers a variety of dance and music classes from different cultures around the world:
Swing Dance, Chinese Dance for Children, Guinea Style Djembe Class, Agentine Tango, Lindy Hop. Drop in any day for fun. 4822 Charlotte Pike, Nashville; 292-3023; www.globaleducationcenter.net.

12. Get jumpy!
Pump It Up in Brentwood (7104 Crossroad Blvd., Ste 128, 37027; 373-8340; www.pumpitupparty.com) offers “Pop-In Playtime” from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Mondays through Friday and most afternoons in summer from 2 - 4 p.m. for $7 per child. Open Bounce times are also at BounceU (two locations: 2990 Disco Drive in Nashville or 1222 Park Ave. in Murfreesboro; www.bounceu.com); Jumper’s Playhouse at 6600 New Nashville Hwy., Smyrna, www.jumpersplayhouse.com; Jump Zone at 1725 Columbia Ave., Franklin; 866-2021; www.jumpzoneparty.com; Kids Party Jumps at 134 New Shackle Island Road, Hendersonville; 862-8010.

13. Love the Earth at Warner Park Nature Center
Located below the Learning Center, the Nature Play area features a cedar wood playhouse, a stone wall in one corner, and two dirt piles (one with a slide that plops kids into a huge sand pit!) Plus, go on a free park excursion. 7311 Hwy. 100, Nashville; 352-6299 or visit www.nashville.gov/parks/wpnc/index.asp.

14. Cook at Young Chefs Academy
Cooking events are available for ages 3 and older: weekly cooking classes, weekend workshops, educational field trips and more. 99 Seaboard Lane, Brentwood, Ste. 700, 371-5151, www.youngchefsacademy.com.

15. Explore Chihuly
World-renowned hand-blown glass sculptor Dale Chihuly’s spectacular creations are exhibited throughout the botanical garden at Cheekwood through October 31, 2010. It may be cooler (and even more awesome) to see the displays illuminated at night. 1200 Forrest Park Drive; 356-8000, www.cheekwood.org.

16. Fly a kite at Centennial
Nashville’s Centennial Park is a perfect kite-flying destination. Also stroll around the lake and hit up the playground. Visit the massive Athena statue in the Parthenon — one of the largest indoor sculptures in the Western world! 2500 West End Ave., Nashville; www.nashville.gov/parks.

17. Go ape at Monkey’s Treehouse
This large, super-clean indoor playground lets kids explore a giant treehouse, sandbox, grocery store, art area, puppet theatre, tumble area and creative games and crafts. TV and Internet for parents are also a draw. 8074 Hwy 100, Nashville; 646-5002; the www.monkeystreehouse.com.

18. Blue Heron’s Cruises
Family-friendly fun aboard a 24-passenger pontoon boat oozes summertime. Pick between seven cruises ranging from 90 minutes to three-and-a-half hours through scenic wildlife refuge and gorgeous Tennessee countryside. www.blueheroncruises.com.

19.Yummy at Sweet Ce-Ce’s
Stop into Sweet Ce-Ce’s for a deliciously homemade cup of frozen yogurt. CeCe’s offers flavors like Red Velvet Cake, Pistachio and Pecan Praline, all fat-free and under 200 calories. Locations in Brentwood, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, and Nashville. www.sweetceces.com.

20. Get hands-on at ArtQuest
Located on the upper level of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the ArtQuest gallery has 30 exciting stations where kids can learn, make prints and collages, paint, sketch and more. The stations change out periodically, so there is always something new to explore. 919 Broadway, Nashville, 244-3340; www.fristcenter.org.

21. Float your boat with Tip-a-Canoe
Travel safely while enjoying gorgeous sights along the Harpeth in a private canoe. One of the oldest and most trusted canoe and kayak rentals in Tennessee, Tip-a-Canoe is locally owned and operated with trainers on hand and all the necessary supplies for rent. Pack snacks and go! Reserve a canoe by calling 800-550-5810; www.tip-a-canoe.com.

22. Ham it up at NCT
For kids who love the spotlight, summer camps at Nashville Children’s Theatre are just the thing. Kids learn to be comfortable with their voices, bodies and ideas. Visit www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org for more information.

23. Stargaze at Dyer Observatory
The mega-popular reservations-only Open House Telescope Nights on Thursdays at Fridays happen at one of the highest peaks in the area. Space Science Camp for seventh and eighth graders is July 26 - 30. Go to www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu to look at the event calendar. The Observatory’s physical address is 1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood.

24. Visit the Discovery Center
Fun includes the Water Works exhibit where kids can pour, squirt and float things to their heart’s content and 20 acres of natural wetlands at the Discover Center at Murfree Springs in Murfreesboro. Maybe you’ll see a heron or an otter! 502 S.E. Broad St., Murfreesboro; 890-2300; www.discoverycenteronline.org.

25. Ice skate in the cold!
Switch climates, bundle up and go ice-skating at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville (222 25th Ave. North) Public skate sessions are available weekly — check the schedule at centennialsportsplex.com, or head to A-Game Sports in Franklin (215 Gothic Court) for weekly public skate sessions. Visit the online calendar at http://goagame.com/iceevents/index_e.html for times.