We asked Nashville To Do followers for ideas that skip the country music scene entirely and don't require a full day on your feet. Here's what came back as the top picks, along with what you need to know before you go.
Frist Art Museum
The Frist sits inside a beautiful old post office building on Broadway, and it rotates through major art exhibits throughout the year, so no two visits look the same. General admission runs around $20 for adults, but anyone 18 or younger gets in free. It's open Thursdays until 8pm, and Monday, Friday and Saturday until 5:30pm, with Sunday afternoon hours too. It's closed Tuesday and Wednesday, so plan around that. If you're driving, the museum offers a discounted parking rate in its lots when you validate your ticket. Families should check out the Martin ArtQuest Gallery, a hands-on creation space that keeps kids busy while the adults look at the exhibits.
Tennessee State Museum
This one is completely free, which makes it an easy add no matter what your day looks like. It sits right at the edge of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, so you can wander the walkable paths and see the giant granite map of the state before or after your visit. It's open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday afternoons, but closed Mondays. Inside, you'll find a large permanent exhibit covering Tennessee's history plus a dedicated gallery just for kids.
National Museum Of African American Music
Located right on Broadway inside the Fifth and Broadway complex, this museum tells the story of Black musicians and their influence on American music, from gospel to hip hop. Adult tickets run just under $25, with discounts for seniors, students and teachers, and kids under 7 get in free. It's open daily except closing a bit later on Sundays and Mondays. Every visitor gets an RFID wristband at the door that lets you interact with exhibits, mix your own beats, and even email a recording home. Parking in the Fifth and Broadway garage is a flat discounted rate for museum guests, up to 12 hours.
Make Your Own Goo Goo Cluster
Goo Goo Cluster is a Nashville original candy, and their shop just off Lower Broadway lets you design your own from a digital kiosk for about $15 a bar. It takes roughly 10 minutes for the chocolatiers to build and set your creation, so it's an easy stop to fit into an afternoon of walking around downtown. They're open daily from 10am to 6pm. If you want to make a night of it, they also offer reservation only chocolate making classes for adults that come with spirit pairings.
Lip Lab
Also inside the Fifth and Broadway development, Lip Lab lets you build a custom lipstick or gloss from scratch with a color expert mixing the shade right in front of you. Packages start around $65 and go up from there depending on what you're making. You can choose the finish, the flavor, and even get the tube engraved. Appointments are strongly recommended since it's a hands-on process, and hours run late most days, until 8pm Monday through Saturday.
Bead Bar At Little Words Project
This one is a short, relaxed stop, about 30 minutes, where you build your own beaded bracelet. It's $35 for adults and $25 for kids under 12, and it's clustered right next to Lip Lab and Assembly Food Hall, so it's easy to pair with lunch. Each bracelet comes with a trackable tag, so if you ever pass it along to someone else, you can follow where it ends up.
Musicians Hall Of Fame And Museum
Tucked into the first floor of the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium, this museum focuses on the session musicians who played on some of the biggest records ever made, across every genre imaginable. Adult admission is $28, with discounts for students, seniors, military and police. Every ticket also includes access to the interactive GRAMMY Museum Gallery, where you can actually play instruments and sit inside real recording pods. It's open daily except Sundays, and there's paid parking right next to the building.
Centennial Park And The Parthenon
Walking the park itself is completely free, and it's open early until late every day. Inside the park sits a full scale replica of the Parthenon, complete with a 42 foot gold leaf statue of Athena, the largest indoor statue in the western world. Going inside the museum costs $15 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors, and it houses Nashville's permanent art collection. Parking throughout the park is free, which is a nice break from downtown prices.
PopStroke
This is an upscale mini golf concept with indoor and outdoor courses, located a short drive south in Franklin. All day play passes run $25 to $30, with discounts for seniors, military and kids. It's open late, generally until midnight, and scoring is tracked through a mobile app. There's an on course drink delivery service and a restaurant on site too, so you can easily turn it into a half day outing.
Nashville Ghost Tour
This walking tour departs nightly from the Tennessee State Capitol steps and covers about a mile of flat ground over 90 minutes. Tickets run $20 to $25 and need to be booked online ahead of time. Instead of weaving through the crowded honky tonk strip, the tour focuses on the darker histories behind landmarks like the Ryman Auditorium, the Capitol, and some of downtown's oldest hotels. Street parking downtown is free after 6pm, which lines up nicely with most tour start times.
