Adventure Science Center

Adventure Science Center is one of those rare museums where you will not hear your kids say they are bored even once. Sitting on a hilltop near Fort Negley in south Nashville, this science museum packs over 150 hands-on exhibits across multiple floors, and almost everything is designed to be touched, pressed, pulled, or climbed on.

The star attraction is the Adventure Tower, a 75-foot climbing structure that winds through three stories of the building. Kids scale nets, crawl through tubes, and emerge at the top with panoramic views of Nashville. Fair warning: some parents find it a tight squeeze, so you might end up watching from below while your fearless 6-year-old disappears into the tower.

The ground floor has a dedicated space for toddlers and preschoolers with age-appropriate activities, so younger siblings will not feel left out.

The Sudekum Planetarium is worth the add-on ticket. Shows rotate seasonally, and they range from preschool-friendly introductions to the night sky to more advanced astronomy presentations for older kids and adults. The seats recline and the dome visuals are genuinely impressive — even the adults in our group were captivated.

What sets Adventure Science Center apart from generic children's museums is the depth of the science. The human body exhibit lets kids explore real medical imaging. The space exploration area has actual mission control simulations.

There is a creativity lab where kids can build and test simple machines. None of it feels dumbed down, but it is all accessible enough that a curious 4-year-old and a skeptical 12-year-old can both find something engaging.

The museum recently expanded its outdoor space with a nature play area and seasonal exhibits. On a nice day, plan to spend some time outside — there are great views of the Nashville skyline and plenty of room for kids to run off energy between indoor exhibits.

Practical notes for parents: the building is stroller-accessible with an elevator, but the upper floors are easier to navigate without one. Bathrooms have changing stations. The gift shop is strategically placed at the exit, so prepare your wallet or your negotiation skills. Budget about three hours for a thorough visit, though science-obsessed kids could easily spend a full day.

If your family does any amount of museum-hopping, the annual membership is a legitimate deal. It includes reciprocal admission at over 300 science centers through the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which covers places like the Great Lakes Science Center, COSI in Columbus, and many others you might hit on road trips.