We drove through the downtown but it was bigger and much more busy than Memphis. The kids were a tad to winy to attempt parking and roaming so we did just a car tour.
Maybe if we were two young fun people our childless would have experienced the city in different way.
We drove on out and went to the Lane car museum. You know how much my kids, and husband love cars.
We paid admission and were immediately told that the cars could not be touched and it would be best if the kids stayed only in the designated kids area.
The collection was pretty incredible. More than 500 micro European cars. Unfortunately only 120 were on display and you had to pay extra to see the rest in the basement.
One of us had to stay with the kids so we took turns staying with the kids.
After deciding on cars in the gift shop and paying .25 for a sticker because nothing was for the Kids we had picnic outside, breastfed uncovered and changed diapers on their front we headed back to the airbnb where the boys wore out their welcome by throwing their shoes and duplo onto the deck of the apartment below.
Today when Adam worked the boys and I met an online friend of mine at the Nashville Zoo. When I was pregnant with Jake I joined a February baby group and Caitlin was in it. Her son Levi is just 4 days older than Jake.
Gavin took to her 5 year old daughter immediately and we had a fun day running all over!
Gavin got to pet a kangaroo!
That about sums up or time in Nashville. It wasn’t quite what we expected but nice nonetheless. And bonus, the boys have slept two nights in a row together on a bed to themselves and Avilene only woke twice. We are getting there!
Plan your family adventure
More from the Americas
Plan for roughly half the driving you think you can do. Kids need movement breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours. The best stops are not the ones on the itinerary but the ones you find by pulling over. Pack snacks that avoid crumbs. And accept that the trip will go differently than planned and that is usually better.
Audiobooks and podcasts for kids work better than screens for longer stretches. Window games. Music everyone can agree on. Letting older kids navigate. And giving them meaningful jobs rather than just asking them to sit quietly for hours.
A car trash bag. A cooler for drinks and snacks. A first aid kit. One bag per person that lives accessible in the car. Entertainment that works without wifi. A physical map as backup. And less than you think you need of everything else.
Four to five hours of actual driving is comfortable for most families with young children. More than that and the last hour tends to make everyone miserable. Factor in stops and add at least 50 percent to driving times.
The national parks are extraordinary and widely underused by families. Zoos in major cities. Interactive children’s museums. Sea World, Legoland, and similar theme parks for dedicated days. And the unexpected stops that were not planned that end up being everyone’s favorite memory.
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