25 Things to do on Christmas Break in and around Nashville

Dear readers, some kind of way the calendar has done us wrong this holiday. My kids don’t get out of school until December 20. And that part would be fine except…THEY DON’T GO BACK UNTIL JANUARY 7!!!

That is 12 days (yes I count the weekends) of no school AFTER Christmas Day. I’m a mom to older teens now so entertaining them is a lot easier than it was when they were younger.

But if this had happened when they were in elementary school? The very thought of having 5 kids home for 11 days IN THE DEAD OF WINTER would have caused me to stress eat a whole bag of chocolate Santas. 

Those days before Christmas are so easy to fill, aren’t they? The kids are excited. There’s gingerbread houses to build, family to visit and the anticipation of Santa usually leads to pretty good behavior. But after Christmas? That’s just a wasteland of long, cold days where everyone seems to be bored and hungry 24/7.

Having survived (and mostly enjoyed) kid’s Christmas breaks for many years now, I can tell you that planning is key. Depending on the age of your kids and what your vacation/work schedule looks like, you might have the opportunity to do a little or a lot. Use our list to get some inspiration.

Pick a few activities or events that you know your family will enjoy and mark them on the calendar. Then relax and enjoy the season.

25 Things to Do on Christmas Break for Fun and Entertainment

  • If your house is overflowing like mine, spend a day ‘helping’ the kids de-clutter. Go through old toys, clothes and books to make room for the stuff Santa dropped off.  (This also makes a great pre-Christmas activity.  Kids seem more motivated to get rid of stuff during the exciting anticipation of getting new things.)  Bag and box everything up and take the kids with you to donate your items.
  • Do you have a few days off? Consider a day trip. One of our favorites is the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.
  • If you have out of town guests, be the ultimate Nashville Tour Guide. Take them to the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman  or Musician’s Hall of Fame. (If you have lived here for a hundred years and haven’t been to any of these places, it’s ok to visit as a hometown tourist too!)
  • Tour a historic home. The Middle Tennessee area is chock full of these wonderful homes and most of them will still be decorated for the holiday season if you visit before New Year’s. Here’s just a few suggestions : The Hermitage, Rock Castle, Traveller’s Rest, Belle Meade Plantation, Oaklands.
  • Have lunch at the Nashville Farmer’s Market. The food court offers lots of choices and then you can spend some time wandering around the market. If the weather is mild, finish the day with a walk across the street to the Bicentennial Mall.

  • If you have younger kids, think about a day at Cornerstone Indoor Playground, Monkey’s Treehouse or (our favorite!) Discovery Center in Murfreesboro.
  • Spend a day giving back to your community. Hands on Nashville has lots of opportunities for families to volunteer.
  • Have you made a new year’s resolution?  If eating healthier is on your list, take the kids shopping for ingredients for a meal and cook it together.  Yes, it will probably be a mess but you may find you all enjoy it.
  • Have a house full of bored teens? Take them to Climb Nashville.  All ages can ‘boulder’ at the East location but it’s 13 and up only at the West location. The Crag in Franklin and The Ascent in Murfreesboro are 2 other great options to get those big kids movin’!
  • Unless we experience an arctic blast, the weather should be fine for a trip to Radnor Lake. Unplug your family from all their devices and burn off some of those holiday treats together.

Find even more Christmas and holiday fun in our Nashville Christmas Guide!

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Rachel is a Middle Tennessee native, born and raised in the Nashville area and having lived in Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, and Mount Juliet. She is mom to 3, step mom to 4 and Grandma to one (so far!)

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