25 Things to do on Fall Break in Nashville & Middle Tennessee

It’s that time of year again. Fall Break – that glorious mini vacation from school in October. Maybe your break is three days. Maybe it’s two weeks. Or perhaps you have a full time job and only have a few fall weekends available for fun. No matter your circumstance, here’s a few ideas.

Beat Fall Break Boredom with These 25 Ideas

  1. Planning a trip to a haunted attraction? Check our list before you go to make sure the place you are going is appropriate for your family.
  2. Up for a good ghost story? There are lots of Ghost tours available in the mid-state area. Pick one and tell me how it goes (I’m too scared to try!)
  3. Spend the day at Radnor Lake. Perfect views combined with our awesome fall weather make this the absolute best time of the year to visit.
  4. Want to get out of town? Check our day trip section for lots of ideas.
  5. Planning to stay home? Try some ideas from our Staycation plan.
  1. Make a trip to a pumpkin farm. There are so many great fun farms in our area. I pick a new one every year to visit. Don’t be afraid to drive a bit farther to visit one of these farms. You may just find a new family favorite.
  2. Visit Brushfire Pottery. Make yourself something fun or start early on some Christmas gifts.
  3. Long, lazy breakfast at the The Pfunky Griddle? I think YES!
  4. The Discovery Center in Murfreesboro will entertain your kids for hours. If the weather cooperates, walk around the outdoor trails too.
  5. If your kids are too old for The Discovery Center, head to The Earth Experience Natural History Museum.
  1. My kids and I love to spend some time just walking around downtown Nashville. There is lots to see (and eat!) Downtown is family friendly during daytime hours and there are not as many tourists this time of the year. Find some iconic Nashville murals and sculptures and get some fun photos.
  2. Spend a day exploring Warner Park. Take your camera and get some great fall pics using nature as a gorgeous backdrop.
  3. Have lunch at the Nashville Farmer’s Market (lots of great choices in the huge food court). Once you are done…
  4. Walk across the street to the Bicentennial Capital Mall. Grab a seat on a bench and let the kids run around for a while.
  5. Check out the pumpkin house and the mum explosion at Cheekwood Harvest . Don’t forget to take a selfie with one of the scarecrows on display!
  1. Take a hike at Long Hunter State Park. Lots of trails to choose from.
  2. Weather not cooperating? Head on over to the Opryland Hotel for a walk around the conservatory. Or have some fun at Opry Mills Mall (there’s more to do than shopping!)
  3. Make reservations for a day at The Adventure Park at Nashville. You’ll get some great pics for Instagram!
  4. If you have restless little ones, take a trip to an Indoor Playground. Let them jump the afternoon away.
  5. Tour a Historic Home. Pick a new one on every school break and your kids will grow up with a great sense of local history.
  1. Pack a picnic and spend a cheap (or free!) afternoon at the lake. Lots of choices close to home.
  2. Who’s up for ice skating? Take the family to the Ford Ice Center to perfect their triple lutz!
  3. Not brave enough to face the ice? How about some roller skating? We have several rinks in Middle Tennessee and almost all of them offer special open skate times during school breaks.
  4. How about an afternoon at Lane Motor Museum?  With over 400 car displays rotated throughout the year, there are always new wheels to discover.
  5. Spend an evening at the Stardust Drive In. They are open on weekends through most of the fall season. Pack everyone a blanket and a lawn chair. Movies under the stars on a crisp October night?  Ya’ll…it doesn’t get much better 🙂
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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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