Is The Gulch Good for Families?
- 3 sections
- 1 table
- 3 sources cited
For a family visit, yes, with a plan built around a few stops. The Frist Art Museum, near the Gulch at 919 Broadway, admits visitors 18 and younger free and includes its hands-on Martin ArtQuest space with admission (Frist Art Museum). The wings mural has a small pair of wings for children and dogs, and The Infatuation tags at least one Gulch restaurant as good for kids. The evening side of the Gulch leans adult: L.A. Jackson, the rooftop bar on the Thompson Nashville, admits only guests 21 and up.
Family Stops
| Stop | What matters for families | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Frist Art Museum, 919 Broadway | free for ages 18 and younger; Martin ArtQuest art-making stations included with admission; children 13 and younger must be with an adult in the galleries, and 12 and younger in ArtQuest | Frist Art Museum |
| Wings mural, 302 11th Avenue South | a small set of wings for dogs and children to the right of the main pair | Kelsey Montague Art |
| St. Vito Focacceria, 605 Mansion St | The Infatuation tags it as good for big groups, casual dinners, and kids | The Infatuation |
| Arnold's Country Kitchen, 605 8th Ave S | a meat and three with a cafeteria-line ordering system, per The Infatuation | The Infatuation |
Sources: the Frist’s page for visitors with children, Kelsey Montague Art, and The Infatuation’s Gulch guide.
Frist Rules Worth Knowing
- No strollers pushed by children, and no carrying children on shoulders in the galleries.
- Talking is welcome; the museum encourages questions and exploring, but no touching the art.
- Pencils only if your family likes to sketch; no pens.
Planning a Family Day
- Start at the Frist when it opens; it lists hours from 10 a.m.
- Walk to the wings mural and visit on a weekday if you can, since the artist’s studio describes a line most weekends.
- Eat early at a casual spot such as St. Vito or Arnold’s, and check each restaurant’s hours on its own site.
How to walk between stops is in whether the Gulch is walkable, and more about the mural is in the wings mural in the Gulch. For a family day closer to Broadway, see whether downtown Nashville is good for families.