Taking our daughter to check out Nashville over spring break. She is 12.

Any suggestions on things we really need to do or see?

i live here in Nashville, do hopefully i can help. what are her interests? music? history? etc?

The Mother Clucker!!!

She is definitely interested in the music part.

I actually lived in Athens TN until 7th grade (long time ago) before moving to Dallas. I'm aware all the history, civil war and Indian, that is big in that area. Don't think she has a whole lot of interst in that stuff yet. But she might have some.

Might drive down to Athens one day to see that and some of the mountain stuff.

Ryman backstage tour...

agree on the Ryman tour. the country music hall of fame was good for my daughter when she was about that age. I live in Franklin, and really like the downtown area here for walking around.

Do the walkin Nashville tour

Is a Saturday morning good for visiting Franklin and having lunch? Any local craft breweries or restaurants you recommend there? Thanks!

yes, it is a good time. there is a farmer's market at the Factory, and the Factory has a lot of good places to just poke around in. It is just north of downtown on Franklin.
Downtown as all of the shops. If you want a beer, McCrery's a good Irish pub, but not a huge selection. Actually, the Mellow Mushroom has the best beer selection in downtown. For lunch, you have a lot of selection. Pucketts for traditional southern cooking, or either The Red Pony or Cork and Cow for a little more upscale, as well as Grays on Main. For dessert, either go to Merridee's for a cupcakes or pastries or Kilwins for ice cream or fudge.

Any other food recommendations?

What about Civil War stuff?

Franklin is lousy with civil war stuff, mainly relating to the second battle of Franklin in 1864. It was fought on the south side of town mainly, and you can go to Carnton Plantation to see the cemetery and battle lines. It is an interesting visit. While not Civil War based, going to the Hermitage is a fascinating place to visit also

In addition to Franklin, which had been built over for the most part, a large section of the Stone's River Battlefield exists at Murfreesboro it is run by the NPS so is better interpreted than Franklin.

I didn't do much in Nashville when I was there a year and a half ago, but we did enjoy the Sportsmans Grill, just south of Vanderbilt on 21st.

Good luck getting around. It isn't easy.

I went in October and came back wanting to live there. We stayed in Brentwood and spent time in Nashville and Franklin.

Would highly recommend attending the Blue Bird Cafe one night (with the Listening Room as a backup plan). Hattie B's, as mentioned. Probably worth your time to attend the Ryman one evening and then hit the bars after (and before).
Also, spent a morning jogging around and exploring the Parthenon.

Amazing city on so many levels. Praying one of my kids can get into Vanderbilt...!