Take a Hike
It is no surprise that the first item on my bucket list is hiking; Tennessee is a beautiful state with a multitude of greenways, trails, and parks. Hiking is the perfect activity to get some fresh air, exercise, and social distance! A stone throws away from my home in Clarksville is Dunbar Cave State Park. Dunbar offers several hiking trails, a picturesque garden, a small lake, and even cave tours. Other areas that I would love to explore include Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, and Harpeth River State Park in Kingston Springs.
Piggybacking off hiking, the next on my list is visiting waterfalls. I recently had the chance to visit Cummins Falls. With several hiking trails, some more difficult than others, the view is worth it along with the chance to take a dip in the swimming hole. For a bit more relaxed hike, Ozone Falls is another popular destination. A fun fact about this hidden gem is that The Jungle Book was filmed here! If you’re looking to chase more waterfalls, be sure to check out Falls Creek Fall or Twin Falls, both just a short drive from Nashville.
The view from the top of Cummins Falls.
Blackberries and blueberries, and raspberries, oh my! As a huge berry lover, imagine my delight when I discovered there are many farms around Tennessee where I could pick my own! Strawberries are typically the first of the berries to be ready to pick between April and the beginning of June. Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries are ripe for picking later in the season starting in June and lasting through August. Here are just a few nearby farms you can visit. Make sure you call ahead to confirm which produce is ready to pick and what their social distancing guidelines are.
Kelley’s Berry Farm
Castalian Springs, TN
Fruit: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and peaches
Boyd Mill Farm
Franklin, TN
Fruit: blackberries and raspberries
Stoney Creek Farm
Franklin, TN
Vegetables: lettuce, tomatoes, corn, green beans, peppers, squash, zucchini, and more!
Fruit: blueberries and blackberries
Other: sunflowers, herbs, honey
Bottom View Farm
Portland, TN
Fruit: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries
No. 9 Farms
Ashland City, TN
Fruit: blueberries
Photo Credit: Kelley’s Berry Farm
On the blistering hot summer days, one of my favorite activities to beat the heat is floating down the river in either a kayak or tube. Although I am a novice to kayaking, I’ve found that once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy and great exercise. Being close to the Red River, we typically dip our tubes and kayaks in Clarksville or Adams Tennessee. Other places to Kayak it even Canoe are:
- The Cumberland River
– drop your kayak or canoe in yourself at Cumberland Park
– Cumberland Kayak Adventure – they offer guided tours
– Paddle Up Nashville – rent a single or tandem kayak or even a paddle board!
- Percy Priest Lake
– Although Nashville Paddle Company is currently closed, there are many great places to drop in your own kayak or canoe
- Harpeth River
– Paddle Dog Adventure
– Foggy Bottom Canoe And Kayak Company
– Canoe Music City
– Or if you want to go solo, here are access points along the River.
I’ve mentioned Percy Priest Lake several times now and although I haven’t had a chance to go hiking or kayaking there, I have been to the beach there. Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit there with family. We packed a picnic and had a day of fun at the lake. Cool off at Anderson Road Recreation Area or Cook Recreation Area.
We had so much fun relaxing and exploring; we even found a turtle!
Don’t worry, we put the turtle back after the photo!
Photo Credit: Ashley Chapman
I could go on and on. The more I explore, the more that gets added to my list: picnics in the park, horseback riding, Natchez Trace, golfing, Cumberland Caverns, Amish Country, Bell Witch Cave. Not to mention Eastern Tennessee and the many hidden gems in the Smoky Mountains.
Horseback riding in the Smoky Mountains
Photo Credit: Ashley Chapman
More photos from the Smoky Mountains
Photo Credit: Nic Dillon