1. GO CANOEING/KAYAKING
River Queen Voyages
2 Victory Ave, Nashville
Cumberland River
615-933-9778
Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. except for Wednesdays through the end of October
$49 per single Kayak
Stones River Kayak & Canoe Rental
Various Murfreesboro locations
Stones River
615-767-7501
Open daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. through August
$35 per single Kayak
Metro Parks Canoe & Kayak
Various Nashville locations
Cumberland River, Harpeth River, Mill Creek, Whites Creek and Stones River
615-642-9745
Available by appointment
$25
Foggy Bottom Canoe & Kayak
1270 Highway 70, Kingston Springs
Harpeth River
615-952-4062
Open 9 a.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. on weekends through November
$45 per canoe, $35 per kayak
River Rat’s Canoe Rental
4361 US-431, Columbia
Duck River
931-381-2278
Open 9 a.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. on weekends through November
$50 per canoe, $35 per kayak
READ MORE: Where to Paddle With the Kids in Scenic Tennessee
2. HAVE A LAKE DAY
Blue Turtle Bay Marina
2001 Riverside Dr, Old Hickory
615-847-4022
Open daily 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Double decker pontoon rental is $375 for 4 hours, $450 for 8 hours
Cedar Creek Marina
9120 Saundersville Rd, Mt. Juliet
615-758-5174
Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Full day pontoon boat rentals start at $225 on weekdays, $350 on weekends
Elm Hill Marina
3361 Bell Rd, Nashville
615-889-5363
Open Mondays – Saturdays
Half day pontoon boat rentals start at $285, full days start at $360
Sweetwater Pontoon Rentals
259 Sanders Ferry Rd, Hendersonville
615-926-5495
Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Full day pontoon boat rentals start at $350
Paddle Up Nashville
525 Basswood Ave, Nashville
615-571-0708
Open Wednesdays – Mondays
$26 for 1 hour, $46 for 2 hours in a single kayak; $35 for 1 hour, $55 for 2 hours in a tandem kayak
3. PLAY IN THE SAND
Anderson Road Day Use Area
4010 Anderson Rd, Nashville
$5 per car/per day
Open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily through September 29
Sandy Beach for lake swimming and picnic areas
Bryant Grove at Long Hunter State Park
2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage
Free
Open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily
Sandy Beach for lake swimming
Cook Day Use Area
12230 Old Hickory Blvd, Hermitage
$5 per car/per day
Open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily through October 29
Sandy beach, picnic spots, boat/fishing ramps and swimming area
Laguardo Recreation Area
876 Burnett Rd, Old Hickory
$5 fee per car/per day
Open daylight to 10 p.m. through September 6
Sandy beach for lake swimming
Lock 3 Beach
Lock 3 Rd, Hendersonville
Free
Sandy beach, picnic spots and boat/fishing dock
Old Hickory Beach
876 Burnett Rd, Old Hickory
$5 fee per car/per day
Open from through September 6
Sandy beach for lake swimming, picnic area, playground and boat/fishing ramps
4. HIT A WATER PARK
Soundwaves at Gaylord Opryland
2800 Opryland Drive Nashville
615-889-1000
Day pass valid 12 – 8 p.m. on select Mondays – Thursdays this summer
$49.99 day passes; hotel packages for a couple start at $169 for Davidson County residents, $194 for TN residents
Nashville Shores
4001 Bell Road, Hermitage
615-889-7050
Open weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
$31.99 for weekday admission ($26.99 after 3 p.m.), $34.99 on weekends ($26.99 after 4 p.m.), Children 2 and younger are FREE
Wave Country
2320 Two Rivers Pkwy, Nashville
Open weekdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., weekends 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
$12 adults, $10 ages 3 – 12 (child admission is half price Mondays – Thursdays from 3 – 5 p.m.; there is also a coupon online). Children 2 and younger are free
Dollywood’s Splash Country
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge
Open daily 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
$49.95 for one day admission, $69.95 for two days and $79.95 for three days.
Holiday World’s Splashin’ Safari
452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, IN
812-937-4401
Open Sundays – Fridays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
$54.99 for 54 inches and taller, $44.99 for 53 inches and shorter (online discounts available)
5. SPLASH AROUND
Ava’s Splash Pad
1075 Charlie Daniels Pkwy, Mt. Juliet
Open Mondays – Saturdays 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sundays 1 – 5 p.m. through Labor Day
Brentwood Splash Park
920 Heritage Way, Brentwood
Mondays – Fridays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sundays 1 – 5:30 p.m.
Multiple slides, ground and ring sprays and a 100 gallon dump bucket
Don Fox Community Park
416 Baird Park Circle, Lebanon
Mondays – Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m.
Half day pontoon boat rentals start at $285, full days start at $360
Fountains at Gateway
1500 Medical Center Pkwy, Murfreesboro
Open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day in the Summer
Fountains light up at night! (Turned on and off at the discretion of the maintenance crew)
Metro Parks Spraygrounds
620 S. 9th Street, Nashville
Jo Johnston Avenue at 17th Avenue North, Nashville
Weekdays 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Metro Parks spray grounds include Kirkpatrick, Watkins and Cumberland Parks and are free of charge
6. GO TO A DRIVE-IN MOVIE
Stardust (31 miles)
310 Purple Tiger Dr, Watertown
615-237-0077
Pink Cadillac (41 miles)
2506 TN-100, Centerville
931-729-2386
The Moonlite (40 miles)
931 W Main St, Woodbury
615-563-7900
Macon (50 miles)
3570 Scottsville Rd, Lafayette
615-666-4411
TIPS IF YOU GO:
• PLAN ON A LATE NIGHT: Drive-Ins offer double features. Even if you pull away after the first feature, you’ll be getting home late.
• KIDS CAN WEAR PAJAMAS: Then, plop them right into bed when you get home.
• PACK FUN SNACKS: Or pay a pretty bundle at the concession stand. Pop your own popcorn, candy, & pack a cooler with cold drinks.
• BRING CHAIRS, PILLOWS & THROWS: Even on a warm night you can get chilled sitting outside.
• PACK JUMPER CABLE (JUST IN CASE): When you play the sound through your car radio, batteries can drain fast. Be ready.
