With life’s necessities already at the Nashville Parachute Media office: a beer fridge, couches, free wifi, and puppies running wild, it’s hard to imagine why we’d ever want to leave.
When we do venture out, we love time outside. If you’re looking to try out a Nashville classic or try a new place you may not have heard of, our top 9 list below is a great guide for your next Nashville adventure.
1. Warner Parks
Coming in at over 3,000 acres, Percy Warner and Edwin Warner parks are a Nashville icon. Located 9 miles from downtown, this land is a haven to hikers, bikers, trail runners, golfers, and horseback riders.
If you’re looking to explore the Warner Park System in a different light, one of our favorite events is the Full Moon Pickin’ Party. Grab a friend and your pup (the shows are dog friendly) and head on down to the barn. Bluegrass music, food trucks, and free beer await!
2. Radnor Lake State Park
Radnor Lake State Park a beautiful park surrounding a picturesque lake. This busy spot is protected as a Class II Natural Area, which means chances of seeing wildlife along your hike are very high! Radnor Lake is home to owls, deer, and a variety of birds. Don’t leave your camera at home!
To keep this park protected and wild animals comfortable for years to come, jogging, dogs, and biking are not allowed on the main trail. The Otter Creek Trail, accessed by the same parking area, is the best place to do all these activities.
3. Shelby Bottoms Greenway
Just off the Cumberland River and tucked behind bustling neighborhoods, the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway has truly become an oasis for the city. With the simple, yet genuine mission:
“To provide protection, preservation, and restoration of this open space as a greenway and nature preserve; to provide preservation, education, enhancement, and interpretation of this unique environment with wetlands, meadows, and forests; and to provide passive recreational opportunities for the public while maintaining a high level of environmental sensitivity.”
So be it by foot, bike, rollerblades, or Bird Scooter, we challenge you to discover one of our favorite Nashville spots! The Shelby Bottoms Greenway has miles of paved ADA accessible trails, and the Nature Center offers a variety of free community classes. What are you waiting for?
4. Percy Priest Lake
Camping, boating, fishing, and hiking, Percy Priest Lake has it all. While this destination is a bit further outside of town, we can promise the drive will be well worth it. At 42 miles long, this beautiful lake checks all the boxes for an awesome weekend getaway.
Looking for a day hike option? The Volunteer Trail on Percy Priest Lake is one of our favorites. With over 10 miles of groomed trails, this dog friendly hike borders the lake and even offers primitive camping options.
5. Pedal Tavern
Nashville didn’t get the nickname, “Bachelorette Capital of the World,” for nothing! This city knows how to have a good time. While your options for bars throughout town surely aren’t limited, a fun and trendy way enjoy a cold one and explore the city is by pedal tavern.
6. Rooftop Bars
With long summers, we know how to enjoy a good rooftop bar! Many bars and restaurants offer rooftop options, a way to enjoy your drink with a view of the city. And while any rooftop option is nice, we do have our go-tos:
L.A. Jackson: L.A. Jackson is more of an upscale option, with indoor & outdoor seating. This rooftop bar is first come, first served, so grab your friends and get ready for a panoramic view of our beautiful city.
ACME Feed & Seed: Anchoring Nashville’s famous Broadway strip, ACME Feed & Seed offers tasty southern dishes, live music, and a rooftop bar overlooking the busiest street in Nashville. If you’re trying to get your people watching on, you won’t be disappointed.
7. Coffee Shops
A change of scenery is good for the soul. Whether we’re finishing up a work project or catching up with friends, we love to do both from the patio’s of eclectic Nashville coffee shops.
CREMA: Crema is one of Nashville’s most popular coffee shops, so you’ll want to add this to your bucket list.
Red Bicycle- The Nations: Offering an all day long ‘Mimosa Sunday,’ safe to say we enjoy more than just the coffee from Red Bicycle. Next sunny day, grab your laptop and visit the patio for yourself!
8. Dog Parks
If there is something we know well at Parachute Media, it’s dogs. Well, I guess we know digital advertising pretty well, too. Nashville is packed with dog parks, one of our favorites is Two Rivers Dog Park. Two Rivers a large, fully enclosed dog park offering a paved loop, along with wooded areas and open fields for dogs to play. Trying to beat the heat? Two Rivers has a water fountain for your pup and a sheltered pavilion.
9. Ascend Amphitheater
No Nashville list is complete without mentioning the music scene. Ascend Amphitheater, named the ‘Best Outdoor Concert Venue in Tennessee,” is our favorite spot to catch a show. Ascend hosts the biggest bands across all genres. If dusting off the cowboy boots isn’t your thing, have no fear! Ascend will please any outdoor-loving concert goer.
