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Below are some of our favorite places to spend a nice day with the whole family in Nashville! We listed 9 Nashville nature area, gardens and historical places for a nice day out! Learn more about us & what we do for Nashville homes here.
Nashville Nature Visit To Belle Meade Plantation
WEBSITE: www.bellemeadeplantation.com
An old log cabin from 1790 resides on the beautiful grounds of this historic plantation, yet the plantation itself, originating in 1853 (with the carriage house arriving in 1890), holds more allure.
We highly recommend guided tours! There are lots of details and interesting history facts told during the tour. We also love the nature garden for a spring/summer stroll.
The plantation has a nice wine shop and even a Chicken Coop! The restaurant “The Belle Meade meat & Three” serves creative simple but delicirous local foods at really reasonable price (from $10 for a plate). We love sitting on their deck and enjoy the meal with amazing Nashville nature, plants, trees and garden views. Perfect for a weekend family activity!
Spend a Summer/Fall Weekend Family Day @ Belmont Mansion!
ADDRESS: 1700 Acklen Ave, Nashville
PHONE CONTACT: 615-460-5459
NEIGHBORHOOD: Belmont, Hillsboro, TN
WEBSITE: www.belmontmansion.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/belmontmansion
Recognized as a leading attraction, this is Tennessee’s largest “house museum.” The visionary behind Belmont Mansion, Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham, was born into a well-known Nashville family in 1817. At 22, she wed Isaac Franklin, a prosperous older businessman and plantation owner who was 28 years her senior, and they had four children who all unfortunately died young. After seven years of marriage, Isaac Franklin died unexpectedly of a stomach virus while visiting one of his plantations in Louisiana. Adelicia inherited a huge estate including: 8,700 acres of cotton plantations in Louisiana; Fairvue, a 2,000-acre farm in Tennessee; more than 50,000 acres of undeveloped land in Texas; stocks and bonds; and 750 slaves. In 1846, at the age of 29, Adelicia Franklin was independently wealthy, worth about $1 million – which would be more than $42 millions today. In 1849, she remarried Joseph Alexander Smith Acklen, a Mexican War hero and a local lawyer. They completed Belmont Mansion (originally Belle Monte) in 1853. The 16-room tour is a must-see.
The mansion has an exhibit about its history, and it’s fascinating to learn more about the history of Nashville area in general, through the exhibit.
We did some of the themed tours and would highly recommend! The “Lasting impression tour” based on Tamera Alexander’s history romance book is entertaining and gives lots of interesting information in the same time. There is also an Old Town Trolley stop to the mansion! So this nature/garden Nashville visit can be combined with a downtown Nashville tour. Perfect for a whole family day out in spring, summer or autumn!
Learn About Nashville History in the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park!
ADDRESS: 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville
PHONE CONTACT: 615-741-5280
NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown Nashville, TN
WEBSITE: http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/bicentennial-mall
Situated before the Capitol, this Nashville city park features a prominent 200-foot granite map of Tennessee and is Nashville’s top visited site. The park also offers lots of activites, including a farmers’ market, a fish market, a plant nursery, a water fountains, a vast WW II memorial, a 95-bell Carillon, the Pathway of History, and the Rivers of Tennessee Fountains. The 11 planters along the Walkway of Counties show native plant species from different regions of the state – a nature stroll there in the spring or autumn is really beautiful and nice. We love this place for family weekend pic-nic too!
We highly recommend picking up the park map – which is also online The park map contains great informations for those who want to do a self-guide walk! There are Digital Park tours online.
One of our favorite digital park tours is the “County Time Capsules Digital Tour”. The park has 99 times capsules, and each holds items from each of the state’s 95 counties. These capsules were installed in the park for the oprning in 1996 and are scheduled to be opened in 2096! For the State’s 300th birthday. To protect its content, the capsules are in stainless steel and are underneath stones in the Park’s East Side.
Park rangers also provide in person interpretive park tours, historical presentations in period dress and off-site programs – which should be reserved online. Program by park rangers covers Tennesee’s & Nashville’s rich history from early settlement to present.
Take a Nature Stroll at the Carnton Plantation
ADDRESS: 1345 Eastern Flank Circle, Nashville
PHONE CONTACT: 615-794-0903
NEIGHBORHOOD: Franklin, TN
WEBSITE: www.carnton.org
This Nashville, tn historical landmark is managed by “The Battle of Franklin Trust”. The trust’s role is to manage and preserve the history of American Civil War.
Carnton was build in 1826 and was one of the biggest farms in Middle TN back then. But by November 1864, the homes and the family who lived there found themselves in one of the biggest battle, and most dramatic events of the American Civil war.
You can embark on an extensive walking tours of this historical battlefield. Guides will explain various aspects of the Battle of Franklin, elucidating its causes, detailing the convergence of the Federal and Confederate armies, and narrating the events of what is recognized as one of the most intense single confrontations of the Civil War.
Tours are available from Tuesday to Friday at 11 A.M., and while booking in advance is recommended, it is not mandatory.
This place has an interesting history, perfect for a family weekend to learn more about local history! In addition to having a lovely nature Garden! Constructed in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a past mayor of Nashville (1768-1843), Carnton was a hub for key figures in Tennessee and U.S. history, including President Andrew Jackson, and it became one of the leading farms in Williamson County. On November 30, 1864, at 4 p.m., Carnton became the backdrop for one of the Civil War’s fiercest battles, forever altering the McGavock family’s life. The Confederate Army of Tennessee launched a large and well organized offensive against the Federal forces positioned at Franklin’s southern boundary. This battle, considered to be the most brutal five-hour period of the Civil War, saw a larger frontal attack than even Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. And even more, the battle was mostly fought in darkness and close combat. The carnage resulted in approximately 9,500 soldiers dead, wounded, captured, or missing, with nearly 7,000 of those being Confederate soldiers. Carnton house on the ground then functioned as the primary field hospital, treating countless injured and dying Confederate soldiers. As one staff officer recalled, “Hundreds of wounded were brought into the house during and after the battle. When there was no more room inside, the injured and deceased were placed in the yard.” On the morning following the battle, December 1, 1864, the bodies of four Confederate generals—Patrick R. Cleburne, Hiram B. Granbury, John Adams, and Otho F. Strahl—were found on Carnton’s back porch. Today, the floors still bear the bloodstains of those who were treated there, visible to all who visit.
A Day at The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
WEBSITE: www.nashvillezoo.org
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillezoo
The Nashville Zoo is an awesome place for families, beyond the typical zoo experience, the zoo also offers lots of activites and amusement park like experiences.
The Croft Home or Nashville Grassmere historic home stands in the center of the zoo. The house was constructed in 1810 by Col. Michael C. Dunn is the second oldest residence in Davidson County that is open to the public. The Nashville Zoo began to manage the Grassmere property house and ground in 1996 and also took the responsibility of restoring the home. As you wander through the house, you can learn more about the saga of the property and the five generations that resided there, explaining the zoo’s origins on these grounds. It’s really fascinating! The tour showcases a number of original furnishings, a significant part of the vast book collection, and various ancestral portraits. Interesting fact: a name etched on a glass pane over a century ago remains visible.
Fun fact: the Nashville Zoo also offers a cookbook that gives a glimpse of Middle Tn life in the 1800s through food and cooking – called “Attic Herilooms: Recipes from Grassmere” the book is available for purchase in the Zoo’s gift shop! The book gives a mix of Grassmere past history, residents life and cooking tips from the 19s century.
Beyond the Grassmere historic home, the Grassmere farm features include an heirloom nature garden with three levels and the family cemetery. Perfect to learn more about Nashville nature and local plants! Staying in the Grassmere garden, we highly recommend the Cassowary Exhibit, where this pivotal species from Australia and New Guinea, dubbed the “Gardener of the Rainforest,” helps proliferate over 200 plant types, crucial for rainforest sustenance. As for the Zoo and its inhabitants, we recommend the Tiger exhibit!
The Zoo also has lots of activities for kids, from the wilderness trian to The Jungle Gym, which is the largest community-built playground in the U.S., spans 66,000 square feet, offering children the chance to swing, climb, and explore in an environment inspired by wildlife. It includes a 35-foot “Tree of Life” structure, massive slides, and a range of play equipment, as well as a sculpted garden featuring a snake tunnel and various animal figures next to a playful water fountain. More fun – visiting the Wild Animal Carousel, which is adorned with 39 vibrant, wooden creatures representing both current and future zoo inhabitants, invites kids and parents alike to enjoy a unique carroussel ride on animals like a giant anteater or a clouded leopard cub.
Nashville Nature & outdoors day For the whole Family @ The hermitage
ADDRESS: 4580 Rachels Lane, Nashville
PHONE CONTACT: 615-889-2941
NEIGHBORHOOD: Hermitage, TN
WEBSITE: www.thehermitage.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/7thpresident
Built between 1819 and 1821 by local craftsmen, the Hermitage initially was a brick Federal-style home, common among plantations in the Upper South, though its popularity was waning in the more cosmopolitan East.
The structure featured eight rooms, evenly divided across two floors, along with two expansive center halls in a symmetrical layout that remained beloved in the South for decades. This style was also seen at Marlton Plantation in Stateburg, S.C., which made the Hermitage feel immediately familiar to me. The lower level housed two parlors, a dining room, and the bedroom of Andrew and Rachel Jackson, while the upper floor consisted of four additional bedrooms. Distinguished by a basement summer kitchen, nine fireplaces, an ornate fanlight above the entrance, French wallpaper, and metal gutters, the residence exuded elegance. A simple entrance portico was later added by Jackson. In 1831, during his presidency, Jackson commissioned architect David Morrison to extensively redesign the mansion. Morrison’s updates included one-story side wings, a grand two-story front portico with ten Doric columns, a modest rear portico, and new copper gutters, transforming the home with a Classical facade. The east wing was designed to include a library and farm office, while the west wing featured a spacious dining room and pantry. Additionally, a new kitchen and smokehouse were constructed behind the mansion, now comprising 13 rooms. The renovated mansion, displaying numerous president Jackson artifacts, is set amid vast grounds and also offers a well-stocked gift shop.
We recommend a tour of the nature garden which is amazing!
This place is less frequented than other recommendations in our list and will be perfect for a quiet family day out in nature in Nashville for a nice summer or autumn day!
Active family Weekend @ Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort Treetop Adventure Park
WEBSITE: https://nashvilleshores.com/treetop-adventure-park/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleshores/
Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort Treetop Adventure Park is an exciting outdoor attraction located on the shores of Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee. This adventure Nashville nature & adventure park offers treetop courses with ziplines and adventures for all age!
We like that the park is nearby a waterpark too which is ideal for the summer in Nashville for family activities. There are also cabins for rental in the summer.
We are big fans of the Season Passes – which allows unlimited visits to the water park and 50% to the Treetop park!
The Treetop Adventure Park consists of a variety of challenging courses that include zip lines, rope bridges, climbing nets, and Tarzan swings. Each course is designed to test different skill levels, and courses are suitable for both beginners and experienced adventurers. The park includes the courses below:
- Green Course: Ideal for beginners, offering low-height obstacles to build confidence. Ideal for children too!
- Blue Course: A step up in difficulty with higher and more complex obstacles. This one is perfect for the whole family looking for nature & adventure!
- Red Course: Advanced course featuring the most challenging obstacles, perfect for thrill-seekers and more experience people.
- Junior and Kids Courses: Specifically designed for younger adventurers, ensuring safety and fun.
We highly recommend booking for the weekend as it can get busy with birthdays, family events, Nashville nature family trips in their RV & Camping ground etc. It’s especially true for Memorial weekends, Spring & Autumn!
Nature Stroll @ Warner Park Nature Center in Nashville, tn
ADDRESS: 7311 Highway 100, Nashville
PHONE CONTACT: 615-862-8555
NEIGHBORHOOD: Bellevue, TN.
WEBSITE: https://warnerparks.org/visit/wpnc/
At the heart of Nashville’s Percy Warner and Edwin Warner Parks, which span 2,600 acres, is the Nature Center. This facility of the Nature Center acts as the gateway for tons of educational and recreational offerings, including environmental education, school excursions, teacher training, and various outdoor activities which are great for all ages. The nature center works as both a natural history and educational hub. The educational center includes the Milbrey Warner Waller Libraty which has a big collection of natural histor books. We also love visiting the organic garden and the expansive greenhouse and cedar shade house, the wildflower and fern garden! There is also a pond and lots of beautifully landscaped areas with native flora nad plants. And 12 miles of hiking trails! The trails are great and the stroll showcases Nashville nature plants & native species in their habitat!
Another highlight of the park is it’s daily visits – usually from 1:00AM to 12:00AM – we recommend checking the website. The themes are varied and we love the birding strolls! There are also walks with naturalist, and clen up walks. The parc is very family friendly and offers larges parkings (which is not always the case with other Nashville area State Parks!) We highly recommend for a family weekend – or weekly! – activity!
Nature Day Out for the whole family in Brentwood, tn - Radnor Lake State Park!
ADDRESS: 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville, TN 37076
PHONE CONTACT: (615) 889-7806
NEIGHBORHOOD: Brentwood & Franklin, TN
WEBSITE: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/radnor-lake
Opens daily from 6AM to 20 minutes after sunset.
Radnor Lake State Park is a beautiful natural area located in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a perfect spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the tranquility of a protected environment.
The park is known for its stunning scenery, rich wildlife, and nice family strolls! The park features several miles of well-maintained nature trails that range from easy to moderately difficult. The train around the lake is mostly wheelchair accessible.
We love bird watching there! And there are a large population of local birds – in fact there are over 240 species of them! The park has a Nashville nature visitor center where visitors can find maps and learn more about the animals and flora of the park.
We recommend alltrail app to learn more about the trails in the park. The park is free and there is no entrance fees, but the parkings fill up quickly on the weekend! So we would advise to go outside of the peak hours especially dring busy Spring & Autumn Weekends (earlier in the morning or before sunset).
Matt @Tura Renovation
Matt is Tura Renovation's head craftsman and project manager. He has 20 years of experience in bath & kitchen remodeling management. He is also an expert tiler and mill worker. Matt loves to share his passion for restoring homes and for craftsmanship! His main goal is to deliver the best customer experience to Tura's clients, no matter the budget or the scope of work. When Matt is not at work, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking in beautiful Nashville parks, gardening, being involved in local no-profits and going to downtown music gigs.
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