Top Rated Parks to Visit in Nashville

"Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, collectively known as “The Warner Parks,” are managed by the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation of Nashville and Davidson County."

"Cumberland Park offers both visitors and local residents alike with a chance to experience the waterfront of Nashville, Tennessee. If visiting the park during a hot day in the summer season, visitors may spot children cooling off in the park’s fountains or getting out energy in the play spaces. Cumberland Park, which is around 6.5 acres in size, also includes an outdoor amphitheater for events that has a capacity of up to 1,200 guests."

"Located on the East side of the river, Cumberland Park was completely renovated to become a go-to attraction for Nashvillians. There are a lot of features in this park including an outdoor amphitheater for events, a rock climbing wall, water features, green space for kids to play and much more. Get more information about Cumberland Park."

"For an iconic view of the Nashville skyline, head across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to Cumberland Park for the best scenery. It doesn’t take too long to cross the Cumberland River from one side to the other, and back again."

"Metro Parks & Recreation is your gateway for all things green and healthy in and around Nashville and Davidson County. Kids of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy various activities in our 178 parks and 100 miles of greenways. We offer engaging nature-related programs for children at our sprawling nature centers, school and after-school programs, arts, music, and dance classes, water activities, sports leagues, and just fun and camaraderie at our many playgrounds."

"Locally known as Dragon Park, Fannie Mae Dees park is a gem in the city. Located across from Vanderbilt Medical Center, the centerpiece of the park is a huge mosaic dragon sculpture that kids can play on and find hidden pictures and designs. There is also an all abilities playground that has wheelchair accessibility and large fields for running and frisbee throwing."

"Fannie Mae Dees Park, a popular park for Nashville families, is better known today as the “Dragon Park” for the large mosaic sculpture that sits at its center. This is one of the area's most kid-friendly play spots. The park features a variety of play areas geared toward different age groups."

"The 11-acre Riverfront Park offers paths, including a greenway that connects to Rolling Mill Hill Greenway, a dog park, ornamental garden and lawn for events. Additionally, phase one of Fort Nashborough’s renovation is nearly complete and offers a look back at Nashville’s rich history in an all-new display. Ascend Ampethiter has also been a large draw for the riverfront."

"A host for live music, country events, and gorgeous sunsets as twilight ushers in, Riverfront is a quintessential Nashville spot. The park is also a popular place from which to view the goings-on along the Cumberland River, and take in the boats. The site of many concerts and special events, Riverfront Park offers a nice retreat without ever having to leave the city."

"Nashville’s Riverfront Park was built in the early 1980s on the site where the area’s first settlers founded the city back in 1780. Today the sprawling green enclave on the banks of the Cumberland River is home to several attractions, including Fort Nashborough, Bicentennial Park, and the Ascend Amphitheater.More"

"Learn about Midnight Sun, the famed Tennessee Walking Horse that called Franklin home, with a fun scavenger hunt for the whole family!. Download the clues and search for the 10 horse statues hidden around downtown Franklin. Each Midnight Sun statue is located in a spot of historical significance in shaping the history of both Franklin and the United States."

"If you're a regular viewer of the TV drama Nashville, you've likely seen its fictitious mayor Teddy Conrad stroll across Public Square Park on occasion. Aside from being the front lawn of the actual mayor's office, the park plays host to the summer concert series Live on the Green: a Thursday night concert series that runs weekly from early August to mid-September, putting a mix of local legends such as Moon Taxi and big names such as Matt Nathanson on the stage. The venue is also the home to several smaller events throughout the year such as the Nashville Cherry Blossom festival each April and the Kings of Leon's new culinary feast, Music City Eats, in September.3rd Avenue North and Union Street, liveonthegreen.net."

"The Nashville Public Square Park is a patch of green space situated right in front of downtown Nashville’s Metro Courthouse. It is a nice, simple space that is accessible to everyone and well-kept. The park hosts a wide variety of city events, such as festivals and concerts, and often has food trucks parked around the square."

"Beaman Park spans across a total of 1,700 acres of the highland rim of Davidson County, making it one of the largest parks in Nashville, as well as one of its hidden gems. The park isn’t visited as much as some others, which means that trail runners and hikers can experience the natural beauty of Middle Tennessee with nearly uninterrupted solitude and silence. Beaman Park is great for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, and is a popular place for locals to run the trails with their dogs."

"You'll have to drive a short distance north of Nashville to reach Beaman Park, but if you're looking for a bit of solitude it is worth the effort. The parking lot and modern nature center greet visitors, but you won't have to travel very far along the hiking trail to feel like you've stepped into a remote wilderness. With miles of trail crisscrossing the 1,700-acre park, you can spend all day exploring this place."

"Beaman Park offers three hiking trails including over 14.6 miles of trail and three trailheads. Beaman Park Trail Maps are available at the Nature Center trailhead. Contact the Beaman Park Nature Center at 615-862-8580 for more information."

"Seven Oaks Park features a playground for children, basketball courts, baseball fields, a disc golf course, and several picnic shelters. The major draw for visitors at the Seven Oaks Park, however, is the disc golf course. It is the main reason so many people come to the Nashville park and causes crowds on nice days."

"The Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is an environmental education and recreation facility which aims to inspire people about the history, culture and natural landscapes of the area, and the fauna and flora that call it home. The center is comprised of the 950-acre Shelby Bottoms Greenway and the 336-acre Shelby Park and offers a wide range of nature and environmental education programs, outdoor recreation programs, educator training workshops, Girl and Boy Scout programs, and school field trips. Both areas have a network of hiking and mountain biking trails and beautifully maintained gardens and visitors can rent bikes to explore the Shelby Bottoms and other connected Greenways."

"A jewel in the heart of the city, this natural haven for wildlife and humans offers five miles of paved roads for walking, running, or biking, along with five miles of hiking trails along the Cumberland River. Its proximity to downtown and to East Nashville makes it a popular weekend destination. Come ready to stretch out your muscles and see a different side of the city, as Shelby Bottoms combines a great walking trail with mesmerizing views."

"Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is a great place for people in the city to go for a walk or biking. The Center has a lovely lake and great walking trails. There is also a bike rental station, tennis courts, dog park, picnic pavilions, a playground and baseball fields."

"This little gem is tucked away near the Old Hickory Lock and Dam. It is quite a bit less busy than the beaches of Percy Priest Lake, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. Old Hickory Lake is a frequent destination for boaters, fishers, and any other water-based activity."

"Another one of the best beaches in Nashville is Old Hickory Beach. Old Hickory Beach is a beach that you can find at Old Hickory Lake. And you find here a sandy beach where swimming is possible!"

"Hands-on exhibits are always great for families, and Nashville's Adventure Science Center has them in spades. The museum features over 150 exhibits exploring everything from biology to environmental science to physics and beyond, and space lovers can check out the Sudekum Planetarium's 63-foot dome theater. Older visitors get the run of the museum in "Way Late Play Dates," occasional 21-and-up events featuring local food, drinks and themed programming."

"From outer space to tiny atoms, the Adventure Science Center showcases interactive learning experience and the wonders of science. Guests can experience simulated weightlessness and fly like an astronaut in Space Chase. Or they can check out the Virtual Reality Studio to see dinosaurs that once roamed our planet up close."

"The Carl Van Vechten and Aaron Douglas galleries maintain a permanent collection with over 4,000 works by renown artists including Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, and Diego Rivera. The University also houses African, Oceanic, and Asian art in their permanent and traveling exhibitions. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; extended on Thurs-Fri until 7 p.m."

"Vanderbilt University's Dyer Observatory has been operational since 1953, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be found at the fringe of Radnor Lake state park. With a strong focus on community education, the observatory hosts events throughout the year, such as open houses, science camps for kids, teacher workshops and telescope viewing nights; visitors can also stop by during the week for self-guided tours of the Star Chamber. But celestial bodies through the lens aren't the only stars you might see at Dyer; for six shows each summer, the widely famed Bluebird Café – where musicians including Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift launched their careers – brings "Bluebird on the Mountain" concerts to the observatory.1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood, +1 615 373 4897, dyer.vanderbilt.edu."

"If you’ve ever been curious about space, stars, planets, and moons, the best place to go is Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University. On select days throughout the year, the observatory offers free tours and Open House Days led by the university’s astronomers. While the events are free, you’ll need to do a bit of planning before your visit as tickets/reservations are required."

"It’s easy to spot the large white dome of the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. It’s one of the biggest astronomy centers in Tennessee, and it stands on top of a large hill that provides clear, unobstructed views of the night sky. Tours and telescopes are open to the public if you want to learn a few constellations while you’re in Nashville."

"4907 Indiana Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 678-5058 Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon; closed Monday and Tuesday. For those who’ve spent the last few years venturing to the Brightside Bakeshop’s East Nashville walk-up on Porter Road to get their fill of fantastic pastries, this past January offered a highlight — owner Andrea Borchers celebrated the official grand opening of her second Nashville location."

"Brightside Bakery offers a whole box full of delicious pumpkin desserts. The Pumpkin Box includes a Pumpkin Butter Croissant Knot, Pumpkin Pie Croissant, Pumpkin Spice Cinnaroll, and a Pumpkin Cheesecake Danish. So basically, all our dreams come true in one box."

"S.provencebreads.com; 615-386-0363Somehow, without wearing a beret, without bicycling to work every day with a baguette in her canvas tote bag (as far as I know; I don’t usually stalk pastry chefs. LOL just kidding, I totally do!. ), without living on the Champs-Élysées, Grand Poobah of Transcendent Pastriness Jessica Gentry’s concoctions evoke the feeling of sitting in a quaint little Parisian cafe, listening to the sounds of the city and enjoying a view of the Tour d’Eiffel while the faint strains of an accordian play in the distance."

"You may be familiar with their luxe loaves, but this Nashville-based artisan bakery offers a French flare with pastries, macaroons and a delicious selection of cookies. Bring home the chocolate chunk pecan—a generous chocolate chip cookie doused with pecans and chocolate chunks.1705 21st Ave S; 615-386-0363;provencebreads.com"

"The Texans among us know and love kolaches, a Czech pastry that has birthed several American variations over the last century. Traditionally sweet and filled with prunes, poppy seeds, or cream cheese, these pastries are just as delightful in savory iterations. Some are stuffed with sausage, jalapenos and cheese; others are topped with cinnamon apples, blueberries or cream cheese."

"For a bakery experience with international flair, there’s the Czech bakery, Yeast Nashville. The main attraction at the bakery is a food called kolache, which is a yeast-based dough made with fruit, poppy seed, or cheese filling. The bakery’s specialty is the Czech-Slovak variation, but there is also a Danish version similar to brioche bread."

"If you’re looking to keep things simple with a special twist, head on over to Yeast Nashville. This coffee-shop-like café is known for their kolaches; a bohemian style, yeast based dough with different delicious fillings. The different styles of kolaches you can find here include traditional Bohemian, Tex/Czech, and special kolaches."

"Offering gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, this juice/smoothie bar is a quiet spot to get away from the work-week hustle. What to order: Breakfast Empanada Brunch Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. 1701 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-547-2920;theposteast.com"

"Open since late 2019, Mailea Weger’s cozy, Parisian-inspired Riverside Village cafe offers one of the most unique menus in the city (alongside one of Nashville’s best wine lists). Weger and the Lou team constantly adapted throughout the pandemic, adding curated picnic and wine sacs for home consumption, plus expanding outdoor dining options and hosting several first-class bake sale fundraisers for causes like Planned Parenthood and helping fight anti-trans legislation."

"Lou has opened their cozy patio Thursday through Saturday from 12-9pm, and again on Sunday from 12-4pm. Part all-day brunch spot, part wine bar, you can fill your afternoon with blueberry buckwheat pancakes and crisp glasses of spritz. Reservations are required for the patio only."

"Chef/Owner Mailea Weger has cooked all over the world, from Los Angeles to Paris. The idea behind Lou is an all-day café, somewhere you’d be comfortable for brunch, lunch, or dinner. The small, thoughtful menu changes by season, and is populated with fresh, light dishes."