vacation / nature areas around nashville? (Hunter: camping, live, cabin)

[nbourbaki]

Hi all,

my wife and I are possibly moving to nashville. we have not yet been to visit (next week) and am sure we will see the city well in our time. but we have no good idea of the surrounding country side. we like hiking, biking etc. we know of the smokies of course, but what is it like closer by? also, where are the major nature "second home" areas. a cabin in the hills sounds very appealing.

cheers,

nbourbaki

[alleycat]

The major "second home" areas in Middle Tennessee are around the larger lakes, but a lot of people just find a place out in the country somewhere.

There are any number of small town or communities within a two-hour drive of Nashville. Most of the topography of Middle Tennessee is wooded, rolling hills so finding a place in the hills wouldn't be too difficult.

If you could tell us more about what you're looking for, we might be able to give you some suggestions. Here's some thoughts off the top of my pointy head . . . take a drive down the Natchez Trace to Leiper's Fork (the fall color isn't quite here, but it should still be nice; the NTP is run by the National Park Service), and then maybe take a two hour drive north, south, east, and west of Nashville on the Interstates (Interstate highways are not the best way to get to really know an area, but it would give you a idea of what you could expect to find in the area).

[ddurkee75]

If you want to stay close to Nashville try Radnor Lake, Percy Warner, or Long Hunter parks. They all offer "hiking" (more like walking) paths and are really nice.

If your willing to drive a few hours outside of town try out The Big South Fork or the South Cumberland Recreation Area. My favorite trail in the big south fork is the Honey Creek Loop. It's about 10 miles long. SCRA has longer trails but you can still piece together a good trip.

It's still warm enough to go canoeing as well. Try the Harpeth or Buffalo rivers.

[Sookie]

My favorite hiking area is Fall Creek Falls, its a very nice state park. You can go north to Kentucky and be at Mammoth caves in about an hour and a half and south to Chatanooga under 2 hours, both have areas with lakes/camping/hiking.

[alleycat]

ddurkee75 is right. The Radnor Lake area is nice, and the Warner Parks are large.

I'm not sure about canoeing the Harpeth at the moment. I live almost next door to the Harpeth and I'm not sure there's enough water in it to canoe. You might be able to hike the Harpeth River! ;-)