I am in a deeply committed, borderline unhealthy relationship with this park. I've spent an…read moreirresponsible amount of my life here and it keeps turning me into an endurance athlete against my will. First 100+ mile bike ride? Here. First ultra marathon? Here. At this point I'm one trail run away from qualifying for something I didn't sign up for. I also golf here more than a retired grandpa in Florida. Like, aggressively. If you need a tee time, sorry, I might already be there. I've made friends, ran races, had full character development arcs, and I see the same deer so often that we're basically on a "head nod" basis. I've named them. They know my schedule. One of them owes me money. Honestly, Nashville Parks should either sponsor me, put my name on a bench, or issue a restraining order.

Shelby Park in East Nashville has quickly become one of my favorite parks to hit up for a weekday…read moreevening or weekend afternoon walk! I have been making my way to all the Metro parks and Shelby Park sits high on my list right now, and for good reason! The park is well equipped with all the park staples and even a few specialty areas. I come here for the trails, as I love wandering around the park, through the woods, by the golf course and around the water. Just something about it all that makes the walks a bit more enjoyable. In addition to the trails the park offers the classic park offerings such as playgrounds, gazebos and sporting fields. The park is well kept and clean. All parks are a bit worn and dated, but it is not enough to detract from the park itself. Nashville does a good job keeping the parks in good working order, as well as clean. Overall, I am a fan of Shelby Park!

Ravenwood Park is a hidden gem in the Nashville area. It has one of the tallest slides you will…read moreever see! Kids climb, climb, climb high into the sky via rope to head down it. If this doesn't tire your kids out I don't know what will! Besides that they have a sand pit, basketball court, tennis wall, and smaller slides for the kiddos. There are also plenty of trails to explore. Overall a 4.5 park!

very beautiful park but beware some the the hills are steep. the creek area is very nice and the…read morepark was very impressive

Providence Park is a surprise. We pulled up to what looked like a tiny spot of land with a…read moreplayground on it, and no parking, so we shrugged, parked on the side of the road, and got out of the car to walk the perimeter and take a couple of pictures for this blog. Well, you'd miss it, but in the back of this plot of land was a paved pathway. The pathway sits in a small valley between the backs of neighborhood homes, running along side the smallest little creek. There's a picnic pavilion, and a second hidden playground. If I was a kid in this neighborhood, I'd feel like this was a secret park just for me! It was built in 2014 with little fanfare, and it isn't very highly publicized. Sitting at 4.5 acres, it's a well guarded secret, but totally worth looking for.

More than a few times, as I walked the paths of Providence Park, I marveled at what a hidden gem…read morethis was. I really dislike the phrase 'hidden gem' but I think it fits here. Not only is this park tucked away in the back portion of a neighborhood, it's deceptively large. From the address, the park appears to only be a small playground. But once you begin to follow the path next to said playground... watch out. As you walk next to a wall of trees, shrubs and brush you happen upon a bridge. Despite the recent rains, the creek below the bridge was pretty dry. The lack of water, though, didn't affect the lush, verdant nature that surrounded the bridge. It was a welcome entrance into a quiet, private greenscape. Take your time and follow all the paths. This being in the middle of a neighborhood, the trail is planned and paved with unexpected delights at the ends of various walkways. Whether it's a playground, benches, pavilion, more bridges, or blooming trees, there's something to discover around every turn. And with Providence Park abutting so many houses, you're never so far out of the loop as to feel uneasy if you're walking the paths by yourself. I found myself getting a bit skittish but that's only because of all the ads for 'IT' that are playing right now. It wasn't the fault of the park. And, trust, if I'd seen a creepy clown with a big head and bad teeth at any point during my walk, I would have hit some Mariah Carey high notes and alerted all the homeowners around me that I was in danger and needed help. So, there's that. I didn't notice any dedicated parking for the park but that's probably because it's meant as a neighborhood refuge. If you come here from out of the area, please be courteous when parking on the residential street. I don't know that Providence Park is a destination park but it's brimming with charm. If you find yourself nearby and with some time to spare, it's definitely worth the trip. What lucky neighborhood residents to have such a cool green space (literally) in their backyards.

The park has a good mix of more difficult trails that tire the legs to a more level experience. The…read moreplantation is beautiful and the mill house is a must. My wife loves dipping her toes in the cold water. The place is gorgeous!

A great place to enjoy a picnic, take a hike, or have professional photos taken! Pics shown are…read moretaken by myself @ By The Free. Www.bythefree.com

We discover this restaurant on Yelp! after we had hiked brick Island and developed an appetite. We…read moresat at the bar and had a fabulous server Leo. The crab cakes were a 4/5 - my husband felt like there was a little too much filler. The remoulade was delicious - and it would have been good to have just a bit more. I had the lamb chops on top of chimichurri sauce, which was a great way to serve because you get to decide how much sauce. The lamb chops could have had the fat trimmed a bit pre and they were slightly overcooked but not enough to send back. Just a note to the kitchen. My 2 sides were loaded Brussels sprouts and they were cooked perfectly. I also had the cowboy corn sauce, which was delicious. My husband had a burger, which was a 5/5. Roll was great and completely prepared to his order. Drinks were delicious - I had the Coco Melon. Nick had beer. We definitely will be coming back.

Such a beautiful park with SO much to do! I have a 3 and 6 year old and they were able to play for…read moreHours here! We first started at the castle looking playground which is Huge with many climbing structures, swing, and a sand box area! Then there is another playground across the grass area along with several more climbers! There is a beautiful paved path around the park perfect for our kiddos to ride their bikes on! And lots of picnic tables around the area which was great for our picnic we packed! Highly recommend

From Gallatin Pike, Isaac Litton Park doesn't look like much, but I promise it is worth a stop by!…read more Located on the campus of Isaac Litton High School, the park features all the classic park offerings from playgrounds to walking paths to gazebos and sports fields. But this park also has tennis/pickle ball courts and a sand volleyball court! Both of which are lit, which is something not many other metro parks offer! The park is hidden in plain sight with not many people utilizing it for whatever reason. I honestly recently discovered it after driving by for years, so I get it. I usually will pop by one a weekend morning for a chill walk after a gym session or a coffee run. The walking paths are not much here and are honestly just sidewalks, as the park has more activity based offerings than trails. However, the short trek is worth the time, especially due to the convenient location to my normal weekend activities. Overall, solid metro park worth a visit!

Very nice newly updated playground with turf!…read more Safe for young kids. Huge lawn to run. Sand volleyball court. Tennis courts. 2 pavilions. Bonus: yellow school buses always park in the lot next to the playground, so toddlers can geek out like they do. Con: No swings. Next to a high school. Park in the school parking lot.

Kirkpatrick Park began as a planning phase in the 1950s, for he East Nashville Urban Renewal…read moreProject. This park opened in 1963, and was named after the adjacent school. The school, and subsequently the park, was named after a popular teacher and principal of Nashville Public Schools after a 40 year tenure. It currently has 4 acres, a community center, a playground, public restrooms, picnic shelters, and a spray park. It also has this old as heck tree that's protected with bricks that I'm dying for the story of. This park is POPULAR. The parking lot was full. After our third drive around the block, we finally got a spot. It was almost impossible to get a picture without children in it. This makes sense- if you are a kid and it's a hot summer day, why WOULDN'T you want to put on your bathing suit and come up to this splash park? I was jealous that I hadn't brought my own!

Kirkpatrick Park isn't the most inviting of East Nashville's parks. It's surrounded by a high…read morechain-link fence, and is very hilly. Facilities include a grassy soccer field, a baseball diamond, a playground, and three basketball courts. The Kirkpatrick Community Center located right next door and the big ol' shade trees by the soccer field are the most notable parts of the park. Kirkpatrick is a big park in a residential neighborhood that includes a large apartment complex, so it could be a great resource for residents who don't have their own backyard. But it seems to me that the space could be better utilized by adding some picnic tables, benches, and maybe even a tennis court. Also, the fence surrounding the perimeter makes me think that whoever is in charge of the park is trying to keep someone out, which doesn't exactly encourage me to feel welcome or spend time there.

Came here to do a hike. You're hiking right along the water so it's a beautiful view. It's not a…read morehard hike at all, relaxing, and serene.

Okay, if you're ever in Tennessee, you have to check out Montgomery Bell Tunnel. This hidden gem…read morein Montgomery Bell State Park is packed with history, and it's one of the coolest spots I've explored. Built in the early 1800s, this tunnel was carved by hand to transport iron ore for a thriving industry. But what makes it even more special is the story behind it--enslaved people worked here, and their efforts helped shape the future of Tennessee. It's crazy to think that something so important is tucked away in the middle of the woods, just waiting to be discovered! https://www.tiktok.com/@reessroots/video/7535575693854297374?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7352687494821037610 The tunnel is almost 300 feet long, and standing inside it feels like stepping back in time. You can almost hear the echoes of the past! Most people are out there hitting all the usual tourist spots, but places like Montgomery Bell Tunnel are the ones that actually make you feel something. If you're into history, adventure, or just exploring off the beaten path, this is definitely the place to be. Skip the crowded tourist traps and head to Montgomery Bell Tunnel for some real history! Trust me, you'll be talking about it long after you leave. #HiddenGems #HistoryUncovered #ExploreTennessee