First GQ called us ‘Nowville,’ then Conde Naste Traveler listed us as a ‘must-visit city.’ Soon after, The New York Times hopped on board, dubbing Nashville the nation’s newest “It City.” Not long after those articles had been published did Nashville make Huffington Post’s list of 20 cities that are ‘must-visits’ in your 20s. These days, Nashville is no stranger to receiving glowing reviews in big time publications. No longer just ‘Music City,’ in more recent times, people are beginning to understand something we have long know about this place we call home: that it is overall just a really cool, unique and awesome place to be.
Join us in our Nashville: The ‘It’ City blog series as we give our top 10 reasons that Nashville is indeed the ‘it’ city that many have dubbed it. This week is week one of our new series! Read on for the first of our 10 reasons that we love Nashville.
How do we love Nashville? Let us count the ways…
Reason #6: The Great Outdoors!
Just last year USA Today dubbed Nashville the “Best Urban Green Space” featuring Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Park, Centennial Park and Radnor Lake State Park.
Both Radnor Lake and Percy Priest Lake offer a wide range of water-related recreational opportunities. Percy Priest lake‚ managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers‚ offers activities such as boating‚ fishing‚ swimming and camping. It has 31 recreation areas‚ nearly 500 camping sites‚ eight swimming areas and 31 boat docks. Radnor Lake‚ which is run by Tennessee State Parks‚ is ideal for the peace and quiet of passive recreational pursuits. Most come here to see the wildlife, but it also has six miles of hiking trails‚ and jogging and bicycling are allowed on the park’s paved road.
Natchez Trace State Park is another location apart of the great outdoors of Nashville. Fishing and hiking are the two most popular activities at this park. It has 13.5 miles of hiking trails, ranging from a one-half mile up to 4.5 miles. The trails wind through the forest and streams of Natchez Park. Visitors can also enjoy the museum that features local and park history, picnic facilities, camping, cabins and lodges, boating and the park’s restaurant.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Park is a favorite outdoor spot in East Nashville and is one of five Natural Area Parks within Metro Parks. The area features bottomland hardwood forests, open fields, wetlands, and streams, providing excellent habitat for birds, amphibians, deer and more. The greenway offers over 5 miles of paved ADA accessible trail for hiking, biking, running, skating and wildlife watching and over 5 miles of primitive trails for more passive activities of walking, running and exploring nature.
Recently Nashville has added “B-cycle” stations around town for easy outdoor transportation. Nashville currently has 22 B-stations, with more to come, dispersed throughout the city. Anyone can use these bikes for lunch dates, shopping trips, or just a quick ride for fresh air. Nashville B-cycle is designed to encourage a healthy and environment-centered mode of transportation. There are options to purchase daily, weekly, monthly or annual memberships. Each trip during your membership period is free as long as the bike gets returned to a station within an hour. Anytime your bike is checked out beyond one hour, your credit card will be charged $1.50 per half hour.
With all that the great outdoors of Nashville has to offer, it’s easy for residents and visitors to want to get out on a nice day!
Thanks for tuning in to our Nashville: The ‘It’ City blog series! | Next week: Reason #7: Big City, Small Town Feel | Want to stay connected? Like us on Facebook + follow us on Twitter and Instagram. And, as always, check out our current homes for sale in the Nashville area.