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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A runner makes her way past blooming daffodils in Centennial Park.
CENTENNIAL PARK
Nashville’s flagship park is home to large grassy areas, several picnic pavilions, a small lake and, to top it all off, a decommissioned locomotive and fighter jet at the corner of West End Avenue and 25th Avenue North. It also houses The Parthenon, a replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens, built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition. Inside, visitors will find the world’s tallest indoor sculpture, a 42-foot statue of the Greek goddess Athena, and a world-class art gallery. In warmer months, it’s the place to be for Frisbee tossers, soccer players, sunbathers and those out to be seen, lured in by the park’s sunken garden, sand volleyball courts and dog parks.
CHARLIE DANIELS PARK
Entertainer Charlie Daniels is larger than life in the music world and in his hometown of Mt. Juliet with a park that bears his name. Folks entering the city-owned park step into an enclosed Planet Playground that resembles a castle. Picnics and fun are the name of the game at the gazebo. And what would a place named for Charlie Daniels be without a spot for music? That feature is there for all to enjoy with an amphitheater just right for the strains of all types of tunes. www.tennessean.com
CHEATHAM LOCK AND DAM
The Nashville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes visitors to Cheatham Lake in Ashland City. Lock A Campground is surrounded by environmentally important wetlands and wildlife management areas. Boating, swimming and fishing are among the activities offered at Lock A. The campground offers 45 sites with hook-up; seven sites are tent only. Additional amenities include hot showers, a boat launch, interpretive trail, playground, a shelter and a swimming area.
CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
South of Interstate 40 along U.S. Highway 127, this 1,720acre wooded park is centered on the Cumberland Plateau, elevation 2,000 feet, America’s largest forested plateau. The state’s grandest Civilian Conservation Corps structure, a sevenarch sandstone bridge, spans Byrd Lake in the park. A lakeside trail winds between tall pines and hemlocks. Nestled among the hardwoods are cabins, a recreation lodge and a restaurant overlooking the lake. There are also campgrounds, swimming and play areas. Nearby are Piney and Ozone Falls Natural Areas, Sequatchie Valley and Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, plus Jack Nicklaus’ signature Bear Trace Golf Course. 105