When the mercury rises and the temperature makes you sizzle under the collar, head for Wave Country. It features a number of water slides and a wave machine that creates surf up to four-feet high. There is no better way to cool off on a hot day. The park also has picnic areas and additional recreation space for kids to toss a baseball or Frisbee when the water fun is finished. Admission: $8 for 13 and older, $7 for 12 and younger, 4 and under is free. Free parking. Rental Floats $4.
This serene 42-mile-long (68 kilometers), 14,200-acre (5,700 hectares) lake was created thanks to the J. Percy Priest Dam, completed in 1968. A convenient 15-minute drive from Downtown Nashville makes this lake popular among outdoor enthusiasts. A recreational haven, the serene lake is ideal for boating, camping, and fishing. Apart from well-equipped campsites, adventurous can also try primitive camping here. Stocked with white bass, trout, bluegill, sunfish, and more, the lake is also popular among anglers. With marinas located around the lake, boaters will find easy access to the water.
Just north of Nashville in Kingston Springs is the winding Harpeth River. Enjoy this natural waterway and the wildlife that lives in the protected reserve along its banks by canoe. At Tip-a-Canoe, paddlers can get in the water at a reasonable price for a four hour trip. Pack a lunch, grab some friends, and make a day of it. A shuttle will transport you and your party to and from the launch area.