It’s summertime! And while the initial unbridled enthusiasm in anticipation of endless days of sunshine, leisurely mornings with the kiddos, and fun-filled fiestas at home may last a while, it’s true that the days can begin to run together. 

The truth is that the wistful feeling that summer is altogether too short, and the feeling that it’s dragging on forever aren’t mutually exclusive. Parents know the shared secret that after the glow of summer begins to fade, the thought of finding activities to fill those endless days can become quite daunting! 

Fortunately, this area offers an abundance of family-friendly destinations that are safe and affordable. Whether exploring a park or learning about local history, the list below explores options that encourage kids to let their creativity shine and their imaginations grow!

Free Activities

Lock 3 Beach

Lock 3 Recreation Area, 199-185, Lock 3 Road, Hendersonville, TN

Did you know that you don’t have to drive for hours to get to the beach? Owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, Lock 3 is a beach and recreation area located on the Cumberland River. Use of the beach, picnic area, playground, and boat ramp are completely free of charge, and families are encouraged to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking at this local treasure!

Bledsoe’s Fort Historical Park

400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN

Experience the history of one of Tennessee’s first settlements while walking the self-guided trails of Bledsoe’s Fort Historical Park in Castalian Springs! The grounds are open year-round and are marked with informative panels that share the story of the park’s history. Highlights include a restored 1790’s cabin belonging to Nathaniel Parker, a 1790’s stone cottage, Bledsoe’s Lick (a prehistoric natural spring), the remains of Bledsoe’s Fort, and the Isaac Bledsoe family cemetery. 

Reading Ranger Story Trail

400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN

And speaking of Bledsoe Creek State Park, be sure to visit the Reading Ranger Story Trail! What’s better than exercising, surrounded by nature, while sparking a love of reading? Each year, The Reading Ranger Story Trail chooses a storybook to feature, and places enlarged pages at 14 stops along the way. The trail is a half-mile loop, and the entrance is located on the paved Mayo Wix Memorial Trail. Bledsoe Creek State Park is part of the Tennessee State Park system, and it’s completely free to visit!

Mary’s Magical Place

Located next to the inline hockey rinks at Veterans Park, 148 Scotch St. in Hendersonville

An all-inclusive playground where people of all abilities can play, Mary’s Magical Place is filled with roller slides, the ZipKrooz, and other state-of-the-art playground equipment designed to foster a fantastically fun experience for everyone, regardless of ability! The playground honors the life and legacy of Mary McAuley, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 14, after living her entire life wheelchair bound.

The Douglass-Clark House

2115 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN

Budding history buffs will love visiting the Douglass-Clark House, which dates to 1786 and the Civil War! Famously, attorney Andrew Jackson practiced law at the house during the early years of his career, prior to its purchase by William and Emma Douglass-Clark.  The site offers free tours year-round, during which participants learn the history of the house and the people who lived there.  

Lock 4 Park

1598 Lock 4 Road, Gallatin, TN

Lock 4 Park in Gallatin’s spectacular views of Old Hickory Lake and well-manicured walking and biking trails make it a popular destination for walkers, runners, and bikers alike. Not up for exercise? No problem! Lock 4 is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic with the kiddos. What’s more, older children who are adept at mountain biking will enjoy Lock 4 Park’s 9 miles of singletrack, which are divided into three, easy to navigate loops. Whether you’re feeling active, or simply want to enjoy the peaceful surrounding of the lake, Lock 4 Park has you covered!

Rockland Recreation Area

5 Power Plant Road Hendersonville, TN

Gather up the kiddos and go fly a kite! Located on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Rockland Recreation Area is picnic perfection, providing accessible water access for swimming, fishing, and boating. The area also offers hiking trails and camping spots with ample opportunity for bird watching or wildlife viewing. What a way to enjoy the day!

Drakes Creek Activity Center and Athletic Complex

131 Conway Twitty Ln, Hendersonville, TN

For the sports lovers! Drakes Creek Activity Center and Athletic Complex offers the chance for families to enjoy a variety of sport and game equipment and facilities. Featuring batting cages, baseball/softball fields, football fields, an outdoor laser tag area, miniature golf, walking trails, and playground areas, there’s a little something here for everyone! For even more fun, take the kiddos on a leisurely walk from the Hendersonville Library to Drakes Creek Park along the Hendersonville Greenway Connector.

Kid’s Kingdom

151 E. Main St., Hendersonville, TN

Want to meet up for a playdate with friends? Kid's Kingdom is an outdoor play facility located in Hendersonville’s Memorial Park that kids just can’t get enough of! It’s a fenced play area full of climbing walls, slides, swings, and a covered tree house. Rebuilt after a flood in 2011 with the generous donation of superstar and former Sumner County resident, Taylor Swift, Kid’s Kingdom offers kids the chance to explore their playful side while parents sit back and relax or join in the fun! 

Ridgetop Station Park

1954 Woodruff Ave, Ridgetop, TN

There’s so much to see and do at Ridgetop Station Park, which consists of an arboretum, the Wilson House Mansion, meandering trails, a smoke house, and a playground with a caboose for children to ride! The Wilson House houses the Ridgetop Museum, which contains artifacts collected from the area. Sugar maple, tulip poplar, hickory, and oak trees line the pathways of the arboretum, making for a scenic walk around the grounds!

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 Paid Activities

 Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center

1017 Antebellum Circle, Hendersonville, TN 

For the art lovers in the family, or for finding the inspiration necessary to become them, the Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center is an art museum offering free access to rotating exhibits throughout the year. Past exhibits have run the gamut from the photography of William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys to the clay works of Pablo Picasso! Regardless of which collection you’ll happen upon, Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center offers access to amazing exhibits that are affordable and family-friendly!

All Air Xtreme Trampoline Park

170 East Main Street, Hendersonville, TN

Psst…I know I don’t have to tell you this, but kids have a lot of energy! What you might not know, though, is that the physical exercise of bouncing releases endorphins that make you feel happier! This, in addition to the fact that trampoline parks help kids to let off some steam in the process of getting some exercise, makes All Air Xtreme a fabulous choice, especially on a particularly hot or rainy day. With 12,000 square feet of trampoline surface, arcade games, a dodgeball court, trapezes, a ninja obstacle course, a jousting pit, and a foam pit exclusively for the littles, what are you waiting for?

Adventure Alley

460 W. Main Street, Hendersonville, TN

Looking for a place to help burn off some energy? Look no further than Adventure Alley! A family fun center offering Go-Karts, indoor rides, laser tag, roller skating, glow mini-golf, bumper cars, arcade games, Virtual Reality, and bowling, Adventure Alley is one-stop shopping for all things fun! Formally Holder Family Fun Center, Adventure Alley is a fabulous choice for the adventure lover!

Adventureworks Zipline Forest at Fontanel

4129 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN

Travel high above the treetops at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour! Located on the grounds of the former home of country music superstar, Barbara Mandrell, Adventureworks Zipline Forest offers adventurous families the chance to view old-growth forests from high above the canopy! With 8 different ziplines, Adventureworks Zipline Forest is a thrilling outdoor adventure for the entire family!

Fontanel Mansion/Woods Amphitheater

4225 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN

After a high-flying experience at the Adventureworks Zipline Forest, take a glimpse into the life of country music royalty by taking the tour of the Fontanel mansion, which sits on 136 acres of gardens and woodlands that are also accessible to tour. Music lovers will enjoy staying for a concert at the 4,500-person capacity Woods Amphitheater, which has hosted acts such as Bryan Adamas and Willie Nelson!

Historic Mansker’s Station

705 Caldwell Drive Goodlettsville, TN

A hands-on approach to learning coupled with historical interpreters make a visit to Historic Mansker’s Station an exploration into the past! Mansker’s Station consists of a reproduction of a log station built in 1779, in addition to the Bowen Plantation House, known to be the longest standing brick structure in Middle Tennessee. Tours run Monday through Friday.

Historic Rock Castle

39 Rock Castle Lane Hendersonville, TN

Hooray for history! Historic Rock Castle is listed as one of the first permanent homes, as well as the oldest building on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee. Built in 1784, it is the former home of Daniel Smith, the U.S. Senator and surveyor who is credited with drawing the first map of Tennessee. Tours of the property are free of cost, and include the herb garden, wooded nature trail, lake shore, as well as the house itself. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the gardens!

Tommy Garrott Aquatics Facility 

210 Albert Gallatin Ave. Gallatin, TN

If 167-foot, 134-foot, and 57-foot water slides aren’t enough to convince you to visit the Tommy Garrott Aquatics Facility, maybe the splash pad, water tower, concession stands, and reclining loungers with umbrellas will be! Although children under 48” tall cannot use the water slides, there is plenty of fun to be had by kids of all ages at this state-of-the-art facility!

NCG Cinemas

1035 Greensboro Drive, Gallatin, TN

What’s better than popcorn and a movie on a day that’s too hot or rainy to be outside? NCG Gallatin Cinemas is a 10-screen movie theater that provides high-back rocking seats, stadium seating, 3D movies, and a concession booth. Hot tip-buy the kid’s pack, which comes with popcorn, a drink, and a pack of candy, and know that all popcorn and drinks, regardless of the size, are refillable!

Hendersonville Strike and Spare Family Entertainment Center/Circus World

90 Volunteer Drive, Hendersonville, TN

There’s so much to do at Hendersonville Strike and Spare Family Entertainment Center/Circus World! From ten-pin bowling to roller skating, laser tag, arcade games, bungee jumping, and bumper cars! Wristbands include all activities in addition to a game of bowling.

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