Top Rated Parks to Visit in Lebanon

"Cumberland Park offers both visitors and local residents alike with a chance to experience the waterfront of Nashville, Tennessee. If visiting the park during a hot day in the summer season, visitors may spot children cooling off in the park’s fountains or getting out energy in the play spaces. Cumberland Park, which is around 6.5 acres in size, also includes an outdoor amphitheater for events that has a capacity of up to 1,200 guests."

"For an iconic view of the Nashville skyline, head across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to Cumberland Park for the best scenery. It doesn’t take too long to cross the Cumberland River from one side to the other, and back again."

"Often referred to as the "dragon park," Fannie Mae Dees is home to a large, colorful, and whimsical mosaic statue of those mythical beats. That attraction alone tends to lure in plenty of curious visitors, although the numerous playgrounds, picnic tables, benches, and shade trees often convince them to stay for awhile. The park is an especially good one for families with small children, as there are plenty of swing sets, sliding boards, and other kid-friendly attractions to keep small travelers occupied for hours on end."

"Fannie Mae Dees Park, a popular park for Nashville families, is better known today as the “Dragon Park” for the large mosaic sculpture that sits at its center. This is one of the area's most kid-friendly play spots. The park features a variety of play areas geared toward different age groups."

"Located in downtown Nashville, directly across from the Honky Tonks and glitzy attractions found on South Broadway, Riverfront Park is a surprising oasis for those looking to relax in the outdoors. The 11-acre park includes lovely views of the Cumberland River, pathways that connect to a nearby greenway, a small dog park, and open space to host small events. There are also statues and other works of art sprinkled throughout the area, not to mention a small amphitheater for outdoor concerts or plays."

"Another spot with killer views, this park overlooks the Cumberland River and provides you with ample romantic locations to pop the question. If you’re music fans, you’re sure to enjoy one of the outdoor concerts here, which take place on a floating stage. Nature lovers can enjoy strolling along the Betty Brown Tree Trail, and if you want to involve your furry friend in your proposal (what’s cuter than a ring attached to a collar?), head over to the dog park."

"This narrow park sits between downtown and the Cumberland River. Take your pooch for a romp in the dog park, have a picnic as you watch the barges from the terraced lawn or catch a show in the new Ascend..."

"Centennial Park is a large, public park located not too far from downtown and is most well-known for it’s large replica of Greece’s Parthenon. We planned on just getting a picture of the Parthenon, but when we arrived we found that we could actually go inside. The first floor was more museum style with pictures from when it was built along with other artwork. However, on the second floor, you find yourself actually inside the Parthenon, along with a large gold and ivory, 41ft tall statue of Athena."

"Centennial Park is located close to Vanderbilt University, a bit to the west of downtown Nashville. It’s worth strolling around if not to puzzle why Nashville of all places chose to build this strange and expensive replica."

"The Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is an environmental education and recreation facility which aims to inspire people about the history, culture and natural landscapes of the area, and the fauna and flora that call it home. The center is comprised of the 950-acre Shelby Bottoms Greenway and the 336-acre Shelby Park and offers a wide range of nature and environmental education programs, outdoor recreation programs, educator training workshops, Girl and Boy Scout programs, and school field trips. Both areas have a network of hiking and mountain biking trails and beautifully maintained gardens and visitors can rent bikes to explore the Shelby Bottoms and other connected Greenways."

"A jewel in the heart of the city, this natural haven for wildlife and humans offers five miles of paved roads for walking, running, or biking, along with five miles of hiking trails along the Cumberland River. Its proximity to downtown and to East Nashville makes it a popular weekend destination. Come ready to stretch out your muscles and see a different side of the city, as Shelby Bottoms combines a great walking trail with mesmerizing views."

"Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is a great place for people in the city to go for a walk or biking. The Center has a lovely lake and great walking trails. There is also a bike rental station, tennis courts, dog park, picnic pavilions, a playground and baseball fields."

"Hendersonville's Drake Creek Park offers: 2 Lighted Football Fields 13 Lighted Baseball / Softball Fields 5 Concession Stands 7 Restroom Facilities 3 Basketball Goals (1 lighted)"

"Marcella Vivrette Smith Park is home to the beautiful Ravenswood Mansion and more than six miles of rugged hiking trails. Choose between the four different trails ranging in difficulty and distance. My family enjoys these trails year-round; our dog, Bruce, also loves to tag along!"

"Elmington Park has tons of open space for running and playing, a fun play structure at the base of West End Middle School and it is the start of the 440 Greenway. In the summer, Elmington park hosts the free Movies in the Park series and on the weekends, food trucks line up and you can view any number of lacrosse or soccer games and also Medieval Fantasy fighting where a community of “larpers” recreate a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy world every weekend!"

"Elmington Park is one of the town’s smaller parks at 13.34 acres. With the historic West End Middle School at the base of the property, Elmington Park is a go-to spot for all ages. Thursdays in June, the park offers a Movies in the Park series, and food trucks attract folks from all over for everything from grilled cheese to peaches."

"This little gem is tucked away near the Old Hickory Lock and Dam. It is quite a bit less busy than the beaches of Percy Priest Lake, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. Old Hickory Lake is a frequent destination for boaters, fishers, and any other water-based activity."

"Another one of the best beaches in Nashville is Old Hickory Beach. Old Hickory Beach is a beach that you can find at Old Hickory Lake. And you find here a sandy beach where swimming is possible!"

"You find this next awesome beach in Nashville at Cook Day Use Area. This is a place where you can swim if you want to swim in Nashville during summer. But always get information about the safety before you're actually going to swim here."

"Cook Day Use Area is a lakeside oasis in the hills of middle Tennessee, providing visitors with countless recreational activities on the lake and in the surrounding woods and grasslands."

"The Hermitage Café is an old-school diner and all-night establishment that draws in the downtown crowd after the bars close. Featuring limited seating, a jukebox, homey décor, and a bustling, cozy atmosphere, the retro Southern diner serves food all night as well as a hearty breakfast of classic dishes like steak-and-eggs, eggs dishes, and country-fried steak. Other breakfast dishes include country ham and eggs, corned beef and hash, a variety of omelets with different fillings, biscuits and gravy, and sweet plates hot off the griddle such as pancakes and French toast."

"Breakfast is served all day (well, night) at this classic cash-only diner, where a little bit of money can go a long way. Hermitage Cafe opens at 10 p.m. and closes at 1:30 p.m."

"This downtown palace of grease caters to the late night/early morning crowds, opening at 10 p.m. and closing at 1:30 p.m."

"D’Andrews calls itself a modern bakery with a Southern sensibility, so in addition to fresh-baked pastries, the downtown Nashville spot also offers a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads, and other scrumptious bites. D’Andrews serves all of its Nashville breakfast sandwiches on a heavenly, house-made focaccia bun, and adds on the freshest ingredients (free-range eggs, Berkshire bacon, and homemade roasted tomato mayonnaise included). Executive chef and owner David Andrews honed his craft in New York for more than a decade before returning home to Nashville to open his own bakery, filling a void in the Downtown market."

"If this is the way the cookie crumbles, we're not mad about it!. This French take on fall is the perfect pudding to enjoy after some fall festivities. We won't judge you if you reach for a second serving -- we're right there with you."

"2031 Broadwaycaviarandbananas.com; 615-340-9005 After her recent stint as pastry chef supervisor at Gaylord Opryland Resort, Lexi Francisco is now bossing around all the desserts at the Nashville location of the Charleston, S.C.-based Caviar & Bananas as their executive pastry chef. And they have really fallen in line, thanks to her excellent supervision. We’re talking mouth-wateringly flaky pastries, sugar-sprinkled chewy cookies, frosted layer cakes bigger than hatboxes, lattice-work pies, handmade truffles, tricolor petit fours… I could go on."