All of the holiday presents have been unwrapped and your kids have exhausted them. You’ve dismantled the Christmas decorations. You’ve recovered from your holiday travel and you’re almost sticking to your resolutions. But, the long winter months of January and February stretch out ahead. Your family cooped up. What can you do?
You can visit a Tennessee State Park and stay at one of the new or newly renovated lodges! Although camping in the winter is refreshing for some of us, it is not for everyone (including me), especially with little ones. However, being outside and feeling sunshine helps everyone keep winter blues at bay. Or maybe you want to daydream of warmer weather and get a head start planning a summer getaway. Either way, these lodges ffer your family great amenities and quick access to the outdoors.
There are six state park lodges, and four of them have been renovated or built within the last four years. These newer or renovated lodges offers hotel-like amenities, complete with firepits, outdoor pools, and dining on site. The lodges are all surrounded by pristine nature, with hiking trails and other recreational activities available as soon as you step out the lodge door. Additionally, these state parks all have nature centers, which host a variety of educational learning opportunities with state park rangers throughout the week and weekend. All of the lodges are 3 hours or less from within a three-hour drive from Nashville, making them the perfect weekend destination getaway.
Lodge at Fall Creek Falls:
This state park is known for its magnificent Waterfall, Fall Creek Falls, which is one of the tallest in the Eastern United States. It nearly became a national park in the 1970s. There is a scenic loop in the park, which makes sightseeing the namesake waterfall and others available to everyone. There are tons of hiking trails throughout, and, for adventurous families, there is a suspension bridge you can walk across near the Park’s Nature Center. If you visit in the summer, there is a pool, kayak and paddleboard rentals for the lake, and a golf course all on site.
Lodge at Montgomery Bell State Park:
This state park lodge is the closest to Nashville and located just outside of Dickson (where you can explore the quaint main street and grab a delicious slice of pie at Zander’s Woodfired Pizza). Each room boasts a private balcony with beautiful views. The terrain is flat and makes for easy hiking with little ones. There is fishing and golfing available here as well, and an outdoor pool open seasonally. Visit the 1800s log-cabin to learn about life for early Tennesseans!
Lodge at Paris Landing:
This lodge sits on Kentucky Lake and boosts incredible views overlooking the water. Each room has a balcony with lake views where you can see watch boats whiz by and the sun rise. Although there are only two hiking trails here, they are easy to access and meander around the lake. Grab a take-out pizza from TNT Pizza (so good), and have a family picnic on your balcony or by the lake. The state park has it’s own full marina, with various boating rental options available. In the summer, there is an outdoor pool and public-access beach for swimming in the lake.
Lodge at Pickwick Landing:
This lodge is on Pickwick Lake and each room has a balcony. There is a heated indoor pool for use all year long, with an outdoor pool and three public beaches for use in the summer. There is disc golf course and regular golf course, as well as two easy hiking trails. The on-site marina offers boat rentals and other items. where you can rent boats, paddleboards, kayaks and more.
