Many people spend LOTS of time and money on a variety of outings and vacations. This is especially true in the spring and summer months when the weather is nice and children are out of school.
However, I have recently discovered a new resource — a hidden gem — that has a wide range of activities you can enjoy alone or with family and friends that is VERY cost effective, some things are free, while others you can participate in for a fee: Tennessee State Parks. I have to admit I’ve developed a fondness for the ones that have the all-terrain wheelchairs, like Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, Tenn.
I’ve lived in the area for some time now, and never knew it was here!
On my first trip, I visited the Couchville Lake Trail. In the beginning I had my doubts about just how much of an adventure this would prove to be as it was a two mile paved trail that looped around the lake.
Those doubts were quickly put to rest once I saw the picturesque views of the water and how vibrant the colors of the trees were.
If I’m being honest, the serenity of the scenery did wonders for my mental health and anxiety that I face EVERY DAY. It seemed to bring a bit of clarity.
There were also moments when the canopy of the trees coupled with even the lightest breeze made even the hottest part of the day feel as cool as could be, and while I was there I felt a measure of true inner peace.
It seemed SO strange to me to be lost in the woods while still in the city.
It was truly a SPECIAL time for me, so special I couldn’t wait to go back, and as I’ve said before, I’ve NEVER fully appreciated the beauty of nature, but with the availability of these wheelchairs I sense a change is in the air.
I also explored the one mile long Deer Trail and The Cedar Glade. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t see a single deer, but there were wildflowers and butterflies EVERYWHERE!
The inclement weather we’ve had put a real dampener on my plans, as all the flooding meant I was unable to visit other trails I was planning to explore. Still, I found other places to visit that fed my ever growing love of nature, finding SOMETHING new and different to do each week.
I visited Radnor Lake State Park, yet another BEAUTIFUL spot in my own backyard, but that’s a story for another day and time. I also attended a “Sounds of Spring at Sunset” event, which is held in the Warner Parks quarterly. (They’re planning to host one event per season.)
I did eventually make it back to Long Hunter State Park, but I couldn’t take the Bryant Grove Trail like I originally wanted. I was told there was a bridge in need of some repairs because of the recent storms, and parts of it were still flooded. Instead I returned to Couchville Lake to see if there was ANYTHING I might have missed the first time around.
During my visits, I’ve met a few interesting people along the way. They seem to find me wherever I go.
Some were locals. One guy said he’d lived in the area for 30 years but he only recently came to appreciate the park AFTER he retired from his work. He continued on saying that he usually bought The Contributor from Keith as he passed him everyday on his way to work. He said he didn’t know any local vendors. Well now he does, and of course he bought a paper from me! (In fairness to Keith, I told him about the subscriptions for the paper. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get one in his name. He spoke VERY highly of him!)
Other people I’ve met were from various parts of the country i.e. New York, Pennsylvania, Arizona etc. and were in the area visiting family and friends.
Still, more were fascinated by the wheelchair I was using, asking questions about it and were genuinely surprised that it belonged to the park. Some even took pictures of it!
It felt a little strange having people in some cases literally running at me, asking questions and wanting more information about the chair. They were even more surprised to learn that you can use them for free, all you have to do is reserve it just a day or two in advance.
Shamelessly I took advantage of the opportunity to share my article about the wheelchairs with them, though it was not the current issue, it seemed appropriate for the occasion. In some cases I just gave the paper away. I mean, not everyone carries cash while on a hike.
The result? I’ve had three or four of these folks come to visit me at my spot! What a nice surprise!
So now you know about a few of my experiences at some of the local state parks, and I’m sure there will be MANY more to come!
What will YOURS be like? What will YOU do?
I urge you to take this challenge and see all that nature has to offer for free or for a nominal fee. Maybe you’ll find out as I did, you DON’T have to go far to experience something new and different, sometimes you can experience some AMAZING things pretty close to home!
*It should be noted that ALL of this was made possible by the hard working employees who went above and beyond to make sure I had the best time on each of my adventures while at their facilities! Thank you SO much for ALL your hard work!