As a native Nashvillian, I grew up taking our Tennessee State Park system for granted. Over the years, I’ve visited many but haven’t thought too much about how they got here. That changed in 2019 when I was inspired to begin exploring all the parks with my young daughter. We have since been on a mission to visit all the parks and dig deeper than the activities we could encounter over just a brief visit. I began documenting our adventures here to further tell each park’s full story.

Here you will find an account of each park we have visited (so far) that includes general things to know as well as our personal experiences with accommodations and/or activities. These aren’t intended as full guides – I don’t always include every feature or amenity available, especially if I didn’t experience it firsthand. (For this information, you can always visit tnstateparks.com.) However, you will find an in-depth, deeply researched portrait of each park that shares its history, context, and the unique features that make it special.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration, planning a visit, or just got back from one and are curious to know more, hopefully, these stories will inspire you to visit and contribute to the conservation of our state’s public natural spaces.