Nashville is a bustling place filled with towering buildings, sports arenas, and dozens of venues where locals and visitors can hear some of the best live music the country has to offer. Despite the busyness of the city, there’s plenty of nearby nature to allow people to escape the hustle and bustle as well.Hendersonville, a nearby suburb, boasts some amazing places for boaters, kayakers, fishers, and swimmers to spend the day exploring Tennessee’s beautiful waterways. Just a few minutes outside of the Music City, there are some stellar options for boating enthusiasts who want to get out of the city and onto the water.
This winding river starts in eastern Kentucky, flows through the city of Nashville and its surrounding areas, and ends up back in western Kentucky. The river is a vital part of the state’s history, but also offers its current citizens a wealth of opportunities to spend their free time relaxing and exploring its mighty waters. The part of the river that flows through Hendersonville and Nashville is all navigable by boat.There are a variety of public boat ramps for boaters, kayakers, paddleboarders, and swimmers to access the river. If you’re planning on fishing, here’s some good news: the Cumberland River is home to more than 300 species of fish! Before you put your line in the water, be sure to snag a Tennessee fishing license.If you’re looking to rent a kayak for the day, there’s a variety of rental places dotted along the water’s edge. River Queen Voyages offers standard rentals on kayaks, but also offers a rental option that includes a shuttle (so you don’t have to paddle back after your aquatic adventure).For those who would like to relax and let someone else take the helm, there are cruises available, so you can just sit back and enjoy the view. The General Jackson Showboat offers day and evening cruises that range from 2.5-4 hours in length. This option is a great combination of staying in the city and enjoying the nature that surrounds the area.
Just northeast of Nashville, TN is Old Hickory Lake, the product of damming up part of the historic Cumberland River. This vast reservoir spans over 20,000 acres with a variety of marinas and boat ramps, making it convenient to access the reservoir from a number of different places.People looking to spend the day on the water can bring their own boat or rent a variety of watercraft. Just so you know: Tennessee recently made it mandatory for any resident born after January 1, 1989, to earn their Boating Safety Education Certificate in order to drive a boat that operates using 8.5 horsepower. Make sure you’ve got this license on your person before getting on the lake!There are also four beaches with boat launches if some people in your group want to swim. Bring $5 per vehicle to enter or purchase a year-long day-use pass for $40 from one of the attendants.In recent years, boating on Old Hickory Lake has become much busier than it used to be. Marinas around the lake are at capacity, and many have waiting lists in order to secure a slip for their boat. There is a local push for an additional marina to be added, but as of right now, it’s tough to find a spot to leave your boat parked on the water. If you’re unable to park your boat at your residence or you’d simply like to have your boat live closer to the water, it might be beneficial to store your boat at a local storage unit. Go Store It has convenient locations near Old Hickory Lake, including one in NW Hendersonville near the central part of the lake on Avondale Road and another near the Rockland Recreation area on Molly Walton Drive.
If you’re looking for a lake to visit that is a little less busy than Old Hickory, consider checking out Percy Priest Lake. Islands dot this reservoir and provide countless opportunities for exploration and solitude. The western edge of this reservoir is located just minutes outside of Nashville and welcomes boaters and fishers alike to spend the day exploring 14,000 acres of water. Boaters can access this lake through a variety of marinas and boat ramps.For those that may want to plan on spending a few days on the water, there are some campgrounds available, some of which have additional boat ramps.
Owning a boat can be incredible, but storing it can be a tad difficult. Some owners might not have enough space at home while others may not be able to guarantee that their at-home storage space can shelter their boats from weather or a drop in temperature. Go Store It has numerous locations throughout the Hendersonville area, making it easy for you to leave your boat in a secure place near the water while protecting it from the elements.Relying on a storage space can also free up storage space at your home rather than having to devote that space to storing a large boat. Contact one of our experts at Go Store It and we’ll set you up with a convenient and secure place to store your boat.
