How to Stay Fit as a Fiddle in Nashville

There’s no reason why you can’t have fun on vacation and sneak in some exercise, too. Yes, many hotels in Nashville have gyms, but there's also more than 15,000 acres of open space, over 100 parks, 86 miles of greenway and numerous recreation centers. This city will have you out and moving—and not just to the rhythm of country tunes. Discover ways you can see and experience Nashville while sneaking in a workout or two.

Ready, set, cycle

A great way to explore Nashville is by bike, but don’t worry—there’s no need to bring your own. Nashville B-cycle has 36 bike sharing stations spread throughout the city. The service even tracks mileage, calories burned and carbon offset of each trip for annual members (more than worth it if you frequently visit on business, for example). For scenic views of Nashville, take a ride down one of the many greenway trails—there are more than 80 miles of primarily paved trails throughout the city. Check out the nine-mile Cumberland River Greenway trail that follows the Cumberland River into Downtown—you’ll see public art and have great river views along your way.

Reach new heights

It might be named Climb Nashville, but that’s not all there is to do at this innovative fitness Nashville club. Choose from a long list of classes, such as mobility and alpine fit, or scale to new heights on the state-of-the-art indoor rock climbing walls. After you’ve warmed up, stretch out those muscles with some yoga—Climb Nashville has classes in several styles, from restorative to power flow. One-day and five-day passes are available along with equipment rentals. Are you in town with a bunch of exercise enthusiasts? Schedule a fitness Nashville team-building event.

Glide or roll on by

Pack a warm coat and maybe some gloves so you can take a whirl around the ice arena.

If ice skating is your thing, Nashville has two options: Centennial Sportsplex, which is operated by the city, and the privately owned Ford Ice Center, where Nashville’s professional ice hockey team, the Predators, practice. Both are great options for families and offer public skating times. The latter has events like the annual Honky Tonk Showdown in June—a four-day weekend of hockey, beer and fun.

For those who prefer to skate on wheels, Sixth Avenue Skatepark in downtown Nashville is the place to go. Skateboard, BMX and inline skates are welcome here.

Make a splash

Planning to visit Nashville during the summer months? There are plenty of opportunities for water sports here. The Cumberland River is great for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Better yet, head southeast of town to the Hamilton Creek Recreation Area on scenic J. Percy Priest Lake. Here you’ll find Nashville Paddle Company, which offers fitness classes, social paddles, SUP yoga and rentals. Bonus: Hamilton Creek also has a BMX track, and the busy marina makes this a great place for solo SUP-ers—it’s unlikely you’ll be on the water alone.

Get outdoors

Get out on the water and maybe spot some wildlife while on a canoe float at Radnor Lake State Park. Photo Credit: Radnor Lake State Park

Nashville is fortunate to have many parks and recreational areas, and Radnor Lake State Park is one of the most spectacular. The 1,332-acre park features more than six miles of trails that are strictly used for hiking, photography and wildlife observation—you’ll find a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals here. In addition to the critters, take in the hundreds of species of wildflowers, ferns, trees and other flora that make up this stunning landscape. Check the activity schedule before your visit: The park often hosts group outings such as astronomy hikes, wildflower walks and canoe floats.